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 Compressed air energy storage embraces large-scale industrial application in China 09:59, July 30, 2024 By Ding Yiting ( People's Daily At a 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei province, eight heat storage and exchange tanks are erected. Five hundred meters underground, abandoned salt caverns with over 1 million cubic meters of air storage space are undergoing gas injection and brine discharge testing. The project is expected to start full-capacity operation within this year. "This is the world's first 300 MW compressed air energy storage station, similar to a 'super power bank,'" said Li Jun, deputy general manager of China Energy Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd. "It can store energy for 8 hours and release it for 5 hours daily, with an annual power generation of about 500 million kilowatt-hour," Li added. Photo shows heat storage and exchange tanks of a 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in Yingcheng, central China's Hubei province. (Photo/Zhao Xueming) Though China's installed capacity of new energy sources like wind and solar power continues to increase, they are relatively "unpredictable," and power supply can sometimes be excessive and at other times insufficient, with fluctuating frequencies. Energy storage is needed to act as a "green electricity manager" to balance the power grid's supply and demand, Li explained. How does invisible and intangible air transform into a "super power bank?" During off-peak electricity hours, surplus power drives compressors to compress air into a high-pressure state. The compressor, similar to a bicycle pump, can push air into a "tire" - in this case, sealed air storage reservoirs like salt caverns or artificial chambers. The heat generated during air compression is stored in heat storage tanks on the ground in forms such as hot water or fused salt. During peak electricity hours, the underground air storage releases the stored high-pressure air, while the heat storage tanks release the stored heat. At this point, the high-pressure air is heated, which gives it tremendous expansive force to drive air turbine generators. This process is similar to wind turning the blades of large wind turbines, generating electricity to supply the power grid. Compressed air energy storage has features such as high power, long lifespan, deep peak regulation, and flexible site selection. A single unit can achieve storage capacities of hundreds of megawatts or even gigawatts, with a typical lifespan of over 30 years. Currently, the construction period for such a power station is usually 18 to 24 months, with a unit construction cost of 6,000 yuan ($827.54) to 8,000 yuan per kilowatt. As economies of scale become apparent and engineering technology matures, construction costs are expected to further decrease. A staff member adjusts the valves of the closed-loop cooling water system for the compressor at a compressed air energy storage station. (Photo/Ding Xiaowei) In recent years, China's compressed air energy storage technology has developed rapidly, with research achievements and engineering applications leading the world. From 500-kilowatt experimental installations to 10 MW demonstration projects, 60 MW commercial operations, grid connection of 300 MW units, and the completion of feasibility studies for the first 600 MW project, compressed air energy storage technology is gradually entering large-scale engineering applications. Meanwhile, system efficiency continues to improve, with many power stations reaching 65 percent to 70 percent. Zhang Jian, vice president of China Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute, said that from an industry chain perspective, compressed air energy storage mainly includes key components and equipment such as compressors, heat storage and exchange equipment, air storage facilities, and expanders. This is similar to thermal power and power equipment industries, with a high degree of independent control. Currently, compressed air energy storage still has shortcomings such as relatively low energy storage per unit volume or mass, room for efficiency improvement, and relatively complex systems. Zhang suggested that to promote large-scale industrial application of the technology, efforts are needed in technological innovation and efficiency improvement, reducing construction and maintenance costs, expanding application scenarios, policy support, and talent cultivation. This year, China's National Energy Administration officially released a list of 56 new energy storage pilot demonstration projects, 11 of which are compressed air energy storage projects. "As the technology continues to improve and more projects are implemented, China's compressed air energy storage industry is expected to embrace broader development prospects, providing strong support for building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system," said Wan Mingzhong, chief expert of China Energy Engineering Corporation and chairman of China Energy Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Church leaders in New Zealand have been responding to the publication of a devastating Abuse in Care report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry recounting the abuse and neglect suffered by many thousands of vulnerable children and adults in the hands of church and state institutions from 1950 to1999. The report detailed patterns of abuse and neglect for 200,000 vulnerable children, youth and adults, out of 650,000 in care during the period, with 2,329 survivors telling their stories. The narratives of some of the abuse victims will never be known - they died in care or committed suicide. Entitled Whanaketia, meaning Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, the report contained a challenge to faith leaders to apologize. In this second of a two-part report on the concluded investigation, Christian Daily International highlights the initial responses to the findings by church leaders, including those from church institutions linked to abuse and neglect mentioned in the report. Rev. Alan Vink spoke to Christian Daily International in a personal capacity. He has worked as a baptist pastor for 25 years and in a Bible college teaching and leadership development role in the past 16 years, which involves writing and speaking on issues relevant to churches and faith organizations in New Zealand. Vink said the name of the report, highlighting the pain and trauma, reflected the journey of the survivors, from being horribly mistreated and neglected, isolated, abandoned, unseen, and not listened to to being heard, telling their experiences, being taken seriously and now looking to the light for healing and restoration. As Christian communities we know something about this. My prayer is that our light will shine ever so brightly in our responses to this inquiry as we go forward. Vink has recommended that Christians in New Zealand read the report carefully, adopt a humble posture, pray for Gods leading and discern how to respond, discuss the disclosed issues in leadership teams and decide how local churches should respond, and also discuss the report in pastors groups. The Rev. Stuart Lange, national director of the New Zealand Christian Network, sent a message to members, expressing anguish and deep sorrow for those who have suffered. He called the fact that much abuse took place in church-related institutions doubly appalling and completely inexcusable. It is fair to say that, from a Christian and biblical perspective, any form of abuse is invariably wrong and evil. All such abuse goes against core Christian values: goodness, kindness, respect, compassion, integrity, and self-control. Abuse of others can never be justified, never be defended, never be overlooked. Lange called on churches to be vigilant and do everything we possibly can to prevent abuse ever happening in our own spaces. Churches should waste no time in organizing safety and reporting systems, he said, and all Christians need to pray about the issue. Prayer points he highlighted include the government and churches fully facing the awful truth of what happened, that the abusers would find true repentance and remorse, for the survivors to find healing and for vulnerable people to be protected in the future. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up Christian Daily International approached each of the church denominations specifically mentioned in the Abuse in Care report Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and Salvation Army and asked for their comment on the report. Ady Shannon, editor for Touchstone, a newspaper representing the Methodist Church of New Zealand, said that, as with every person in Aotearoa, the church body deplored the actions of the many people who caused so much harm to so many. The abuse of power and the wilful ignoring of the voices of those impacted is a cause of national shame and sadness for all the broken lives. Shannon referred to the report naming the abuse and neglect of so many vulnerable people a national disgrace and an injustice needing a redress. In terms of our church response, it has included a swift and unconditional apology to the commission and to the survivors - redress for survivors, the implementation of procedures that will protect the vulnerable, extensive training programmes around safeguarding and transparency about the identities of those involved. Shannon highlighted the heartfelt, honest and open disclosure given by the New Zealand Methodist general secretary, Rev. Tara Tautari, after watching various faith-based leaders at the inquiry hearings. The transcript of her presentation is available on the Royal Commission of Inquiry website. In acknowledging the pain and courage of the survivors, she offered an unconditional apology and a promise to make amends and changes to ensure such a chapter is never repeated. Shannon also referred to the May edition of Touchstone, containing a feature by Rev. Taurtari outlining further how the Methodist church intends to respond to the report in the future. A Liturgy of Lament has been devised by Rev. David Poultney, Methodist Chair of Faith and Order, to express our pain, sorrow, and institutional guilt in lament. The lament is published in English, Te Reo, Fijian, Samoan and Tongan languages, and is to be used in the countrys Methodist churches in response to the report. Shannon added that the general secretary had met many survivors of the reported abuse and neglect and will continue to do so. Shannon hoped that the actions of the Methodist Church will truly reflect a faith-driven response of aroha, reflection, redress and change to ensure history never repeats. Rev Wayne Matheson, Presbyterian Assembly Executive Officer, also acknowledged the publication of the report. The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand will now carefully read this substantial report and bring its full attention to any recommendations and learnings the Commission has for the Presbyterian Church, Matheson said. We will respond to you [Christian Daily International] once we have given the report the respect, careful and thoughtful consideration it deserves. Julianne Clarke-Morris, editor of Anglican Taonga Online, for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia Media Office, referred to Chris Wikaira, managing media comments for the Anglican church on the report. Wikaira has yet to respond to Christian Daily International. However, Clarke-Morris also referenced a joint statement from Anglican Archbishops Don Tamihere, Justin Duckworth and Sione Ulu'ilakepa issued when the report was published on July 24. We acknowledge and take full responsibility for our failures to provide the safe, caring and nurturing environment those who have been in our care had a right to expect and to receive. There have been clear failures to properly investigate and respond when abuse was reported. We acknowledge that we have not provided accessible, straightforward processes for the handling of disclosures and complaints of abuse. We have also failed to provide accessible, trustworthy, and consistent processes of redress. We are committed to making our selection, screening, training and professional development processes more transparent, consistent, and accountable; and ensuring that all our communities are constantly monitoring and reviewing their approach to safeguarding. The archbishops said it was crucial that the whole church took direction and advice on the issue: We know that we still have a long way to go. We call on all who identify as Anglican; whether churches, schools or agencies to study this report and its recommendations and to commit themselves to the principles and practices that ensure the highest standards of pastoral care. We call on all Anglican entities to commit to a common approach to ensure that anyone making disclosures of abuse or seeking redress does not have to navigate complex and disconnected processes. Our apology at the Royal Commission to survivors of abuse was heartfelt and genuine and we can only stand in awe of their courage and endurance. We encourage any other survivors of abuse who have not yet come forward to do so. The archbishops also support in principle the establishment of an independent authority for the handling of any future complaints. Meanwhile, Salvation Army Chief Secretary Gerry Walker also acknowledged the publication of the report and commended the bravery of all survivors contributing to the inquiry. We also appreciate the thorough and comprehensive nature of the Inquiry, Walker said. We are currently reviewing the report and its recommendations, and are not yet in a position to offer further detailed comments beyond this statement. We are profoundly sorry for the suffering experienced by those in our care. We recognise the immense courage it takes for survivors to revisit and share their traumatic experiences, which should never have happened. The pain and harm inflicted on these individuals were deeply unjust and have had lasting impacts on them and their loved ones. There is no excuse for these actions, and it is heartbreaking that they occurred within an organization dedicated to serving a God of love. Words alone cannot mend the wounds that have been caused, Walker added. The Salvation Army is fully committed to listening to survivors and learning from this Royal Commission. This commitment extends not only to our redress processes but also to any recommendations made to better support those harmed in our care in the past and to ensure the safety and well-being of all vulnerable individuals accessing our services today. For the Catholic Church, a joint statement was issued by the Rev. Steve Lowe, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, and the Rev. Thomas Rouse Congregational Leaders Conference Aotearoa New Zealand, saying the Catholic Church had made significant progress in responding to abuse reports in the past 30 years but work is still needed to ensure church communities are safe places for people. The Catholic bishops and congregational leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have received a copy of the inquirys final report and will now read and review it carefully. As we have done throughout the length of the inquiry, we will ensure that action follows our review of the inquirys findings. There is work for the government to do and work to be undertaken by many other people. We understand that within the community, some of us - including leaders in the catholic church - have a special role to play to ensure that the findings and recommendations of this significant Inquiry are not lost or confined to words in a report. We commit to that role. At the same time, everyone must play their part in responding to the Inquirys report to the extent that they can. There are things that all of us can and must do to eliminate abuse of any kind in whatever context we live and work in. We hope this report and the work that flows from it will result in a better society and a safer environment for all people. Abuse is not only historical, or confined to sole parts of society, the Catholic leaders stated and the survivors accounts make that crystal clear. The Catholic leaders referred to a public letter published in an undisclosed setting on January 10 2023, acknowledging the abuse of people in the care of the church is real and the failures of church leaders in responding to reports are real. The recently commissioned customer call centre of is been operated on the Exotel call centre application facilitated through a partnership with Metro Edge Technologies. In a speech read on her behalf at the launch of the call centre, the Second Lady, H.E. Samira Bawumia said she was hopeful that it will form part of a broader plan to make their services timeous and accessible to Ghanaians. As part of the digital transformations being championed by the NHIS, today, I am also pleased to announce the establishment of a revamped NHIA Call Centre with an enhanced digital infrastructure and the installation of an Ameyo software powered by Exotel, this state-of-the-art facility will significantly improve the NHIAs capacity to handle more calls, ensuring that NHIA Call Centre is part of a broader strategy to improve member experience and reduce call waiting times, making healthcare more accessible and responsive to the needs, she said. The new NHIA Call Centre will provide Ghanaians with an easy and efficient way to access information, resolve issues, and receive support regarding their health insurance. By leveraging on Exotels advanced telephony solutions, the call centre is designed to handle high volumes of calls, ensuring that every callers query is addressed promptly and effectively. The Call Centre is integrated with NHIAs existing systems, providing a seamless experience for users. The Chief Executive Officer of Metro Edge Technologies, the West Africa premier partner for Exotel, Kingsley Bennett said Metro Edge is excited to partner with the National Health Insurance Authority. We believe that for the results that the NHIA wants to achieve, the solutions Metro Edge Technologies is offering through Exotel is a best fit as it provides expanded agent log-ins, 24-hour accessibility, IVR support as well as other customized solutions as requested by the NHIA; we are very confident that users will also find this upgraded call centre efficient and easy to use, he said. Mr. Bennett further added that our platform is designed to provide reliable and efficient communication solutions, and we are proud to support NHIA in their mission to provide quality healthcare services to the citizens of Ghana. Similar solutions have been deployed for Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana PLC, Fidelity Bank Ghana PLC, Old Mutual Ghana, UNFPA, ExpressPay Ghana, Hollard Ghana, Fan Milk Ghana, iParama, Wotiriye, Odibets, PPAG, Zoomlion and IT Consortium. The NHIA call centre can be reached on 054-444-6447 or via the short code 6447 on the MTN and Telecel mobile networks. It has been designed to allow for improved accessibility, and efficient service delivery as it has been equipped to handle a large volume of calls, reducing wait times and ensuring timely assistance to callers. Its integration with the NHIAs existing systems means that users are guaranteed a seamless experience. About Metro Edge Technologies Metro Edge Technologies is a fast-growing indigenous IT firm providing simple, innovative and cost-effective technology solutions to Enterprises and SMEs. Founded in 2013, Metro Edge has provided varied solutions to a number of industry verticals in Ghana. Metro Edge Technologies, a business enabler and as a solution driven firm, have developed very strong global partnership, with an objective to create sustainable and long-term solutions cost effectively. Metro Edge Technologies Partnership with Exotel In the area of Contact Centre, Metro Edge Technologies is Exotels premier partner in West Africa. Metro Edge Technologies provides both on premise deployments and Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) with AI Capabilities. Exotel is the emerging markets leading full stack customer engagement platform. Exotel's world-class cloud-based product suite powers 50 million engagements daily for over 8,000 companies in India, SE Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. We help brands of all sizes deliver exemplary customer experiences. Exotel comprises a communications platform (CPaaS), an omnichannel contact centre platform (CCaaS), and a conversational AI platform over the cloud. The full stack customer engagement solution powers optimal customer journeys consistently across all touchpoints, channels, and interactions to nurture customer retention and advocacy. 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 Last Saturday, players in the insurance industry gathered at Labadi Beach Hotel for the seventh edition of the Ghana Insurance Awards (GIA), which seeks to celebrate the achievements of individuals and companies who have distinguished themselves in the industry in the year under review. The Ghana Insurance Awards is a trademark owned by Xodus Communications Limited, organizers of Forty Under 40 Ghana, Forty Under 40 Africa, Forty Under 40 UK, Forty Under 40 Global, Ghana Oil and Gas Awards, Ghana Manufacturing Awards and Ghana Auto Awards and many more. The GIA has, since its inception in 2018, sought to promote the growth of the insurance industry through progressive competition, innovation, and adherence to the highest professional standards. In all, 18 companies and 4 individuals were honoured at the 2024 edition of the ceremony. In his welcome remarks, Chief Executive Officer of Xodus Communications, Richard Abbey Junior said, the winners were selected by an independent advisory board who evaluated the awardees based on criteria listed for each category. He added that the Awards is an annual ceremony to celebrate achievements and standards in the insurance industry. The Awards Night provides a spectacular occasion for insurance industry players to come together to celebrate and network while rewarding achievement and leadership in various key areas. The Awards cut across categories for life and non-life companies, re-insurers, brokerage firms, and other intermediaries, health insurers, actuarial firms, and other insurance service providers. He noted that the Technical Committee and the Awarding Board have always been guided by reports by the National Insurance Commission, the NHIA, and the entries provided by nominees " Xodus Communications Limited is undergoing ISO Certifications because of its international reputation. Annually, the GIA winners are carefully selected by the Jury". We are happy to have PayAngel as our proud sponsors This year's colourful event was attended by several dignitaries including H. E Grace Jeanet Mason- (South African High Commission), Delali Kotoka, (PayAngel Inc Business Development Manager), Dr Omaboe- (Garnet Medical Center), Dr Justice Srem Sai- University of Ghana, (Lecturer, Managing Partner, Praetorium Solicitors), Raj Mirpuri- Head of Sales, (Bel- Aqua), Pankaj Bahar- (General Manager- Alpha TND), Dr Fidelia Dake, Member of the Awarding Board, Hussein Gungor- (Turkish Ambassador) and many others. Here are the 2024 GIA winners; 1. HALL OF FAME 2024 GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR ENTERPRISE INSURANCE LTD 2. HALL OF FAME 2024 LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR ENTERPRISE LIFE INSURANCE LTD 3. HALL OF FAME 2024 PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR NATIONWIDE MEDICAL INSURANCE 4. PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD (MICRO INSURANCE) aYo INTERMEDIARIES GHANA LIMITED (AYO PAY AND DRIVE" MOTOR INSURANCE) 5. BANCASSURANCE LEADER AWARD 2024 ABSA BANK GHANA LTD 6. MOBILE INSURANCE LEADERSHIP AWARD 2024 aYo INTERMEDIARIES GHANA LIMITED 7. FASTEST GROWING COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2024 IMPERIAL GENERAL ASSURANCE 8. BEST GROWING COMPANY (GENERAL INSURANCE) 2024 SERENE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED 9. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2024 BERNARD AKYIN-ARKOH (STAR ASSURANCE LIMITED) 10. EMERGING BRAND OF THE YEAR 2024 SERENE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED 11. CEO OF THE YEAR PRIVATE HEALTH Insurance 2024 MR. ELTON FREDERICK AFARI (EQUITY HEALTH INSURANCE) 12. INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR PRIVATE HEALTH 2024 GLICO HEALTH INSURANCE GLICO SUNKWA HEALTH PLAN 13. BEST GROWING COMPANY OF THE YEAR PRIVATE HEALTH 2024 EQUITY HEALTH INSURANCE LIMITED 14. PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD (GENERAL INSURANCE) 2024 HOLLARD GHANA 15. BRAND OF THE YEAR (LIFE INSURANCE) 2024 ENTERPRISE LIFE INSURANCE 16. CUSTOMER CARE AWARD 2024 HOLLARD GHANA 17. ICT LEADERSHIP AWARD 2024 SUNU ASSURANCES GHANA LIMITED 18. PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2024 ACACIA HEALTH INSURANCE 19. BRAND OF THE YEAR (GENERAL INSURANCE ) 2024 STAR ASSURANCE LIMITED 20. PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD (LIFE INSURANCE) 2024 STARLIFE ASSURANCE LIMITED COMPANY 21. MARKETING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 2024 IMPERIAL GENERAL ASSURANCE 22. INDIGENOUS INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2024 STARLIFE ASSURANCE LIMITED COMPANY. 23. CLAIMS INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 2024 GLICO LIFE INSURANCE LTD 24. CSR LEADERSHIP AWARD (GENERAL INSURANCE) 2024 SERENE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED 25. CSR LEADERSHIP AWARD (LIFE INSURANCE) 2024 GLICO LIFE INSURANCE LTD 26. BRAND OF THE YEAR PRIVATE HEALTH 2024 METROPOLITAN HEALTH INSURANCE 27. CEO OF THE YEAR (NON-LIFE) 2024 MERCY NAA KOSHIE BOAMPONG (SERENE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED) 28. CEO OF THE YEAR (LIFE INSURANCE) 2024 MS. KAKRA DUFFUOR-NYARKO (STARLIFE ASSURANCE LIMITED COMPANY 29. GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2024 STAR ASSURANCE LIMITED 30. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2024 STARLIFE ASSURANCE LIMITED COMPANY 31. THE CENTENARY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE 2024 ENTERPRISE INSURANCE LIMITED Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A group of aggrieved youths of Bangui who identify as the Movement of Young Pan-Africans (MJP) organized a protest on Saturday, July 20, 2024 to voice out their aggrievances against the activities of an American non-governmental organization in the Central African Republic (CAR). The protest briefly follows the arrest of Martin Joseph Figueira, an affiliate of the American NGO, FHI-360. According to a publication on the Associated Press, Figueira was arrested by authorities of CAR for allegedly being in touch with armed groups to plot a coup. Speaking on behalf of the group, Socrate Gutenberg Taramboye, the leader of the MJP mentioned that the protest was against attempts by the NGO to launch a justice access policy. An initiative the group believes contravenes with the constitution of the Central African Republic and may infringe on the human rights of citizens. The group accused the NGO of trying to assimilate culture like LGBTQ on the People of the Central Africa Republic. Socrate Gutenberg charged the CAR government to ensure that the rules of law are allied in the case of Figueira. He believes theres sufficient evidence of communications between him and rebel groups to ensure he is prosecuted and justice is served. 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 On 30th July, 2024, the Court of Appeal by a split 21 decision, allowed an appeal against the ruling of the High Court, Accra dated 30th March, 2023, dismissing a submission of no case filed by the accused persons and ordering them to open their defence. The Office of the Attorney-General considers the decision of the Court of Appeal to be perverse in the quest for public accountability and the rule of law. The decision clearly is heavily against the weight of the cogent evidence led by the prosecution in substantiation of all the charges against the accused persons at the trial. The Office of the Attorney-General considers the decision of the Court of Appeal grossly unfair to the nation and inimical to the fight against impunity and abuse in public office after acquitting and discharging the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in the Ambulance Case. According to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, The Office will promptly file an appeal in order to erase the effect of this erroneous decision of the Court of Appeal. Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, who is a representative for Big Sea have been accused of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016. No Case Ato Forson had argued that there was no case for him to answer, but this submission was initially rejected by the trial judge. Jakpa had similarly failed a similar submission of no case, and has since called a number of witnesses in his defence. The Court of Appeal's decision now upholds Dr Ato Forson's submission. Accordingly, the court held that there was no basis for the trial High Court to call Dr. Forson to open his defence. Background In 2009, the then-President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, announced plans to purchase new ambulances to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service. Jakpa's company, Jakpa at Business, was appointed as the local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, to supply the ambulances. Parliament approved the financing agreement between the government and Stanbic Bank, and the letters of credit were established in favour of Big Sea. However, the government alleged that Jakpa's company received payments for ambulances that did not meet specifications, resulting in a financial loss to the state. Back To High Court Following the Court of Appeals' ruling on Tuesday morning, the trial at the High Court resumes this afternoon, where the court would be served with the decision of the Court of Appeal. Read attached the Attorney-General's full statement Your browser does not support iframes. 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 Pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has questioned the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) quest to be president again. Mr John Dramani Mahama who is keen on winning the December 7, presidential election had earlier questioned the constitutional four four-year term of the sitting president. According to the former president, the four-year team is not enough for any president' to perhaps accomplish his policies. However, AFAG in a statement wonders if the former president's quest to be president again is born out of ego. One may wonder why, knowing very well that he has only one 4-year term left. Is his quest for re-election an issue of ego or ambition? A portion of the statement asked. Adding that: President John Mahama has not changed. It is the same dead goat. No new vision, a new message to the people, and no clearly explained policies for the future of this country. It seems to be the same old magniloquence and rhetoric. Nothing new. Nothing to look forward to. This situation gives AFAG the impression that John Mahama is living in the past. Read the statement below John Mahama Must Admit His Failure and Apologize to Ghanaians - AFAG Former President Mahamas comeback is beset by opportunism and incoherent policies. In 2016, former President John Mahama told the people of Ghana that 4 years is not enough for any president, adding that the framers of the constitution were well aware of that and therefore gave an option for a second term for sitting presidents. One may wonder why, knowing very well that he has only one 4-year term left. Is his quest for re-election an issue of ego or ambition? We are still beset by the economic havoc that the erstwhile John Mahama administration plunged Ghana into during their days is still lingering in the minds of many well-meaning Ghanaians. Fortunately, not all of us have short memories. It is only fair and proper that John Mahama admits that he failed the citizens of this country and apologizes to Ghanaians for his failure. President John Mahama has not changed. It is the same dead goat. No new vision, new message to the people, and no clearly explained policies for the future of this country. It seems to be the same old magniloquence and rhetoric. Nothing new. Nothing to look forward to. This situation gives AFAG the impression that John Mahama is living in the past. As the leader of the main opposition party, we expect that you would acknowledge that things are not as they used to be both locally and internationally. COVID-19 happened, and the ensuing global pandemic forced nearly 90 percent of the world economy to go under some form of lockdown, disrupting supply chains, depressing consumer demand, and putting millions out of work. The whole world is still reeling from the impact of that situation. As the opposition leader, we expect that youll profess tangible and achievable solutions to deal with the new order. This politics of constantly repeating the same old narratives over and again has become stale and tasteless. It is as if he hasn't learned from the obvious patterns that occasioned and eventually resulted in the defeats he suffered in the last 2 elections. AFAG believes that the endless repetition of the same stories by John Mahama is not healthy for the continuous growth of our democracy. What is his way forward for the nation? AFAG would like to implore John Mahama to raise the political conversation beyond the out-of-date politics and focus on more essential issues that will likely affect us locally if we do not plug into the ever-growing global happenings. The era of "tso boi" politics in Ghana should end. The rest of the world is leaving us behind. We must catch up. AFAG will ensure that you're held accountable for your deeds in the past and at the same time, keep an eye on the quality of your goals for the future, given that you have only one 4-year term to serve, if Ghanaians accept your unqualified apology for your misdeeds. God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. SIGNED - AFAG LEADERSHIP [054 475 9734] Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's campaign momentum in the Northern part of Ghana is on the rise following highly successful engagements in the Upper East Region in the past few days. In the past weeks, Dr. Bawumia has pitched camp in the North, engaging with diverse stakeholders including traditional leaders, religious leaders and the youth in the North East, Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions with huge crowds welcoming him. On the last lap of his Northern tour in the Upper East Region which began last Friday, Dr. Bawumia was given a warm reception from mammoth crowds in Bawku, Garu Tempane, Pusiga, Talensi, Nabdam, Chiana Paga, Bolga and Navrongo. In each of these constituencies and holding a community connect with the youth, the gathering has shown massive love and support to the Vice President and NPP presidential candidate by defying rains to stay with him. Dr. Bawumia has also tailored his messages to meet the expectations of his different audiences, telling them of the massive development projects in the five Northern Regions under the NPP regime. In each constituency, he lists a number of projects the government has undertaken in the area since 2017 to demonstrate how the NPP has kept faith with the people. Dr. Bawumia further highlights the NDC and their flagbearer, John Mahama's neglect of the North in terms of development to remind the people of the bad treatment they experienced while Mahama was President. Some of the failures of the Mahama administration he outlines are their SADA project which was a complete fiasco and the blatant corruption that characterized the previous government. Dr. Bawumia is the first Northerner to be elected leader of the New Patriotic Party in a major election and for the first time, both the leading candidates for the two main political parties are from the North. This makes the 2024 election historic as Dr. Bawumia has made significant inroads in what the NDC considered their safe grounds. 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 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: Supermarket group Colruyt has a mussel farm off the Belgian coast to harvest local mussels. It is a popular tradition to eat mussels in Brussels but what may surprise many is that none of the mollusks visitors enjoy are locally sourced in Belgium. That is, until now. A Belgian supermarket group has taken on the challenge of harvesting local mussels, already reaping rich rewards, with business booming. Off the coast of Nieuwpoort, near the French border, a crane hoists mussel-clad ropes onto a boat. They are part of the 12-kilometer (seven-mile) network the Colruyt chain established in 2023. Such a sight had never been seen in Belgium before and Colruyt hopes it will grow, especially to challenge the dominance of Dutch mussels in the local market. "We harvest a tonne in about four hours, with four people. We would like in the future to do three to four tonnes a day," says Stijn Van Hoestenberghe, as he takes an AFP team to a mussel farm he manages. This year Colruyt is counting on a harvest of 50 tonnes, up from six last year, and "maybe 200" in 2025, Van Hoestenberghe adds. It's not easy work, Van Hoestenberghe admits, because of the strong sea currents, storms and dense maritime traffic in the area. A far cry from the wide and deep Scheldt estuary where the renowned Zeeland mussel grows in the south of the Netherlands, which supplies much of the European market. Stijn Van Hoestenberghe, who manages a mussel farm, admits it's not easy work. "The Dutch part of the delta is a gigantic protected zone, which makes it easier to set up (mussel) farms than in the open sea," explains Jerome Mallefet, marine biology expert at Belgium's UCLouvain University. Establishing more mussels farms off the Belgian coastdescribed by Mallefet as "a motorway for boats"is more difficult because of offshore wind turbines and trawling activity, the expert adds. Today, experts estimate that Belgium, one of the biggest consumers of mussels in Europe alongside Spain, France and Denmark, gets more than 90 percent of its mussels from Dutch farmers in Zeeland. Foreign mussels roped in Despite the progress, Colruyt has greater ambitions to muscle into the market since its supplies will at best meet one percent of the needs of Belgium, where around 20,000 tonnes of mussels are consumed a year. "It's clear that there's room for growth," the company says. For now, Colruyt's "100-percent Belgian" mussels are delivered to four of its stores and around 15 restaurants in Belgium. Colruyt says the mussels are 'sustainably' farmed using ropes made from recycled fishing nets. One of its arguments for developing the market is that the mussels are "sustainably" farmed since the ropes used are made from recycled fishing nets. Mussels are a seasonal foodstuff. The best time to eat them, say experts, is when the size and flesh have developed, usually from September to December. On the historical Grand Place in Brussels, a major tourist destination in Belgium, a restaurant owner tells AFP he offers the highly popular traditional dish of mussels and fries on his menu all year round. Like his customers, his mussels come from around Europe. "We have many people eating mussels here... So we have Zeelandese mussels between June and February, and after that we have Danish mussels, or even German mussels, depending on demand," says Jean-Philippe Bosman, owner of the Le Roy d'Espagne restaurant. "Having a local producer is good but they would need to supply us with the quantities we want on time... and that is more complicated." 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A Sali fledgling. Credit: Martin Kastner. Brown treesnakes are not indigenous to Guam. The species arrived shortly after World War II, perhaps aboard shipping vessels. Since then, they have caused the local or total extinction of most native forest bird species. Researchers including Haldre Rogers, a tropical forest community ecologist and conservation biologist in the College of Natural Resources and Environment have spent years conducting studies to support and inform bird conservation efforts. Since 2007, Rogers has operated the Ecology of Bird Loss project in Guam to better understand how losing birds impacts the ecosystem and to form strategies to restore birds to the ecosystem. It has previously been suggested that while total eradication is optimal, removing the large, mature snakesthe ones big enough to eat birdsmight be sufficient to allow some bird populations to recover. Research, published on July 25 in Ecology and Evolution, shows that snakes are killing birds whether they can eat them or not, suggesting that they are routinely tackling prey that are too large for them to swallow. "Around half of the birds that are getting killed by snakes are not actually eaten by them," said Martin Kastner, a doctoral student in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Kastner has spent the last three years with a team in the Mariana Islands conducting the first study into the influence of both prey and predator sizes on brown treesnake predation success. "Before this work, no one realized the extent to which snakes are unsuccessfully trying to predate birds," said Rogers. "I think we just assumed that most of the time they would be good at estimating how large a prey they would need, so it came as a big surprise to us that almost exactly half of the birds were not actually consumed." The team attached radio transmitters to roughly 400 Sali fledglings, a medium-sized bird in the starling family that is locally endangered on Guam because of brown treesnake predation. The fledglings that were unsuccessfully ingested by the brown treesnake were found dead on the ground with their heads and necks coated in saliva, whereas the fledglings that were successfully ingested were tracked to the bellies or feces of snakes. The snake population at the site was also surveyed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Brown Treesnake Lab with measurements taken of all snakes found, allowing the team to compare the size of snakes that successfully ate birds to those on the landscape. The study began in November 2019 and concluded in October of 2022: The team recorded 294 fledgling bird deaths out of 461 tracked. Brown treesnakes killed 58% of those, and cats killed 30%. Approximately half of the birds killed by the brown tree snakes were covered in saliva but not ingested. Kastner was the lead writer of a paper on these findings titled, "Gape-limited invasive predator frequently kills avian prey that are too large to swallow." Along with Kastner and Rodgers, co-authors on the paper also included Scott M. Goetz, Kayla M. Baker, Shane R. Siers, Eben H. Paxton, and Melia G. Nafus. This paper is one part of Kastner's doctoral thesis. "This chapter of Martin's thesis is really interesting. It helps managers figure out how much control is needed, and which age classes should be targeted," said Rogers. "These results have management implications because they show that smaller snakes can still effectively kill birds even if they can't actually swallow them, which means that there is a broader demographic range of snakes that need to be controlled." Kastner's dissertation focuses on trying to understand the impact of snakes on Sali and to explore how snake control approaches correlate to fledgling survival and the overall population of the bird. "In the right context, snakes are a big part of the ecosystem. They're wonderful in the right place, but in Guam, unfortunately, they're invasive, so that's important to keep in mind," said Kastner. "We need to get rid of them if we want hope of bringing back native birds and restoring the overall ecosystem." Kastner has also helped establish Guam's first volunteer group dedicated to brown treesnake eradication, named "Friends of Islan Dano." Islan Dano' is an islet located off Guam that has long been considered free from invasive brown treesnakes until recently. An article by Kastner and the other co-founder, Olympia Terral, describing these efforts has been published in Berryman Institute's Human-Wildlife Interactions journal. Kastner and Rogers also have recently published a life history paper about Sali with many co-authors from the region. In addition to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, the researchers have also worked closely with the USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center in Hawai'i National Park; the United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center in Barrigada, Guam; and the Guam Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources. More information: Martin Kastner et al, Gapelimited invasive predator frequently kills avian prey that are too large to swallow, Ecology and Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11598 Journal information: Ecology and Evolution This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels Next month, changes to the Australian Fair Work Act will give workers the formal right to disconnect from all work communication outside their usual work hours. The main driver for introducing "right to disconnect" laws has been to protect the health and well-being of workers in an increasingly hyper-connected world. But what exactly will the new laws mean for Australian businesses, managers and employees? Right to disconnect origins Right to disconnect laws were first introduced in France in 2017 in response to concern about the welfare of workers who were increasingly connected to their workplaces as a result of expanding digital technologies. France introduced a law requiring companies with more than 50 employees to negotiate agreements with staff on their rights to ignore their smartphones and other electronic devices after work hours. The reaction was mixed. Some praised the move for promoting worklife balance and reducing stress, while others raised concerns about its potential impact on productivity and competitiveness. One critic at the time said, "The French may quickly discover that their most productive workers are routine 'lawbreakers' who stay connected during off-hours." To learn more about this topic, I reviewed 21 academic articles on the right to disconnect, from 15 different countries over the past seven years, and identified several themes that may help Australian managers. The 'always on' culture The growth of digital devicesincluding smartphones, laptops, tablets and smart watchesmeans many Australian workers have been working way beyond their contracted number of hours for many years. A 2023 Australia Institute study estimated Australian workers on average were doing an extra 5.4 hours of unpaid work per week. The unofficial encroachment of work duties into workers' personal timealso called "availability creep" or "time theft"equates to an extra 281 hours' unpaid work per year. This is estimated to be costing workers an average of AU$11,055 annually. It has led to serious concerns for employee health and welfare, work-life balance and workplace exploitation. The post-pandemic rise of flexible work arrangements in Australia, while offering many lifestyle and health benefits, may also contribute to our "always on" culture and expectations to be constantly available and contactable. This digital presenteeism has been found to affect the health of workers in different ways, including causing headaches, eyestrain, insomnia, back pain, anxiety and burnout. Protecting workers Another key theme of the right to disconnect laws is how working time, work availability and rest times are observed. Portugal has even taken things a step further than other countries, placing the responsibility for the right to disconnect on the employer, by implementing "refrain from contact" laws. This means companies with more than ten employees can be fined if they text or email staff outside their contracted hours. However, the new Australian law won't restrict managers from contacting employees whenever they wish, but it will give their employees a legal right to refuse to "monitor, read or respond to communications from an employer or third party made outside their working hours, unless refusal is unreasonable." If an employee chooses not to respond, disciplinary action cannot be taken, nor can the employee be treated differently, such as through rostering or performance requirements, for deciding to disconnect. This should encourage conversations about what represents reasonable contact. The Fair Work Commission says this must be based on the reason for contact, the employee's personal circumstances, the nature of the employee's role and responsibilities, and whether the employee is being compensated for being available outside ordinary work hours. Making the change In some countries, right to disconnect policies have been formally set in law, while others rely on self-regulation by employers instead. France, for example, legislated out-of-hours' electronic communication between employers and employees through statutes and legislation, meaning government entities are required to enforce the right and a court is needed to interpret it. Germany, on the other hand, does not formally legislate disconnection provisions, but many of its companies (including car manufacturers Volkswagen and Daimler) already have their own regulations in place. In Australia, the right to disconnect will be a right under general protection laws. Disputes about an employee's response will need to be discussed and resolved at the workplace level but, if a resolution isn't possible, employees or employers can take the case to the Fair Work Commission. The commission can then make orders or deal with the dispute in other ways. What to expect The new laws come into effect 26 August. They are an important step towards encouraging sensible conversations about the importance of rest, availability, and whether it is necessary to contact workers outside their normal hours. Right to disconnect laws should challenge managers to create a work culture where employees feel comfortable disconnecting from work and understand the importance of maintaining a clear boundary between work and rest, where their rest periods are formally respected and preserved. As an initiative for supporting improved digital well-being and work-life balance, in today's hyperconnected world, clearer boundaries between working time and rest are crucial. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Raul Soteras, Institut Arquelogic Alemany/Universitat de Basilea About 7,000 years ago, the first farmers in the western Mediterranean selected the most fertile land available, cultivated cereal varieties very similar to today's, and made sparing use of domestic animal feces, as they do today. These are some of the elements that characterize the expansion of agriculture during the Neolithic period in Western Europe, according to an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The first author is Professor Josep Lluis Araus, from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Barcelona and member of Agrotechnio, the CERCA Center for Research in Agrotechnology. The study reconstructs the environmental conditions, crop management practices and the characteristics of the plants that existed when agriculture appeared in Western Europe, and takes as a reference the site of La Draga (Banyoles, Girona), one of the most significant and complex sites on the Iberian Peninsula, as well as including data on sixteen other sites from the beginnings of agriculture in the region. According to the conclusions, at the time of its appearance on the Iberian Peninsula, agriculture had already achieved a consolidated level in agricultural techniques for growing cereals, suggesting an evolution throughout its migration across Europe of the methods and genetic material originating from the fertile crescent, the cradle of the Neolithic revolution in the Middle East. Experts from the University of Lleida (UdL) and the joint research unit CTFC-Agrotecnio, the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Universitat de Valencia, the University of Basel (Switzerland), the Agri-Food Research and Technology Center of Aragon (CITA) and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) also participate in the article. The excavations in La Draga are coordinated by the Archaeological Museum of Banyoles, within the framework of the four-yearly archaeological excavation projects of the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia. What were the main crops grown on La Draga? Since its appearance nearly 12,000 years ago in the territories of the so-called fertile crescent, agriculture has transformed the relationship with the natural environment and the socio-economic structure of human populations. Now, the team has applied paleoenvironmental and archaeobotanical reconstruction techniques to identify the conditions in the village of La Draga when agriculture emerged. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Banyoles, it is one of the oldest settlements of farmers and stockbreeders in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula (52004800 BC), and an extraordinary testimony to the first farming and stockbreeding societies in the Iberian Peninsula. To give a regional dimension to the study, cereal data from other Neolithic sites in the Iberian Peninsula and southern France have also been examined. Although it was pioneering agricultureit began in previously uncultivated areas. "The growing conditions seem to have been favorable, possibly due to a deliberate choice by the farmers of the most suitable land. The crops do not seem too different from the traditional varieties that have been cultivated in the following millennia," says Professor Araus, from the Plant Biology Section of the UB's Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Araus has led the reconstruction of the agronomic conditions and characteristics of the crops based on the analysis of the samples collected and identified by the archaeobotanists of the UAB, the DAI and the University of Basel. The main source of information for studying agricultural practices in prehistoric times "are the archaeobotanical remains (seeds and fruits) that we find in the archaeological deposits we excavate. The most frequently found remains are carbonized cereal grains. Thus, isotopic studies on these remains allow us to open an alternative interpretative line to characterize past agricultural practices," notes Ferran Antolin, from the DAI. Durum wheat and poppy are the species that were mainly cultivated in La Draga. "In addition, barley also appearsalways in small amountsand, occasionally, some traces of small spelt, spelt wheat and Triticum timopheevii corn. Moreover, the proportions of cereals during the different phases of occupation remained practically unchanged," says Antolin. Juan Pedro Ferrio, CSIC research scientist at the Aula Dei Experimental Station says, "Although the domestication of animals is not the focus of the article, several pieces of evidence indicate that animals grazed in the same crop fields. This fact could explain the moderate contribution of organic marinade of animal origin, suggested by the nitrogen isotopic composition of the cereal seeds." A favorable climate for agricultural practices At La Draga, the good environmental conditions favored the practice of agriculture when this Neolithic population settled on the shores of Lake Banyoles. "The isotopic study of carbonized wood and cereal seeds confirms that the availability of water in the area was better than it is today. Previous archaeobotanical studies had shown that vegetation grew in the area around the site that was quite different from what we find today. "The oak and riparian forests with an abundance of laurel trees would have dominated the environment, and this type of vegetation requires more humid climatic conditions than today," explains Professor Raquel Pique, from the UAB's Department of Prehistory. "This evidence of conditions that are wetter than todayand therefore more suitable for agriculturecould be extrapolated to other sites from the beginnings of agriculture in the western Mediterranean," says Professor Araus. "It is quite likely that agriculture would not have been adopted in response to negative environmental conditionsfor example, climate changeand the need to ensure food for the population, but rather as a way of increasing resources and making them more stable compared to a hunting and gathering economy." How did agriculture expand in the Iberian Peninsula? Understanding the details of the exploitation of the new agricultural subsistence system is fundamental to understanding the broader process of Neolithic economic, cultural and social change. "In the case of the Iberian Peninsula, archaeobotanical evidence collected in recent decades has suggested a rapid expansion of agriculture, with the almost simultaneous appearance of the first domesticated plants in different regions," says Jordi Voltas, professor at the UdL and the joint CTFC-Agrotecnio research unit. "The new study supports existing archaeological models of the spread of agricultural practices based mainly on migratory phenomena (demic diffusion). In particular, they denote a consolidated agriculture in terms of good agronomic conditions and evolved crop characteristics at the time when agriculture reached the western shores of Europe." There is still limited knowledge of the nature of crop practices in the early Neolithic populations. "We are talking about prehistoric societies, which, except for exceptional sites such as La Draga, have left relatively scarce material remains that can only be adequately studied with detailed work through successive excavation campaigns. "In these contexts, the ecophysiology of crops and all the relational methodologiesstable isotopes, etc.have been decisive in contributing new knowledge over the past decades to the scientific debate on the origins and spread of agriculture. As this study shows, they will also be so in the future," concludes Professor Araus. More information: Jose L. Araus et al, Isotope and morphometrical evidence reveals the technological package associated with agriculture adoption in western Europe, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401065121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Global sustainability initiatives like the environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing principle may lead to greater financial gains for hospitality firms in high-income countries but not in low-income nations, according to new findings from researchers in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. Penn State doctoral student Samantha Hwang and Professor of Hospitality Management Seoki Lee led a research team that assessed how implementing practices related to ESG impacts the financial well-being of hospitality firms, which consist of hotels, restaurants and casinos. The researchers identified a significant moderating effect of national economic development between the ESG scoresmeasuring a company's performance in ESG practicesand return on assets of hospitality firms. This finding indicates that the success of ESG initiatives can depend on a country's gross domestic product. The research team published its findings in the International Journal of Hospitality Management. Within ESG, the environmental dimension consists of resource use, emissions and innovation; the social dimension encompasses workforce, human rights and community; and the governance dimension includes management, shareholders and corporate social responsibility strategy. "In terms of ESG, policymakers in low- and middle-income countries can think about improving their infrastructure and better educating their populations about sustainability practices," Lee said. "This will encourage not only the public but also the companies to invest in ESG. Our data suggests this will reward companies accordingly." The researchers analyzed data from 166 hospitality firms across 36 countries. The team collected data from London Stock Exchange Group, formerly Refinitiv, a global database that contains individual ESG scores and financial data of publicly traded global hospitality firms. The researchers used return on assetsoperating profit divided by total assetsto measure firm performance and gross domestic product to measure national economic development. The team found that if a country's gross domestic product, which can serve as a measure of economic health, is already high, then that country's hospitality firms are more likely to have a fruitful return on assets upon participating in ESG practices. "Low- and middle-income nations may not have the options to invest in ESG initiatives because their people need to take care of their personal needs first," Hwang said. "This is an example of Maslow's hierarchy of needsa theory proposed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in the 1940sin that people first take care of their basic needs before they can invest in their surroundings." Hwang said an example of this could be an airline collecting donations for a social cause. People in low- and middle-income countries may not be inclined to participate in this social cause, as they may only have the resources to take care of their needs, or, in this case, simply purchase the plane ticket. While low- and middle-income countries can face resource constraints that make rewarding sustainable practices challenging, consumers in high-income nations can be more inclined to pay extra for environmentally friendly or sustainable goods and services, according to Hwang. Examples of ESG within the hospitality industry could include businesses volunteering in communities and donating to social causes. Specific efforts can include when casinos implement responsible gambling messaging and campaigns or when hotels invest in human trafficking-awareness programming, according to the researchers. The researchers also said restaurants could focus on forms of ethical sourcing, such as purchasing food from local farms that follow ESG practices, such as growing crops in an environmentally friendly way. "Companies should adjust their ESG initiatives in ways the community can participate," Hwang said. "Whether companies are based in high-income or low-income nations, they should have everyone inclusively involved when it comes to investing in ESG activities. ESG can be costly in the short term, but it can turn into a positive investment for companies in the long run." More information: Da Hyun S. Hwang et al, The moderating role of national economic development on the relationship between ESG and firm performance in the global hospitality industry, International Journal of Hospitality Management (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2024.103788 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: In contrast to earlier research, new data suggests that on average 98% of Americans report having at least one friend, and 58% have five or more friends. Credit: AFP, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) American adults may typically have more friends than indicated by other recent surveys, with fewer Americans having no friends at allthough many would like closer friendships. Natalie Pennington of Colorado State University, US, and colleagues present these preliminary findings from the ongoing "American Friendship Project" in a study published July 30, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. Having more and higher quality friendships is linked with greater happiness and life satisfaction. However, research suggests that more and more American adults are facing loneliness and spending less time being social. Nonetheless, evidence conflicts as to whether the number and quality of friendships among Americans are actually in decline. To get a clearer picture of American friendship, Pennington and colleagues launched the American Friendship Project, an ongoing, multi-year survey study. In 2022 and 2023, they gathered baseline data by surveying nearly 6,000 American adults about their friendships and well-being. This initial data suggests that an American adult has an average of four or five friends, similar to numbers reported in previous research from 1970 to 2015. Approximately 2% of participants reported being friendless, which is also in line with data from prior decades. These findings suggest that recent concerns about increasing friendlessness may be inaccurate. However, while participants generally reported satisfaction with their friendships, many indicated a desire for more time spent with their friends or for higher quality friendships. The analysis also suggests that participants often talk with friends in person, though phone calls and texting are also common. A subset of participants who were college students were more likely to report meeting new friends at school and tended to maintain friendships for briefer time periods than a general adult subset of participants. While analyzing the baseline data, the researchers also evaluated the methodology and limitations of the American Friendship Project, considering such questions as people's varying definitions of "friend" and whether friendships reported in surveys may be reciprocated or not by the other parties. Overall, the researchers say the project shows promise for shedding new light on friendship and well-being over time, which could inform efforts to increase and improve such relationships. The authors add, "Americans long for greater closeness with friends; although over 75% were satisfied with the number of friends they had, 42% felt they were not as close to their friends as they would like." More information: The American Friendship Project: A report on the status and health of friendship in America, PLoS ONE (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305834 Journal information: PLoS ONE This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Businesses across Canada have been bemoaning the lack of qualified workers across numerous industries, including those traditionally viewed as lower-skill occupations. This issue has been ongoing for the past few years but came to a head in 2021 as the country eased its way out of the pandemic. Food service establishments, in particular, struggled to find suitable employees while trying to return to business as usual. In response to these staffing challenges, temporary foreign worker and provincial nominee programs were looked to as convenient stop-gap solutions. Temporary foreign workers account for a relatively large proportion of workers in accommodation and food services compared to other industries. Food service work is often precarious, characterized by part-time, temporary and low-paid positions. Still, despite these efforts, many positions remained unfilled. This raises an important question: are these labor shortages real, or are there barriers preventing certain workers from securing interviews and filling employment gaps? Our forthcoming research set out to address this question. Are you the right 'fit?' Hiring managers in the food service industry often emphasize the importance of finding the right "fit" when hiring new employees. But does everyone have the same chance to fit in? Our forthcoming research in The Economic and Labor Relations Review found that many hiring managers have set ideas about what makes an ideal employee. These ideals are usually related to a candidate's race, country of origin, immigration status, Indigeneity, gender and physical appearance. Using interviews with food service employers and workers, along with results from resume call backs, our analysis suggests the notion of a fit employee functions as a gatekeeper by providing opportunities for some while excluding others. Labor market opportunities and disadvantages are created by these notions of who is the right fit. This is particularly important to consider in light of the high unemployment rates for Indigenous Peoples and wage disparities between men and women in food services. There is more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye. Gender and 'pretty privilege' Women are over-represented, yet underpaid, in the food service industry. They are more likely to be hired in better paid customer-facing roles, such as serving tables, because they are perceived as being more polite, organized and better at providing customer service. However, this type of job comes at a cost for women. They are expected to spend money on personal grooming and face intense pressure to present themselves in ways male customers find appealing. One female interviewee recalled a comment made by a restaurant owner about female employees: "If you don't feel like you should be Instagram ready, like taking an Instagram picture, then you shouldn't come to work." Our findings suggest employer biases toward physical appearance and gendered social attributes can outweigh the qualifications listed on job seekers' resumes. How race impacts hiring For many people, food service jobs represent an opportunity to get into the workforce. These roles, often viewed as entry-level positions, are frequently used as stepping stones for future employment. However, it's important to note that not everyone seeking positions in food service are doing so as a form of trainingmany simply need a job, full stop. Who gets hired for these jobs is important because those who are unable to secure entry-level service positions could have their long-term career prospects impacted. This, in turn, could compound already existing labor market inequalities. But the reality of how this actually happens isn't quite so simple. Despite the perception that food service work is "easier" for immigrants and racialized workers to break into, our research found that racialized workers had fewer chances overall to be hired, especially in front-of-house roles. In some cases, racialized workers may be hired as a "token minority" or they may be hired preferentially if their ethnicity appears to match the type of food being served. In both cases, race is treated as a commodity by the employer and diversity is seen as a favorable business decision. One food service worker told us: "The only advantage you have is tokenism because it can be an advantage that you have a higher chance of getting hired at a place that doesn't have visible minorities." Of those who were hired, they tended to be pushed into back-of-house roles where they didn't interact directly with customers or earn tips. The quality of jobs immigrants and racialized workers had tended to be lower, with unsteady hours and low wages. Indigenous workers The challenges facing Indigenous job applicants were even more stark. Our analysis suggests Indigenous Peoples are acutely impacted by the notion of fit in Canada, which often serves as a pretext for excluding them from employment opportunities. Racism continues to perpetuate the discrimination and marginalization of Indigenous Peoples in the labor market in Canada. Indigenous workers can be stigmatized by stereotypes that characterize them as being prone to criminal behavior and substance use. These stereotypes led one of the hiring managers we interviewed to say they wouldn't hire Indigenous applicants. Our research found that, when Indigenous applicants were hired, employers were more likely to place them into low-paid and low-status roles, such as dishwashing, that had fewer chances for advancement. The Indigenous workers we spoke to used a variety of coping mechanisms to deal with the racist attitudes they faced, including trying to "turn a blind eye to it." Policy isn't enough on its own Anti-discrimination legislation, by itself, is not enough to prevent biases against certain job applicants. Few employees have the resources to be able to contest unfair or illegal treatment, and even if they are able to complain through employment standards processes or a civil lawsuit, discrimination in the hiring process is difficult to prove. Government subsidies, training programs, work experience and education are also unlikely to overcome the biases that shape employment outcomes. The reason why racialized, Indigenous or newcomer applicants are less likely to be hired is not because of training deficiencies. Rather, hiring managers act as gatekeepers by enforcing their own preferences and biases about who will fit into their organization. Put another way, job experience, education and extracurricular activities are easily overshadowed by biases that employers use to deem certain candidates as a suitable fit. Qualified job-seekers are often ignored or considered for other occupations in the food service industry as a result. Unconscious bias training and initiatives fall short of affecting meaningful change if the broader system goes unexamined. Real transformation requires focused anti-racist programming that involves actively challenging and changing racist policies, practices and attitudesnot simply paying lip service to diversity or anti-discrimination campaigns. Employer concerns about genuine labor market shortages in certain sectors are real, but in some respects, these problems are made worse by notions about fitting in that turn otherwise qualified candidates away before landing an interview. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Guaranteed income programs don't appear to improve the health of recipients, but they remain an important tool to consider for reducing poverty, according to research from University of Michigan and others. The findings come from research released by OpenResearch's Unconditional Income Study, which gave 1,000 adults $1,000 per month for three years. The randomized controlled trial examined the effects of the cash transfers on recipients, including their overall health, employment outcomes and how they spent the money. Leading the study on health effects was Sarah Miller, U-M associate professor of business economics and public policy. She said the cash generated only short-lived (one-year) improvements in stress and mental health and no effect on physical health, as measured by self-reports. Not seeing a longer-term reduction in stress was a disappointment, Miller said, since that could be one way that more income improves health. "There's so much energy in health policy now for addressing 'social determinants of health'and poverty in particular," Miller said. "Could cash transfers be the way to meaningfully and effectively reduce health disparities? It's hard for me to look at these results and say yes." However, Miller notes she and her colleagues found an overall increase in visits to hospitals and dentists. It's possible the uptick in medical care could improve health over a longer time horizon. Participants, who were mostly recruited by mail in a diverse set of counties in Texas and Illinois, were asked if they would be interested in a study in which they would receive at least $50 per month. Of the 14,000 respondents who consented, researchers drew a weighted random sample of 3,000 to ensure racial and income diversity. All of those in the latter sample group were enrolled in a monthly cash transfer program of $50, and 1,000 of them were selected randomly to receive $1,000 a month. Researchers reasoned the control group should continue to receive the smaller amount so they would be more likely to participate in future surveys. In the employment-related study, Miller and colleagues found that $1,000-per-month recipients worked roughly 1.4 hours fewer per week on average. She said she doesn't view that as negativetime away from work is something they value and she views that as a "reasonable thing to use the payment on." Not surprisingly, when it came to spending, the research also showed increases in consumption of food, leisure, transportation and housing. The participants boosted their spending in those areas by roughly $300 a month. While those expenditures didn't appear to improve health, they did provide financial flexibility and freedom"a feature of cash, not a bug," said Miller, also a co-author on the employment and spending studies. "If the policy goal is to improve health specifically, there are health-targeted interventions that we know work: make medical care cheaper, expand coverage, reduce barriers to initiating a primary care relationship," she said. "I am personally in favor of more cash transfers and think that the U.S. should do more to help alleviate poverty. It's important to know what cash transfers can and can't accomplish, though, so we can make good policy decisions." Both studies can be found in the National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series. More information: Sarah Miller et al, Does Income Affect Health? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Guaranteed Income, National Bureau of Economic Research Working paper series (2024). DOI: 10.3386/w32711 Eva Vivalt et al, The Employment Effects of a Guaranteed Income: Experimental Evidence from Two U.S. States, National Bureau of Economic Research Working paper series (2024). DOI: 10.3386/w32719 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: Illustrative representation of a black hole binary immersed in a dark matter spike at the center of a galaxy. Credit: Original image: NASA science.nasa.gov/resource/spiral-galaxy-blue/. Modified by Alvarez, Cline, and Dewar. In a new study, scientists from Canada have proposed a solution to the final parsec problem of supermassive black hole (SMBH) mergers using self-interacting dark matter. When two galaxies merge, gas and dust collide, leading to star formation. However, the stars themselves don't collide due to their vast distances. The SMBHs at the center of the two galaxies also begin to merge. However, the merger of the black holes stalls when they are 1 parsec (or 30.9 trillion kilometers) apart. This problem is known as the final parsec problem in astronomy and astrophysics. The study, published in Physical Review Letters (PRL), attempts to solve this problem and explain the gravitational wave spectrum observed in 2021 by the Pulsar Timing Array collaborations. Phys.org spoke to the first author of the study, Dr. Gonzalo Alonso Alvarez, a postdoc at the University of Toronto. Speaking of the motivation behind the team's work, he said, "What struck us the most when Pulsar Timing Array collaborations announced evidence for a gravitational wave spectrum is that there was room to test new particle physics scenarios, specifically dark matter self-interactions, even within the standard astrophysical explanation of supermassive black hole mergers." Why stop at 1 parsec? When SMBHs from two merging galaxies are separated by 1 parsec, two counteracting things are at play. Firstly, large objects like an SMBH cause ripples in spacetime, leading to the formation of gravitational waves that travel throughout spacetime. These gravitational waves carry energy away from the source. When two SMBHs merge, the gravitational waves carry energy away from the merger, causing the black holes to spiral inwards more rapidly. The second is a frictional force called dynamical friction. When massive objects like black holes travel through a medium (like dust and stars), they have a trail of disturbed fluid called the wake. For example, when a ship moves through water, it leaves a turbulent trail of water behind it; this is its wake. The particles attracted to the SMBH via gravity can cause a drag force, which is dynamical friction. This friction opposes the motion of the massive object, forcing it to slow down. In the case of two SMBHs merging, this can cause them to stop moving towards each other. "Previous calculations have found that this process stalls when the black holes are around 1 parsec away from each other, a situation sometimes referred to as the final parsec problem," explained Dr. Alvarez. This is where dynamical friction comes into play. This can either oppose or assist with the merging of the two SMBHs. Self-interacting dark matter The researchers propose that a form of dark matter might be the solution to this problem. "In this paper, we show that including the previously overlooked effect of dark matter can help black holes overcome this final parsec of separation and merge, thus emitting a gravitational wave signal that matches the one observed by Pulsar Timing Arrays," said Dr. Alvarez. In a galaxy, dark matter is predominantly present in the galactic halo, the region surrounding the visible galaxy. But, it is also present near the galactic core, where the SMBH is present. Therefore, the nature of dark matter could play a crucial role in the merger of SMBHs. Self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) is a hypothetical form of dark matter in which dark matter particles interact with each other via a new unknown force. In galaxies containing SIDM, the interactions between the dark matter particles can affect the density (distribution) and velocity of the dark matter, leading to a more efficient funneling of matter and energy toward the SMBH, which could potentially overcome the dynamical friction. A delicate balance To explore the role of SIDM in the SMBH merger, the researchers performed detailed calculations of dark matter density profiles around SMBHs for SIDM and cold dark matter (less interacting). They also modeled dynamical friction effects on SMBH orbits, calculated energy transfer between the SMBH and dark matter, and conducted simulations of gravitational wave spectra under different dark matter scenarios. They then compared these results with observational data from the pulsar timing arrays. The researchers found that the interaction cross-section of dark matter particles must be within an optimal range. A larger cross-sectional area, which means more frequent interactions, causes dark matter particles to interact and scatter, flattening the density profile near the SMBHs. This reduction in density decreases the dynamical friction necessary for the SMBHs to merge. "On the other hand, sufficiently frequent dark matter self-interactions are needed to prevent this profile from being dispersed by the black hole motion," explained Dr. Alvarez. The ideal cross-section range allows enough interactions to influence the SMBHs' movement without dispersing the dark matter too much, thereby maintaining sufficient dynamical friction to aid the merging process. The researchers found this value to be between 2.5 and 25 cm2/g. This means that for every gram of dark matter, the effective area over which the particles interact should be between 2.5 and 25 square centimeters. Velocity-dependent interactions The researchers also found that the velocity of the SIDM particles must be optimal. This velocity is in turn influenced by the unknown force carrier or mediator's mass, which facilitates the interaction between SIDM particles. If the mediator is heavy, it could mean that dark matter particles only interact significantly when they are moving slowly relative to each other. Conversely, if the mediator is light, interactions could occur at higher velocities. "Interestingly, this velocity dependence is theoretically well-motivated. It is precisely what one finds if the particle that acts as the force carrier for the dark matter self-interactions has a mass that is roughly 1 percent of the dark matter particle mass," said Dr. Alvarez. The researchers estimated this value to be between 300 and 600 km/s. "These velocity-dependent self-interactions leave an imprint on the gravitational wave spectrum because when the black holes are a fraction of a parsec away from each other, a significant fraction of the orbital energy is lost to dark matter friction rather than gravitational wave emission, thus relatively suppressing the gravitational wave signal at some frequencies compared to others," added Dr. Alvarez. Implications and future work The researchers' model of SIDM particles predicted that the gravitational waves would be weaker or less intense at low frequencies. This prediction matched what has been observed in actual data. They also showed that SIDM with a velocity-dependent cross-section can solve the final parsec problem and survive the merger process. Speaking of the impact of their work, Dr. Alvarez said, "We find the evolution of the black hole's orbit to be very sensitive to the microphysics of dark matter, meaning that we can use the gravitational wave emission of SMBH binaries to constrain dark matter models. This offers a new window for probing the dark matter nature in the innermost regions of galaxies that were previously not observationally accessible." The team is also refining their model and developing numerical simulations to confirm the results found in this paper. These simulations will provide a better understanding of how dark matter profiles react to the energy injected by merging black holes. More information: Gonzalo Alonso-Alvarez et al, Self-Interacting Dark Matter Solves the Final Parsec Problem of Supermassive Black Hole Mergers, Physical Review Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.021401. Journal information: Physical Review Letters 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This image, obtained June 8, 2018, shows NASAs NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) on the International Space Station, where it studies neutron stars and other X-ray sources. NICER is about the size of a washing machine. The sunshades of its X-ray concentrators are visible as an array of circular features. Credit: NASA NASA will deliver a patch kit for NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station, on the agency's Northrop Grumman 21st commercial resupply mission. Astronauts will conduct a spacewalk to complete the repair. Located near the space station's starboard solar array, NICER was damaged in May 2023. The mission team delivered the patch kit to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in May 2024 so it could be prepped and packed for the upcoming resupply mission. "It's incredible that in just one year, we were able to diagnose the problem and then design, build, test, and deliver a solution," said Steve Kenyon, NICER's mechanical lead at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "We're so excited to see the patches installed during a future spacewalk, return to a more regular operating schedule, and keep doing groundbreaking science." NICER's patches are made from aluminum and coated in black dye. Each is about 2 inches tall. "LCK" indicates the lock position for a tab at the bottom that will hold the patch in place. NASA is sending 12 of these patches to the International Space Station. During a spacewalk, astronauts will insert five into sunshades on the telescope to cover the most significant areas of damage. Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts From its perch on the station, the washing machine-sized NICER studies the X-ray sky. It has precisely measured superdense stellar remnants called neutron stars, which contain the densest matter scientists can directly observe. It has also investigated mysterious fast radio bursts, observed comets in our solar system, and collected data about Earth's upper atmosphere. But in May 2023, NICER developed a "light leak," where unwanted sunlight began entering the telescope. Photos taken aboard the station revealed several areas of damage to NICER's thermal shields. The shields are 500 times thinner than a human hair and filter out infrared, ultraviolet, and visible light while allowing X-rays to pass through. They cover each of NICER's 56 X-ray concentrators, sets of 24 nested circular mirrors designed to direct X-rays into corresponding detectors. A sunshade tops each concentrator and shield assembly, with a slight gap in between. The sunshades are segmented by six internal struts, resembling a sliced pie. The largest damage to the shields is around the size of a typical U.S. postage stamp. The other areas are closer in size to pinheads. During the station's daytime, the damage allows sunlight to reach the detectors, saturating sensors and interfering with NICER's measurements. The mission team altered their daytime observing strategy to mitigate the effect. The damage does not impact nighttime observations. UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi captured this view of NICER from a window in the Poisk Mini-Research Module 2 on the space station in July 2023. Photos like this one helped the mission team map the damage to the thermal shields over NICERs X-ray concentrators. Credit: NASA/Sultan Alneyadi "NICER wasn't designed to be serviced or repaired," said Keith Gendreau, the mission's principal investigator at Goddard. "It was installed robotically, and we operate it remotely. When we decided to investigate the possibility of patching the largest damaged areas on the thermal shields, we had to come up with a method that would use the existing parts of the telescope and station toolkits. We couldn't have done it without all the support and collaboration from our colleagues at Johnson and throughout the space station program." The solution, in the end, was simple. The team designed patches, each shaped like a piece of pie, that will slide into the sunshades. A tab at the bottom of each patch will turn into the space between the bottom of the sunshade and the top of the thermal shield, keeping it in place. Astronauts will install five patches during the spacewalk. They'll cover the most significant areas of damage and block the sunlight affecting NICER's X-ray measurements. The repair kit contains 12 patches in total, allowing for spares if needed. Astronauts will carry the patches in a caddy, a rectangular frame containing two spare sunshades with the patches held inside. The NICER caddy is an aluminum box containing two of the missions spare sunshades, which are attached to the bottom. Inside the sunshades, 12 patches are locked into place. Astronauts will take the complete caddy assembly with them during a future spacewalk to address damage to NICERs thermal shields. Theyll insert five of the patches over the largest areas of damage, which will allow the mission to return to a normal operating status during the stations daytime. Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts "NICER will be the first X-ray telescope in orbit to be serviced by astronauts and only the fourth science observatory to be repaired overalljoining the ranks of missions like NASA's Hubble Space Telescope," said Charles Baker, the NICER project systems engineer at Goddard. "It's been amazing to watch the patch kit come together over the last year. NICER has taught us so many wonderful things about the cosmos, and we're really looking forward to this next step of its journey." The NICER telescope is an Astrophysics Mission of Opportunity within NASA's Explorers Program, which provides frequent flight opportunities for world-class scientific investigations from space utilizing innovative, streamlined, and efficient management approaches within the heliophysics and astrophysics science areas. NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate supported the SEXTANT component of the mission, demonstrating pulsar-based spacecraft navigation. 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: A close up of an established colony of subterranean termites foraging on a pine tree in a residential community. Credit: University of Florida How do some of the most voracious subterranean termite species live and remain active around a house? They have a knack for "smelling death." In the United States, there are two primary ways to protect a house from subterranean termites: non-repellent liquid termiticides or baits. A groundbreaking study from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reveals the limitations of some liquid insecticides in eliminating subterranean termite colonies. Scientists at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC) studied the efficacy of non-repellent termiticides, which have been used for more than 20 years. The study, published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, raises concerns about the continued use of liquid control methods. They show a limitation on the efficacy levels for controlling colonies of subterranean termite species that are prevalent in the southern United States. "While liquid termiticide treatments can provide levels of protection against subterranean termite populations, and effectively prevent damage to structures, the colonies in the ground surrounding the structure are not really impacted much, postponing the potential damage they can create in time," said Thomas Chouvenc, associate professor at FLREC. In the study, Chouvenc showed subterranean termites foraging over long distances in soil treated with a commonly used non-repellent termiticide would rapidly die near the treatment, leading to an accumulation of dead termites. "Such an area of dead termites, referred to as the 'death zone,' creates a situation where the rest of the colony avoids it due to the smell of death," Chouvenc said. The study demonstrated that the "death zone" spreads up to 2.56 meters or up to 8 feet, 4 inches from the treatment area, preventing overall termite activity within that zone over time. Meanwhile, the study showed that as little as 1.5% of the termite colony population was impacted by the treatment, allowing the termite population to maintain their long-term potential for damage within the area. "Effectively, while such liquid termiticides are technically non-repellent to subterranean termite foragers in their formulation, they become functionally repellent in their application, as a result of the early mortality onset of foragers around the treated area," said Chouvenc. Subterranean termites can forage for several hundred feet underground and can avoid areas that are detrimental to them, said Chouvenc. With millions of individuals, colonies can complete their life cycle and continue to produce future generations of termite colonies within the affected communities. Some in the pest control industry have taken notice, he said. "We already had elements of evidence that secondary repellency was at play since 2005, but there has been a long reluctance from the industry to accept it," said Paul Kelly, an Alabama pest control provider not involved with the study. "The data provided by this study is rather compelling: Liquid termiticides have little impact on large subterranean termite colonies. It's a band-aid." In comparison, the use of termite baits against subterranean termite species can result in colony elimination with a fraction of the environmental damage, when compared to liquid termiticides, regardless of the foraging distance, Chouvenc said. Some pest control industry providers have been offering the use of both liquid termiticides and baits against subterranean termites over the past few years. They assume it would kill the termites close to the house, fast, with the liquid termiticide treatment, while protecting the area in the long term with bait stations in the ground. "While this practice first appears intuitive, the result of the study raises new concern on its potential cost-effective approach," Chouvenc said. "The existence of the death zone now implies that placing bait stations within a short distance from the liquid termiticide treatment may negate the ability of the termites to access the bait station because of the avoided death zone. I hope to be able to investigate this concern in a future study." More information: Thomas Chouvenc et al, Death zone minimizes the impact of fipronil-treated soils on subterranean termite colonies by negating transfer effects, Journal of Economic Entomology (2024). DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae150 Journal information: Journal of Economic Entomology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Cryosphere and Geophysics Research Group, University of Fribourg If the bedrock in the Alps no longer remains permanently frozen, rockfalls may occur more frequently. By measuring electrical resistivity in the ground, researchers can now better understand why this happens. The disappearance of the glaciers is visible to us all. What is happening to the alpine bedrock is less obvious. The permafrost is thawing there. And that has consequences: When the underground ice melts, it can destabilize mountain slopes, change the landscape and endanger people and their infrastructure. This is why Swiss researchers have been monitoring the state of permafrost in the mountains for many decades. The conventional method is to drill holes of up to a depth of 100 meters to measure ground temperatures. However, this is time-consuming and expensiveespecially at high altitudes. "You also only know the temperature at certain points and cannot make any statements about the volume of ice," says geoscientist Christian Hauck. In recent years, he and his team at the University of Fribourg have co-developed a non-invasive measurement method that measures permafrost over large areas, determines the amount of ice, and thus makes it possible to forecast future developments. Like computer tomography for the ground The basic principle is simple: the researchers conduct direct electrical current through the ground between two electrodes and measure the electrical potential difference at numerous other electrodes in the ground. The resulting electrical resistivity depends on the state of the waterice is less conductive than liquid water and so it has a greater resistivity. If there is no water in the ground at all, the resistivity is even higher. The measurements therefore provide information on whether water is present in liquid or frozen form, and if so, how much there is. "Similar to a CT scan in medicine, we sometimes take over a thousand individual measurements to obtain a three-dimensional image," explains Hauck. To do this, the researchers place close to 50 electrodes on an area of about half a hectare. The further apart the electrodes are, the deeper the current penetrates. "At such high altitudes, it is not always easy to find suitable places for the electrodes. We also have to keep our own safety in mind," reports Hauck on his fieldwork. A loss of 15% in seven years Calculating the distribution and quantity of permafrost from the measured data is even more difficult, especially since there are numerous other factors to consider in the mountains, such as the characteristics of the rock layers and the inclination of the slope. However, the model for the calculation is being refined on a continuous basis. It is also useful to compare the results with data collected via other methods; for instance, the Swiss Permafrost Monitoring Network (PERMOS) has been measuring temperatures on the surface and in boreholes at many locations in the Alps for two decades. In a study recently published in Environmental Research Letters, doctoral student Sarah Morard and Hauck's team analyzed all the data available on the permafrost on the slopes of the Stockhorn above Zermatt. Temperatures in the boreholes have risen by about 1C over the last 20 years, and the permafrost is now located several meters deeper in the ground. The resistivity measurements described above also made it possible to quantify the loss of permafrost for the first time: about 15% of the ice was lost between 2015 and 2022. Predicting the tipping points In another study, also published in Environmental Research Letters, Hauck and his colleague Christin Hilbich analyzed data from resistivity measurements taken throughout Europe. This showed that even a single hot summersuch as in 2003, 2015 and 2022can lead to the irreversible loss of permafrost in the mountains. A subsequent cold winter is not sufficient to compensate for the loss. "Very specific conditions are needed for permafrost to form again," says Hauck. For example, it has to rain when it is extremely cold so that ice can form before the water drains back into the valley. Using the resistivity data, Hauck can now reconstruct such processes in the past and make predictions for the future. He believes that the alpine permafrost has already reached or will soon reach the tipping point in many places. This means that the disappearance of permafrost will then speed up on its own and can no longer be stopped without significant changes to the climate. Depending on the geological conditions, this could then lead to increased rockfalls or landslides in places where they were previously not possible, such as on slopes where geological layers are stabilized by permafrost. It is therefore all the more important to establish methods that predict such tipping points as early and reliably as possible, says Hauck. More information: S Morard et al, 20-year permafrost evolution documented through petrophysical joint inversion, thermal and soil moisture data, Environmental Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad5571 Christian Hauck et al, Preconditioning of mountain permafrost towards degradation detected by electrical resistivity, Environmental Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad3c55 Journal information: Environmental Research Letters This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The platypus and chicken have vastly different sex chromosome systems compared to humanswhich can give us valuable insights into how our own bodies work. Credit: Shafagh Waters and Lisa Melisa UNSW Sydney researchers have made new discoveries of fundamental differences in biological processes between males and femalesby interrogating the unique and diverse sex chromosome systems of the platypus and the chicken. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), are a surprise in the field of genetics. The discoveries will help build a better understanding of how sex chromosomes evolved, how our bodies functionand they could lead to new discoveries in biology. "Mammals, such as humans, have females with two X chromosomes and males with one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, which creates an imbalance between the sexes," says lead author Dr. Nicholas Lister from UNSW's School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences. "This imbalance is corrected by a process called sex chromosome dosage compensation." Scientists have long known that animals have solutions to balance sex chromosome differences and achieve 'normal' function. Dr. Lister says, "In female mammals, such as humans and mice, XX females and XY males have different numbers of the X chromosome. To balance this difference, one of the X chromosomes in females is typically silenced. "Silencing one X chromosome in females equalizes the gene products on the sex chromosomes. "This prevents females from producing double the number of proteins from the X compared to males." Balancing the scales Every cell in our bodies uses proteins to perform specific functions. "They are translated from mRNA, which carry the instructions for cells to make proteins," the study's research lead, Associate Professor Paul Waters, also from UNSW's School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, says. "Being male or female affects mRNA levels of X chromosome genes, which we would then expect to affect protein production." But A/Prof. Waters says this study demonstratesfor the first timethat a balance of proteins occurs between the sexes, even when mRNA levels aren't balanced. "The findings suggest that dosage compensation is a crucial process in species with differentiated sex chromosomes to ensure that protein levels are balanced," he says. "These results are significant as they suggest that dosage compensation of sex chromosomes is essential after alland across all vertebrate species, not just placental and marsupial mammals." Why the platypus and the chicken? The study focused on the platypus and the chickentwo species with vastly different sex chromosome systems that offer valuable insights into the evolution and mechanisms of dosage compensation. "Platypus are monotreme mammals, with interesting sex chromosome systems," Dr. Lister says. "They have five pairs of X chromosomes in females and five Xs and five Ys in males. "Birdssuch as chickenshave a ZW system, where males have two copies of a Z chromosome and females have a Z and a W chromosome." A/Prof. Waters says the scientists had already observed near perfect sex chromosome dosage compensation of RNA between males and females in placental and marsupial mammals. "However, in birds and monotremes, there is an imbalance of mRNA between the sexes," he says. "This is something we thought was impossible. "For the first time, we show that this imbalance is corrected at the protein level. "This means that platypus and chicken have a novel mechanism of dosage compensation that is different to how we humans do it." Are our genes really in control? Co-author Professor Jenny Graves, from the Department of Environment and Genetics at La Trobe University, had demonstrated that genes on the inactive human X chromosome are not copied into RNA back in 1986. Silencing at the level of RNA then became the paradigm for all epigenetic silencing. "As the genes were silenced by their failure to make RNA, the control of dosage compensation was assumed to be at the level of RNA onlynot at the level of making proteins," Prof. Graves says. "But mRNA levels for genes on sex chromosomes weren't balanced in the platypus or the chicken," she says. "So, scientists questioned the assumption that dosage compensation is essential for life." A/Prof. Waters says that measuring protein levels has been a much trickier endeavor than measuring mRNA levels, due to technological challenges. "And now that the technology is more sensitive, we can see that the dosage compensation of sex chromosomes between males and females is observed at the protein level in the platypus and the chicken," A/Prof. Waters says. "The males and females of these species make similar amounts of proteins, despite the discrepancies in mRNA quantities." How will this knowledge be applied? The authors emphasize the complexity of genetic regulation and the importance of considering multiple levels of control in gene expression. Co-author Dr. Shafagh Waters from UNSW's School of Biomedical Sciences says the study paves the way for a deeper understanding of genetic regulation. "Studying unique species like the platypus provides us with new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that could regulate various aspects of human physiology, or be implicated in disease states," she says. "So, while these processes may not directly apply to human dosage compensation, they illuminate how our bodies manage gene expression and protein production. "Our findings have the potential to advance knowledge in evolutionary biology and lead to innovative therapies in medical genetics. "Understanding these mechanisms across different species can help identify new targets for diseases where protein dysfunction is key." Dr. Lister says future research will examine the mechanisms that contribute to dosage compensation. "This work will help us discover other dosage compensation systems in nature," he says. "We can find out how these evolved and how they work in other species." A/Prof. Waters says, "Understanding these processes in other species can enhance our grasp of gene regulation at a fundamental level." More information: Nicholas C. Lister et al, Incomplete transcriptional dosage compensation of chicken and platypus sex chromosomes is balanced by post-transcriptional compensation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322360121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 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: Researchers measured the relative harm of criminal offenses committed by a subset of 1,103 particularly deviant police officers. Credit: Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University Not all police misconduct is the same. Misconduct can range from offenses like homicide and sexual assault to seemingly minor infractions such as accepting free coffee from the public. Exactly what qualifies as police misconduct varies locally, and the response to this behavior is typically handled internally by law enforcement. The absence of a commonly accepted framework to assess and interpret police misconduct remains a complex and contentious issue. Moreover, progress in researching this area is hindered by the limited access to law enforcement data, which is closely guarded. Using official data from 241 law enforcement agencies in 67 counties in Florida, researchers from Florida Atlantic University assessed the prevalence and nature of police misconduct and discipline from 2012 to 2023. They also measured the relative harm of criminal offenses committed by a subset of 1,103 particularly deviant police officers. Data was obtained from Florida's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, which publicly released a searchable online database in July 2022 of Florida law enforcement discipline cases available. Results of the study, published in the Journal of Criminal Justice, identified 24 categories of police misconduct ranging from assault/battery to weapons offenses, manslaughter, homicide, extortion and false statement/perjury (lying under oath). Statewide, the most considerable incidence of police misconduct offenses was related to officer failure to report and perjury, followed closely by sexual-related crimes. Drug and alcohol-related offenses also were prevalent misconduct categories and overrepresented in the dataset. Using the Pareto principle (80/20 rule), researchers analyzed how incidents and harm cluster within specific categories. The Pareto principle indicates that roughly 80% of outcomes arise from 20% of causes. Researchers applied Florida's sentencing rules and a harm index to score the severity of each crime, identified those with the greatest impact, and differentiated between career-ending and non-career-ending misconduct incidents. Unlike previous studies that focused on individual police departments, this study included police departments, sheriff's offices, prisons and probation centers. Findings show that about 30% of counties account for 80% of all police misconduct incidents in Florida, while only 23% of counties account for 80% of the total harm inflicted. "Police misconduct causes harm to police departments, communities and individual victims. However, before our study, the relative and differential impacts of different types of police misconduct remained largely unexplored," said Lisa M. Dario, Ph.D., senior author and an associate professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, within FAU's College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. During the study period, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement predominantly issued revocations of officer certifications in 42% of disciplinary cases, making it the most common outcome. Dismissals of cases were rare, occurring in only 6.5% of instances. Approximately 30% of cases resulted in officers being suspended or put on probation. Notably, about 60% of police misconduct cases handled by the state led to career-ending consequences for the officers involved, differing from prior research. Disparities in disciplinary outcomes were stark. As an example, sexual offenses against minors were always career-ending at the state level, though sexual offenses against adult victims such as domestic violence only ended an officer's career about 73% of the time. DUI and excessive force offenses received career-ending discipline in less than half of all cases. Findings show that several counties in Florida, including Leon, Gadsden, Bay, Hardee, Madison, and Bradford, showed the highest rates of police misconduct incidents. For instance, Leon County reported 22.90 incidents per 100,000 people, the highest among all counties. Gadsden County followed with 15.97 incidents per 100,000 people. In contrast, counties like Martin, Charlotte, Sumter, Lake, Highlands, and Nassau reported fewer than two incidents per 100,000 people. A Pareto chart illustrated the distribution of these incidents across counties, showing that Miami-Dade had the most incidents, followed by Leon, Duval, Hillsborough and Bay counties, which together accounted for about 80% of all incidents. Miami-Dade County comprised 14% of all total relative harm in Florida. This is twice as much as the next most harmful county, Broward, which comprised 7% of total relative harm. Gadsden County indicates disparities between incident rates and harm scores, with a high incident rate (15.97) but a low relative harm score (1%). "This pattern we observed aligns with the Pareto principle, indicating that a small number of counties contribute significantly to the overall number of police misconduct incidents in Florida, while others contribute minimally," said Dario. "Miami-Dade County consistently ranked highest in both metrics, underscoring its critical role in state-wide law enforcement and harm mitigation efforts." The novel approach used in this study moves beyond traditional administrative perspectives that primarily focus on procedural violations, offering a fresh lens through which to evaluate the consequences and implications of police misconduct. "In recent years, police departments have become increasingly interested in fostering perceptions of legitimacy in their communities," said Dario. "A more nuanced understanding of the impact of police misconduct and harm indexing can help by serving as a new point of intervention for police-community relations. It also encourages law enforcement to focus on the harm caused by certain types of misconduct instead of the common practice of treating all misconduct as similarly harmful." Study co-authors are Gabriel T. Cesar, Ph.D., an assistant professor; Kristina Jalbert, a graduate student; and Frank de la Torre, J.D., associate dean and instructor, all within FAU's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. More information: Lisa M. Dario et al, Quantifying the impact: From prevalence to harm in evaluating police misconduct, Journal of Criminal Justice (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102229 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain There has been a mixed response to primary education reforms in Mexico which have created widespread uncertainty among teachers, children and parents, new research shows. Those affected have expressed concerns about lack of training to help them prepare for the major changes, but also enthusiasm about many of the aims. The new Nueva Escuela Mexicana (NEM) in Basic Education represents a large shift in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Subjects such as math and science have been combined into integrated "formative fields." There is a focus on education that places more value on local communities and an emphasis on active and interactive learning through projects. Children also learn more about topics related to inclusion and diversity. Teachers have increased autonomy to adapt their work to local contexts. The NEM has been met with both enthusiasm and skepticism. This research is one of the first to comprehensively gather people's experiences and perspectives on the NEM in its first full year of implementation. The study was carried out by Dr. Nozomi Sakata, from Hiroshima University and Dr. Nicholas Bremner, from the University of Exeter. They carried out 79 interviews with students, teachers, parents, head teachers, teacher trainers and supervisors in 12 primary schools in Nuevo Leon, Hidalgo and Chiapas. Dr. Bremner said, "We found a mixture of positive and negative perspectives, but overall there was widespread uncertainty about the NEM reform. Although teachers, head teachers and teacher trainers were getting used to the changes over time, they were frustrated with inconsistent policy messages and a general lack of explicit training." Researchers recommend more concrete training and support is needed, especially in terms of supporting teachers to manage increased autonomy. They say there also needs to be a more consistent, unambiguous communication strategy. The research suggests that the Mexican Ministry of Education needs to address concerns the changes could lead to gaps in foundational knowledge. They should consider the extent to which students may need basic knowledge in order to develop higher order skills. Communication with parents and the wider public should also be strengthened to make it clear what NEM does and what it does not do. Dr. Bremner said, "More emphasis seems to have been placed on the 'what'the content of the reform itselfand much less on how to implement it. "Those interviewed were very concerned about the lack of 'foundational' knowledge many of their students had, and there was a lot of skepticism regarding combining specific school subjects into 'formative fields.'" Teachers, pupils and parents were generally very supportive of content related to inclusion and diversity, but expressed doubts about certain topics, for example, content relating to gender and sexuality. Those affected by the reform were generally happy with the notion of "focusing on the local," contextualization and teacher autonomy. However, some teachers did not always know how to manage such autonomy, requesting more explicit guidance. One local supervisor in rural Chiapas said, "There is a paradigm shift; there is a change in the approach to education. But there has been no real systematization of teacher training." One local supervisor in rural Nuevo Leon said, "We started to be updated on a drip-feed basis. [] The information either arrived too quickly for us to transmit it, or it arrived late, or it didn't arrive at all. You asked the corresponding educational authority, and they didn't know either. [] I would say it is not consistent, and at many times it is not coherent." 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: Geography of Central Asia and sample locations (prevailing summer/winter wind directions at 850 hPa indicated in green and blue, respectively, modified after Shi et al. Credit: Geophysical Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2024GL108951 Arid Central Asia is an important dust source in the northern hemisphere, which has a significant impact on the ecological environment of Central Asia, Northwest China and even the East Asian monsoon region. The Kyzylkum Desert is one of the biggest deserts in Central Asia and the eleventh largest desert in the world. There were few studies on the dust sources of the desert, which limited the understanding of the sedimentation process in the area. Therefore, studying the dust material sources and transport routes of the Kyzylkum Desert is essential for understanding the impact of Central Asian dust on global climate and environmental change. In a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, researchers from the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Uzbek scientists, collected topsoil samples from the desert in Uzbekistan, the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins and the piedmont area of West Tianshan Mountains. They obtained 1,278 groups of age data based on laser ablation multiple-receiver plasma mass spectrometry analyses of the U-Pb dating of detrital zircon. Researchers established a mixing model of the Kyzylkum Desert by combining multiple regression analyses and previously published data of the potential source area. They found that the main source of the Kyzylkum Desert is the Southwest Tianshan, and that the river system dominated by the Syr Darya River, including the Amu Darya River and the Zeravshan River, is the main transportation channel for these dust materials. Researchers found that the dust of the Kyzylkum Desert can be transported to the piedmont area by wind, and the transport and deposition process is mainly controlled by topography. This study provides important evidence for understanding the origin and transport process of dust materials in the Kyzylkum Desert, which is of great significance for the study on the paleoenvironmental changes and geomorphological evolution processes in Central Asia. More information: Mingyu Zhang et al, Provenance and FluvialAeolian Process of Kyzylkum Desert: Constrained by Detrital Zircon UPb Dating, Geophysical Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2024GL108951 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The phenotype of parents and F 1 population. (a) The P. viticola resistance level of the parents. The Y axis indicates the resistance level. (b) Phenotypic distribution of P. viticola resistance for F 1 population from "Moldova" "Shine Muscat." The Y axis indicates the number of vines, and the X axis indicates the range of disease resistance level. Credit: Fruit Research (2024). DOI: 10.48130/frures-0024-0017 A research team identified a P. viticola-resistant locus, Rpv34, in table grapes through analysis of a high-density genetic map with 826 SNPs derived from F 1 progenies of "Moldova" (resistant) and "Shine Muscat" (susceptible parent). This discovery, including the identification of 21 Resistance Gene Analogs and a highly associated SNP marker, enhances understanding of resistance mechanisms and supports the breeding of resistant grape varieties, which may improve grape quality and production. Grapevine cultivars, primarily derived from Vitis vinifera, are highly prized for their aroma and flavor. However, they are also susceptible to diseases like downy mildew. While current research indicates that fungicides are commonly used for the control of P. viticola, they lead to pathogen resistance, high costs, and environmental issues. Furthermore, the traditional breeding method cycle is long and imprecise. Most quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for downy mildew resistance originate from inferior quality varieties, which complicates the breeding process. A study published in Fruit Research on 2 July 2024, aims to address these issues by using marker-assisted selection (MAS) to identify and validate P. viticola-resistant QTLs, thereby facilitating the development of high-quality, resistant grape cultivars. In this study, the phenotypic analysis, genetic mapping, QTL mapping, genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis, and joint analysis were utilized to identify and validate resistance loci for P. viticola in grapevines. In phenotypic analysis, the female parent "Moldova" showed resistance with an average score of 6.34, while the male parent "Shine Muscat"was more susceptible with a score of 3.05. The progenies displayed a continuous variation in resistance, indicating a quantitative trait distribution. A high-density genetic map was constructed using 826 heterozygous mSNPs, spanning 1,515.99 cM. QTL mapping identified a resistance locus, Rpv34, on chromosome 18. GWAS analysis further validated these findings. Combining these methods, 21 RGAs were identified within the target region. The SNP marker chr18_29062596 was found to be highly correlated with resistance, showing significant reproducibility across multiple phenotypic analyses. According to the study's lead researcher, Bin Han, "This work will improve the mechanism of resistance understanding of P. viticola in grapevine and facilitate the use of resistant germplasm in breeding." In summary, this research identified the P. viticola resistance locus Rpv34 on chromosome 18 in grapevines. The F 1 progenies from "Moldova" and "Shine Muscat" were assessed, revealing a key SNP marker, chr18_29062596, highly correlated with resistance. These findings enhance understanding of grapevine resistance mechanisms and aid in developing disease-resistant cultivars, promoting sustainable grape production. More information: Yan Sun et al, Rpv34: the noval Plasmopara viticola resistance locus in 'Moldova', Fruit Research (2024). DOI: 10.48130/frures-0024-0017 Provided by Maximum Academic Press 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: Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) and Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) in Fly Me to the Moon. Credit: Sony Pictures The new romantic comedy "Fly me to the Moon" tells the story of how, in the run up to the Apollo 11 mission, NASA hired a high-flying marketing specialist to bolster public support. The history books tell us this isn't quite what happened, but I believe modern science communicators could still learn from this irreverent revision of NASA's history. In the opening scenes of "Fly Me To the Moon," Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), is recruited by shady government officials to sell one of the biggest thing one can sell: the moon. The premise may seem far-fetched. After all, who doesn't already love the moon? Why would we even need to sell the exciting prospect of a man landing on it? In 2024, we look back on the 1969 moon mission with rose-tinted glasses. In reality though, throughout the 1960s, the majority of US citizens felt that the huge cost of the Apollo missions was not worth their money. "Americans are over their long and very expensive honeymoon in space," Jones chirpily tells a skeptical NASA employee. "I'm here to remind them why they fell in love in the first place." As she gets started in her mission to collect the human stories behind Apollo 11, we see Jones hit with opposition from NASA's workforce, concerned her attempts will undermine the science. The launch director tells her: "My guys are too weird for interviews and they're actually really busy doing life and death work." In the face of reluctance and hostility, she starts to make up her own stories, of engineers with rocket fuel in their blood and a childhood love of the stars, and a director with an airman father who died in the line of duty. Science skepticism Next year, NASA is planning to launch its Artemis 3 lunar mission, sending humans to the moon's surface for the first time in nearly 50 years. But things aren't what they were in the 60s. The further away we've got from seeing Neil Armstrong make one small step, the stronger public support for returning to the moon has got. That doesn't mean there is support for all areas of science. Down on Earth, pandemics and the existential threat of the climate crisis have highlighted the importance of how people feel and communicate about science. At times, in pockets of the U.S., misinformation and science denial are winning out. So could scientists learn something from PR and marketing professionals? Research from cognitive science shows that people remember certain stories, and pass them on more faithfully, better than others. In particular, we remember human stories with social relationships and motivations, counter-intuitive stories that surprise us and negative stories where nothing good happens. If telling the story of Apollo 11, for example, communicators might want to highlight counter-intuitive aspects such as the fact that a modern smart phone has more than one million times the memory of the computer aboard Apollo 11. Negative aspects could be emphasized too, such as the astronauts who tragically died in the Apollo 1 tragedy, or more social angles about scientists and engineers behind the scenes. Marketing professionals and journalists have known about and used these cognitive biases for a long time. And it seems conspiracy theorists are also taking advantage of these tricks too. I challenge you to find me a conspiracy theory that isn't counter-intuitive, or about complex social motivations, or about bad things happening. So, if those pedaling misinformation are using these tricks from marketing, shouldn't we use them more when communicating science too? Credit: Sony Pictures Professional reluctance? How do science communicators feel about using such tricks? In my own ongoing research, funded by the British Academy, I am trying to find out. I've interviewed 19 science communication professionals who use storytelling in their practice, including writers, filmmakers, digital content producers and live presenters. I asked them whether they make use of cognitive biases in their storytelling and, more interestingly, what might stop them from taking advantage of these tricks. Although the study hasn't yet been published, the science communicators told me that they worry, at times, that introducing counter-intuitive narratives or human characters to their communication might detract from the science. This is similar to what the people at NASA said in the movie. This is understandable. Making information stick in an audience's mind is an important aspect of science communication. But there are often other objectives that may be contradicted when trying to achieve this. The clearest example of this lies in the bias for negative information. Science communicators may worry that making their stories too negative could leave people disheartened, too anxious to act on things like the climate, or turn them off science altogether. However, negative emotions can actually be an important step in the emotional journey towards activism. Other contradictions are a little more subtle. Information sticks in our brains when we understand the relationships and motivations of the people involved. But the science communicators told me they worried that this framing may contradict the objectives of sending certain messages. For example, science is often a collective endeavor involving huge teams. Arguably, it is the scientific method, rather than individual researchers, that makes science successful. Science communicators often refrain from overemphasizing individual responsibility or opinion. Another problem may be that having too many characters or counter-intuitive elements could make science communication too complex, contradicting the objective to make something highly complex easily understood. I do understand why it's sometimes difficult sometimes to "sell" science using the same methods as in marketing. But when watching Fly me to the moon, I wondered whether a little inspiration from the field may actually be useful when communicating science. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Narabeb sampling locations. Credit: Quaternary Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100190 Desert regions in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula have been well studied by archaeologists as the home of early humans and as routes of migration along "green corridors." The archaeology of southern Africa's west coast desert belt has not received the same attention. The Namib Sand Sea, part of the Namib Desert, is on the west coast of Namibia. It is a hyperarid landscape of towering dunes, occupying about 34,000km between the towns of Luderitz in the south and Walvis Bay in the north. However, there are clues that this environment was not always so dry and inhospitable, suggesting that there is more to be learned about ancient human life here. We are part of an interdisciplinary research team of physical geographers, archaeologists and geospatial scientists, interested in the long-term history of deserts and human-environmental interactions. Our research, published in Quaternary Science Advances, provides a timeframe for the presence of a small freshwater lake that once existed in the Namib Sand Sea. This lake was fed by an ancient river and is surrounded by a rich record of stone tools from the African Middle Stone Age (made between about 300,000 years ago and 20,000 years ago), indicating that people ventured into this landscape and used this occasional water source. Dating the former lake site, Narabeb, makes it clearer when ancient humans would have been able to live here. It draws attention to the Namib Sand Sea as a place archaeologists should study to learn more about far-reaching and deep human connections across southern Africa. An ancient lake and shifting sand dunes Today, Narabeb is a landscape dominated by long sand dunes that tower more than 100 meters high over the former lake site. There is no standing water here and the landscape receives little to no rain most years. However, that's probably not what our ancient ancestors would have seen here. Away from the lake, they might have seen a relatively flat plain, seasonally covered by grasses, beside a river. The clue is in sediments at the site: mud layers that were laid down by water. To find out how long ago the lake was at Narabeb, we needed to date these layers. We used a technique called luminescence datingbasically, making sand glow to tell the time. Sand grains release a trapped signal that builds up when sand is buried underground, and is reset when sand is exposed to sunlight. Using this technique, we can date when different layers were last on the surface before they got buried. We dated the sand beneath and above layers of mud that were deposited by water. Our results show that the lake was present at Narabeb at some point between 231,000 20,000 and 223,000 19,000 years ago and again about 135,000 11,000 years ago. Another clue is the shape of the landscape east of Narabeb. It is dune free, reminding us that ancient humans were not the only things migrating in the Namib Sand Sea. Have the dunes been on the move? For how long? And how quickly? Drilling to the center of these dunes to work that out remains logistically impossible. Instead, we used a novel mathematical model. The modeling suggests that it would have taken about 210,000 years to accumulate the amount of sand around Narabeb (those 110m high dunes). This number is remarkably close to the oldest age for the lake. This suggests that the dunes may only just have been starting to form and that a river was supplying the lake with fresh water, supporting animals and attracting people. The sediments at Narabeb also clearly tell us that a river once flowed where there are now dunes. The winds have pushed dunes from the south and west to north and east, creating barriers for the river and hindering movement of people and animals along the water course. A selection of flakes from Sample 2 at Narabeb. Credit: Quaternary Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100190 Ancient human presence At other sites in the Namib we have found Early Stone Age tools from an earlier species of the Homo genus. This is part of a growing body of evidence, adding to research in the Kalahari desert in the center of southern Africa, that suggests southern African desert landscapes are more important to the story of human evolution and technological innovation than has been supposed. The artefacts from Narabeb fit into the Middle Stone Age type of stone tool technology. Narabeb is a particularly rich site for stone tools, suggesting people made tools here for a long time and perhaps visited the site over many generations. This research illustrates the need for a comprehensive study of areas that have not been on the map of the major routes of human and animal migration. These might reveal exciting records of cultural diffusion, innovation and adaptation to marginal and changing environments. Our results also make us think about the dynamic nature of environmental conditions in one of Earth's oldest desert regions. It has long been thought that the Namib has been consistently very dry for around 10 million years and not a place capable of containing "green corridors" at the times of interest for archaeologists. Now we can challenge that idea. Future steps Recent funding from the Leverhulme Trust will allow us to extend our fieldwork, documenting archaeological sites and dating these "green corridors" across more of this landscape. A 100 mile (160km) initial foot survey along the ancient river course has revealed an expansive artifact-littered landscape. We also need to know more about where ancient populations found the materials they used to make stone tools. This will allow us to piece together a network of archaeological sites and show where human migration might have been possible in this part of southern Africa. Up to now, it's been a gap in the archaeological map. More work is also needed to understand the shifts in climate that allowed the rivers to flow into the Namib. This Southern Hemisphere, west coast desert has a very different setting to north Africa and Arabia, which have good frameworks for understanding their periodic "green corridors." Ongoing work with the wider scientific community, including climate modelers, may create a clearer picture of the Namib's "green corridors." More information: Abi Stone et al, Landscape evolution and hydrology at the Late Pleistocene archaeological site of Narabeb in the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia, Quaternary Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100190 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Summary of the process describing the participatory approach to the development of the basin scenarios. Source: Authors' own elaboration reproduced from the ISWEL Project Progress report (Willaarts et al, 2018); Graphic design: Bartosz Naprawa. Credit: Environmental Development (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2024.101030 A new study addresses the urgent challenges in managing the water-energy-land nexus in the Zambezi River Basin, which is crucial for southern Africa's economic stability and environmental health. The authors of the article suggest strategies for economic development that protect environmental resources and adapt to climate and socioeconomic changes. The Zambezi River Basin, the fourth largest basin in Africa, spans 1.4 million km across eight countries: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The basin's natural resources sustain the livelihoods of more than 40 million people, although the region relies heavily on agriculture and faces high levels of poverty and food insecurity. Population growth and climate change could further exacerbate these challenges. Current basin development plans lack an integrated and cross-sectoral perspective, potentially causing unintended impacts on other sectors, the environment, as well as neighboring countries. To address the Zambezi's nexus challenges, IIASA researchers combined policy-relevant stakeholder scenarios with integrated nexus modeling tools to identify key solutions for sustainable development in the Zambezi River Basin. "Our analysis shows that sustainable development in the long run delivers not only significant economic benefits but most social and environmental benefits. It will require coordination and investments across the different sectors and downstream users to enable the basin countries to achieve their sustainable development goals for food, energy, and water security," explains study lead author Amanda Palazzo, a researcher in the Integrated Biosphere Futures Research Group of the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program. The study, published in a special issue of Environmental Development on IIASA and systems analysis in Africa, highlights various solutions, including increasing investments to increase irrigation efficiency, improve crop yields, transform smallholder agriculture, expand the conjunctive use of sustainable groundwater and non-conventional water sources to supplement low flows, and allow other sectors to take surface water priority, to achieve multiple development goals. It provides crucial insights for policymakers to design strategies that foster economic growth while safeguarding environmental resources like water and forests, amid a dynamically evolving climate and socioeconomic landscape. Through a stakeholder-driven approach, the modeling framework was developed as part of the Integrated Solutions for Water, Energy, and Land (ISWEL) project, supported by the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM). ZAMCOM serves as the coordinating body for the basin, facilitating dialogue among the eight riparian states to align national investments and support sustainable development across the entire region. By using integrated modeling tools, effective strategies can be identifiedfor example, coordinated water management strategies for both surface water and groundwater. These tools can capture the complexity and interdependence of land and water systems, making them important for understanding trade-offs and synergies in achieving cross-sectoral goals. "Effective management of water, energy, and land resources is crucial for regions like the Zambezi River Basin, ensuring the well-being of millions and preserving biodiversity. This work contributes by offering science-based pathways that outline the costs and benefits of alternative development strategies, highlighting the genuine potential to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability," concludes Barbara Willaarts, a study co-author and researcher in the Water Security Research Group of the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program. More information: Amanda Palazzo et al, Assessing sustainable development pathways for water, food, and energy security in a transboundary river basin, Environmental Development (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2024.101030 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Kimberley Collins, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons It's well-known that Aotearoa New Zealand's native ecosystems are under threat from introduced pest predators such as rats, cats, possums and stoats. Trapping efforts, such as those undertaken by Predator Free NZ groups, are effective up to a pointbut it is very difficult to achieve 100% eradication of these predators, especially across large, remote areas. One of the aims of the five-year MBIE Endeavour science program Eradication Science, coordinated by Manaaki WhenuaLandcare Research, is to evaluate the current toolkit of trapping technologies from the perspective of the pest. New knowledge is needed on why some pest animals evade or fail to interact with physical traps, and to devise ways to make the traps more enticing. As part of the research, Drs Patrick Garvey and Kyla Johnstone, working with Dr. Catherine Price at the University of Sydney, tested the responses of wild-caught stoats to three existing types of stoat trap. The findings are published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. The traps were disabled so that they could be triggered without harming the animals. This enabled the intrinsic behaviors of the stoats to be assessed across different trap encounters. The experiment was run over 81 nights with 28 stoats13 male and 15 femaleand the stoats' behavior was filmed each night using infrared cameras. The research complied with all relevant animal welfare and ethics requirements. In a classic rewriting of the phrase "fortune favors the brave," the researchers found that fortune favors the shyer, more cautious, less active, and less risk-prone stoatsknown as "recalcitrant" animals in pest-control circlesthat are less likely to interact with all types of traps. Shy female stoats, and female stoats generally, were more cautious and less likely to interact with the traps than male stoats. This finding is known from field trapping, where successful capture is strongly skewed towards males. Often, all it takes for an area to be repopulated is the survival of females that evade trapping. Almost all adult female stoats are pregnant throughout the year, so understanding sex biases in trap capture is essential to achieve eradication. By contrast, "neophile" stoatsthose attracted to risk and noveltywere more likely to approach and then trigger a trap. Enclosed box traps were the most effective type of trap all round, but neophile stoats were also attracted to tunnel traps. Stoats tended to interact least with head-up traps. Is the answer to deploy more traps, to ensure that the more cautious individuals will be more likely to encounter devices? Not necessarily, say the researchers, since stoats that encountered a trap for the first time and failed to trigger it were quite likely to avoid all traps in the futuretrap shyness is a persistent problem for predator control. Although the box trap performed well, capturing three in four stoats during their first encounter, no single design covered all spectrums of personality, suggesting that less "scary" trap designs, plus more effective baits and lures, are what's needed. Compounding the problem of trap shyness, the researchers suspect that they have actually underestimated recalcitrance in the wild. By definition, all the stoats in the study had the characteristics of risk-taking neophiles, since they had already been caught in a trap for the study. This suggests that trapping the most recalcitrant animals might be even more difficult than this study suggests, which itself is an important finding in planning future pest control efforts. Applying these behavioral nuances in the field will be challenging but not impossible. The researchers conclude that increasing the likelihood of engagement with a trap during a first encounter, and improving the susceptibility of the animal to triggering that trap, is fundamental to increasing capture success in future predator management programs. Next steps for the Eradication Science program involve the development and deployment of novel lures to do just that. More information: Kyla C. Johnstone et al, Personality, sex and capture biases: Challenges for predator monitoring and management, Journal of Applied Ecology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14724 Journal information: Journal of Applied Ecology Provided by Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A study led by a University of Waikato Ph.D. student has shed light on the cause of delayed climate recovery following Earth's most severe extinction event 251 million years agoa discovery that will contribute to our understanding of the global climate system. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by lead researcher Sofia Rauzi, this research reveals the role marine clay formation had in slowing the Earth's return to baseline temperatures after the end-Permian mass extinction. Earth's climate system is generally viewed to recover in the order of 100,000 years following a significant carbon injection event such as the volcanic eruption that triggered the end-Permian mass extinction. "Climate recovery following the end-Permian took over five million years, so we set out to investigate why temperatures stayed warm for so long," says Ms Rauzi. Analysis of the chemical composition of rocks from New Zealand, Japan, and Norway indicates that increased marine clay formation, also known as reverse weathering, contributed to the sustained high temperatures. Reverse weathering, which releases CO 2 , involves the formation of clays in the ocean and traps carbon in the ocean and atmosphere. These findings suggest that reverse weathering has played an integral role in regulating Earth's climate. "This study provides new insights into the Earth's carbon-silica cycle and climate dynamics during the Early Triassic. We now have evidence that reverse weathering was crucial in maintaining high CO 2 levels and temperatures, which has implications for understanding current climate processes." Ms Rauzi's supervisor, University of Waikato Senior Lecturer Dr. Terry Isson, says it's essential that we understand how Earth's natural thermostat operates. "Marine clay formation likely plays a critical role in regulating climate and yet there is so much we don't understand about this processa key focus of our research," Dr. Isson says. Ms Rauzi is based at the University of Waikato's Tauranga campus and moved to New Zealand from the United States in 2022 to pursue her Ph.D. after being inspired by Dr. Isson's line of research. "I am interested in understanding how our planet has evolved through time. Being able to decipher what the planet was like millions or billions of years ago feels very magical," she says. More information: Sofia Rauzi et al, Lithium isotopic evidence for enhanced reverse weathering during the Early Triassic warm period, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318860121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Bayshore Center gets funds: The Bayshore Center at Bivalve was awarded $27,500 by Impact100 South Jersey, a local womens collective giving initiative, at the groups annual meeting June 12. During the event, Impact100 members awarded $185,000 in grants to six nonprofits that provide services in South Jersey. The grant will benefit the centers education programs, including its hands-on, science-based summer camp. The Bayshore Discovery Camp for children in grades 4-6 will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 5 to 8 at the center at 2800 High St. in the Port Norris section of Commercial Township. Register at bayshorecenter.org. Over the next two years, the organization is focused on building a 21st century environmental education center for youth and adults on land and water, increasing access to the surrounding bays, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean through education, targeting grades 5 and 6 with additional programming for grades 7-12, the center said in a news release. Through the creation of a new environmental education vision, programming and partnerships will be built around five pillars of education: oyster reefs and ecosystems, coastal resilience, bayshore history and culture, marine technology, and sustainability and stewardship. Over the past five years, the Bayshore Center has faced several challenges, such as COVID-19, a boat restoration and several changes in leadership. The center is seeking to rebuild community partnerships and programs, starting in Cumberland County. Through the states official tall ship, the oyster schooner AJ Meerwald, and a historic waterfront museum, the Bayshore Centers mission is to advance the understanding of the human impact on New Jerseys aquatic environment through education, advocacy and programming. Providing hands-on science education at the Bayshore Center at Bivalve is part of our core mission. We look forward to growing our programming and community partnerships in southern NJ, Executive Director Jessica Yorke said. Dartmouth professor to speak to Rotary Club: The Rotary Club of Ocean City-Upper Townships upcoming breakfast meeting will include the annual visit of Dartmouth College professor Ronald G. Shaiko. The meeting will be held at 7 a.m. Aug. 8 at Uncle Bills Pancake House at 21st Street and Asbury Avenue in Ocean City. Shaiko is a senior fellow and former associate director for curricular and research programs at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth. He has received more than $1.4 million in grants, awards and fellowships in his career in teaching and research. RSVPs are appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. The club requests that attendees submit topics or questions for Shaiko in advance. To RSVP and post questions, visit tinyurl.com/Rotary08AugShaiko. For more information, visit ocutrotary.org. LBI film screening: The Lighthouse International Film Society will screen the documentary Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between at 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, 120 Long Beach Blvd. in Long Beach Township. The documentary focuses on Jeffreys music career and social activism and features interviews with musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Vernon Reid. Jeffreys albums Ghost Writer and Escape Artist feature in the documentary and highlight his collaborations with Springsteen and others. Admission is $12 online and $15 at the door. Film Society members get in free. For tickets and more information, visit lighthouseff.com/lifsscreenings. Businesses sought for trades expo: Skilled labor unions and trades industry businesses that are looking to fill open positions or create a feeder program partnership with Egg Harbor Township High School are invited to attend the Egg Harbor Township School Districts second annual Trades & Apprenticeships Career Expo from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 20 at Alder Avenue Middle School, 25 Alder Ave. Co-hosted by the Atlantic County Workforce Development Board, the open-to-the-public indoor event will provide employers with one-on-one contact with job seekers to learn more about employment requirements and training opportunities, and/or land on-the-spot interviews. Last years expo attracted nearly 200 attendees, the district said in a news release. Businesses and unions that wish to participate are asked to fill out the form at tinyurl.com/TradesJobs, call 609-653-0100, ext. 1081, or email grahamc@eht.k12.nj.us. A 6-foot table and two chairs will be provided for marketing, career and/or application materials. Alternate Route police testing: The Atlantic County Police Training Center will provide testing for prospective police officers at the next Alternate Route Basic Course for Police Officers at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Anthony Tony Canale Training Center on English Creek Avenue in Egg Harbor Township. The Alternate Route program allows prospective police officers the opportunity to train at the center at their own expense prior to being hired by a law enforcement agency. Applicants are required to have at least 60 college credits or two years of active duty military service by the start of the six-month academy in January 2025. Registration for the test is available at policeapp.com, and there is a $110 non-refundable application fee. Only 100 applicants will be accepted. For more information, visit atlanticcountynj.gov or email fadden_mike@aclink.org. A suicide note left by a retired probation officer who killed herself after fatally shooting her sons ex, a Wildwood Crest native, detailed the older womans battle with cancer and suspicions that her granddaughter was being abused claims child service workers previously determined were unfounded. Kathleen Leigh, 65, shot Marisa Galloway, 45, the mother of her 4-year-old granddaughter, on East 88th Street near York Avenue on the Upper East Side Friday morning, then turned the gun on herself. The grisly murder-suicide was related to an ongoing custody dispute between Galloway and Leighs son over the little girl, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Galloway was a 1997 graduate of what was then called Wildwood Catholic High School, where she ran track. She also was a member of the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol, for which she participated in lifeguard races. Detectives found a seven-page note on Leigh, who died at the scene, police sources told the Daily News. In a letter addressed for police, Leigh wrote of her frustrations with authorities, complaining they didnt believe allegations that Galloway had abused Leighs granddaughter, a police source said. According to police sources, the childs father reported bruising on the little girl in both April and August 2022, but both complaints were closed by ACS as unfounded. No arrests were made, Kenny said. Relatives, community members mourn Wildwood Crest native fatally shot by ex-mother-in-law in New York Mourners for a mom of two originally from Wildwood Crest who was fatally shot by her ex-mother-in-law who then turned the gun on herself on Sunday focused on raising money for a funeral service for the slain mother, who touched everyone she met. Cops had been called to Galloways home four times between 2021 and 2022. All of the incidents involved arguments between Galloway, the 4-year-olds father, and Leigh over visitation rights and other custody matters, said Kenny. A custody case against Galloway was filed by her ex, Zachariah Reed, on Aug. 20, 2021, in New York Supreme Court, according to a state court database. The last appearance was a settlement conference in December 2023, according to the database. The father currently has custody of the 4-year-old girl, cops said, while Galloways 1-year-old daughter is with her maternal grandparents in New Jersey. Just minutes before Fridays carnage, Galloway had strapped the baby girl into a car seat in the back of a Honda. Leigh then opened fire, shooting Galloway in the head. The baby was unharmed, cops said. The retired probation officer from Chicago had been living with relatives in New York for the past three years while she underwent cancer treatment, police sources said. The shooting took place two and a half blocks from Galloways apartment building, and less than a block away from Gracie Mansion, home to Mayor Eric Adams. StandardAero CEO Russ Ford speaks during ceremonies in December to recognize graduates of the companys training program. StandardAero has been picked to build engines for Boom Supersonics Overture airliner, which is still under development. Robin Jerstad This undated image provided by Boom Supersonic shows its Overture aircraft. American Airlines in 2022 announced a deal to buy 20 of the planes, which are still on the drawing board. San Antonio-based StandardAero will build the crafts engines. Associated Press file photo Standard Aero's CEO Russ Ford congratulates employee's during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the company's training program. The event took polace at the Boeing Center at the Tech Port. Robin Jerstad Standard Aero's CEO Russ Ford speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the company's training program. The event took polace at the Boeing Center at the Tech Port. Robin Jerstad Jim Perschbach, chief executive of Port San Antonio, talks about aerospace company, StandardAero, as he gives a State of the Port Address at Boeing Center at Tech Port on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The Port is the largest tech employer in San Antonio -- and it's growing. The Port is working with a new clients that will be on location. It's also pursuing a futuristic vertiport project on campus. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer The engines for a futuristic airliner able to fly faster than the speed of sound will be built in San Antonio. StandardAero, an aerospace company with a site at Port San Antonio, will produce the Symphony engine being developed by Boom Supersonic to power its new Overture airliner. The Denver-based airplane maker said last week its expanding an existing maintenance, repair and overhaul partnership with StandardAero to assemble and test as many as 330 of the engines each year. The proposed assembly line will encompass more than 100,000 square feet of production space at the companys facility at the Port. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Our collaboration is a testament to StandardAeros world-class engineering capabilities and dedication to delivering solutions that power the future of air travel, Russell Ford, chairman and CEO of Arizona-based StandardAero, said in a statement. The company began working with Boom in December 2022, said Kyle Hultquist, StandardAero spokesman. Weve got this facility and weve got experience with supersonic engine manufacturing in San Antonio, he said, referring to the F110 engine the company already supports. So this makes for a good fit. The F110 is used in a variety of supersonic fighter aircraft including the Air Force F-15 Eagle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hultquist referred questions about the timing of the deal to Boom, which also declined to disclose financial details. Design of the engine is complete and components are being hardware rig tested. Boom said it expects more advanced tests late next year and the Overture to enter service by the end of the decade. We remain on track to having passengers in the air in five years time, CEO Blake Scholl said last week during the Farnborough Air Show in England. Our rapid development approach is pacing ahead of schedule. Overture would be the first supersonic commercial airliner since British Airways retired the Concorde in 2003. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Boom said it conducted simulated flight research last week at Farnborough with airline pilots from around the world including former Concorde pilots. Mike Bannister, former chief Concorde pilot for British Airways, was among them. Ive long believed that Overture is the rightful successor to Concorde, he said, according to Boom. After experiencing Overtures flight deck, which is incredibly well designed and delightful to fly, my excitement and enthusiasm for this aircraft has only intensified. In March, the company conducted the first flight of its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator and in June completed construction on the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, N.C., where the plane will be assembled and delivered to customers. The company has received orders for 130 of the Overture from American Airlines Group Inc., United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co. Ltd. Its also working with Northrop Grumman Corp. to develop military versions. Boom markets Overture as the worlds fastest airliner, optimized for speed, safety and sustainability. Powered by four Symphony engines, it will be able to fly twice as fast as traditional airliners. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Passengers and airlines are hungry for supersonic flight, Scholl said. Boom said its aiming to receive certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2029. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. WASHINGTON (AP) Former President Donald Trump is planning to attend the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention in Chicago on Wednesday. In a statement released Monday night, the Trump campaign said the Republican presidential nominee would participate in a question and answer session that will concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Black community. Trumps campaign has spent months scheduling appearances in areas outside his traditional strongholds of support, including when he attended and was roundly booed at the Libertarian Party convention in Washington earlier this year. In its announcement, the campaign trumpeted Trump policies that it argued benefited Black Americans during his first term. AMLO says Olmeca refinery will reach full production in August Mexico City, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that the Olmeca refinery, built in record time during his government, will reach full production August 3. At a morning press conference he explained that the complex will produce up to 260,000 barrels of gasoline per day. The President reaffirmed that the rescue of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) contributes to energy self-sufficiency and minimizes the import of gasoline from abroad which will benefit consumers by lowering fuel prices in real terms. Unlike the previous administration which purchased up to 80 percent of the gasoline needed abroad, Mexico currently only buys 15 percent of these inputs. During his government, the purchase of the Deer Park refinery in Texas was consolidated and investments are being made in the rehabilitation of the National Refining System (SNR) made up of the complexes of Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon, Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Minatitlan, Veracruz, Salamanca, Guanajuato, Tula, Hidalgo, and Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. The price of magna gasoline has dropped by an average of 5.8 percent annually during this six-year period. Meanwhile, oil production has increased so far this year to 1,852,000 barrels per day in contrast to the 1,642,000 barrels per day recorded in January 2019, at the beginning of the administration. We are coming out of the decadence. The worst period, especially because of the looting that took place, the theft of the peoples property, of the nation, is the period that ended when we arrived, the neoliberal or neo-Porfirista period from 1983 to 2018. It is when they stole the most, when they looted Mexico the most, he argued. People are very happy, which is the most important thing. Wherever we go, people recognize what has been done, he added. Pastor Maribel Vazquez looks over the empty lot behind Emanuel United Methodist Church where the church is working to develop affordable housing. Now, a national group is coming to San Antonio to help more churches take on such projects. Robin Jerstad/Contributor photo Pastor Maribel Vazquez speaks during services at Emanuel United Methodist Church early this year. The church is planning to build 46 units of affordable housing on a lot next to the church. Robin Jerstad/Contributor photo In this 2018 file photo, the historic St. Johns Seminary is seen under renovation for housing, a project that spurred controversy when it was proposed. The project adding more than 225 units of mixed-income housing was completed in 2020. Staff file photo A national nonprofit developer is coming to Texas to work with churches, mosques and synagogues in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas to build more than 800 affordable homes on congregations underused land. Enterprise Community Partners is expanding what it calls its faith-based development initiative in the Lone Star State with a $1 million grant from the T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo. The program provides training, funding and other resources to help houses of worship decide whether they want to convert their property into housing and community facilities, as well as assistance in navigating the development process. We know theres a real need in Texas, said the Rev. David Bowers, vice president of the mid-Atlantic market and senior adviser for the faith-based initiative at Enterprise. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since its inception in 2006, the program has helped create or preserve more than 1,600 affordable homes in the mid-Atlantic region and more than 27,000 additional units are in the works, according to New Orleans-based organization. The effort is part of a bigger push by houses of worship nationwide to develop low-costing housing on their land. With housing costs soaring in Texas and across the nation, congregations see the tidal wave of demand for affordable housing and want to help make a dent in the shortage of low-cost options. Many are thinking about the missional aspect of this, Bowers said. There can also be a financial benefit for faith communities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some houses of worship, while losing members and struggling to stay afloat, are sitting on prime real estate along major corridors making them land rich and cash poor, Bowers said. Working with a developer to build housing or community services can provide development fees or rental payments depending on how a deal is structured. In most cases, participating houses of worship opt to retain control of their property and lease it for a project. How it works After applying for the program, churches are placed in a cohort that receives 20 hours of classroom instruction designed to walk clergy and lay leaders through the development process. They are given funding for a market study and feasibility analysis to determine whether a project is financially viable. They're also paired with a consultant to help them think through it and encouraged to work with a land use or real estate lawyer. Then they decide whether to move forward. The next steps are developing a conceptual plan, presenting their plan to a panel of financing representatives and government officials for feedback and creating a request for proposals to issue publicly to find a development partner. After receiving responses, they choose a developer to work with and hash out a partnership. It usually takes from two to three years to reach that point, Bowers said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A big part of our work is equipping the houses of worship to be good stewards of the land and helping them make sure they have a good team in place to make sound decisions, he said. Enterprise has cohorts operating in Atlanta, Baltimore, Miami, New York, Seattle and Washington, D.C., and has worked with city agencies and businesses to cover costs. The organization decided to focus on San Antonio, Dallas and Houston as a result of conversations executives have had with city officials and leaders of churches and community organizations. Some churches have developed apartment complexes and others have built single-family homes. The projects can include services such as child care facilities, grocery stores and affordable rental space for events. The work were doing in Texas is part of a larger movement, Bowers said. Other efforts At least one church in San Antonio already is considering building affordable housing on an empty lot next to its building. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Emanuel United Methodist Church on the West Side at 3225 W. Poplar St. is working with Overland Partners, the Handprint Initiative, Terrafirma Homes and Prosper West to determine the feasibility of building 46 units, a park and community space on 4 acres between the church and an H-E-B store. The $7.3 million development would have a mix of units for people making up to 30%, 50% and 70% of the area median income. It would help support Emanuel financially at a time church attendance is falling, congregations are aging and as people continue to seek spiritual experiences, the organizations wrote in a funding application for the San Antonio Housing Trust. Another project rehabilitating the St. Johns Seminary and other buildings owned by the Archdiocese of San Antonio near Mission Concepcion for 228 apartments generated controversy when it was proposed about a decade ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some neighbors said it would jeopardize the citys quest to have the missions designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, increase traffic and noise and potentially intercede on archaeological sites, while others said it would rejuvenate run-down buildings that had become targets of vandalism and squatters. Cozumel tourist drowns after falling unnoticed into the sea Cozumel, Q.R. The body of a Cozumel boat passenger who fell into the sea unnoticed has been recovered. On Sunday night, the tourist boat was returning from a late afternoon tour of El Cielo when crew noticed a missing passenger. The man, a Mexican national, is reported to have fallen into the sea unnoticed. Crew began a search for the overboard passenger in dark waters, eventually arriving at the Fonatur Marina dock with the deceaseds body on board. According to Cozumel media, the tourist boat involved is not equipped with night lights. By the time the crew noticed the man missing, he had already drowned since the search was delayed by the lack of lighting for nighttime searches. Cozumel nautical operators have commented on the accident, noting that many of these night tours involve excessive drinking and that tourists do not always wear life jackets. Forensic Medical Services (Semefo) arrived at the Cozumel Marina shortly after 10:00 p.m. Sunday to remove the body. The drowned man was reportedly not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. The inmate, Michael Rosas, 46, died Monday afternoon after apparently suffering a medical episode while in the jails booking section, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Bexar County Sheriffs Office A 46-year-old inmate died after being found unresponsive during a check, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office announced Monday evening. The inmate, Michael Rosas, apparently suffered a medical episode while in the jails booking section, the sheriffs office said in a news release. That area is where inmates wait to be taken before a judge. The booking deputy was making his face-to-face observation checks about 12:40 p.m. Monday when he found Rosas unresponsive and lying against the door, according to the release. The deputy called in an emergency code, opened the cell door and immediately began performing life-saving measures. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other staff people, including facility medical personnel, responded and helped with the lifesaving efforts, as did first responders from the San Antonio Fire Department. Despite these efforts, Rosas was pronounced dead at 1:04 p.m., the sheriffs office said. Further information about the medical episode was not available. The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office will determine the cause and manner of death. Rosas had been booked into the jail Sunday on charges of possession of a controlled substance, 1-4 grams, and evading arrest/detention, second offense, according to the release. His bail had been set at $3,000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Bexar County Precinct 2 Constables Office is investigating the death in accordance with the Sandra Bland Act. The BCSO internal affairs unit also will investigate. Officials have notified the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. In April, two inmates died in apparent medical episodes within a 24-hour period. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time that both inmates had a history of substance abuse and preexisting health conditions. Their deaths spurred a new jail policy that required all incoming inmates who are diabetic and insulin-dependent to undergo a medical evaluation and receive clearance from a medical physician before being accepted into the jail. Those experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or benzodiazepine, a class of drugs used to treat depression, also will need clearance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net. A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite. He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley called for answers Tuesday over the communication breakdown between Pennsylvania law enforcement and the Secret Service that led to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. Text messages, police body camera footage and an after-action report obtained by Grassley provide the most detailed picture yet of security failures surrounding the shooting at the July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pa. Grassley, appearing Tuesday on Fox News Americas Newsroom ahead of a Senate hearing with the FBI and Secret Service, said theres just a lot of shortcomings about law enforcement lapses in the hours before the attempted assassination of Trump. Its just bad when a member of Congress has to get his information from local law enforcement instead of from the federal agencies, Grassley said. (Ive) turned over everything (I) have now, and if (I) get more, (I)ll turn it over. I believe in transparency. The publics business ought to be public, and the protection of a presidential candidate ought to be a top priority. The acting director of the Secret Service said Tuesday he cannot defend why the roof used by the gunman was not secured, the Associated Press reported. Ronald Rowe became acting director last week after Kimberly Cheatle resigned amid mounting criticism by members of Congress over a lack of substantive answers during a hearing about the communication failures preceding the July 13 shooting. Rowe testified Tuesday before two Senate committees. He was joined by FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate at a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees. Grassley pressed Rowe about the failed vetting and communications procedures that led to the near-assassination of the former president. Rowe said he had no explanation for some of the Secret Services shortcomings at the July 13 campaign rally, and committed to improving certain agency procedures and providing rolling updates to Congress and the public. Grassley also asked about the Secret Service and local law enforcements use of a drone to monitor the rally location. In a letter last week asking for the Secret Services operational plan and other records, Grassley included a document showing that a Counter Unmanned Aerial System operator was on the list of personnel for the rally. NBC News has reported that deceased gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks flew a drone over the rally site a few hours before Trump began speaking. According to the Secret Service, the drone system was supposed to be operational at 3 p.m. that day, Grassley said during his questioning of Rowe. However, weve been told by Secret Service that because of cellular bandwidth problems, it wasnt operational until about 5:20 (p.m.) on that day. If the system was operational, Secret Service wouldve had the ability to detect the shooter and his own drone use. Why is the Secret Service dependent upon local cellular networks? Does Secret Service have back up plans in place? Rowe said the Secret Services failure to detect the shooters drone has cost me a lot of sleep. Had the Secret Services platform been operational, Rowe noted, it might have been able to locate Crooks and intervene. Rowe committed to leveraging Department of Homeland Security resources to provide the Secret Service guaranteed connectivity to its drone. He said the lapse is something that I have struggled with to understand. It is something that I feel as though we could have perhaps found him, he said. We could have maybe stopped him. According to documents released by Grassleys office, law enforcement officers knew of and communicated presence of Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa., at the rally to federal counterparts more than 90 minutes before he climbed onto a roof of whats known as the AGR Building and fired eight rounds toward Trump. Below is a summary of local law enforcements planning and communications regarding the Trump event, according to records released by Grassleys office: July 13 9 a.m.: The Butler County Emergency Response Unit hosts a briefing for local law enforcement ahead of the Trump event. The Secret Service was absent from the briefing 1:03 p.m.: Beaver, Butler and Washington County snipers connect via group chat Local sniper locations are noted 4:26 p.m.: A Beaver County sniper finishes his shift and departs the AGR Building. While exiting, he spots Crooks at a picnic table outside and alerts the remaining Beaver and Butler snipers in the AGR Building to Crooks presence 5:38 p.m.: A Beaver County sniper sends photos of Crooks to the Beaver, Butler and Washington snipers group chat. The Beaver sniper notes Crooks was using a range finder looking toward the stage and recommends that they notify Secret Service snipers to look out 5:45 p.m.: A Beaver County sniper sends photos of Crooks to the Beaver County ESU group chat. Beaver law enforcement recommends they alert command Grassley underscored the need to pass legislation he introduced with Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, which would subject Secret Service directors to Senate confirmation and a single, 10-year term. The Secret Services core mission is to protect the individuals entrusted to its care, Grassley said in a statement. President Trumps brush with death was a Secret Service failure of epic proportions, and this mission failure must never be repeated. He called the bill a crucial step toward providing the transparency and accountability that Congress and the American people deserve from the Secret Service. The American electorate has spent the days since he accepted the Republican Partys nomination for the vice presidency getting to know J.D. Vance. And that hasnt worked out well for J.D. Vance. Despite Vance only narrowly defeating his Democratic opponent in an increasingly red state that Trump won twice, his 2022 election to the Senate confirmed him as a rising star of the right, buoyed by an unbeatable rags-to-riches narrative. A descendant of working-class Kentuckians, raised in small-town Ohio by a mother who struggled with opioid addiction, Vance joined the Marines out of high school, graduated from Ohio State and Yale Law, clerked for a federal judge, and spent a year at a white-shoe firm before making a fortune as a venture capitalist. He seemed, at least from a distance, like the model of a regular guy made good, proof that, with enough grit and determination, anyone can make it in America. Up close, however, Vance no longer comes across quite so amiably. Instead of riding high on postconvention euphoria, Vance exited the Republican National Convention with the lowest favorability ratings of any nonincumbent VP candidate since 1980, and the days since then have been worse, as Vances support of extreme positions like a nationwide abortion ban, and his attacks on childless cat ladies, has come back into the spotlight. Rather than backing off those comments, Vance has opted to double down on the idea that adults without children have no stake in the future of the country, even adding Jennifer Aniston to his enemies list. The veteran political correspondent Charles Pierce suggested that Vance might actually be the worst politician Ive ever seen. Advertisement Meanwhile, Hillbilly Elegy, the book that made Vance a national figure, has surged to the top of the bestseller lists, and its 2020 movie adaptation has racked up millions of views on Netflix, lodging in the streamers Top 10. This should have been good news for Vance, a chance for voters-slash-audiences to experience his life story in the way he wants it to be told. But the winds have shifted since 2016, when Vances memoir was held up as a keyeven the keyto understanding the disaffection of the white working class that had swept Trump to his shocking victory. By the time the movie version reached theaters, eight days after Trumps 2020 defeat, its portrait of down-at-heel Rust Belt life was derided as poverty porn, with the Los Angeles Times Justin Chang calling it an unwieldy slop bucket of door-smashing, child-slapping, husband-immolating histrionics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Vances best friend from Yale Law, movie critics savage response to Hillbilly Elegy was the last straw, the end of his attempts to win acceptance from the coastal elites who had once smirked at his choice of dinner fork. And, like Trump running for president to supposedly avenge his mockery at the White House Correspondents Dinner, the idea that it was mean-spirited liberals who turned Vance from a moderate Never Trumper into a full-throated MAGA warrior has a certain poetry to itmore so than the naked political calculation that is the likelier culprit. But in truth, those critics might have done Vance a favor by steering audiences away from a movie that paints him as an opportunist and the place he came from, and claims to represent, as a sinkhole that no self-respecting person would be caught dead in. Advertisement Directed by Ron Howard, who on The Andy Griffith Show made his name as an actor embodying an idealized version of small-town life, Hillbilly Elegy opens in full pastoral mode, with a young J.D. biking to the swimming hole as the sound of a keening fiddle mingles with his narration, describing his youthful summers in Kentucky as hands down the best part of my childhood. But no sooner has J.D. jumped into the water than a group of older local boys is holding him under, laughing as he struggles for air. This isnt the Mayberry of Howards fictional childhood. Its a brutal Darwinian landscape where people look out only for themselves. Advertisement Things are no better back in Middletown, Ohio, where Vance grew up and where the movie is mainly set. J.D.s mother, Bev (Amy Adams), supports the family by working as a nurse, but she loses her job after stealing a patients painkillers, and even before then, shes never far from a sudden downward spiral, at one point threatening to crash a car with both of them in it after J.D. sets off her temper. (It goes unstated that Bev may be using opioids to self-medicate for mental-health issues.) His grandmother, Mamaw (Glenn Close), tries to help out, but she has few resources and a hair-trigger temper of her own. Shes still married to Bevs father, Papaw, but he lives in a separate house, and in a flashback, we see him beating her as a young Bev and her sister cower in the closet, until he drunkenly falls asleep and Mamaw sets his clothes on fire. In his RNC speech, Vance related a favorite anecdote about how, after she died, they found 19 loaded firearms stashed around her house so she would never be far from one. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the shots of a decayed industrial landscape, the movie of Hillbilly Elegy offers little sense of how this environment might appear to people other than the Vances, who are treated as special if only by dint of the movies sole focus on them. If a biopic has one job, its to present its protagonist as someone worthy of the treatmenta figure of historical significance, a person with an amazing story, or just someone whose life offers audience members insight into a world they might not have otherwise come into contact with. J.D.s should be the latter, and thats how Vances book is framed, intermingling memoir and regional sociology. But the movies Vances live in a vacuum, with little in the way of support from their community. When J.D. is living with his Mamaw, he watches through a crack in the door as she begs a man from Meals on Wheels for a second dinner, and although he has none to spare, he comes up with a little extra: a bunch of grapes, a small bag of potato chips. But the scene is presented as an illustration of her determination, not the mans small act of kindness. They have no friends to share the burden, no church to help them out. Its them against the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the movie presents J.D. as an exceptional, even singular case, the only person with the vision to see beyond his disadvantaged circumstances and the willpower to escape them. As Bev and Mamaw, Adams and Close treat their characters as grotesques, evoking pity but not empathy, as if were watching the story through the eyes of a teenage boy who still hasnt wrapped his head around the idea that theyre adults with problems of their own. Closes stooped posture and face-broadening prosthetics may make her look more like Vances real Mamaw, but they also underline the gulf between the characters experience and her own. We never lose sight of the fact that were watching movie stars play dress-up, their characters designed for the sole purpose of justifying the protagonists determination to get the hell out. Advertisement Advertisement Although Vance used his RNC acceptance speech to proclaim his determination to fight for people from communities like mine, Hillbilly Elegy is a story about how desperate he is to leave those people behind. In his final year as a law student, the older J.D., played by Gabriel Basso, is forced to rush home to Ohio after Bev overdoses on heroin, despite having a crucial job interview the following morning. He spends the day trying to find her a place in a rehab facility, maxing out his credit cards because Bev doesnt have insurance, but when she refuses to check in, J.D. throws up his hands.* Ill do everything I can, he says. But I cant stay. Advertisement Advertisement Vance has referred to Hillbilly Elegy as his origin story, a term that, as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear pointed out over the weekend, is deployed more frequently in reference to comic-book superheroes than by people recounting their childhoods. Like many of the politicians vying for the equivalent of Vances spot on the Democratic ticket, Beshear has spent the past week thumping Trump for his VP pick and presenting himself as the real version of what Vance pretends to be. J.D. Vance aint from Kentucky. He aint from Appalachia, Beshear said, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz quipped, My hillbilly cousins did not go to Yale. Vance, they argue, isnt someone who fought for his community. Hes someone who left. Advertisement Vance would counter that he spent his brief career as a venture capitalist backing companies that created jobs in Appalachia, which is true, although he seems to have been far more successful at enriching himself than creating sustainable businesses. But either way, hes doing it from afar. Even after he moved back to Ohio to run for office, Vance chose to surround himself with the people he purportedly despises, buying a $1.4 million home in a liberal neighborhood in Cincinnati. And if Hillbilly Elegy is for anyone, its for Vances current neighbors, not the people the story is about. Its a vision of rural poverty crafted by and for coastal liberals, which must be why the rejection from critics stung especially hard, and why Vance has recently shown as much contempt for their life choices as for the people he grew up with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the millions watching Hillbilly Elegy for the first time, its becoming clear that J.D. Vance isnt one of them and, in fact, never wanted to be. The more he tries to act like a regular guy, the less normal he seems (and thats without even factoring in the couch business). Where we come from is who we are, J.D. says in the movies closing voice-over, but we choose every day who we become. In other words, what separates Vance from the people who still live in rural poverty isnt opportunity or luck or governmental policy; its the choices they make. And if he got out, they have no excuse for not doing the same. My first experience with a prison town was visiting my father while he was caged in the Taylorville Correctional Facility of Illinois. He was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance. I was poor, so this was one of the few trips I made outside of Chicagoland in my childhood. It was a grueling four-hour journey in an incredibly hot conversion van. Something that felt like what Id imagine being kidnapped does. I was an angry teen, and the trip did little to improve my mood. In fact, the experience fueled my anger at the racism that I believed drove Americas sprawling penitentiary system. However, nearly 25 years of researching U.S. prisons has significantly changed my view of why we built so many prisons. Americas infatuation with incarceration isnt just an artifact of its racist past. It is frequently nourished by the support of both Democrats and Republicans, and it is often welcomed by rural communities of color needing help. Its jobs sustain hundreds of thousands of Black and Latino workers. The forces supporting Americas prison system are far more complexand diversethan is commonly understood. That doesnt mean that our sprawling overincarceration system is a good thing. But only when we truly understand the dynamics of the prison-building can we begin to identify and implement the policies needed to dismantle it. The prison boom, costing more than $30 billion and extending over 35 years across nearly every state, is perhaps one of the largest uncoordinated public works projects since the New Deal. The U.S. incarcerates so many in its 1,700 prisons that it held the dubious distinction of being the world leader in incarceration for 30 years. The standard story for prison-building is that rural white Republicans are trying to exploit Black bodies by caging them for corporate profit. The standard story also suggests that the supply of people caught in our criminal justice system generates demand for prisons. On both fronts, often the reverse is true: Prison growth has been largely fueled by public funds for public jobs, while at the same time acting as fuel for the carceral machine rather than a response to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, take Alabama. In September 2023, Alabama announced the building of its new prisons would cost the state more than $1 billion. Alabama is a world leader in rate of incarceration and overcrowding. These conditions have led to dangerous conditions for incarcerated persons and staff across the system. New prisons in Alabama will replace old, crumbling, overcrowded facilities, but they will also provide an additional 5,500 beds. These factors lead to me to believe that Alabama is well positioned to supplant Louisiana as the U.S. (and perhaps the world) leader in incarceration. Thousands of people incarcerated in Alabama prisons went on strike in 2022 to protest inhumane conditions. There have been documented cases of abuse by staff and deaths of incarcerated people. Part of the current rationale for Alabama to build new prisons is being driven by concerns for how overcrowding will affect staff and even incarcerated persons, not simply corporate profit. Given the protests over miserable and inhumane conditions in their prisons, support for new prisons crosses racial and political divides, with Black and white lawmakers at local and state levels who are both Democrats and Republicans supporting prison-building. Advertisement Prison-building takes years of legislation before construction. I have found that state legislatures controlled by Democrats from 1984 to 2004 were more likely to build prisons. A common dynamic when a prison is being built is that Republican-led legislatures afterward pass stricter laws ensuring there will be more incarcerated persons. Advertisement Rural-town disadvantage and state factors such as income inequality are also essential drivers explaining why states like Alabama build prisons. In short, the more disadvantage there is in a rural town means the higher likelihood of a prison being built. As the county seat of Elmore County, Wetumpka, Alabama, would serve as an anchor for one of two supersize prisons being built with up to 4,000 beds. One in three residents of Wetumpka is Black, and 20 percent of these residents live below the poverty linethats more than twice the average in the county. Wetumpkas profile is consistent with my research on prison towns that suggests that already having a prison in your town increases the chances of building a new prison by 20 percent. These factors best explain why the prison is being built near Wetumpka, and are also consistent with my research showing that having higher proportions of Black Americans living in poverty increases the likelihood of a prison being built. Given the high percentage of poor Black Americans, towns like Wetumpka are often stigmatized, and their development opportunities limited. In come prison jobs. Advertisement Advertisement This is very different than the idea that we built private prisons to profit corporations. However, this belief drives the mythology around prison-building as a racist, private venture, propelled by corporate greed. This myth is depicted in scholarly works, newspapers, magazines, and high-profile documentaries and movies. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Something Funny Is Going On With the Campaign Against Floridas Abortion Initiative Read More But the prison boom is a public works project. This stands to reason given that nearly 82 percent of all U.S. prisons are operated by the state, such as the ones being built in Alabama, and 5 percent are operated by the federal government. Not to diminish the dangers of privatization within the criminal legal system, but it is important to highlight the distinction between privately run, for-profit facilities exploiting slave labor for profit, and the other 87 percent of prisons that are owned/operated by states. Advertisement Further analysis of every U.S. prison shows that before incarceration rates rise, states build prisons. Put differently, the supply of prisons generates demand that states grow the population of incarcerated persons. In fact, our working paper suggests that prison demand is not only inelastic but drives incarceration, not the other way around. States that build more prisons incarcerate more people. Even if this current prison-building boom in Alabama seems to be motivated by concerns for correctional staff and those in their care, the incarceration rate will undoubtedly increase given the increasingly punitive culture of the Republican-controlled state Legislature. The flip side is this: There are more than 450,000 corrections officers in the U.S., and nearly half are Black or Latino. Prisons not only provide stable government jobs for people of color, but stability for rural communities of color, and a calming influence on otherwise unstable local rural economies that suffer from limited development options. Despite nearly 1 in 5 rural people living in prison townsmore than 10 million Americansthe prison boom has gone virtually unnoticed as most were built in an invisible land: rural communities of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important we get the story right about why we build prisons in the first place. A poor diagnosis of problems inevitably leads to poor policies. Misguided interventions often worsen conditions for vulnerable populations. Recognizing why prison-building persists in rural communities will allow us to provide strategic alternatives to the perverse incentives that have entrenched prisons so deeply in these communities. After leaving community/political organizing, including working for thenIllinois state Sen. Barack Obama, I relocated my wife and two small children to the prison town of Forrest City, Arkansas. Here, as I did research for my book, I quickly learned that leaders of these communities understood all too well the moral quandary of supporting prison-building. I learned that for people of color, even in a majority-Black town, the prison is simultaneously an engine of death but also a way to save their community. Black leaders supported prison-building in their community not simply for jobs, but because they believed the prison would save their towns reputation. Advertisement In no way am I arguing for prisons to continue functioning as public works programs. However, I am calling for the standard story on prisons to be overhauled. Like so many, my father was caught up by the wave of mass incarceration. At this time, even people with addiction issues, most of whom were incompetent dealers like my father, were portrayed as drug kingpins raining down violence across communities. My father, like so many others, did not fit this bill. Advertisement Advertisement Looking back, we now know that many of our family members found their way into the drug trade through the underground economy. I should not have had to visit my father in prison. How many Alabama children will have to visit their parents in this new facility? To reimagine rural communities of color, we need a new narrative around the prison boom. This narrative should center on a public health approach focused on harm minimization to communities now dependent on prisons and people currently inside them. By offering viable alternatives to rural communities, we can curb prison demand, and work to end the cruel practice of caging so many people for a public works project. Benedict "Junior" Constantine Montgomery, Jr., 86, of Benedict, MD, passed away on July 23, 2024. He was born in Welcome, Maryland to Benedict and Viola Montgomery on December 15, 1937. Junior grew up on farms throughout Southern Maryland, loving the work, and seeing the rewards, and people. He regularly told stories of that time and growing up in a large family. If you were anywhere near one of the farms, he would ask if he'd ever shown you the farm (it didn't matter if he had before) and detour to it. In 1967, he met his future wife, Judith through mutual friends in Benedict. Junior and Judith fell in love and were married on September 23, 1967. For many years, they spent their free time on their boat on the Patuxent River, visiting friends, shooting pool, and going to dances. They spent 57 wonderful and loving years together, creating a beautiful life. They were blessed with one daughter, Janet Montgomery of Alexandria, VA. He found his passion for woodworking as a cabinet maker and carpenter. He was known for the quality of his work, and if he didn't have the tools he needed - he would build his own solution. He enjoyed what he did for a living and retired after many years in the field. Retirement didn't stop him from always needing a project to work on. During his life, he designed and built multiple houses for his family. He added personal touches to the houses with handmade frames, water wheels, and a rocking horse, to name a few. He continued projects outside of his home - building furniture for his daughter. Each one is unique, each built with love. He also found pleasure in cultivating vegetables and flowers. He cherished moments with friends and family. He was a lifetime member of the Moose and helped a local lodge get established. Junior was quick with a joke and being silly to make someone smile. If music was on, you could find him tapping his foot or bouncing along, even while napping. Junior was known for his compassionate nature, always ready to assist those in need. Junior was predeceased by his parents, siblings Gwen Knisley, Randolph Montgomery, Lorraine Johnson, Evelyn St. Armand, Vincent Montgomery, Imogene Clark, LeRoy Montgomery, Alexander Montgomery, James Montgomery, Lillia Hardy, Joseph Montgomery, Vertie Goldsmith, Norma Jean Montgomery, and Reginald Montgomery. He is survived by his beloved wife, daughter, and many friends. The family will receive friends for the visitation on August 2, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. The following day, a funeral service will be held at 11:00 am at All Faith Episcopal Church, 38885 New Market Turner Rd, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Interment will follow after the service at Old Fields Episcopal Church Cemetery, 15837 Prince Frederick Road, Hughesville, MD 20637. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department, 15245 Prince Frederick Road, Hughesville, MD 20637. Prince Frederick VRS, P.O. Box 346, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. MaryAnne Schercinger, 84, of Huntingtown passed away July 28th, 2024. She was born on September 12th, 1939, in the District of Columbia to F. Ralph and Mary F. (Pyles) Reamy. MaryAnne spent most of her youth in Washington, D.C. before moving to Mount Rainer with her parents as an early teen. She graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville. She married her high school sweetheart, John Schercinger on February 13th, 1960. They lived in Prince Georges County before moving to Huntingtown in 1976. MaryAnne worked for the federal government early in their marriage before becoming a full-time mother of their two daughters, Kathy and Kelly. MaryAnne was an active member of her community, serving in several different capacities throughout her life. She was a member of the Jaycettes, Jobs Daughters, and the Eastern Star. She spent her later years serving as president of the Calvert Memorial Auxiliary services, organizing the Festival of Trees for Hospice, and a was lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. MaryAnne was an active member of Huntingtown United Methodist Church, and spent much of her time volunteering and was engaged in many of the Church's groups. She was also an active member of the John Hanson DAR and participated in many activities with them. MaryAnne returned to the work force in 1970, as a financial secretary for Prince George's County Public Schools, where she spent over 30 years at Thomas Pullen. She made many lifelong friends there. MaryAnne will always be remembered for her strength in adversity, her wit, and her generosity to give and love unconditionally. She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Wood (Rudy) and Kelly McKenny (Joey), her four grandchildren, Lauren, Alyssa, Collin and Cameryn, and her great grandson, Gage. She is also survived by her niece, Debbie Mould (Jim). She was predeceased by her husband John just five months before her death. May they both be at peace, together again. Visitation Thursday, August 1, 2024 4:00 PM 7:00 PM Rausch Funeral Home-Owings 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane Owings, MD 20736 Services Funeral Service Friday, August 2, 2024 11:00 AM Huntingtown United Methodist Church 4020 Hunting Creek Road P.O. Box 550 Huntingtown, MD 20639 Interment Burial Miranda Cemetery 4000 Huntingtown Road Huntingtown, MD 20639 Contributions Hospice of the Chesapeake 90 Ritchie Highway Pasadena, MD 21122 410-987-2003 Link: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/ Huntingtown United Methodist Church 4020 Hunting Creek Road P.O. Box 550 Huntingtown, MD 20639 Farmers faced insurmountable challenges in rescuing the animal. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share An unusual sight greeted visitors to Slovak Paradise, a national park renowned for its breathtaking gorges, caves, and waterfalls, last weekend: a cow stranded beneath the Barikadovy vodopad waterfall. The unexpected visitor was discovered in the challenging Velky Kysel gorge, a 1.4-kilometre-long route filled with ladders and waterfalls that typically requires a ferrata set for hikers to navigate. How the cow reached this remote and rugged spot remains a mystery. Her herd was grazing in fields near the eastern Slovak village of Smizany, some seven kilometres away. https://sk.frame.mapy.cz/s/fegufusuru The Slovak Paradise National Park Administration suggested that the cows presence in such an inaccessible area is highly unusual. We believe that the cow could not have made it there on her own. Its possible that irresponsible tourists lured her away from the herd and inadvertently led her to the gorge, the administration speculated. Despite efforts by conservationists and local farmers, they were unable to rescue the cow. We couldnt safely extricate her; the terrain was too perilous for her to make the journey back without serious injury. Unfortunately, we had to put her down on the spot, explained Rudolf Uhliar, director of the Smizany farm. A stranded cow in Slovak Paradise. (Source: Slovak Paradise National Park Administration) Authorities urge visitors to refrain from feeding livestock or interfering with animals in the parks meadows, to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future. Silver and bronze are the favorite Olympic colors for red, white and blue swimmers Regan Smith, of the United States, poses with her silver medal for the women's 100-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) NANTERRE, France (AP) The favorite colors for the red, white and blue at the Olympic swimming pool are silver and bronze. Through four days at La Defense Arena, the mighty U.S. team has won a bunch of medals 15 in all but only two of them are gold. Seven silvers and six bronzes round out the tally. The Americans reached the medal podium in all three events Tuesday night, but each time it was in the runner-up spot (with a bronze medal thrown into the mix, as well). Regan Smith fell to her Australian rival Kaylee McKeown, who captured her second straight Olympic gold in the women's 100-meter backstroke. Smith was the world-record holder after a dazzling performance at the U.S. trials last month, but it was McKeown coming out on top in the race that really mattered. I knew it was going to be such a fight, Smith said. Kaylee is an exceptional competitor, The Americans also claimed the bronze with Katharine Berkoff, the daughter of four-time Olympic medalist David Berkoff. Everyone wants to win, the third-place finisher said. Thats the goal. Its such a tight field, so I knew it was going to be tough. It was more of the same in the men's 800 freestyle, where defending Olympic champion Bobby Finke came up just short. Ireland's Daniel Wiffen captured his country's first swimming gold medal since 1996. Id be lying If I said I wasnt disappointed," Finke said. I was the first loser. It always stings to not be able to defend your title. In the final event of the night, the Americans claimed yet another silver in the men's 4x200 freestyle relay, with Britain winning its second straight Olympic gold in that event. We are always rooting for gold," said Drew Kibler, a member of the U.S. relay team. That is the American standard. It was certainly an improvement on the same race in Tokyo, when the Americans missed a medal with a shocking fourth-place showing. It is a really special thing to be on that podium. It was really tough missing that podium a few years ago, Kibler said. But we are always shooting for gold. While the Americans have nearly twice as many medals as any other nation, they trail rival Australia in the race for shiniest color. The swimmers from Down Under have four victories and eight medals overall. The thing that is most important is that we are pushing the sport in the right direction," Smith said. Our rivalry is great for attention in the sport. We have so much respect for each other. Italy has matched the Americans with two wins, and seven other nations have claimed golds in a sign of the sport's growing depth around the globe. The U.S. has plenty of chances to add to its medal haul over the final five days of swimming. The Americans would prefer a few more trips to the top step on the podium. ___ AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games What to watch for at the Paris Olympics: Katie Ledecky expected to win her 1st gold of these Games Katie Ledecky, of the United States, competes during a heat in the women's 1500-meter freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Katie Ledecky is an overwhelming favorite to claim her first gold of these Games with one of her best events in the pool highlighting Wednesdays action at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here is a guide of what to look out for: Ledecky looking to defend gold in the 1,500 freestyle When the womens 1,500-meter freestyle made its debut on the Olympic program in Tokyo three years ago, Ledecky won by more than a four-second margin. This time it could be an even bigger margin. Ledecky won her heat Tuesday by more than a half-lap ahead of Simona Quadarella of Italy. The 1,500 final is scheduled for 9:13 p.m. CEST (3:13 p.m. EDT). Ledecky's only medal so far in Paris was a bronze in the 400 free. The other swimming finals on Wednesday will be held between 8:30 p.m. CEST (2:30 p.m. EDT) and about 10:45 p.m. CEST (4:45 p.m. EDT). They include the womens 100 free, the mens 200 butterfly, the mens 200 breaststroke and the mens 100 free. Triathlon questions The mens triathlon scheduled for Tuesday was postponed because of concerns about the water quality in the Seine River. It was rescheduled for Wednesday, when the womens competition is also slated to be held. But both will happen only if water tests show acceptable levels of E. coli and other bacteria. Friday is also planned as a backup date. However, storms or rain are forecast Tuesday night through Thursday, which could complicate rescheduling because rain generally causes bacteria levels in the Seine to rise. If Wednesdays races do go ahead, the women will start at 8 a.m. CEST (2 a.m. EDT) and the men will start at 10:45 a.m. CEST (4:45 a.m. EDT). Djokovic and Alcaraz back on the red clay Still chasing the only big title he lacks after getting past longtime rival Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic faces Dominik Koepfer of Germany in the third round at Roland Garros. Carlos Alcaraz, who won the French Open at the same venue last month, plays Roman Safiullin of Russia. Gymnastics The mens all-around final in gymnastics is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CEST (11:30 EDT). ___ AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games The future of coffee production relies heavily on the creation of new, more resilient coffee varieties. Pests, disease, and climate change all threaten overall yields, hamstringing a supply that is already struggling to meet and increasing demand. New varieties bred to purpose may offer at least a partial solution. Since 2015, World Coffee Research has been developing new F1 hybrids that will be more resistant to climate change while also possessing a high cup quality. Now, nine years later, they have selected four new varieties to move to the pre-commercial stage of testing to see how they perform in real-world conditions. Announced via press release, these hybrids are the four that performed the best in the Phase 1 trials back in 2022. Each hybrid is a cross between Sarchimor and Gesha, the former possessing higher yields, leaf rust resistance, and the ability to grow well at lower altitudes, while the latter is renown for its cup profile. The hybrids are hoped to have the positive attributes of both parent plants. With the next phase of testing, the pre-commercial phase, WCR will soon find out. Teaming up with member companies that bid to take part in the trials, a total of 10,000 of these hybrids will be planted on 10 trial plots in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru to understand how they perform in real-world commercial environments. The companies taking part in the trial include Counter Culture Coffee in collaboration with Aquiares Estate, Cafcom, Blue Bottle Coffee in collaboration with Los Volcanes, Falcon Coffees Peru in collaboration with CENFROCAFE, Starbucks Alsacia Farm, and Volcafe Peru in collaboration with Starbucks. The trials will continue over the next six years, during which time WCR and its partners will be regularly evaluating the hybrids for pest and disease resistance as well as overall yield to see which conditions the varieties are most suited to. The coffees will also be evaluated for their flavor quality. With this new cycle of evaluation we are looking to learn more of how these hybrids perform in real-life environments in farmer fields and determine if any of them can add value for coffee production in the future, says Emilia Umana, Senior Manager of WCRs Nursery Program. Additionally, we want to better understand the system for incorporating new materials responsibly into the marketpaving the way for many future releases. At the end of the trials, if one of the new hybrids proves to be superior and outperforms extant varieties, WCR will then work to distribute the F1 on a much larger scale to the global network of coffee producers who may benefit from it. For more information on the pre-commercial trials, visit World Coffee Researchs official website. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/belarus-ready-to-consider-berlins-requests-regarding-krieger---presidents-office-1119568772.html Belarus Ready to Consider Berlin's Requests Regarding Krieger - President's Office Belarus Ready to Consider Berlin's Requests Regarding Krieger - President's Office Sputnik International Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's spokeswoman, Natalya Eismont, told Sputnik Minsk was ready to consider Germany's requests regarding German national Rico Krieger. 2024-07-30T19:17+0000 2024-07-30T19:17+0000 2024-07-30T19:17+0000 operation breaking dawn: idf strikes gaza europe belarus alexander lukashenko minsk death penalty https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1e/1119568758_0:33:525:328_1920x0_80_0_0_9ab0c19cdfadc495bdb743a65a451d95.jpg The Pul Pervogo Telegram channel reported earlier on Tuesday that Krieger had appealed to Lukashenko for clemency. Belarusian news agency Belta reported later, citing Lukashenko's press office, that the Belarusian leader decided to pardon Krieger. In late June, the Minsk regional court found Krieger guilty of committing an explosion in order to influence decision-making by authorities, intimidate the population, and destabilize public order. He was also found guilty of cooperating with the special services of a foreign state, involving the commission of actions deliberately aimed at harming the national security of Belarus. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240725/russian-iskander-m-hits-foreign-mercenaries-temporary-deployment-site-in-kharkov---mod-1119497113.html belarus minsk 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 belarusian president alexander lukashenko, german national rico krieger, who is rico krieger, is rico krieger alive, where is rico krieger KSAT 12 reporter John Paul Barajas enters a plea deal for his 2023 DWI charge on July 29. He received one year probation. Zachary-Taylor Wright KSAT-TV reporter John Paul Barajas, charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit, has been sentenced to a year of probation. The local television reporter appeared Monday in County Court at Law No. 2 before Senior District Judge Raymond Angelini, presiding by assignment. Barajas had been scheduled to go to trial, but decided to take a plea instead. As part of an agreement reached between Barajas attorneys David Christian and Thom Nisbet and Bexar County prosecutor Charles Garcia, Barajas, listed as Juan Pablo in court records, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of the lesser offense of obstruction of a highway, a Class B misdemeanor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Had he gone to trial and been found guilty of the Class A misdemeanor, he would have faced up to a year in jail. As part of the agreement, Barajas will be required to breathe into an alcohol interlock system to start his car for six months. Barajas, 29, also was fined $500 for court costs and $60 for the Texas Department of Public Safety for lab testing, according to court records. He is required to take a DWI education course, which his lawyers said was already done, and complete 48 hours of community service. Barajas was pulled over around 2 a.m. Nov. 5 on Interstate 10 westbound on the Northwest Side after a San Antonio police officer saw him driving 82 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone, drifting in and out of lanes and suddenly changing speeds, an affidavit supporting his arrest stated. Once he began talking to police, the officer noticed a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his breath, slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When Barajas was asked if he was distracted while driving, he told the officer he had been in Southtown and was using a GPS device to get to a location to meet a friend. The officer asked him if he had been drinking, and Barajas said he had not consumed any alcohol. A field sobriety test found that Barajas speech was slurred and he couldnt recall the alphabet past the letter K. Police arrested him and asked for a blood or breath sample, but Barajas refused, so a Bexar County magistrate signed off on a search warrant for his blood, and two vials were collected and tested, which came back nearly twice the state legal limit of 0.08. On the day he was arrested, Barajas license was suspended by the Texas Department of Public Safety for six months in the DWI case. He appealed the suspension and lost. Its longer than the standard 90 days because he refused a breath test when pulled over. He also faces a criminal DWI charge. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A journalist for KSAT since June 2021, Barajas was a weekend anchor at KRGV-TV in the Rio Grande Valley before moving to the Alamo City. He attended Clear Lake High School in Houston and the University of Houston. His father, Mike, is a TV news anchor in Houston. Barajas, who grew up in Houston, recently helped KSATs sister station, KPRC, with reporting efforts after Hurricane Beryl battered the area, KSAT reported. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Initially, Barajas was charged with driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. Later, after lab results came back, prosecutors elevated the charge to DWI with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or higher, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $4,000. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/bidens-us-supreme-court-reform-plan-just-red-meat-rhetoric-to-feed-his-political-base-1119569772.html Biden's US Supreme Court Reform Plan Just 'Red Meat' Rhetoric to Feed His Political Base Biden's US Supreme Court Reform Plan Just 'Red Meat' Rhetoric to Feed His Political Base Sputnik International President Joe Biden's new plan to limit the powers of the US Supreme Court that he announced on Monday has no hope whatsoever of being implemented and enforced, US constitutional experts told Sputnik. 2024-07-30T20:39+0000 2024-07-30T20:39+0000 2024-07-30T20:38+0000 analysis us joe biden dan lazare francis boyle us supreme court democratic party constitutional amendments constitutional changes constitutional crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/1c/1081900755_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0c4e94a631ffa217ac20b3fb41a918da.jpg In a speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Library in Austin on Monday, Biden announced his determination to push through a constitutional amendment that would lift the immunity from prosecution that former presidents enjoyed after leaving the White House. The immunity would still apply to any acts they carried out while in office but would not extend to their previous activities while campaigning for the White House. Biden has opposed in the past any constitutional measures to limit the powers of the Supreme Court or change its composition. However, the president changed his position and made his new proposal just a week after announcing that he would not run for reelection in November. Francis Boyle, a professor of law at the University of Illinois, dismissed the measure as an empty political ploy to impress Biden's core constituents in the Democratic Party. Biden's so-called reforms would get nowhere under the current political conditions and if Biden and the Democrats were serious about reforming the Supreme Court they would announce a counter-packing campaign to increase the number of justices on the bench by six. Such a move is needed to counteract the six members of the Federalist Society who were put onto the Supreme Court by Republican presidents, Boyle said. Those justices had deliberately been appointed by presidents "acting in cahoots with the Federalist Society in order to pack the court their way, which they have succeeded in doing," he said. Boyle recalled that President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his successful plan to pack the Supreme Court in 1937 by increasing its members by up to six. Roosevelt made that proposal "in order to circumvent a reactionary Republican Supreme Court [that was] striking down his New Deal Legislation designed to deal with the Great Depression," he said. Although the measure itself was defeated, Roosevelt won his battle in the end - he put the fear of God into the Supreme Court and got results, but Biden and todays Democrats are no Roosevelt, he said. Biden's Proposal Has No ChanceUS constitutional historian and political commentator Dan Lazare agreed that Biden's new proposal did not have a chance of being implemented. "Biden's op-ed [making the case for his proposed reform in the US media] is pure unadulterated nonsense," Lazare said. Biden was calling for three Supreme Court reforms - a measure striking down presidential immunity, a second imposing term limits and a third imposing a code of ethics, Lazare said. However, the first two would require a constitutional amendment, while the third probably would as well since the Supreme Court justices are all but certain to strike down any such bill on the grounds that it constitutes a flagrant violation of separation of powers, he said. The only way around an adverse Supreme Court ruling is a constitutional amendment; Congress and the states would probably have to go this route in this regard as well, Lazare said. "Biden should know that while you can fool some of the people some of the time, you can't fool all of the people all the time, especially on a topic as important as this," Lazare said.The two-thirds rule in Article 5 of the US Constitution says Congress must approve any proposed amendment by a two-thirds vote in each chamber, while the second means three-fourths (i.e., 38) of the states must assent as well. "Bad as the first one is, the second is an absolute killer since it means that 13 states representing as little as 4.4% of the population can veto any effort at constitutional reform, not just for a year or a decade, but forever," he said. This explained why the United States has not seen a constitutional amendment since 1971 and why, given Washington's hyper-polarized atmosphere, it is not likely to see another for the next half-century as well, per Lazare. As such, the chances of anything similar happening again therefore are nil. "The Supreme Court is another Washington institution that is broken beyond repair, yet is unfixable under anything resembling present circumstances," Lazare added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240701/us-supreme-court-says-trump-immune-from-prosecution-for-official-acts-1119208940.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240724/americans-no-longer-trust-the-establishment-as-biden-remains-greatest-domestic-threat-to-us-1119486269.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240724/same-as-the-old-boss-harris-expected-to-continue-neoconservative-foreign-policy-1119479786.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International joe biden supreme court, us supreme court reforms, https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/caracas-based-telesur-news-site-comes-under-cyberattack-1119563491.html Caracas-Based teleSur News Site Comes Under Cyberattack Caracas-Based teleSur News Site Comes Under Cyberattack Sputnik International The Spanish-language website of Venezuelan broadcaster teleSur became the target of a cyberattack on Tuesday, the broadcaster's president, Patricia Villegas Marin, said. 2024-07-30T08:01+0000 2024-07-30T08:01+0000 2024-07-30T08:01+0000 americas latin america venezuela nicolas maduro caracas election meddling https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0a/1c/1090280496_0:50:960:590_1920x0_80_0_0_8743a8d11784273ec1e50276944bf953.jpg The presidential election of July 28 saw Nicolas Maduro win a third term in office. The announcement of results sparked protests in the capital of Caracas and beyond, with clashes reported between the police and opposition supporters. The Venezuelan government accused several countries of election meddling.The journalist vowed to defend the "sovereignty and communication integration" of the Latin American and Caribbean regions. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/protests-in-venezuela-definitely-financed-by-washington---russian-observer-1119560904.html americas venezuela caracas 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 venezuela elections, elections meddling, elections maduro, elections interference, democracy in venezuela https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/crypto-capital-of-the-planet-delving-into-the-us-stash-of-digital-coins-1119567339.html Crypto Capital of the Planet? Delving Into the US Stash of Digital Coins Crypto Capital of the Planet? Delving Into the US Stash of Digital Coins Sputnik International Ex-presdient and nowadays GOP hopeful Dobald Trump promised to embrace cryptocurrency if he wins the 2024 election, in an address at a bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee. 2024-07-30T14:26+0000 2024-07-30T14:26+0000 2024-07-30T14:26+0000 us donald trump government crypto currency digital currency bitcoin americas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1e/1119567005_0:0:3078:1731_1920x0_80_0_0_5e8e3e8a1bd4283709f1c7d479ac0bc1.jpg Former US President and current Republican presidential nominee Trump has pledged to make America the "crypto capital of the planet" and create a bitcoin (BTC) "strategic reserve" using the currency that the government currently holds.The current US authorities also holds other cryptocurrencies such as 50,000 Ether (ETH) worth $166.7 million as well as major stablecoins like 121 million USDC worth $121.7 million, and 40,000 BNB valued at $23.2 million.Additionally, the government is in possession of 750,000 WBTC worth $50.3 million, 19 million AUSDC worth $18.8 million and 13 million BUSD valued at $13.6 million, Arkham data showed.For comparison, the value of the governments BTC holdings stood at about $5 billion last year, the Wall Street Journal earlier reported, adding that a significant part of this digital currency came from confiscations related to darkweb markets like Silk Road.According to Trump, "They took it away from you. 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," the founder of the Silk Road website. The man was sentenced to life in prison after a judge held him responsible for six overdose deaths linked to his website. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/trump-won-sympathy-of-us-crypto-community-but-needs-to-be-consistent---expert-1119540260.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg a bitcoin conference in nashville, tennessee, former us president and current republican presidential nominee donald trump, us government's bitcoin holdings, the bidens administration https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/lugansk-student-urges-trump-to-stop-arms-deliveries-to-ukraine-1119559584.html Lugansk Student Urges Trump to Stop Arms Deliveries to Ukraine Lugansk Student Urges Trump to Stop Arms Deliveries to Ukraine Sputnik International A student in Lugansk sent a letter to former US President Donald Trump, asking him to stop the flow of weapons from the United States and Ukraine. 2024-07-30T01:14+0000 2024-07-30T01:14+0000 2024-07-30T01:14+0000 world ukraine un security council (unsc) mirotvorets russia donald trump joe biden https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/10/1116832890_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_ad1a90a3489895b9a7e93e2a8eab6e2d.jpg Trump is the Republican nominee for US President in 2024. The presidential elections in the United States will be held in November. He currently holds a small lead over his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris nationally and leads in most swing states.In 2021, then 12-year-old Savenkova recorded a video message to members of the UN Security Council and called on the organization to remember that children of Donbas have the right to childhood and peaceful life. In the fall of the same year, the notorious Ukrainian website "Mirotvorets" included the girl on its hit list. Later, Savenkova repeatedly appealed to various international organizations with calls for a ceasefire in Donbas. She also told Sputnik that she may send another letter to Trump, urging him to pressure Ukraine into taking children off of the list."I will write on this issue to Trump because the data of 326 children, many of whom are aged 910, is on this website. That just shouldn't happen," Savenkova said.The girl pointed out that it was not her first letter to Trump and confided that she believes he is the only adequate politician in the US now. Faina in her letter asked Trump to stop the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine. Mr. Turmp, my name is Faina Savenkova. I am a teenager living in Donbass. I am 15 years old, and I am a young writer and journalist. However, the Ukrainian government sees me just as one of many civilian targets in this war. In my short life, I have had to endure the horrors of war due to the weapons that Western countries supply to Ukraine, she wrote. Faina also mentioned the recent assassination attempt against Trump, saying she was happy that everything ended up with minimal consequences for him. She pointed out that July 27 is the Day of Remembrance for the Child victims of the war in Donbass. On July 27, 2014, the Ukrainian military launched a massive artillery strike on Horlivka, resulting in the deaths of 22 civilians, including children," she said in her letter. Savenkova also implored Trump to do everything possible to bring an end to the conflict and to re-establish US relations with Russia. Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to liberate Donbass and create conditions that guarantee Russia's security. Russia earlier sent a note to NATO because of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240623/trump-vows-to-settle-ukraine-conflict-even-before-taking-office-if-reelected-1119072877.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino russian student sends letter to trump, will trump end ukraine, who supports sending weapons to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/mens-2024-olympic-triathlon-postponed-due-to-poor-quality-of-water-in-seine-1119563891.html Men's 2024 Olympic Triathlon Postponed Due to Poor Quality of Water in Seine Men's 2024 Olympic Triathlon Postponed Due to Poor Quality of Water in Seine Sputnik International The men's triathlon competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics has been postponed due to poor water quality in the Seine, World Triathlon said in a statement on Tuesday. 2024-07-30T08:29+0000 2024-07-30T08:29+0000 2024-07-30T08:29+0000 world france paris olympics https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1a/1119517297_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8e12441d228c222624baeec59e3759d2.jpg Earlier, the Olympic triathletes' training swim, which was supposed to take place on Monday morning, was canceled due to polluted water in the Seine. Before that, training on Sunday was also canceled for the same reason. The rain that fell on Friday and Saturday in Paris is said to be the cause of the water pollution. The men's triathlon competition was supposed to start on July 30 at 8:00 local time (6:00 GMT). The 2024 Olympics are being held from July 26 to August 11. According to media reports, the Seine was contaminated with E. coli above the recommended limit on the day of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's demonstration swim in the river that flows through the French capital. Hidalgo, joined by other Paris officials, swam in the Seine ahead of the Olympics to prove that the river was safe for competitions. france paris Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International france, dirty seine, olympic pollution seine, seine pollution, seine poor quality of water, faile olympic https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/peruvian-foreign-ministry-says-venezuelan-diplomats-must-leave-country-within-72-hours-1119560340.html Peruvian Foreign Ministry Says Venezuelan Diplomats Must Leave Country Within 72 Hours Peruvian Foreign Ministry Says Venezuelan Diplomats Must Leave Country Within 72 Hours Sputnik International All Venezuelan diplomats in Peru must leave the country within 72 hours, the Peruvian foreign ministry said in response to Venezuela recalling its diplomats from a number of countries, including Peru. 2024-07-30T03:15+0000 2024-07-30T03:15+0000 2024-07-30T03:15+0000 americas nicolas maduro venezuela venezuelan peru newsfeed https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/07/03/1083296526_0:308:2953:1969_1920x0_80_0_0_5baf1df941a2cd4e9fa52dc4363b97cd.jpg Earlier on Monday, the Venezuelan government announced that it was recalling its diplomats from a number of Latin American countries, including Peru, that had not recognized the results of the presidential election. At the same time, Venezuela demanded that these governments immediately recall their representatives from its territory. The presidential election was held in Venezuela on Sunday, and the current head of state, Nicolas Maduro, won it. On Monday, protests began in Caracas, with clashes between the police and protesters. The Venezuelan government has declared that a number of countries had interfered in the elections and in the people's right to self-determination. americas venezuela venezuelan peru 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 venezuelan diplomats, peru and venezuela, elections in venezuela https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/protests-in-venezuela-definitely-financed-by-washington---russian-observer-1119560904.html Protests in Venezuela Definitely Financed by Washington - Russian Observer Protests in Venezuela Definitely Financed by Washington - Russian Observer Sputnik International The protest in Caracas after Sunday's elections are "definitely" funded by the United States, said a member of the delegation of Russian observers and lower house parliament member Alexey Volotskov told Sputnik. 2024-07-30T04:32+0000 2024-07-30T04:32+0000 2024-07-30T04:32+0000 americas hugo chavez nicolas maduro venezuela caracas venezuelan elections https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/1e/1119560746_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_b9efe126ff8c861507ffdcb2fddc2cef.jpg "Of course, this is definitely funding from abroad, and such radical views of young, hooligan-minded people who may be looking for economic gain in this matter to take some property, break something and steal, probably all this is multiplied," Volotskov said. Manifestations of extremism in Venezuela after the elections are a staged action and are not capable of influencing the electoral process, Volotskov added. On Sunday, presidential election was held in Venezuela, and the current head of state, Nicolas Maduro, won them. After that, protests began in Caracas on Monday with clashes between the police and protesters. The Venezuelan government said that a number of countries had interfered in the elections and in the people's right to self-determination.The leader of the opposition, Maria Corina Machado, who was barred from running in this election, has a long history with US-funded organizations. The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that she founded, Sumate, was funded by the United States through the National Endowment of Democracy.In the early to mid 2000s, there was a long on-again off-again trial for treason against Machado and three other leaders of the Sumate organization. According to diplomatic cables revealed by Wikileaks in 2011, the US government publicly and privately supported Sumate and pressured other countries to pressure Venezuela to drop the charges.A confidential cable dated June 14, 2005 described the effects of a meeting between Machado and then-US President George W. Bush, saying it gave then Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's opponents a "much-needed moral boost.""It is important now to let the organization ride this surge largely on its own. A continuing, too evident, public identification with the U.S. could now be counterproductive. At the same time, however, we need to ensure that Sumate has the resources it needs to exploit this new vantage point it enjoys." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240729/shots-heard-in-caracas-during-election-protests-1119558803.html americas venezuela caracas venezuelan 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 venezuelan election, us funding venezuelan opposition, were the elections in venezuela fair https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/trump-says-will-talk-to-fbi-on-thursday-about-assassination-attempt-plans-to-debate-harris-1119559829.html Trump Says Will Talk to FBI on Thursday About Assassination Attempt, 'Probably' Will Debate Harris Trump Says Will Talk to FBI on Thursday About Assassination Attempt, 'Probably' Will Debate Harris Sputnik International Former US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump will speak to the FBI about the attempt on his life, he said in an interview during which he also spoke about debating his likely opponent in November. 2024-07-30T02:48+0000 2024-07-30T02:48+0000 2024-07-30T02:53+0000 americas donald trump us kamala harris pennsylvania fbi us secret service donald trump assassination attempt https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/0e/1119374355_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_5631e919e0de4cc2be6e07c8275ace48.jpg "[The FBI are] coming in on Thursday to see me," Trump told Fox News on Monday. Trump further said that he believed there should have been security officers on the roof of the building where the gunman had been positioned during the shooting. Moreover, the Republican presidential nominee said that the US Secret Service should have been communicating with the local police, which it wasn't. On July 13, Trump suffered a gunshot wound to his right ear and was briefly hospitalized following an assassination attempt at his rally in Butler. Thomas Crooks, 20, killed a member of the audience and injured two others in the crowd before the Secret Service neutralized him. The FBI continues to investigate the assassination attempt. The incident prompted US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign following criticism of the agency for not preventing the assassination attempt.Trump also commented on the possibility of him debating the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Vice President Kamala Harris.Trump and Harris are currently set to participate in a ABC-hosted debate on September 10.Trump explained that he could decide to cancel a debate because he did not want to reward "fake news," adding that ABC could end up making tens of millions of dollars off the debate.He also described the ABC network as a "terrible outfit." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/trumps-security-team-slams-police-for-failing-to-timely-tell-them-about-shooter---reports-1119540416.html americas pennsylvania 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 will harris and trump debate, assassination attempt on trump, trump speaking to the fbi https://sputnikglobe.com/20240730/ukraine-loses-up-to-650-soldiers-in-clashes-with-russias-south-forces-1119566788.html Ukraine Loses Up to 650 Soldiers in Clashes With Russia's South Forces Ukraine Loses Up to 650 Soldiers in Clashes With Russia's South Forces Sputnik International Ukraine has lost up to 650 personnel in the area of operations of Russia's Yug (South) group of forces in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. 2024-07-30T10:52+0000 2024-07-30T10:52+0000 2024-07-30T10:52+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian armed forces russian army ukrainian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/05/1119252730_0:102:3278:1946_1920x0_80_0_0_d375b61d067b1808d25aa0d3258db684.jpg "The enemy's losses amounted to up to losses amounted to up to 650 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, three US-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, two US-made 155-mm M198 howitzers, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, and two US-made 105-mm M119 howitzers," the ministry said in a statement. Ukraine lost up to 500 soldiers in battles with Russian troops of the Zapad (West) group, the ministry said, adding that Russias Tsentr (Central) group repelled six counterattacks, during which Kiev has lost up to 315 servicepeople. Russia's Sever (North) group of forces repelled seven counterattacks in the past 24 hours, with Kiev losing up to 250, the ministry said. The Russian armed forces have also taken control of the Leninskoe settlement in Donetsk People's Republic. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240724/iskander-russias-unbeatable-missile-system-that-ukrainian-forces-simply-cannot-beat-1119488723.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukraine losses, russian army, russia special op ukraine, russia ukraine, ukraine conflict The two hottest pacers currently competing in the three-year-old colts and geldings division of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) will be at Batavia Downs on Wednesday, July 31 for a head-to-head tilt in the first of two $57,000 USD divisions that highlight the stellar mid-week card. Howlenthehills (American Ideal-Arielle Lynn) has been on a tear this year, winning seven out of his eight starts with one second as well. That lone defeat came by only one-half length in the Messenger Stakes at Yonkers Raceway last month to his stablemate, Sweet Beach Life. Other than that, hes been a wrecking ball since April over every track surface hes been on. He is undefeated in NYSS action this year and took a 1:50.1 lifetime mark at Vernon Downs in June. Boston Rocks (Boston Red Rocks-Scirocco Sarah) has started four times in NYSS action this year, winning twice and finishing second twice, with those two losses coming to Howlenthehills. His lifetime mark came in an overnight at Pocono Downs when he paced around that red surface in 1:51.4 while pulling away by 7-1/2 lengths. He rolled that win into another devastating performance in his last start at Monticello Raceway, where he won his split of the NYSS in 1:52.3 by nine lengths in a laugher. These two pacers have a lot in common. Howlenthehills is the top point-getter (150) and highest earner ($139,178) in his NYSS classification while Boston Rocks is tied with him for points (150) while sitting second right behind him for earnings ($129,659). But they also have a couple outstanding differences. Howlenthehills was winless as a two-year-old, including seven starts in the NYSS, and only earned $36,381. While in his first year of racing, Boston Rocks won four races, including three NYSS legs and the $225,000 final before making an appearance in the Breeders Crown final. All of which earned him $352,922. The other major difference is Howlenthehills is a gelding while Boston Rocks is a colt. So there are two track records in jeopardy on Wednesday as a result of this match-up. The Batavia Downs standard for a three-year-old pacing gelding is 1:51.2 while for a three-year-old pacing colt is 1:52.2, so this is something that bears watching. Howlenthehills has drawn post one for trainer Travis Alexander and will tour the facility with Matt Kakaley once again in tow while Boston Rocks has post two, with his regular reinsman Jason Bartlett back in the bike for trainer Mike Deters. In the second division, Alexander will also be starting Huntingforchrome (Huntsville-All On Top Hanover), who is another horse who could stake a claim at a new track record as he comes into this start with a lot of asterisks, but also a lot of speed. Huntingforchrome started out the year with two NYSS starts that yielded one second-place finish for then trainer Jenn Bongiorno. Two weeks after that, the gelding found himself in Travis Alexanders barn and has been a speed show on the Grand Circuit ever since. His first start for Alexander was in the Meadowlands Pace elimination where he was race timed in 1:49.3, but he was rigged incorrectly according to Alexander in an interview after the race. With the proper changes made, Huntingforchrome then won a Three-Year-Old Open Pace at The Meadowlands in a sparkling lifetime-best 1:48.1, finished second in 1:49.1 by 1-3/4 lengths in the Adios elimination at The Meadows and then finished fourth in the Adios final by only 2-1/2 lengths while being race timed in 1:49.4. That start was only four days removed from this NYSS outing at Batavia, which is his first NYSS tilt since mid-June. Alexander has Matt Kakaley in the bike behind Huntingforchrome and they will start from post five in this event. His main competition appears to be Ameritric (American Ideal-Electric Fool), who is the only starter in this field with a NYSS victory this year, coming in a lifetime-best 1:52.3 outing at Buffalo Raceway. Other than that, Ameritric has won three overnights and has posted the highest earnings of this group this year ($94,178). Brett Beckwith will take the reins for trainer George Ducharme from post three. Taranaki (Huntsville-Free Fi Girl) is as consistent as a horse can be, finishing seven out of nine starts in the money with four straight cheques in the NYSS. He has gate speed and having drawn post one, will be in the mix from start to finish. Trainer Paul Jessop has called upon local leading driver Kevin Cummings to steer this week. The New York Sire Stake divisions will go as race seven and nine while the three $20,000 USD Excelsior races are carded as three, five and 11. Post time for race one is at 6 p.m. (Batavia Downs; photo of Howlenthehills from a previous win) The National Republican Congressional Committee has named former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, shown in this 2022 photo, a 2024 Young Gun. Her race against Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez for South Texas' House District 15 is seen as potentially competitive. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer The House Republicans campaign arm has named former Rep. Mayra Flores a 2024 Young Gun, designating her bid against Democrat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez as a top pickup opportunity. The National Republican Congressional Committee announced this week that the Los Indios Republican is one of 26 candidates being boosted through their Young Guns program, which provides mentorship, training and extra resources to Republican challengers. The race is one of few in Texas seen as potentially competitive. Extreme House Democrats border, crime and cost of living crises wrecked Americans safety and security, NRCC Chair Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said in a statement. Fortunately, these Republican candidates are already well on their way to running winning campaigns that will grow our House majority in November. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Flores was also on the Young Guns list in 2022, when she ran for her first full term in Congress after replacing outgoing Democrat Filemon Vela in a special election. She lost to Gonzalez by 8 percentage points. We welcome the NRCC to invest in another race in the RGV they are guaranteed to lose, Gonzalez said in a statement. These are the types of amateur investment decisions that will guarantee us a new Democratic Majority in the House. The 34th District, which includes Brownsville, Harlingen and parts of McAllen, is more solidly Democratic than the neighboring 15th District, currently represented by Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg. Gonzalez previously had represented the 15th District but was redrawn into his new, bluer seat after redistricting in 2021. But Flores has raised significant funds so far this year, and the NRCC announcement means Republicans are looking to turn the district. Democrats historically have represented the Rio Grande Valley, but the regions heavily Latino population has shifted toward the GOP in recent cycles. Former Standardbred groom Robert "Bobby" Guy LaRush of Norwood, Ont., affectionally known as "Bucko," passed away suddenly on July 25, 2024 at the age of 58 with his family by his side. He was the son of Judy (Robin), loving brother Peter (Julie), uncle to his only niece Leah and is predeceased by his father Guy. He will always be remembered by his aunts, cousins, extended family and friends. Bobby enjoyed volunteering his time at the Norwood Legion, whether it was selling poppies at the grocery store or dressing up as an elf for the childrens Christmas party. He loved the little communities that he lived in. He was known as a Havelock Hotel legend. He had a love for horses and harness racing. He loved listening to music and making people laugh. Bobbys love for his dog Cash was immeasurable and he now is reunited with his best friend. Arrangements have been entrusted to The Hendren Funeral Home - Norwood Chapel. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Tribute will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Canadian Cancer Society or to The Peterborough Regional Health Centre by calling 705-639-5322 or by visiting hendrenfuneralhome.com. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Bobby LaRush. Gov. Jim Pillens plan to cut property taxes will go before the Revenue Committee later this week after lawmakers voted Monday to change its committee assignment. The Legislatures Referencing Committee voted 6-3 to move LB 1 out of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, where it was assigned in a surprise move last week, and into the Revenue Committee. In the committee led by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who introduced LB 1 on Pillens behalf on the first day of a special session called by the governor, the bill will likely have an easier path to the floor of the Legislature. The move also gives any amendments proposed by the Revenue Committee priority when the bill comes up for debate by the full Legislature. Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, the chairman of the Executive Board, which also serves as the Referencing Committee, and Sen. John Lowe of Kearney voted to move LB 1 to the Revenue Committee, where Revisor of Statutes Marcia McClurg recommended it be referenced. Both senators had previously voted to reference LB 1 to the Government Committee, which has jurisdiction over matters affecting political subdivisions, because of how it affected city and county governments. Backers of Pillens plan said the move was an attempt to kill LB 1 or block it from advancing to the floor. At least half of the members of the Government Committee have voiced skepticism or opposition to Pillens plan. On Monday, Lowe said a letter from Linehan and Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the chairman of the Government Committee, requesting LB 1 be re-referenced swayed him to change his thinking. I always respect two committee chairs coming together, Lowe said. Opposing the re-referencing motion were Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas, Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston and Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar. Pillens plan would implement a 5.5% sales tax on previously untaxed goods and services, a 4% tax on real property maintenance and repairs, a 2% tax on purchase and repair of agricultural machinery, and raise taxes on candy, soda, cigarettes and alcohol. It also eliminates school districts ability to levy property taxes and caps growth on property tax revenue for cities and counties. The Revenue Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Referencing Committee on Monday also debated where to assign a bill LB 29 from Sen. Jen Day of Gretna requiring the sale of a state-owned plane valued at $3.6 million used by Pillen and members of the executive branch. Under Days plan, the funds from the sale would be returned to the states general fund and put toward property tax relief efforts the stated purpose of the special session. The plane made approximately 50 flights this summer, often staying in the air for less than 30 minutes. On July 25, the first day of the special session, the Beech C90GTx King Air flew three flights connecting Lincoln, Beatrice and Nebraska City. Day said the state should consider cutting non-essential spending before slashing $200 million from programs like those focused on foster children first. If property tax relief is as important to the governor as he says it is, I would hope we would look at luxuries before essentials, Day said. Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln argued the Executive Board previously handled the task of deciding which plane the state would purchase more than a decade ago and that the question should remain with the nine-member committee now. The motion to reference it to the Executive Board failed 3-6, however, with Bostar, Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte voting in support. Senators then voted 8-1 to reference the bill to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Nebraska Department of Transportations aeronautics division. Bostar cast the lone vote against the motion. SAP announced its global Q2 2024 results on July 23, 2024, reporting cloud revenue increased 25% in the quarter as demand for AI drives cloud growth. Cloud revenue in Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) grew to 566M in Q2 2024, an increase of 38% over same period 2023 at constant currency, with India and Korea showing particular momentum. Globally, SAPs cloud revenue was up 25% at constant currency, with cloud backlog up 28% at constant currency. Total APJ Q2 2024 revenue grew to 1.17B New RISE with SAP customers included Shiseido; Auckland Council; Powerlink Queensland; Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance; Parle Biscuits; Tigaraksa Satria; PGP Glass; PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Pelindo Group . RISE with SAP go-lives included Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation. Additional deals were recorded at Bank Danamon and La Trobe University . Japanese chemical company UBE Corporation completed a migration program to SAP S/4HANA Cloud, integrating and consolidating core functions across the organisation to enhance business efficiency, stability, and quality through digital transformation. APJ companies continued to adopt RISE with SAP to power their cloud transformations, take advantage of new Business AI capabilities, and build agility for changing market requirements. New RISE with SAP wins and expansions in Q2 include Shiseido; Auckland Council; Powerlink Queensland; Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance; Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd; Tigaraksa Satria; PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Pelindo Group; and PGP Glass. Go-lives this quarter were successfully completed at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, among others. Powerlink Queensland: We decided to expedite the decision to move to RISE with SAP to take advantage of the enormous productivity gains from new innovations including SAP AI. With many of our critical business systems already running on SAP, the ability to leverage AI capabilities within those systems will deliver tremendous value to our people through high-value natural intelligence. Shiseido decided to adopt RISE with SAP to further its business transformation. This strategic move supports Shiseidos FOCUS program, which aims to standardise business processes and data in one connected solution globally across the entire value chain, enabling new ways of working. By integrating SAP S/4HANA, SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP), and SAP Ariba in the RISE platform with SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), Shiseido seeks to create a resilient and data-driven organisation capable of responding to global supply chain and finance challenges. This decision is a significant step towards achieving seamless global operations and improving overall business efficiency and agility. Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd: The decision to move from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA on RISE with SAP as part of our digital transformation journey is a significant step. This move will allow us to leverage the advanced capabilities of SAP S/4HANA and SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), which includes features like Automation, Integration Suite, Datasphere with SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), and the inclusion of AI/GEN AI. Richard Jarrett, Director Group Shared Services at Auckland Council, said, Our new commercial construct with SAP gives us the freedom to make the right choices of fit for purpose technologies. This will mobilise the councils Group Shared Services approach and reflects the commitment we have made to Aucklanders in our long-term plan. The small and medium enterprise sector is also embracing cloud. La Trobe University, which was the first organisation globally to switch on SAP S/4HANA in the cloud in 2015, is now adopting GROW With SAP, a complete offering of solutions, adoption acceleration services, community, and learning to help any size company successfully adopt cloud ERP. Paul Marriott, President of SAP APJ, said SAP customer experience is being transformed by the infusion of Business AI across our portfolio, embedding cutting-edge technologies into enterprise-ready business applications. The benefits of Business AI can only be accessed through the cloud, and we are working with our customers across APJ to help them drive AI benefits unique to their needs. More Q2 APJ Customers SAP SuccessFactors was chosen by PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk, which operates a network of 856 branch offices, and more than 60,000 ATMs across 34 provinces in Indonesia. Bank Danamon went live with Joule and Premium AI features in SAP SuccessFactors, as well as a suite of SAP SuccessFactors HCM solutions. By integrating SAPs AI copilot into its HR processes, the bank expects to drive enhanced employee engagement through AI-generated insights, and more personalised candidate matching in its recruitment process. Established in 1988, PT Tigaraksa Satria Tbk operates a nation-wide, sales and distribution business in Indonesia. Company activities across its business units and subsidiaries include consumer products, direct selling of educational products, gas refill and appliances, and dry milk manufacturing, providing Indonesians with the access to life essentials. With 1,700 employees across 33 branches in the country today, Tigaraksa Satria now also provides avenues for growth to its trade channels and principal subsidiaries, including household names such as Mars Symbioscience Indonesia, Colgate-Palmolive Indonesia, Yupi Indo Jelly Gum. To scale more efficiently, Tigaraksa Satria selected the premium edition for RISE with SAP with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, and SAP Datasphere, to unify fragmented data and processes through a cloud-based ERP solution. By consolidating its core business and financial systems to the cloud, the company expects to drive better real-time visibility and data analysis across its supply chain and distribution networks, and improved agility to adapt to market changes. UBE Corporation has revamped its core system by implementing SAP S/4HANA Cloud. Leveraging the assets of the existing system, UBE completed the migration project in a short period of about 18 months, significantly faster than a new implementation. To build a foundation for operational standardisation, UBE integrated and consolidated functions while utilising the new features of SAP S/4HANA Cloud to drive data-driven operations. This initiative aims to accelerate Digital Transformation, achieve efficient migration using existing assets, and standardise global operations. UBE continues to enhance business efficiency, stability, and quality through its Digital Transformation efforts. Qualcomm Technologies made two key announcements at its Snapdragon for India in Delhi, India, aimed at showcasing its India presence and driving innovation and 5G access for the India market. Bringing together its global leaders for Mobile and Compute alongside the India leadership team, the event gathered key India ecosystem partners, media, analysts and industry influencers. The event included guest keynotes by Lt. Gen. Dr. SP Kochhar, Director General at Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) who spoke about the scope and scale of 5G in India, Navkendar Singh, Associate Vice President with IDC India, who spoke about some of the challenges Indian consumers have faced in 5G access and adoption and Varun Mayya, CEO and founder of Aeos Labs and a leading voice on generative AI and content creation. This event recognized the key contributions of its India engineering teams in the design and development of its latest solution for the smartphone market. It highlighted Qualcomms commitment to fostering innovation and empowering communities in India over the last 20 years, enabling access to cutting-edge technologies in 5G and AI, by the heads of the Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai Centers, Srini Maddali, SVP, Engineering, Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd. and Shashi Reddy, VP, Engineering, Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd. and Mahesh Moorthy, VP, Engineering, Qualcomm India Pvt. Ltd. respectively. The new Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 redefines the entry-level mobile experience, packed with consumer must-haves, including Gigabit 5G connectivity, robust power efficiency for all-day battery life, and skilled camera capabilities. With innovations that aim at the greater good, Qualcomms 5G leadership has played a key role in digitizing India. Stemming from Qualcomms commitment to engineering human progress, this chip of change will be key in accelerating 5G penetration in India by bringing this technology to entry tier smartphones. The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 will make 5G accessible to over 600 million Indian smartphone users, offering peak download speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is 7 times faster than the LTE platforms typically available in the same price tier*. The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 Mobile Platform is a significant step towards making 5G technology more accessible to millions of people at the entry tier, said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. By balancing affordability and strong performance with all-day battery life, we are enabling widespread access to 5G for a smoother transition for consumers looking to upgrade from 4G. We are immensely proud of our engineering teams for their exceptional work in developing a solution that will significantly enhance mobile experiences for millions of people, not only in India but around the globe. Speaking about Qualcomms efforts towards digital inclusivity & connectivity in India, Savi Soin, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm India said, Access to 5G will be a key factor towards furthering Indias journey of digital transformation and securing its presence as a global player. With the 5G rollout in India a success, our vision is to make sure every Indian can enjoy its benefits with affordable devices. 5G can bridge the digital divide, empowering Indians with crucial tools and services in education, government services, healthcare, and payments more reliably and securely, as well as drive Indias Made in India agenda. Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 is a key step in strengthening Indias 5G landscape and democratizing connectivity. Mr. Sunil Dutt, President Devices, Jio commented, Qualcomm Technologies cutting-edge 5G platforms, combined with Jios largest, widest and fastest network as well as a deep understanding of the Indian market, will enable True 5G for ALL Indians. Qualcomm Technologies support has been instrumental in Jios journey to becoming the Largest Mobile-Data operator in the world. Through this collaboration, Qualcomm Technologies and Jio are transforming Indias telecommunications landscape and creating a more inclusive digital future. Together, we are making 5G for All a reality, helping ensure every Indian can access the opportunities shaping the future of India. Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 will be initially adopted by Indias leading Mobile OEM, Xiaomi and its other brands, with the first commercial device expected to be announced before the end of the year. We are excited to be working with Qualcomm Technologies to enable access to gigabit-fast connectivity for users across India said Muralikrishnan B, President, Xiaomi India. Many people have yet to experience the benefits of 5G, and thanks to Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, Xiaomi can bring 5G connectivity to a broader audience to help reshape the way the world connects and interacts. Qualcomm Technologies mobile momentum has demonstrated leadership of modernizing smartphone experiences. Qualcomm Technologies is now strengthening beyond mobile, continuing to bring its global innovation to compute with exclusive AI-led experiences for the Windows ecosystem. The company has been at the forefront of innovation in India for the past two decades, contributing significantly to advancements in technology, particularly in fields such as 5G and artificial intelligence (AI). Its dedication to fostering a culture that prioritizes innovation will further enable innovation that accelerates the digital economy and drives the greater good. Further to the global launch of Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus with Microsoft Copilot+, Qualcomm Technologies showcased its collaboration with leading PC OEMs like Asus, Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo to bring this new category of devices to enable new-age compute and Gen AI experiences. Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon X Series redefine the personal computing experience delivering multiple days of battery life, unparalleled performance plus efficiency to accelerate productivity and creativity with unique AI experiences powered by the worlds fastest and most efficient NPU for laptops at 45 TOPS, delivering leading performance per watt. The NPU is built from the ground up to run on-demand AI use cases like image generation to those that run pervasively in the background. Commenting on the arrival of Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus in India, Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Compute and Gaming, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said, Modern PC experiences require platforms that provide the best performance without sacrificing battery life. Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus embody the pinnacle of performance. Snapdragon X Series-powered Copilot+ PCs are the ideal platforms for unlocking the full potential of next-gen AI apps for PCs. We are excited to bring this innovation to a young nation like India with millions of users wanting to enhance their productivity and support their creativity. Snapdragon X Series is the start of a worldwide movement towards intelligent computing Shruti Bhatia, Country Manager, Modern Work & Surface, India & South Asia, said, Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs, now available in India, are power-packed devices made for everyday work and play, providing exclusive AI experiences to empower our customers. We see AI PCs as a transformative opportunity that can disrupt the PC market. With new advanced AI experiences integrated into the devices, it will enable users to do things they cant on any other PC, helping them be more productive, creative and communicate more effectively. Qualcomm Technologies was joined by its broad ecosystem of PC partners who voiced strong support for the introduction of this new category of PCs in India ASUS: At ASUS, we are committed to advancing technology to meet our customers diverse and ever-evolving needs. The latest Vivobook powered by the groundbreaking Snapdragon X Elite processor and advanced AI capabilities exemplifies this dedication and our ultimate goal to deliver a seamless experience. With Snapdragon having pushed the boundaries of innovation in mobile technology, we are glad to bring this product to our consumers through this collaboration and offer unparalleled performance and intuitive usability. Leveraging AI technology, we aim to assist a broad spectrum of use cases for consumers as well as creators, said Arnold Su, Vice President, Consumer & Gaming PC, System Business Group, Asus India. Dell: Commenting at the Snapdragon for India event, Raj Kumar Rishi, Vice President and Managing Director, Consumer and Small Business, Dell Technologies, India said, We are proud to work with Qualcomm Technologies to launch Dells Copilot+ AI PCs in the Indian market. The latest XPS 13 and Inspiron 14 Plus set new benchmarks in personal computing, showcasing Dells unwavering commitment to industry leadership and innovation. Powered by the Snapdragon X Series processors, the AI-driven capabilities of the devices are designed to seamlessly adapt to user needs, delivering unparalleled performance, groundbreaking battery life, robust connectivity, and effortless multitasking. At Dell, we are not just pushing the boundaries of technology; we are empowering customers to achieve success and set themselves apart in an ever-evolving landscape. HP: We are dedicated to delivering best-in-class technology to our customers. Our recent launch of the EliteBook Ultra and OmniBook X laptops, powered by the Snapdragon Elite X processors, reflects this commitment. As the leading PC company in India, we are thrilled to work with Qualcomm Technologies on this journey, unlocking new levels of innovation and setting new standards in the PC industry. Said Vineet Gehani, Senior Director -Personal Systems, HP India Lenovo: AI PC innovation has become our passion. We dont just make PCs, we make experiences using diverse design brilliance, more sustainable materials, and revolutionary AI computing technologies to deliver the future of business and personal computing. We are happy to take on this journey with Qualcomm Technologies to unlock the next generation of AI PCs that will transform user experiences making them both creative and productive. says, Chandrika Jain, Director, Marketing, Lenovo India. 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: (A) Proposed key terms to define. (B) Proposed most applicable specific fields the nomenclature guide will be used in; however, others may also find this work useful. (C) A mixed method approach with a modified Delphi method. This approach entails an initial round with pre-selected open-ended questions (i), strategic refinement and categorization (ii), and collaborative consultation (iii) in an iterative manner (ii and iii) until a suitable level of consensus is achieved (iv). If consensus is not reached on any specific terms, a weighted majority voting system will be implemented to reach a conclusion (v). Credit: Cortical Labs A call for collaboration to define the language in all AI related spaces, with a focus on 'diverse intelligent systems' that include AI (Artificial Intelligence), LLMs (Large Language Models) and biological intelligences is underway. The study was led by Cortical Labsthe biological computing startup that created "Dishbrain"and brought together scientists, ethicists and researchers from the United Kingdoms, Canada, U.S., the EU, Australia and Singapore. Together they have proposed a pathway forward to unify the language in the rapidly growing and controversial area. The research is published in The Innovation journal. Whether progress is silicon-based, such as the use of large language models, or through synthetic biology methods such as the development of organoids, a clear need for a community-based approach to seeking consensus on nomenclature is now vital. Commenting on the collaboration, Brett Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs, said, "We're extremely excited about collaborating with the industry on a study that is both timely and essential. Ultimately, the purpose of this collaboration is to create a critical field guide for researchers, across a broad range of fields, who are engaged in the development of diverse generally intelligent systems. In what is a rapidly evolving space, such a guide doesn't yet exist." Other scientists involved in the effort, such as Professor Ge Wang from RPI, U.S. share similar excitement and said, "Currently, multimodal multitask foundation models are under rapid development via digital communication but this approach is subject to major limitations. In this big picture, our proposed efforts will be instrumental." Toward a nomenclature consensus Language used to describe specific phenomena for scientific and public discourse is complex and can be highly contentious for emerging science and technology. Rapidly growing fields aiming to create generally intelligent systems are controversial with disagreements, confusion, and ambiguity pervading discussions around the semantics used to describe this myriad of technologies. Even 15 years ago, for example, at least 71 distinct definitions of "intelligence" had been identified. The diverse technologies and disciplines that contribute toward the shared goal of creating generally intelligent systems further amplify the disparate definitions used for any given concept. Today, it is increasingly impractical for researchers to explicitly re-define every term that could be considered ambiguous, imprecise, interchangeable or seldom formally defined in each paper. A common language is needed to recognize, predict, manipulate, and build cognitive (or pseudo-cognitive) systems in unconventional embodiments that do not share straightforward aspects of structure or origin story with conventional natural species. Previous work proposing nomenclature guidelines are generally highly field specific and developed by selected experts, with little opportunity for broader community engagement. It's for this reason that researchers and scientists in related fields are being invited to collaborate, broadly agree upon, and adopt nomenclature for this field. The purpose of the work is to provide utility and nuance to the discussion and offer authors an option to use language explicitly, unambiguously, and consistently, insofar as rapidly emerging fields will allow, through the adoption of nomenclature adhering to a theory-agnostic standard. The collaboration will seek to define a non-exhaustive list of key terms. The study to establish nomenclature consensus will be most applicable to a number of specific fields including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, consciousness research, machine learning, organoid intelligence and robotics. However, other fields beyond those listed may also derive value from the approach towards consensus. The collaboration will be carried out using a mixed method approach with a modified Delphi method. This approach entails an initial round with pre-selected open-ended questions, strategic refinement and categorization, and collaborative consultation in an iterative manner until a suitable level of consensus is achieved. If consensus is not reached on any specific terms, a weighted majority voting system will be implemented to reach a conclusion. More information: Brett J. Kagan et al, Toward a nomenclature consensus for diverse intelligent systems: Call for collaboration, The Innovation (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100658 Provided by Cortical Labs Drones and AI join China's battle against typhoons, floods Xinhua) 10:05, July 30, 2024 BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- In the ongoing flood season this summer, China is leveraging technologies from drones to AI models to improve the response to disasters including typhoons and flash floods. Gaemi, the third typhoon of this year, made landfall last Thursday in coastal Fujian Province. During the following days, about 312,700 people were evacuated to safety in a timely manner, with no casualties or major incidents reported in the province. Damaged power and telecom facilities were fixed quickly and resumed operation. Fujian's effective response was also reflected in the early warning Flash SMS (Short Message Service) messages sent to local cadres before the typhoon arrived. Nearly 350,000 people responsible for meteorological and geological disaster prevention and relief received the alert messages, which were displayed directly on their phone screens and did not disappear until they clicked to confirm receipt. This is the first time the meteorological department has tried the mandatory reminder service, said Lin Weihua, a meteorological official of Fujian, noting that it helped improve the timeliness and accuracy of disaster warnings and gain the initiative for disaster relief. While the Flash SMS helps people prepare when a typhoon approaches, drones flying into it enable forecasters to track it more closely and precisely calculate its intensity and influence. China's meteorological authorities sent Haiyan-1, a large civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), into the interior of Typhoon Prapiroon, the fourth typhoon of the year, in the early morning of July 21, when the typhoon had just formed in the South China Sea. Taking off from a meteorological base in south China's Hainan Province, Haiyan-1 released eight detectors to measure temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed and air pressure at various altitudes over a two-hour flight. The more than 4,200 valid data items transmitted in real-time to the meteorological big-data cloud platform helped create a three-dimensional picture of the typhoon's structure. Zhao Peitao, a researcher of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), said large UAVs carrying out observations of tropical depressions offer refined data support for the forecast of their development, paths, intensity and impact, thereby enhancing the forecast accuracy. Apart from drones, more new technologies and innovations have been adopted across the country to help people handle the extreme weather and protect lives and properties. In Guangchang County of east China's Jiangxi Province, a research team from East China University of Technology examined the health of dams using ground-penetrating radar and other equipment. Previously, inspectors mainly relied on experience to judge whether the dam was stable. Wang Shuo, the team leader, said with this technology, inspectors can "see through" the dam structure and quickly determine whether there are hidden dangers such as holes, cracks, loose soil layers, piping and seepage. In southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, officials of the Shapingba District have established the city's first digital flood response command system. With access to real-time data from 14 reservoirs, 32 hydrological stations, and more than 2,800 automated rainfall stations across the Jialing River basin, the system enables comprehensive monitoring of rain and water conditions, building a "digital dam," according to Ling Jian, deputy head of the district. It also uses three-dimensional modeling of buildings along the river to facilitate emergency response. China is also exploring the booming AI technology in the battle against floods. The CMA in June launched three AI-powered models to address difficulties in the short and medium-range weather forecast, the nowcast and the over-15-day forecast. The meteorological department is strengthening the practical application of the three large models in the weather forecast during the current flood season, CMA official Liang Feng said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Mary Jessie Diaz appears on screen in court for sentencing on July 30. Diaz pleaded no contest to the murder charge and was found guilty by the court of murdering her boyfriend Christopher Lee Jones and leaving his decaying body in their home for a month while pregnant with his child. She was sentenced to 25 years. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Judge Stephanie Boyd addresses Mary Jessie Diaz while Diaz appears in court for sentencing on July 30. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The victim, Christopher Lee Jones, is pictured in a photo provided by the court. Courtesy A San Antonio woman who authorities said killed her boyfriend and left his decaying body in their home for almost a month has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Mary Jessie Diaz was 36 when she was arrested and charged with fatally shooting Christopher Jones, 58, on Jan. 25, 2020, at the home they shared in the 400 block of Susanwood on the East Side. Diaz pleaded no contest to one count of murder, in exchange for a prison term between five and 25 years, as part of an agreement between defense attorneys J. Charles Bunk and James Tocci, and Bexar County prosecutor Allie Jackson, Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not only did she shoot Christopher Jones in the back, she left him there to rot for almost a month, Jackson told the court. She took his phone, wallet, watch and car, and tried to convince family and friends that he was alive. Twenty-five years, to us, is the only thing even close to justice, Jackson said. Bunk asked the court for leniency because he said Diaz, who told acquaintances about the situation and believed they reported it to police, now realizes she should have come clean, and called authorities. He noted that she has six children, took responsibility and was truthful in her responses for the pre-trial investigation. Her case was heard in the 187th District Court, Judge Stephanie Boyd presiding. In a lengthy and emotional victim impact statement on Zoom that was streamed in the courtroom, Jones' aunt Teresa Felix read letters written by one of Jones' children and other family members that captured the loss they are experiencing since his death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Felix shared words written by Samira Jones, one of the victims daughters, who spoke of milestones she has had to live through without her dad. Felix directed her own feelings toward Diaz. Mary, that was so cruel. You just left him there, Felix said, as Diaz faced her on a big screen behind Boyd. We lost a big part of our family. I hope you know what you caused. San Antonio police conducted a welfare check Feb. 18, 2020, and when they entered the home, they encountered flies on the windows and discovered a strong odor. They then found Jones' decomposing body with a gunshot wound in his back, an affidavit supporting Diazs arrest stated. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Diaz, who was pregnant at the time, had been arrested on unrelated charges Jan. 29, 2020, four days after Jones' family said they had their last communications from him. Once in custody, officers found that Diaz had Jones' credit cards, wallet, car keys and cellphone. She told police she was trying to sell music equipment and a firearm that belonged to Jones because she thought he had gone to California or Ohio without her knowledge, the document stated. She told authorities that she had been robbed at gunpoint of the firearm and equipment before she could sell it. Police asked her about Jones, but Diaz said she thought he had left town despite leaving personal property behind. In March 2020, authorities found the men who allegedly robbed Diaz and recovered the gun. The affidavit stated that the gun was the same one used in the slaying of Jones. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A witness told police that the day Jones died, Diaz was upset, cried and smelled of intoxicants, the affidavit stated. About a month after Jones died, the witness said Diaz admitted to them that she shot Jones after she found photographs on his phone that she didnt approve of, according to the document. The witness said Diaz told them she had called 911, but police had no record of that call. Diaz, now 40, will have to serve at least half of her prison term before she would become eligible for parole. She was given credit for 371 days served in the Bexar County jail, online court records indicate. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain As artificial intelligence increasingly impacts our daily lives, researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Management have developed a new framework to transform AI chatbots into more intuitive, human-like conversation partners. Forthcoming in AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction, the study introduces the Chatbot Discourse Design Framework, which helps find key conversation patterns in discussions between humans and connects them to chatbot designs to enhance their conversational abilities. "Chatbots are everywhere, from customer service to health care, and their success hinges upon their ability to understand what you're saying and provide meaningful responses," says study co-author Raj Sharman, Ph.D., professor of management science and systems in the UB School of Management. "Our framework will allow all types of organizations to improve their operations and overall customer experience." To build their framework, the researchers conducted a comprehensive search of publications spanning more than two decades, from 2000 to 2022. Their search yielded nearly 100 articles focused on the discourse analysis used in chatbot design, and also included papers from before 2000 that offered foundational insights. Through this investigation, they identified three distinct chatbot types: informative, task-based and conversational, each requiring tailored conversation strategies. "The recent failure of some well-known chatbots shows how important it is for a chatbot to understand the kind of conversation you want to have with it," says Sharman. "By building chatbots that recognize different types of discussions, businesses can make them more efficient, engaging and trustworthy for users." Sharman collaborated on the study with UB School of Management graduates Sagarika Suresh Thimmanayakanapalya, Ph.D. '20, senior quantitative researcher at JPMorganChase, who was lead author; and Pavankumar Mulgund, Ph.D. '20, assistant professor of management information systems at the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics, who was second author. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The satellite tracks for the overlap-frequency signals at station BAUT on day 319 of 2021. Carrier-phase multipath corrections are color-coded. Credit: Satellite Navigation (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s43020-024-00144-7 Multipath effects, resulting from satellite signals reflecting off objects before reaching the receiver, seriously compromise the precision of satellite navigation systems. Existing solutions like Sidereal Filtering and system-specific MHMs require observations spanning at least one full cycle of satellite orbit repeat period (e.g., 10 days for Galileo) to reproduce the satellite geometry against ground stations. As a consequence, the practicability of SF and MHM is limited due to potential station-surrounding changes over a long period. With the ongoing challenges these effects present, it is imperative to develop more advanced and flexible solutions to improve multipath modeling efficiency and GNSS positioning precision. A new study, led by Jianghui Geng from the GNSS Research Center at Wuhan University and co-authored by experts from both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Tokyo, utilized data from 21 European stations to enhance our understanding of the GPS, Galileo, and BDS-3 systems and also highlight the efficacy of using overlap-frequency signals in applications demanding high precision. In addition, the researchers have introduced this multipath modeling module within the open source software PRIDE PPP-AR v3.1, offering an efficient tool to mitigate multipath effects, beneficial for GNSS high-precision positioning applications. The study is published in the journal Satellite Navigation. The investigation entailed a detailed analysis over 31 days of data from 21 European stations, assessing the newly devised MHM_GEC model against established GNSS-specific MHMs and Sidereal Filtering techniques. The findings revealed that MHM_GEC, which amalgamates data from the GPS, Galileo, and BDS-3 systems, markedly excels in mitigating multipath effects. The MHM_GEC, constructed using 5 to 6 days of data, can enhance positioning precision by 40%, outperforming the traditional GNSS-specific MHMs and sidereal filtering established with 10 days of data. This performance boost is credited to the model's ability to effectively use overlap-frequency signals from different constellations, markedly enhancing spatial resolution, modeling efficiency, and multipath correction performance. Dr. Yosuke Aoki, co-author and geospatial engineering expert, remarked, "The interoperable MHM model marks a significant milestone in satellite navigation technologies. It notably enhances the accuracy of positioning systems, which is essential for everything from geodesy to autonomous vehicles." The potential impacts of this research are broad, set to transform industries that depend on precise positioning, such as maritime navigation, deformation monitoring and geodesy. By minimizing the margin of error, the interoperable MHM model not only boosts system reliability but also opens up new possibilities for applications that require exceedingly precise location data. More information: Jianghui Geng et al, Multipath mitigation for GPS/Galileo/BDS-3 precise point positioning with overlap-frequency signals, Satellite Navigation (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s43020-024-00144-7 Provided by Wuhan University 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: Proposed system. The HDMI cable and connectors emit unintended electromagnetic signals, which are captured by the SDR and processed by gr-tempest, obtaining a degraded complex-valued image, which in turn is fed to a convolutional neural network to infer the source image. All three images correspond to actual results. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2407.09717 A trio of computer security researchers at Universidad de la Republica Montevideo, in Uruguay, reports that it is possible to reproduce text on a computer screen by eavesdropping on its HDMI cable. Santiago Fernandez Emilio Martinez, Gabriel Varela, and Pablo Muse Federico Larroca, have published a paper describing their discovery on the arXiv preprint server. Back in the days of CRT-based computer screens, hackers learned early on that it was not difficult to translate the electromagnetic radiation emissions into imagery that revealed the contents of someone else's computer screen. When the industry moved to LED-based screens, which use HDMI cables, hacking became much more difficult due to the vastly more complex signaling. In this new study, the team in Uruguay has found that applying AI to the problem makes it possible. The work involved capturing electromagnetic radiation emitted from a computer's HDMI cables. They then trained an AI system by giving it screen samples associated with radiation signals moving through the computer's HDMI cable. Over time, the system gradually grew better at deciphering the text displayed on a given computer screen. Testing showed the system capable of reconstructing text from a random computer screen with 70% accuracy. Good enough, the research team suggests, for most people to get the gist of text on a given computer screen. They also note it is likely good enough to steal passwords, sensitive data, or in some cases, encrypted communications. The researchers found they could improve their results by using text recognition software on the text after it was deciphered. Demo of deep-TEMPEST The researchers suggest hackers have likely already conducted similar research, meaning such screen-grabbing is probably already targeting hapless users. All it would take, they note, is hardware capable of capturing the electromagnetic radiation emitted by HDMI cables placed near a building, such as in the back seat of a car. The team further suggests that most people are not at risk of such an attack, however, due to the skillset the technique requires. Instead, they suggest it is much more likely a government or corporate entity would be targeted. More information: Santiago Fernandez et al, Deep-TEMPEST: Using Deep Learning to Eavesdrop on HDMI from its Unintended Electromagnetic Emanations, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2407.09717 Code: github.com/emidan19/deep-tempest Journal information: arXiv 2024 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was "proud" the Senate had kept its promise to parents. The US Senate passed a sweeping social media safety package Tuesday that would force tech companies to do more to protect childrenthe first major legislation targeting Silicon Valley in a generation. Social media giants like Meta and X have been confronting a torrent of political anger for not putting in guardrails to thwart online dangers for children, including from sexual predators and teen suicide. A rare sign of cross-party unity in an increasingly rancorous election year, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) were passed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote with just three dissenters. But the bills face an uncertain path through the House of Representatives, where Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has spoken broadly in favor of the package but has not scheduled a vote. "Today is a momentous day. The Senate keeps its promise to every parent who has lost a child because of the risks of social media," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. While there is widespread agreement in a politically divided Congress on curbing the negative impacts of social media, there has never been a united path on how to go about doing so. The legislation was drawn up in consultation with parents of teens who had been bullied or sexually exploited but has been opposed by some free speech groups worried it could lead to censorship. 'Duty of care' House members are on their summer recess and will almost certainly be focusing on averting a looming government shutdown when they return in September. But Schumer called on the lower chamber to pass the bills immediately on its return, urging lawmakers to "seize the opportunity to send them to the president's desk." KOSA would establish a "duty of care" obligation on the online platforms that would demand special provisions be put in place to shield minors from toxic content. CEOs Jason Citron of Discord, Evan Spiegel of Snap, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok, Linda Yaccarino of X and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta are sworn in during a US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Supported by Microsoft, X and Snap, the company that owns Snapchat, the legislation would require companies to give users a dedicated page to report harmful contentincluding sexual exploitation, online bullying, the promotion of suicide and eating disorders. In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave a public apology to the families of victims at the Senate Judiciary Committee as hostile lawmakers grilled tech CEOs over the dangers that children face on social media. "I'm sorry for everything you have all been through," he said. "No one should go through the things that your families have suffered." Censorship fears Seven LGBTQ advocacy groups initially opposed to the bill changed their position after changes they said mitigated concerns that teens would be limited in accessing information about gender identity, sexuality and reproductive health. But free speech groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have argued the definition of harm is too broad and that it could lead to censorship. "KOSA compounds nationwide attacks on young peoples' right to learn and access information, on and offline," said Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel at the ACLU. Evan Greer, director of Fight for the Future, told reporters that KOSA was "a blank check for censorship of any piece of content that an administration could claim is harmful to kids." COPPA 2.0 would beef up legislation passed in 1998, in the earlier days of the internet. It would require privacy standards for Americans aged under 17 and outlaw online advertising targeted at children and teensrequiring companies to allow users to delete personal information. "Too many kids experience relentless promotion of suicide or substance abuse material. Too many kids have their personal data collected and then used nefariously," Schumer said. "With studies showing that kids today spend more time on social media than ever before, now is the moment to pass KOSA, pass COPPA, and instill guardrails that protect kids from these risks." 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Online travel agency Booking.com is estimated to have a market share above 60 percent in Europe and between 70 and 90 percent in Spain. Spain's competition watchdog said Tuesday it had slapped online travel agency Booking.com with a record 413-million-euro fine for "abusing its dominant position" during the past five years. "These practices have affected hotels located in Spain and other online travel agencies that compete with the platform. Its terms and conditions create an inequitable imbalance in the commercial relationship with hotels located in Spain," the authority, known by its acronym CNMC, said in a statement. "By better positioning hotels with more bookings on Booking.com, other online agencies have been prevented from entering the market or expanding," it added. This is the largest fine ever imposed by the CNMC, a spokeswoman for the authority told AFP. The regulator said Booking.com's market share in Spain, the world's second most visited country after France, during the period under investigation was between 70 percent and 90 percent. Booking.com said it "strongly disagreed" with the CNMC's findings. The platform said it would appeal the authority's "unprecedented decision", adding that it did not take into account programs it offers its "accommodation partners" to help them boost their business. The online travel agency, whose parent company Booking Holdings is headquartered in the United States, is a dominant player with a market share in Europe of more than 60 percent. In May, the European Union added Booking.com to its list of digital companies big enough to fall under tougher competition rules, giving the firm six months to prepare for compliance with the landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA). The rules aim to level the playing field in the digital market, ensuring EU users have more options when choosing products. Brussels said that tougher regulation of Booking.com would mean that holidaymakers would "start benefiting from more choice" and hotels would "have more business opportunities". Hungary's competition watchdog earlier this month slapped Booking.com with a second fine for failing to cease its "unfair" business practices, including putting psychological pressure on customers. In 2020, the firm was fined 2.5 billion forint ($7 million) by the Hungarian Competition Authority for aggressive sales tactics. And on July 15 the authority hit Booking.com with an additional penalty of 382.5 million forint after a follow-up investigation showed the company had continued its unfair practices. 2024 AFP A JetBlue Airlines Airbus A320 jet flies past the U.S. Capitol dome as it comes in for a landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag San Antonio travelers are losing nonstop air service to Boston, a key destination for the citys growing biotechnology industry. JetBlue Airways will cut the daily flight at San Antonio International Airport in October, leaving city officials scrambling to find a carrier to take up a nonstop flight to Boston. The New York-based airline has been slashing service across the country as it struggles to return to the black. It lost $716 million in the first three months of this year and hasnt been profitable since 2019. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A company spokesperson said Monday the airline is leaving San Antonio due to under-performance and lack of customer demand. As early as 2013, local leaders identified Boston as business travelers' top destination without nonstop service at the San Antonio airport. Airport officials and area chambers of commerce tried to woo JetBlue at the time, but the carrier didnt launch service from San Antonio to Boston and New York until October 2021. Travelers will still be able to fly nonstop to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport on Delta Air Lines, but JetBlue was the only carrier flying San Antonians nonstop to Boston Logan International Airport. Airport Director Jesus Saenz said his team was a little surprised by JetBlues decision. The daily Boston flights were mostly full, he said, with incoming and outgoing planes reaching 80% capacity or more throughout 2023. Saenz said the airport is aiming to have another airline operating a nonstop route to Boston before JetBlue pulls out Oct. 26. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Boston is very critical to us, Saenz said. Were already leaning in and having conversations with other carriers about obtaining that service. Or if at some point JetBlue wants to resume service, then we would be excited for that as well. San Antonio is one of seven cities that JetBlue is ditching in October. The others are Burbank and Palm Springs, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean. These decisions are never easy; however, these markets have recently fallen short of our expectations, JetBlue said in an announcement outlining the changes. These moves will allow us to redeploy our fleet to increase frequencies on well-performing routes and serve a new city in New England Manchester, New Hampshire while continuing to increase crucial ground time for our aircraft, reducing the chance of delays for our customers, the company said. JetBlue is also struggling with mandatory engine inspections that have grounded part of its fleet of jets. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered inspections of Pratt & Whitney engines on some Airbus passenger jets of which JetBlue is a buyer because of a manufacturing problem that could cause parts to wear out sooner than expected. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The round of cuts in October is the second JetBlue has announced in recent weeks. In June, the airline said it was dropping Kansas City, Mo.; Bogota, Colombia; Quito, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru. It also jettisoned several destinations from Los Angeles, including Seattle and San Francisco, and ended flights between Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and several cities, including Austin. JetBlue will continue to operate routes in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Customers with flights into or out of San Antonio beyond Oct. 26 will get automatic refunds to their original form of payment, a JetBlue spokesperson said. Four carriers fly nonstop from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Boston Logan: JetBlue, Delta, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. We are not excited about them leaving because we know that is a destination that is heavily sought after from our San Antonio market share and region, Saenz said. But we feel pretty confident that we should be able to have another carrier pick up that service, hopefully sooner rather than later. Traffic creeps along Interstate 35 on San Antonio's North Side in this file photo. San Antonio's drivers ranked as the 12th-safest in the nation, according to a new study by insurance company Allstate. Tom Reel/San Antonio Express-News San Antonians love to complain about how bad the local drivers are have you ever tried merging onto Interstate 35 during rush hour? but local motorists aren't so bad compared with those in other U.S. cities, according to a recent report. The report, published by the insurance company Allstate, ranks San Antonio No. 12 among U.S. cities for having the safest drivers, behind Cleveland and just ahead of Baltimore. Honolulu came in first, followed by Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The study ranked drivers in 100 U.S. cities, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, came in last in the rankings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Antonio do drivers tend to have a lead foot, according to the report, which ranked the city 68th in a category examining whether the local drivers tend to go at safe speeds. The ranking for that category was based on how often drivers top 80 miles an hour. The Alamo City ranked 16th in the "hard-braking" category looking at how often drivers decelerate more than seven miles per hour in one second and eighth in the "phone handling" category. In other words, San Antonio drivers tend to do a better job putting away their phones while they drive than in most other U.S. cities, according to the report. The report was based on data Allstate collected through its partnership with the driving behavior firm Arity, which Allstate founded in 2016. Arity operates the optional safe-driving features in Allstate's mobile app, according to the company. San Antonio drivers ranked the highest among all Texas cities in the study. El Paso was next at 25th, followed by Houston at 26th. Dallas came in 40th place, with Austin in 64th, McAllen in 76th and Denton in 93rd. The nation-state threat actor known as SideWinder has been attributed to a new cyber espionage campaign targeting ports and maritime facilities in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The BlackBerry Research and Intelligence Team, which discovered the activity, said targets of the spear-phishing campaign include countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and the Maldives. SideWinder, which is also known by the names APT-C-17, Baby Elephant, Hardcore Nationalist, Leafperforator, Rattlesnake, and Razor Tiger, is assessed to be affiliated with India. It has been operational since 2012, often making use of spear-phishing as a vector to deliver malicious payloads that trigger the attack chains. "SideWinder makes use of email spear-phishing, document exploitation and DLL side-loading techniques in an attempt to avoid detection and deliver targeted implants," the Canadian cybersecurity company said in an analysis published last week. The latest set of attacks employ lures related to sexual harassment, employee termination, and salary cuts in order to negatively impact the recipients' emotional state and trick them into opening booby-trapped Microsoft Word documents. Once the decoy file is opened, it leverages a known security flaw (CVE-2017-0199) to establish contact with a malicious domain that masquerades as Pakistan's Directorate General Ports and Shipping ("reports.dgps-govtpk[.]com") to retrieve an RTF file. The RTF document, in turn, downloads a document that exploits CVE-2017-11882, another years-old security vulnerability in the Microsoft Office Equation Editor, with the goal of executing shellcode that's responsible for launching JavaScript code, but only after ensuring that the compromised system is legitimate and is of interest to the threat actor. It's currently not known what's delivered by means of the JavaScript malware, although the end goal is likely to be intelligence gathering based on prior campaigns mounted by SideWinder. "The SideWinder threat actor continues to improve its infrastructure for targeting victims in new regions," BlackBerry said. "The steady evolution of its network infrastructure and delivery payloads suggests that SideWinder will continue its attacks in the foreseeable future." The disclosure comes as a suspected Russian-linked threat actor is targeting entities interested in Indian political affairs with a Go-based remote access trojan (RAT) that's delivered via a .NET loader launched from Windows shortcut (LNK) files disguised as Office documents. The activity has been codenamed Operation ShadowCat. Graffiti is seen scratched on a window in a unit at the Bexar County Detention Center, on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Bob Owen/Staff photographer Fees Texas inmates pay to make calls will be slashed under recently approved federal regulations. High rates that had averaged 23 cents a minute for Texas jail inmates have long been a target of prisoners, their families and advocates. The FCC approved the regulations, to take effect next year, that cap the price of inmate phone and video calls at prices as low as 5 cents per minute. The prices and caps differ throughout the state, and depend on prison size as well as differences between state and local rules. While Texas had lowered the price of phone calls in state correctional facilities prisons and jails run by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the state level to 6 cents a minute in 2018, rates in county jails run by local jurisdictions are often much higher. And the price of video calls was uncapped across the state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Prison Policy Initiative found that the average price of an in-state call from a Texas jail was 23 cents per minute in 2021. Its less for people who call inmates at the Bexar County jail in San Antonio. Currently, people who receive calls from Bexar County inmates get charged 16 cents a minute. Video calls are free. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel called these rates unconscionable in a statement, noting that sometimes a single phone call cost the equivalent to an unlimited monthly cell plan. The new regulations will be implemented in stages. It will be in effect for all correctional facilities around the country by April 1, 2026, at the latest. Drew Willey, a Houston attorney who has been a longtime advocate for free phone calls for inmates in Harris County Jail, praised the new rules requiring lower rates. It stops really egregious violations in places where theyve not paid any attention to this and let these private corporations just run up the bills on everybody, Willey said. The new caps are based on jail size, with lower ceilings at larger jails and prisons. The new national per-minute ceilings range from 6 to 12 cents for phone calls and 11 to 25 cents for video calls. Texas law means that the fees charged at state correctional facilities will be capped at 5 cents per minute. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas law mandates that all revenue from phone and video calls made from Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities including prisons, private prisons and state jails must be divided between the provider and the state. The law states that 40% of the revenue must go to the state and the remaining 60% goes to the contractor. The majority of the money the state collects is allocated to the Texas Crime Victims Fund, with the remaining portion going to the general revenue fund. One aspect of the new FCC regulations will be a cap on commissions paid to government agencies of 2 cents per minute. Since the 40% of revenue paid to the government cannot exceed 2 cents per minute, the cost of phone and video calls in all Texas prisons and jails is effectively limited to 5 cents per minute, 16% below a current cap for state inmates that has been 6 cents a minute. This change does not affect county jails. Willey said that when he started his advocacy in 2017, in Harris County the price for a 20 minute phone call was $14.99. Harris County now has a contract that gives detainees up to four free calls per week and sets the cost of phone calls beyond that at 2 cents per minute. Many correctional facilities in the state still maintain a higher rate. Advocates say their goal is free calls for Texas inmates, matching what some states already provide. Willey says free calls would decrease recidivism rates, prevent wrongful convictions by providing proper access to representation, improve inmate mental health and increase public safety by not completely isolating detainees before they reintegrate into society. The new rules also prevent telecom providers from tacking on fees for ancillary services. Previously, companies often charged for things like making a one-time call without an account or for depositing funds into an account in order to pay for future calls. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Additionally, the regulation ensures that money left over in a released inmates account isnt seized by the telecom companies. These companies now have to try to return the money if they know someone has been released or if the money hasnt been used for 180 days. If they cant return it, they must give it to state programs that keep unclaimed money safe which in Texas likely will be the unclaimed property division of the state comptrollers office. One company, Global Tel*Link, pocketed an average of more than $1.2 million a month from unused funds for over eight years according to a Georgia lawsuit. For all prisons and jails with an average daily population of 1,000 or more, compliance is required by Jan. 1. Smaller jails, with fewer than 1,000 inmates, must comply by April 1. If correctional facilities have existing contracts with telecom companies as of June 27, compliance is required by the earlier of the contract expiration date or Jan. 1, 2026, for larger facilities, and April 1, 2026, for smaller facilities. The FCCs order is a massive victory for incarcerated people, their families, and their allies who have spent decades fighting the exploitative prison telecom industry, the Prison Policy Initiative wrote in a statement. Of course, it does not mean the long fight for communications justice is over. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lioness Justice Impacted Womens Alliance an advocacy group for incarcerated women in Texas echoed other advocates, saying they will continue working toward comprehensive reforms that ensure all incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to stay connected with their loved ones without financial barriers. Along with monetary changes, the FCC also decided that telecom companies must ensure their communication devices and services such as phone calls, video chats and messaging are accessible to incarcerated people with disabilities. This will improve communication options for incarcerated individuals who have hearing or speech disabilities. If its not possible to make these devices and services accessible for specific disabilities, companies must ensure their systems can work with devices that people with disabilities commonly use. The federal changes come after some sparring in the courts, where the FCCs authority to limit these rates was challenged. In 2022, the FCC was granted full authority to regulate inmate calls by Congress with the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act named after a grandmother who filed a petition with the FCC about the rates more than two decades ago. Today, using this new law, we fix what has been wrong for too long, Rosenworcel said. The FCC released the final order on inmate calls July 22, officially cementing the regulation. A spokesperson for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said the Bexar County Jail will work to get in compliance with the new FCC regulations starting January 2025. (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). Burgan Bank posted a net income of KD21 million ($68.7 million) with a very healthy growth of 17% y-o-y, in the first half of 2024 propelled by KD111 million, an impressive growth of 19% year-on-year (y-o-y). The increase in revenues was primarily driven by higher Net-Interest Income of KD71 million, up 17% y-o-y and robust Non-Interest income of KD39 million, up 24% y-o-y. Burgans Net interest margin also increased to 2.1% in H124 as compared to 1.9% during H123 an improvement of 20bps y-o-y. Driven by higher revenues, the bank reported a strong Operating Profit of KD48 million, up 24% y-o-y. The banks cost-to-income ratio also improved by 170bps from 58.3% in H123 to 56.6% in H124. Its cost of credit net of recoveries also remained very low at mere 30bps during H124 despite proactive provisioning. Strong asset growth The bank delivered strong asset growth of 8% y-o-y, reaching KD7.6 billion by the end of the period. The groups loan book grew by 10% y-o-y and stood at KD4.4 billion; primarily driven by its Kuwait operations, which increased by 8% y-o-y. Burgans deposit base also expanded by 7% y-o-y and stood at KD4.6 billion by the end of H124. It maintained solid and healthy capital levels. Burgan reported Common Equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1) of 13.0%, Tier I capital ratio of 15.4% and Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 19.3%, well above the regulatory requirements and demonstrating sufficient capital buffers to support future growth. The banks Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah, said: Burgan Bank has continued to accelerate its forward-moving momentum on the heels of a transformational year in 2023. We have maintained a stable financial core and delivered solid financial results, as we continue to be steadfast in our commitment to positioning ourselves as the most modern and progressive bank in Kuwait. Looking ahead, we aim to bolster this momentum by continuing to deliver on key strategic goals. That includes ongoing efforts to elevate, innovate and streamline our overall customer experience. It also includes building on a robust business model that prioritizes enhancing operations by investing in technology and digitalization, elevating our innovation capabilities, developing our human capital, and fulfilling our environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. Positioned for growth He added: As the year progresses, we are well-positioned for further growth and development, as we maintain an effective risk management approach to capitalize on promising growth opportunities. On that account, we are confident in our ability to advance our strategic priorities and objectives, enhance our performance, boost our competitiveness, and maximize shareholder value. Meeting the parameters of financial strength and stability Affirming Burgan Banks strong financial core and stable standing, the chairman highlighted that the bank has maintained high international standards in terms of its creditworthiness. This is evidenced by Capital Intelligence Ratings (CI Ratings) affirming the Banks Long-Term Foreign Currency Rating and Short-Term Foreign Currency Rating at A+ and A1, respectively, with a stable outlook. Meanwhile, Moodys Ratings (Moodys) affirmed the Banks long-term foreign currency bank deposit ratings at Baa1 with a stable outlook. Moreover, the bank completed its issuance of KD150 million Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Bonds, with demand exceeding expectations and bonds being oversubscribed. The transaction, lauded as a landmark achievement, is the first Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Bond issuance denominated in Kuwaiti Dinar by a bank and ranks among the largest Kuwaiti Dinar issuances. Commenting on the issuance, the Chairman said: Today, we stand proud to have set a new benchmark on the local level after successfully completing the largest Kuwaiti Dinar Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Bond issuance in Kuwait. This notable transaction attracted high investor interest, reaffirming our robust financial standing and demonstrating confidence in our strategic vision. Sharpened focus on digital transformation journey The second quarter of 2024 was shaped by the banks efforts to continue accelerating its dedicated technology evolution and digital transformation strategy. Of particular significance was Burgan becoming one of the earliest Kuwaiti banks to join the GCC cross-border payments system AFAQ, in adherence to the national digital transformation plan guided by the government and the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK). Another notable move was the Bank signing a monumental deal with Tata Consultancy Services to upgrade its core banking system by implementing the TCS BaNCS suite of products. Tony Daher, Group Chief Executive Officer at Burgan Bank, said: The decision to join AFAQ and sign the new deal comes in response to the markets evolving needs and falls in line with our relentless efforts to adopt the latest state-of-the-art financial technology solutions with the ultimate goal of elevating our customers overall banking experience to new heights. As delivering digital transformation goes hand in hand with enhancing customer experience through new and upgraded products, Burgan Bank launched its interest-bearing savings account awal in Q224. Tailored specifically for children up to the age of 14, the account builds on the success of its predecessor, BuBa savings account, and aims to instill a savings culture in young customers. The latest launch attests to Burgans steadfast efforts to meet the varying banking needs of all its customer segments. Building on this strength point, the bank was voted the Best Domestic Bank in Kuwait in the Best Service category in the 2024 Euromoney Trade Finance Survey, recognizing its unwavering commitment to service excellence and an elevated customer journey. --TradeArabia News Service UAE-based Reportage Properties has joined forces with Turkish group Mesa Holding and Azeri investment company Sabah to launch a new venture - RMS Capital Investment - that will focus on boosting investments in the global real estate market. The new venture, set up by leading real estate companies of Turkey, UAE and Azerbaijan, aims to achieve remarkable success not only regionally but also globally with innovative and sustainable projects in the sector. It will strive to offer the highest value to its customers and business partners with future projects and investments, said the company in a statement. In the RMS Capital Investment partnership structure, Reportage will hold a 34% stake, while MESA and Sabah Investment Group will each have 33% stake. The trio will develop partnership projects in Dubai, Istanbul and Baku in 2024 and 2025 at a total investment of $600 million. The funding for these projects will come from the JV partners, while the central management of the projects will be organized from Dubai. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mesa Holding CEO Mert Boysanoglu said: "We have been working in this sector for 55 years. We make both investment and production in many different sectors. RMS actually started its life as a group that wanted to invest in the global world, especially in housing investments." "As three groups, we have an investment plan of approximately $600 million this year. The first one will start with a project in Dubai, and then we will continue in Turkey and Baku. I am signing this agreement with full faith that this group will not only do business in these regions, but also become a more global player," stated Boysanoglu. Andrea Nucera, the Managing Director of Reportage Properties, said: "We aim to make a difference in real estate development by redefining real estate through excellence, sustainability and innovation." "As three of the world's leading real estate companies, we will grow in our own agenda and increase our potential with RMS cooperation," he stated. Sabah CEO Orkhan Mustafayev said: "The joint venture between Reportage, Mesa and Sabah is an important moment not only for us but also for the markets we already operate in. Over the years, we have built important relationships with our clients based on trust." "This joint venture is another milestone for us to provide better opportunities for our clients, enhance our reputation and build new, successful partnerships. RMS now combines the reputations of all three partner companies and our customers can benefit from the combined powerhouse that this joint venture represents," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Mena region witnessed a slight increase in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity with a total of 321 deals amounting to $49.2 billion, according to the EY Mena M&A Insights H1 2024 report. When compared to H1 2023, deal volume this year grew by 1%, while deal value saw a rise of 12%. The UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) were the preferred destinations for investors with 152 deals reaching a total disclosed value of $9.8 billion. They were also among the top Mena bidder countries in terms of deal volume and value, indicating their active participation in the regions M&A landscape. Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala from the UAE and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) from KSA, continued to lead the deal activity in the region to support their countries economic strategies. Promising start Brad Watson, EY Mena Strategy and Transactions Leader, says: Dealmaking got off to a promising start in 2024 despite oil price fluctuations. We saw a surge in cross-border M&A value as companies made investments to further build synergies, expand market presence, and gain strategic advantages on a global scale. In particular, the first half of the year found the UAE to be a favoured investment destination due to its business-friendly regulations and efficient legislative framework. Meanwhile, Mena countries continued to strengthen regional relationships with Asian and European countries, alongside existing ties with the US, enabling them to gain access to larger and growing markets. During the first six months of 2024, cross-border M&As played a significant role, contributing to 52% of the overall volume and 87% of the value, marking a 15% y-o-y growth in value. Meanwhile, domestic M&A activity accounted for 48% of the total number of deals. The US remained the preferred target destination for Mena outbound investors with 19 deals amounting to $16.6 billion. With the US-UAE Business Council playing an active role in promoting partnerships, prominent US companies are collaborating with UAE public and private sector stakeholders on various initiatives. Top 10 M&As concentrated in the GCC region Ten of the Mena regions highest-valued M&As in the first six months of 2024 were concentrated in the GCC region. The largest transaction took place in February 2024, when Clayton Dubilier & Rice, Stone Point Capital and Mubadala Investment announced their acquisition of Truist Insurance Holdings for $12.4 billion. In March 2024, PAG, Mubadala and ADIA invested $8.3 billion in a 60% stake in the Chinese shopping mall company Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group. In June 2024, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) agreed to acquire a 67% stake in the Greek company TERNA ENERGY for $2.9 billion. Insurance and real estate were the most attractive sectors for investors in the first six months of the year, accounting for 47% of the total deal value. KSA led in the lists of target countries as well as bidder countries, with the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain and Egypt featured in both rankings as well. Domestic deals grow in number The first half of 2024 saw 155 domestic deals with a combined disclosed value of $6.4 billion, marking a 13% increase in M&A activity. GCC players were involved in 85% of the deals, reflecting a high level of intra-regional M&A activity. There were 94 deals within and between the UAE and KSA, accounting for 61% of the overall domestic M&A deal volume. The real estate (including hospitality and leisure) sector became the main contributor to deal value with 15 deals amounting to $1.3 billion, driven by increasing tourism, upcoming mega projects and a growing middle-class income. The consumer products and technology sectors witnessed 47 deals in the domestic market, representing 30% of the total volume. North America and Europe lead in inbound deals The first six months of 2024 recorded 70 inbound deals with a total disclosed value of $6.4 billion. Europe led in terms of deal volume with 80%, and North America made the highest contribution to deal value at 98%. The professional firms and services sector reported the highest volume and value with 17 inbound deals worth $2.0 billion, 15 of which were completed in the UAE. The technology sector followed with 16 deals worth $1.7 billion, with US-UAE partnerships contributing 38% of the deal volume and 96% of the disclosed deal value. Increasing artificial intelligence-related investments in the UAE are expected to enhance these relationships. Outbound deals witness lively activity During H1 2024, outbound activity was the largest contributor to total deal value with 96 deals that amounted to $36.3 billion, marking a 19% increase in value when compared to H1 2023. Insurance and real estate accounted for 57% of the deal value in this space, mainly resulting from two deals involving Mena-based SWFs. The US and China contributed 75% of the total outbound deal value. Anil Menon, EY Mena Head of M&A and Equity Capital Markets Leader, says: M&A, in the recent past, has been the beneficiary of significant tail winds such as low cost of capital. It is heartening to see regional M&A activity remain robust despite the higher cost of capital. The resilience of the regional M&A markets is underpinned by stable oil price and continued infrastructure spending by local governments." Leading German multinational engineering company Bosch has announced that it has entered into a $8 billion deal with Johnson Controls, a leading player in the smart and sustainable buildings sector, to acquire its global HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) solutions business for residential and light commercial buildings. Also as part of the transaction, Bosch aims to buy the Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning (JCH) joint venture, including Hitachis 40% stake, said the German group in a statement. Bosch pointed out that the strategic move comes following the go-ahead from its shareholders and supervisory board. Binding agreements on the acquisitions were signed by the parties and the acquisition is expected to be closed in approximately 12 months, it stated. On the deal, Bosch Chairman Stefan Hartung said: "As the biggest acquisition in Bosch history, this is an important milestone in the systematic implementation of our strategy for 2030. We are dynamically pushing ahead with the strong development of Bosch, and will achieve a globally leading position in the promising HVAC market with this acquisition." For its Energy and Building Technology business sector, it plans to take over the global HVAC solutions business for residential and light commercial buildings from Johnson Controls. Together with JCH, the businesses Bosch intends to acquire generated sales revenue totaling roughly 4 billion euros in 2023, and employ some 12,000 people worldwide. The transaction includes 16 manufacturing sites and 12 engineering locations in more than 30 countries, said the top official. The product portfolio covers the entire spectrum of HVAC solutions for residential and light commercial buildings, and includes well-known brands such as York and Coleman in the US and Hitachi in Asia, for which Bosch will be granted a long-term license. "In taking this step, moreover, we will strengthen our presence in the US and Asia and achieve a better balance among our business sectors. This is also part of our strategy. In this way, we will open up further growth opportunities and put the company as a whole on a firmer footing," he added. Bosch Deputy Chairman Christian said: "With this acquisition, Bosch will accelerate its growth and nearly double its sales revenue in the HVAC market to roughly 9 billion euros. Together with our future colleagues, we want to seize the huge opportunities offered by the market for the further growth of this new unit." The acquired businesses will become part of the Bosch core business - and this will benefit customers, installation partners, and associates, he stated. "We have proved several times in the past that we can successfully integrate brands, take them forward through investments, and strengthen them," he added. The acquisition is timely as the global HVAC market is set for 40% growth by 2030, driven by technological progress, the fight against climate change, and new regulations. Johnson Controls CEO George Oliver said: "Our leading residential and light commercial business and its world-class team perfectly complement the Bosch portfolio. We are confident that under Boschs leadership the business will continue to excel and deliver innovative products and service to its customers. We look forward to seeing their continued success." Jun Abe, the Executive Vice President at Hitachi, said: "The new partnership with Bosch to establish a global air-conditioning business is an important step. The market is dynamic, and is flourishing." "I firmly believe that a global supplier such as Bosch, with its strong European presence and many years of experience in the heating business, is the optimum partner for further expanding the global air-conditioning business of the longstanding Hitachi brand," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Dubai-based Al Ansari Financial Services has signed an agreement to purchase 100% of BFC Group Holdings, a prominent foreign exchange and remittance group incorporated in Bahrain, for $200 million. AAFS move comes as part of its regional expansion strategy. A leading integrated financial services group in the UAE, Al Ansari said the acquisition will enable it to expand its geographic presence and become the largest remittance and exchange provider in the GCC region by branch network. The combined entity will have over 410 branches (a 60% increase on AAFSs current branch network) across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India, supported by a workforce of approximately 6,000 employees (a 25% increase on AAFSs current workforce), it stated. AAFS recognised BFCGH as a unique player due to its sizeable presence and significant market share across key GCC and Asian markets including Bahrain, Kuwait, and India, said the company in a statement. The acquisition is aligned with AAFSs strategic growth pillars of expanding its geographic presence, growing its physical branch network and enhancing its service portfolio. The integration of BFCGH with AAFS reinforces the Emiarti groups market leadership and unlocks new avenues for sustainable growth, demonstrating AAFSs commitment to delivering long-term value to its shareholders, it added. On the strategic move, Group CEO Rashed Ali Al Ansari said: This acquisition represents a pivotal moment in our growth trajectory, establishing our company as the leading foreign exchange and remittance service provider in the Gulf region. By broadening our customer base and extending our services across the GCC and India, we aim to provide a wider audience with access to our comprehensive remittance and foreign exchange solutions." "This move not only enhances our regional presence but also aligns with our broader strategy of diversification and expansion into new markets. Ultimately, this transaction is designed to deliver sustainable value and optimal returns for our shareholders," he added. BFCGH Managing Director and CEO Ebrahim Nonoo said: "We are excited to announce the acquisition of our company by Al Ansari Financial Services. This strategic move highlights the value and potential of our organisation and opens new opportunities for growth and innovation." "Our team has worked tirelessly to build a strong foundation, and we are confident that Al Ansari Financial Services will continue to drive our mission forward, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our clients and stakeholders," stated Nonoo. Established in 1917, BFCGH was the first foreign exchange company and financial services institution in Bahrain and the GCC. It holds a leading position in foreign exchange and money transfer services in the kingdom. "We look forward to seeing the remarkable achievements that will undoubtedly result from this acquisition," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Abu Dhabi Business Centre at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has announced the addition of 12 new economic activities to the Tajer Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Trader) licence. This will allow investors to obtain economic licence without the need to work from a physical location or to pay rent on commercial space for three years. With a growing demand for new economic activities, ADDED is empowering entrepreneurs to ensure they can benefit from the wide array of opportunities in Abu Dhabis vibrant economy by facilitating ease of establishing and doing business. The new activities include many industries such as Maritime Consultancies Services, Tourism & Recreation Consultants, Analysing of Accountancy and Auditing System, Logistics Consultancy, Statistical Services Consultancies, Network Consultancies, Agricultural Extension Services, Textiles and Wearing Apparel Silk-Screen Printing, and Design and Artwork Services. Reducing costs The Tajer Abu Dhabi licence allows UAE citizens and residents to practice their businesses and contributes to reducing the costs of starting a business. Licence holders are not required to provide a physical headquarters until three years after the launch of their business as per the rules regulating their businesses and get necessary approvals. Since its launch in 2017, the number of economic activities under Tajer Abu Dhabi has grown significantly, rising from 30 to 1200. These activities represent 30% of the total economic activities licensed and regulated by ADDED, which stood at 3982 activities as of the end of last year (2023). Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Business Centre, said: The addition of new activities to the Tajer Abu Dhabi license reflects Abu Dhabis vibrant economy, which is witnessing an expansion of specialised activities. To meet the needs of entrepreneurs and investors in various sectors and to facilitate setting up and doing businesses, we listened to the needs stakeholders to understand their requirements. We have added activities that enable business owners to obtain the necessary licences to launch projects that contribute positively to commercial activity and economic development in Abu Dhabi. This step confirms ADDEDs commitment to entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, a main pillar of economic diversification and job creation." Increase in demand "The Tajer Abu Dhabi licence has seen a significant increase in demand since its launch in 2017, as its specifications and benefits align with the aspirations of innovative entrepreneurs and ambitious small businesses. Last year, the number of new licences issued under this category reached 5,989, accounting for more than 23% of the total new economic licences issued in the Emirate, highlighting the category's ability to meet entrepreneurs' needs," Al Mansouri added.--TradeArabia News Service Cruise Saudi, a fully-owned Public Investment Fund company, has announced its participation in the United Nations Global Compact, one of the worlds largest corporate sustainability initiatives, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable and socially responsible business policies. By joining the United Nations Global Compact, Cruise Saudi commits to incorporate its Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption into its overarching strategy, culture and day-to-day operations. Cruise Saudi will also engage in collaborative projects that advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which were created with the aim of tackling climate change and ending poverty. The United Nations Global Compact, formally launched in July 2000, is a non-binding United Nations pact to get private sector businesses and firms worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation. Sustainability is a key part of Saudis Vision 2030 as the kingdom strives towards a Net Zero future by 2060. With a commitment to clean energy and sustainability, Saudi Arabia is committed to tackling energy and climate challenges with innovative solutions such as the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) and an increasingly diverse energy mix, in which 50% of energy will come from renewable sources by 2030. As a private sector organisation, Cruise Saudi is fully committed to developing the cruise market along the Saudi coastlines whilst focusing on sustainability and innovation, working towards achieving Saudis national sustainability goals. Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: By joining the UN Global Compact, Cruise Saudi demonstrates its commitment to our global society and the environment that we rely upon. We are delighted to join over 20,000 companies worldwide who share the same vision as us, and we hope this movement can drive positive change. TradeArabia News Service The Casper Elks Lodge hosted a lunch Tuesday for National Guard members and families ahead of deployment to the Middle East. More than 300 Wyoming guard members are being sent to the Middle East from the four different units in the area, according to Major Luke Meyer. Before their deployment, the members and their families were treated to lunch and family friendly activities by the Elks Lodge. Before eating, several members received promotions. Staff Sergeant Ian Simh was promoted from his former rank of sergeant. I think its a nice way for the community to show support for us, to help ease us into this all, said Simh. Isabel Lesco, the spouse of Specialist Michael Lesco, said that she enjoyed everyone coming together to provide support for the deploying members. Its good to see everybody coming together, said Lesco. Even if people dont get along on the outside, they still put that aside to come out for everybody else. So thats good to see. The Elks Lodge served pulled pork, coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese and hot dogs on Tuesday. Greg Flesvig, the president of Wyomings Elks Lodge Association, said that Tuesdays event was just one way the lodge meets their goal of helping veterans and children in need. Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net. A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band. Conservation groups are accusing federal agencies of systematically denying access to public information in Wyoming and other western states in order to play political favorites on public lands. The organization Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is raising alarm over a swelling backlog of records requests through the Freedom of Information Act, the federal law that entitles citizens access to public records. Public information is being mummified in red-tape, the groups says, leading to bad policy and no public recourse but litigation. The Government Accountability Office in March issued a report showing that government-wide, FOIA backlogs have increased by more than 50% in less than a decade. The report also revealed that there are two especially negligent agencies: The Bureau of Land Management and the National Parks Service, whose outsize roles in public lands policy carry big implications for the Cowboy State. As of the end of the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2024, BLMs FOIA backlog is 1,598 requests more than one-third the total backlog of all 14 Interior agencies combined. It raises suspicion at a time when BLMs policies have been hotly contested, including its Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, as well as this months North Lander wild horse roundup in which advocates have accused the agency of scapegoating mustangs for rangeland degradation caused by cattle. The basic problem is that the current and traditional BLM leadership frankly do not believe in transparency. They do not fundamentally respect the publics right to know how their own lands are being managed, said Chandra Rosenthal, policy director with PEER, who believes the agencys obscurity is by design to minimize debate and play favorites. BLM does its business with various commercial interests behind closed doors in a fashion fully deserving of the nickname The Bureau of Livestock & Mining, she said. According to the Government Accountability Office report, the backlog stems from an overall increase in both the volume and complexity of records requests as well as insufficient staff and department resources, making it hard for agencies to find, review, and process relevant records within the required time frame. Responding to a letter from PEER and Western Watersheds, Director of the BLM Tracey Stone-Manning explained the agency has enlisted contract support at the beginning of fiscal year 2024 dedicated to reducing the backlog.; The BLM is also working to make previously internal information, such as the wild horse and burro database, accessible to the public to reduce FOIA requests and facilitate easier access to requested data. Worst offender: NPS The problem is that often by the time FOIAs are processed their relevance has gone by the wayside, defeating the purpose, which many believe is the point. This is overwhelmingly the case at the National Park Service, according to Jonathan Ratner, director of the conservation group Sage Steppe Wild, who focuses on rangeland condition issues in the American West. I have FOIAs that were done on the Park Service over half a decade ago where I havent gotten anything. And when things actually do arrive, the amount of redactions render the material meaningless, worthless, said Rattner, whos previously worked as an endangered animal researcher for the Forest Service and BLM. The performance for the Park Service has been absolutely atrocious. The attitude is so incredibly anti-FOIA. Technically, the law requires agencies to respond within 20 days, but that rarely happens. Instead, requestors are often given the runaround, passed off to various bureaucrats and told to be patient, Rattner explained. This leaves little recourse but litigation. Currently, PEER, Sage Steppe Wild and three additional conservation organizations together have approximately 97 FOIA requests pending and 10 FOIA lawsuits awaiting resolution. Litigation then becomes simply a more costly form of FOIA. The public should not have to rely on litigation to have the Freedom of Information Act operative. Many requestors dont have the capacity to hire a lawyer and go through all that process to get documents. And so thats not how FOIA was designed. Equally frustrating is that the status quo remains even after lawsuits are won, Rattner says. Even when we win, which is the vast majority of the cases, there are no personal ramifications to the people who made what they knew was an illegal decision [to deny or delay the request].There are no ramifications for the agencys staff personally, professionally, or financially. And so it will continue, he said. ECONOMIST Marla Dukharan has called for an independent and objective assessment of all countries worldwide to determine which ones are truly tax havens. Dukharan stated that this approach would help combat the stigma often associated with the Caribbean region. President Joe Biden speaks at an event commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, Monday, July 29, 2024, at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press Attendees at President Joe Biden's address applaud as he takes the stage at the LBJ Presidential Library commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act Monday, July 29, 2024, in Austin. Mikala Compton/American-Statesma/Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-St U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to attendees while commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library on July 29, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Bidens original visit to Austin was scheduled for July 15, but was postponed after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Today's event served to commemorate legislation that ended the institutionalized segregation of the Jim Crow era. Brandon Bell/Getty Images President Joe Biden departs after speaking at an event commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, Monday, July 29, 2024, at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Eric Gay/Associated Press President Joe Biden, speaking in Austin on Monday in one of his first public appearances since dropping his reelection bid, called for sweeping changes for the U.S. Supreme Court, whose justices in recent years have handed down decisions broadening presidential immunity and overturning abortion rights and gun control laws. Biden said the courts recent extreme opinions and a crisis of ethics have eroded public confidence in the institution. With just six months left in his term, he outlined a plan to introduce 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices and require them to abide by a binding code of conduct. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He also called for a constitutional amendment saying presidents, including Donald Trump, should not have immunity for crimes they commit while in office. We can and must prevent the abuse of presidential power and restore faith in the Supreme Court, Biden said in an address at the LBJ Presidential Library. We can and must strengthen the guardrails of democracy." Though the proposals are unlikely to advance through Congress before Biden leaves office in January Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly described them as dead on arrival they could be a rallying cry this election cycle for Democrats incensed by the courts conservative lurch. Biden first announced the proposal in the Washington Post on Monday morning. The high court has been under additional scrutiny this year after news reports raised a series of ethical concerns, including that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted expensive vacations from a GOP donor. Bidens remarks were part of an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The president said he was personally inspired by President Lyndon B. Johnson and the cause of civil rights to become a public defender and later run for elected office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad From the same stage where Johnson another longtime U.S. senator who rose to the vice presidency, then the presidency, before declining to seek re-election gave his last-ever public address, Biden offered a glimpse of his own legacy, tying his back story and his accomplishments in office to the values of democracy and civil rights advocacy. Toward the end of his speech, Biden invoked Johnsons words during the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964: Those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure only if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning. In the auditorium, Biden spoke softly and at times haltingly, but the audience responded by leaning forward and listening more closely. Afterward, Bill Wallace, a community activist in Austin, said he appreciated that Biden had used the speech to both reflect on Johnsons legacy and emphasize the need for continued progress and accountability. He said he has supported the president for some time, and Bidens decision to exit the presidential race showed he wasnt consumed by the thirst for power and privilege that can overcome other politicians. Wallace, who is Black, said he would remember Bidens presidency for his decision to appoint the first Black woman, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court. He also appreciated Biden for choosing Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black female vice president. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shortly after announcing his exit from the presidential race, Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee and turned over nearly $100 million in campaign cash, allowing her to quickly consolidate support within the party. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the first House Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, was in attendance on Monday, as was state Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, another early voice for Biden to step aside. I was surprised I got an invite, honestly, Reynolds said on his way to the auditorium shortly before the speech. I think it shows theyre forgiving. Robin Mehta, an Austin-area retiree, said shes a member of the presidential library and a supporter of Bidens, so she had been looking forward to seeing him speak. When Biden leaves office, Mehta will remember him most for his graciousness in the face of adversity, grief and criticism of his manner of speaking, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It sounds as if Bidens childhood stutter has resurfaced as hes gotten older, Mehta said, and critics have seized on it to attack Biden and portray him as unintelligent. But Mehta said Bidens passion and knowledge shined through in his speech on Monday. CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells speaks to commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas during a meeting Thursday, July 25, 2024, at in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building Austin. Jon Shapley/AP A state lawmaker said Monday he was considering pushing legislation to recoup some of the $800 million CenterPoint Energy spent on massive generators that sat idle as Hurricane Beryl knocked power from more than 2 million Houston area customers. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the company had defrauded rate payers, who were now strapped with growing utility bills after state regulators allowed CenterPoint to recoup the cost of the generators plus a 6.5% profit. The utility company has already raised the average residential customers bill by about $1 per month and the rate hikes could jump another $3 per month in the coming years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its a big problem, because weve got basically these boat anchors strapped around our rate payers for a long period of time, the Houston Republican said during a contentious hearing where CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells testified that he took personal responsibility for the utilitys failings, but said he would not resign. Bettencourt said he was considering legislation that would claw back some of this expense, though he did not say more about what that might entail. Bettencourt accused CenterPoint of choosing to spend money on the generators rather than clearing trees that knocked out power lines, because CenterPoint can make a profit on the generators. CenterPoint has repeatedly blamed toppled trees and broken branches for leaving over 80% of its area customers without power, some for more than a week. Vegetation management the utility doesnt make profit on, Bettencourt said. However, they make a profit on generator expenses. If you dont make a profit on vegetation management, you may reduce those numbers. The comments came during the first hearing of a special committee tasked with examining the states hurricane preparedness and utilities response after Beryl. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The panel Monday morning questioned Thomas Gleeson, the chairman of the Public Utility Commission, which regulates electric companies in the state. Senators asked whether legislation should be considered that would boost penalties on utilities that cant keep the power on, set new standards for customer communication and more. This cannot be the new normal, said state Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Houston Democrat. The senators used much of the hearing to air their grievances with CenterPoint, which state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst said had broken the social contract with its customers. Senators questioned why the utility could not keep its outage map working, why it was not doing a better job removing trees and why it had sunk so much into generators that were not usable. Bettencourt and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, who chairs the panel, questioned the contract CenterPoint struck for the generators, going so far as to suggest it amounted to fraud. Bettencourt said the utility passed over a competing bid with a price tag that was at least 44% lower. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It doesnt smell good at all, Schwertner said, noting the company appears to be raking in a roughly $30 million profit on the massive generator purchase. Theres more to this story that I hope comes out sooner rather than later. Wells said the competing bid was not in line with what the utility sought, in part because the lower bidder could not provide as many generator units and its cost to operate them was four times higher. Its kind of apples and oranges, but it was a non-conforming bid, Wells said. Wells said the generator purchase is part of an aggressive investment campaign the utility has undergone to boost resilience in recent years. He said that while the generators have not yet been used, there have been 115 instances in which ERCOT has issued notices that the market is tight since Winter Storm Uri. Most of the generators CenterPoint purchased cant be easily deployed. Fifteen of them each with a capacity of 32 megawatts, big enough to power entire neighborhoods take several days to assemble and cannot be moved without a special permit, which itself can take days to secure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wells said the utility has identified a 40-point checklist of improvements it plans to undertake and will launch a website updating customers on the progress. Those include hiring a new communications officer and a new emergency preparedness officer. He said a new outage tracker would be live Thursday. Wells also said that since the beginning of last year, the utility has significantly increased what it spends clearing vegetation where it can. But the utility cannot trim trees on private property without permission, he said. Annual reports to the Public Utility Commission show CenterPoints vegetation maintenance costs jumped 77% over the last decade, but the number of miles the company kept clear along power lines fell 20%. The utility leader said he has no plans to step down amid the post-Beryl firestorm, saying if he were to resign today, CenterPoint would lose momentum. Houston Mayor John Whitmire implored the panel to hold the utility to account, saying, Enough is enough. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its time to hold CenterPoint accountable, he said. Its either complacency or incompetence. But the bottom line is they must do better. Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at anthony.franze@express-news.net. Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023. In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line. Corey Jones Public Service Journalism Team Follow Corey Jones Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today MUSKOGEE A federal judge predominantly left intact Tuesday his $7.4 million verdict blaming a Cherokee Nation Marshal Service deputy for a high-speed chase in 2018 in Tahlequah that killed an innocent motorist after attorneys for the federal government had sought substantial reversals. Judge Ronald A. White only amended his judgment in the wrongful death civil case by removing a $500,000 award for conscious pain and suffering, leaving in place his guilty verdict and all of the other monetary awards totaling $6.9 million. White in January found that CNMS Deputy Preston Oosahwee had been reckless and insufficiently trained in pursuits as he violated state law and agency policy with his high-speed chase of a larceny suspect in a congested area, whose alleged accomplice Oosahwee already knew was detained at the store. Aram Barak Catrons flatbed pickup truck was traveling at about 80 mph when it smashed into the SUV driven by Malinda Phillips, 36, on Jan. 26, 2018, as Oosahwee chased Catron. Phillips, 36, who was driving herself to jury duty, was found immediately by a nurse on scene to have a pulse before soon being pronounced dead while pinned in her SUV. She left behind her husband and two school-age daughters. U.S. Attorney Alexander Sisemore argued Tuesday that Phillips was rendered unconscious by the crash because she was unresponsive, therefore not experiencing conscious pain and suffering. Plaintiffs attorney Don Smolen pointed to evidence that Phillips experienced pre-impact terror skid marks from her braking trauma of which he said was more than enough to justify the $500,000 award. White recessed for several minutes to consider the arguments before deciding that lone aspect in favor of the federal government. Smolen afterward told a Tulsa World reporter that he was disappointed in the $500,000 reversal and called it a waste of taxpayer money for the federal government to keep fighting instead of accepting ownership of wrongdoing. At what point do they take responsibility? Smolen asked. Defense attorneys declined to comment after the hearing. In criminal state court in 2019, Catron, now 41 years old, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in Cherokee County and received a 26-year prison sentence. The United States is the defendant because of Cherokee Nations compact with the federal government. The case is filed in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The U.S., requesting in March for White to alter his judgment, disputed his determinations of tort and traffic laws, as well as matters of tribal sovereignty and federal mandates. In court filings, U.S. Attorney Christopher Wilson argued that Oosahwee should be shielded by a Federal Tort Claims Act exception because the deputys actions that day were discretionary decisions at a tribal level and not specifically mandated by federal minimum law enforcement standards therefore not open for consideration of wrongdoing. Wilson also took issue with some of Whites findings of fact such as Oosahwees speed and proximity to the suspect and reiterated the defense claim that the deputy wasnt actually in a pursuit. The judge on Tuesday entertained arguments about the discretionary exemption but not any of his findings of fact. In written response to the motion filing, Smolen countered that the U.S. was seeking a do-over by misstating state and federal laws and re-arguing positions already presented to and rejected by the judge. Nothing in The United States motion can escape a simple truth, though Deputy Oosahwee disregarded mandatory CNMS policy prohibiting high-speed chases for anything but a serious felony, Smolen wrote. Deputy Oosahwee decided catching a petty thief warranted chasing Catron through busy streets and residential areas driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, endangering the lives of everyone in the vicinity and, ultimately, causing Mrs. Phillips wrongful death. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY Longtime Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony called on fellow Commissioner Todd Hiett to resign on Tuesday following a report that Hiett drunkenly groped a man in a hotel bar recently while attending a conference in Minnesota. Hiett, in a telephone interview with the Tulsa World, didnt deny that the incident occurred, though he said he had no memory of it. He said it left him facing turmoil like hes never faced in 30 years of political life in Oklahoma, but that he had no plans to step away from the Corporation Commission either temporarily or permanently. According to reporting by The Oklahoman, two people said they witnessed Hiett, clearly drunk and slurring words, grope a man between the legs on the evening of June 9 in a bar at the Renaissance Hotel in Minneapolis. Hiett and hundreds of other people were there to attend the Mid-America Regulatory Conference held June 9-12. The incident happened on the first evening, during a welcoming reception. One of the two witnesses said the alleged victim was a man who identified as representing a company that goes before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. I was horrified, the witness wrote in her account. I recognized how horrible and awkward this situation was for (the man). I thought, OK, you have just witnessed a sexual assault, and we need to get (the man) out of here. In a filing at the Corporation Commission on Tuesday, Anthony called on Hiett, who is the chairman of the commission, to resign immediately. There can be no tolerance for his actions, especially when directed toward persons whose companies, industries and/or jobs will otherwise continue to be directly affected by the regulatory decisions he makes, Anthony wrote. The situation is untenable. Neither getting sober nor sincerely apologizing can resolve it. Anthony added in the filing that he had heard from numerous current and former commissioners from across the country who reported witnessing Hiett acting in the same way at other meetings and conferences held in multiple other states. In the phone interview with the World, Hiett said he did not know who the man was in Minneapolis referred to by the witnesses, or what company or organization the man represents. According to the witness statements quoted by the Oklahoman, the man had introduced Hiett as an Oklahoma commissioner just prior to the groping incident. I have no memory of any of the things that are in that report, Hiett said. However, its hard for me to believe I would ever do such a thing. While Hiett said he would not deny what happened, he did deny that hes been involved in other similar incidents. He noted that Anthony has been a rival and longtime critic. There are thousands of pages of Anthonys filings over the years accusing me of things, and others, as well, he said. Hiett was first elected in 2015 to the Corporation Commission. The three-person agency is responsible for regulation of the oil and gas, fuel, public utilities and transportation industries. He was elected to a second term in 2021 and is due to reach his 12-year term limit in 2027. He draws a salary of $114,713 per year. A Republican, Hiett previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1994 to 2006, including as House speaker from 2004 to 2006. Asked if the current controversy surrounding him would harm his ability to focus on his work, which includes considering rates to be paid by customers of Oklahoma utility companies, he said that it would not. I am clearly devastated by whats being said, and for that reason I sought medical help and Im continuing that and doing what I can to address it with the help of doctors and counselors, he said. Im meeting it head-on and taking it as if it is true and happened and 100% my fault. Its a bad deal for me and my family, but were meeting it head-on with Gods help. The third Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, Republican Kim David, didnt respond to a call or to an email seeking comment. In his filing, Anthony, also a Republican, who was term-limited this year and will leave the Corporation Commission in January, described Hietts behavior as horrifying, disgusting and probably criminal. Alcohol is no excuse for it, he wrote. His so-called apology is insufficient and unacceptable, and his ongoing attempts to downplay the seriousness of what occurred only compound the offense. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to an amended agenda, one item will include discussion of a report of chronic public drunkenness and/or improper sexual behavior negatively impacting the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and its professional associates and colleagues in other states. Tulsa World is where your story lives Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today While Oklahoma presidential votes may not count as much as some other states, Oklahoma dollars do. A reminder of this was Fridays Oklahoma City fundraiser for the Republican National Committee and GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump. Attendees paid $5,000 to get in the door and $15,000 to have their picture taken with vice presidential nominee JD Vance. A seat at the head table cost $100,000. Almost all of that money will go to campaigns in competitive states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Because Oklahoma is so reliably Republican, Oklahomans biggest influence on national politics aside from some of the people they elect is cash. Tens of millions in cash every election cycle. The Federal Election Commission has recorded 800,000 transactions involving Oklahoma donors and federal office-seekers and federal political action committees since Jan. 1, 2023. And that doesnt count so-called dark money contributions or state and local campaigns. In fact, Oklahomas No. 1 political donor this election cycle gave the biggest share of her $8.3 million in contributions to state elections in Ohio. According to the OpenSecrets.org data base, Tulsan Lynn Schusterman contributed $3.5 million to Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, an organization that led a successful 2023 ballot initiative in that state for abortion rights. Schusterman also gave at least $750,000 to One Person, One Vote, an Ohio group that defeated a ballot initiative that would have raised the minimum vote needed for passage of the abortion rights measure and future ballot propositions. She also gave $1,075,000 to Planned Parenthoods federal political action committee. Schusterman also contributed $900,000 to the Democracy First PAC, which campaigned against election deniers, and $500,000 to the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Smaller amounts have gone to state and federal PACs and candidates from Maine to Alaska but not to any presidential campaigns. One of the nations leading philanthropists, Schustermans reportable political contributions appear to surpass all other Oklahomans this election cycle, based on an analysis of three databases, including OpenSecrets, through July 20. Schusterman and her daughter, Stacy Schusterman, whos contributed almost $2.3 million, are unusual among Oklahomas largest donors in that they give almost entirely to Democrats and associated causes and because almost all of their contributions go out of state. Tulsans Joe and Kelly Craft, second on the list with $3.5 million, also give most of their money out of state, including at least $1.5 million to a state PAC in their native Kentucky. Third on the list is Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources, whose five contributions totaled $2.5 million, including $1 million to Trumps Make America Great Again Inc. Stacy Schusterman is fourth. Her contributions included $1 million to the U.S. Senate Democrats PAC and $400,000 to the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Unlike most of the top donors, the Chickasaw Nations contributions are genuinely bipartisan, apparently driven more by practical considerations than by ideology. About two-thirds of the Chickasaws $1.6 million in contributions were to federal committees, with the rest going to state politics. Oklahomans might be surprised to learn that the Chickasaws single largest contribution has been $100,000 to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. All told, the tribe has showered around $250,000 on Texas politicians, who are not subject to state contribution limits. The Chickasaws involvement is likely tied to protecting their casinos along the Texas border. According to the Dallas Morning News, North Texas interests hired 76 lobbyists to push for casinos in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex last legislative session and arent letting up. Of the 10 largest donors, seven are primarily identified with the fossil fuels sector, and several are interrelated. Harold Hamm, for instance, is the founder and executive chairman of Continental Resources. Hamm has contributed at least $1.4 million individually. Larry Nichols, a founder of Devon Energy, and his wife, Polly Nichols, have given more than $1.5 million, while Devon has contributed $1.2 million. The figures cited are for this election cycle only, from Jan. 1, 2023, to July 20, 2024, and do not include contributions to local elections or to dark money campaigns that do not report donors. <&rule> The Tulsa World is where your story lives Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Lee Ka-chiu will pay a visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 2, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The three-day visit will be made at the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, the foreign ministry said on Monday. This will be the first visit to Vietnam by Lee, a 67-year-old Hong Kong politician who was elected HKSAR chief executive on May 8, 2022 and took office on July 1 the same year. According to Hong Kongs The Standard newspaper, the visit is aimed at increasing high-level contacts and promoting economic and trade exchanges between the HKSAR and Vietnam. More than 30 business representatives and officials in the fields of innovation, technology, trade, industry, finance, logistics, and tourism will accompany Lee during this visit. During his stay in Vietnam, the HKSAR leader will hold talks with Deuty PM Quang and have important meetings with other key Vietnamese leaders, the ministry said. The guest will also engage in various activities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the southern economic hub of Vietnam. As one of the largest financial, commercial, and transportation centers in the world, the HKSAR is also considered a gateway connecting investment, trade, finance, and logistics services between China and the region as well as the world. Hong Kong, as an economy, has participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum and is one of Vietnams important economic, trade, and investment partners. Currently, Hong Kong is Vietnam's seventh-largest trading partner and its fifth-largest foreign direct investor, while Vietnam is Hong Kongs second-biggest trading partner in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Leaders of the Party and the state of Vietnam have sent thank-you letters and telegrams to leaders of countries, international organizations, political Parties, and international friends for extending condolences over the passing of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong this month. The thank-you letters and telegrams were sent by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, State President To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Luong Cuong, and other leaders of the Party and the state. They honored the solidarity and support from other countries, partners, political parties, and international friends, expressing gratitude for their affection and condolences over the immense loss suffered by the Party, the state, the people of Vietnam, and the family of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The Vietnamese leaders expressed their commitment to working with partner countries to fulfill General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's wish of deepening friendship and cooperation, aiming to benefit their peoples and contribute to regional and global peace, cooperation, and prosperity. Incumbent and former leaders of the Party and state of Vietnam as well as international guests observe a one-minute silence to pay tribute to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, July 26, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Leaders of 103 countries and territories as well as 32 international organizations sent nearly 500 letters, telegrams, and messages of condolence to Vietnam and the family of the late Party leader, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As many as 100 international delegations arrived in Vietnam to pay respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, while more than 3,500 delegations paid tribute to the Vietnamese Party chief at Vietnam's representative agencies abroad. They extended deep affection, great grief, and immense respect for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, honoring his contributions to Vietnam's development and its relations with international partners. They also expressed a strong desire to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in all sectors. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away at 1:38 pm on July 19 in Hanoi at the age of 80. To mourn and commemorate his death, a two-day state funeral was held for him on July 25 and 26. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Vietnam have detained three young Chinese suspects who allegedly killed a taxi driver and then stole his cab on Saturday. Police officers in Ba Don Town, Quang Binh Province on Monday said they had handed over Huang Jie Cheng, 18, Gan Ying, 17, and Luo Shi Jun, 16, to their counterparts in Quang Ngai Province for an investigation into their charges of murder and robbery. According to the case file, traffic police in Quang Binh signaled a suspicious Mai Linh cab to stop for examination at 8:00 am on Sunday on National Highway 1 in Ba Don Town. The driver ignored the request and sped away, prompting police to chase the vehicle and call for backup. In Quang Tho Ward, the cab collided with a motorbike ridden by a local woman but continued driving. It then hit another motorcycle in Quang Long Ward and a car in Ba Don Ward before police finally stopped it, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper. The accidents caused by the cab injured six people. Police escorted the three Chinese nationals in the car to the Ba Don police station for investigation. This image shows the Mai Linh taxi cab whose driver was allegedly killed by a group of three young Chinese nationals in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam on July 27, 2024. Photo: L.T. / Tuoi Tre During the interrogation of the foreigners, investigators noted additional suspicious behavior beyond their traffic violations and involvement in accidents. After hours of questioning by experienced investigators, the suspects eventually confessed to committing murder and robbery on July 27. Accordingly, on the early morning of that day, the Chinese group rented a Mai Linh car driven by Nguyen Van Hai, a 47-year-old man from northern Quang Ninh Province, to take them from Quang Ninh to the central region. At around 7:00 pm on the same day, when the cab arrived in Quang Ngai, the group strangled Hai to death and threw his body in the provinces Mo Duc District on National Highway 1, the People's Public Security Television under the Ministry of Public Security reported. The foreigners then stole the cab and drove it back toward the northern region until they were arrested in Quang Binh. The investigation into the motive of the three Chinese suspects in the murder and robbery case is underway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Rabies has caused 56 human deaths across 29 provinces and cities in Vietnam from January to July this year, marking a 45-percent year-on-year increase, according to the Ministry of Health. The provinces which reported a high number of rabies outbreaks and deaths include Dak Lak and Gia Lai in the Central Highlands; Binh Thuan and Nghe An along the central coast; and Ben Tre, Long An, and Tay Ninh in the southern part of the country. Rabies has remained among the leading causes of human deaths over the past years, just after such infectious diseases as measles and COVID-19, the health ministry said at a recent conference on tightening rabies control and prevention. Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Nhu Duong, deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, under the health ministry, affirmed that rabies is a deadly viral zoonotic disease that cannot be cured but can be prevented by vaccination. The main cause of human deaths due to rabies is the failure to get vaccinated immediately after being bitten, scratched, or having an open wound licked by a cat or dog, the health ministry said. Epidemiological investigation results indicated that most of the rabies cases did not get vaccination as they thought that their pet dogs were not rabid, while several others died after seeking treatment for rabies from traditional practitioners instead of receiving a vaccination. Moreover, some children did not tell their parents about their dog bites, missing out on preventive treatment and succumbing to rabies as a result. Kids should be told that they have to let their parents know about their dog bites, regardless of the level of wound severity, Dr. Duong stressed. He also proposed that health authorities penalize traditional practitioners for claiming that they could cure rabies. Speaking at the event, the Department of Animal Health said that the current rabies vaccination coverage in dogs is 58 percent, noting that the figure might be inaccurate as the exact number of dogs in Vietnam is unknown. According to Phan Quang Minh, deputy chief of the Department of Animal Health, the rabies vaccination coverage in dogs in many provinces remains below 30 percent, posing a challenge for rabies control and prevention efforts. The health ministry plans to recommend sanctions for provinces and cities nationwide to address dog and cat owners who fail to vaccinate their pets against rabies or allow them to roam freely. Dogs bite around 500,000 people in Vietnam each year, with preventive treatment costs totaling approximately VND2 trillion (US$79.5 million), according to the health ministry. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! San Antonio heat index values will be in the triple digits on Tuesday, as temperatures across the region rebound to typical summer levels this week. Pivotal Be on alert for frizzy hair, sweaty shirts and feeling much hotter than what your outdoor thermometer might read: Humidity will make San Antonio especially sticky, icky and muggy this week. On Tuesday, for example, the elevated levels of water vapor in the air, under mostly cloudy skies, will make the peak daily temperature of 96 degrees feel more like 103. South-southeast winds of 10 to 15 mph will continue to deliver moisture-rich air from the Gulf of Mexico throughout the day. We wont get much relief from the steamy weather at night, either: Overnight temperatures will stay above 77 degrees, and the winds ferrying coastal humidity into South Texas will persist. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Antonio also can expect some haziness this week from Saharan dust blown in by winds across the Atlantic Ocean. A heavily dense plume of Saharan dust will continue spreading inland through Texas, possibly impacting spots at varying intensities generally along and east of a line from Laredo to Dallas, with the highest concentrations remaining along the Texas coastline and out over the western Gulf of Mexico, according the daily forecast from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Depending on the movement and intensity of the dust, levels of particulate matter could be at the lower end of the moderate range in parts of the Austin and San Antonio metro areas. For the past few days, San Antonio temperatures have stayed below 90 degrees, which is a rare treat for late July in South Texas. But heat is about to make a strong comeback this week. Elevated dew points and rising air temperatures will result in triple-digit heat index values for San Antonio. The heat eventually could trigger a heat advisory from the National Weather Service. National Weather Service The heat is the main story as it returns closer to the summer standards over South-Central Texas, the National Weather Service said in a forecast bulletin Monday. The afternoon highs today and again Tuesday will range from the low 90s in the Hill Country to near or slightly above 100 degrees for the areas near the Rio Grande. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Forecasters also cited a indicator of high humidity: dew point temperatures, which is how much air needs to be cooled for the air to be 100% saturated with water vapor. Typically, air becomes noticeably humid and muggy when the dew point is at least 65 degrees. This week, dew points will range between 70 and 76 degrees. WEATHER EXPLAINED: How our extreme heat and humidity can be the secret ingredients for great Texas barbecue The dew points are a bit elevated from the result of the higher than average soil moistures with the recent rains, weather service meteorologist Matt Brady wrote in his short-term forecast. This results in elevated peak heat indices. The heat index, which takes into account humiditys effect on the body to give a more accurate feels like temperature measurement, could exceed levels that would otherwise trigger a heat advisory from the weather service. This National Weather Service map of South and Central Texas, shows rainfall totals after a stretch of abnormally wet conditions in July. Doppler radar-estimated 10-day rainfall totals show the highest amounts across portions of the Hill Country, the southern Edwards Plateau and the Coastal Plains. National Weather Service While there may be an isolated location or two eclipsing heat advisory criteria, most locations along/east of the I-35 corridor are expected to remain within the 102- to 107-degree range, Brady wrote. Well elect to hold off on issuance of any heat advisories as a result. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The weather service issues heat advisories when temperatures or heat index values increase the publics risk of heat-related illnesses. Meanwhile, rain chances this week have all but disappeared. Showers should end by or shortly after sunset (Monday) with perhaps a stray opportunity once again across these same coastal plain locations during late Tuesday morning into the afternoon, Brady said. Otherwise, the forecast will remain rain-free across the rest of South-Central Texas on Tuesday. Wednesday in San Antonio likely will be hazy under otherwise sunny skies as temperatures rise to with a couple of degrees shy of 100. South-southeast winds of 5 to 15 mph could include gusts as strong as 25 mph. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The San Antonio forecast for Thursday similarly includes hazy skies, mainly before 1 p.m. under mostly sunny skies. Temperatures should peak at 97 degrees and stay above 75 degrees overnight into Friday morning. The beginning of the long-term portion of the forecast will begin mostly dry as upper-level high pressure remains centered just to our northeast, the weather service said, adding that the dry weather will continue for most areas (of South and Central Texas) through the end of the week with temperatures warming into the upper 90s to near 104 degrees by Saturday. Check out the latest news in Vietnam today: Politics -- Leaders of the Party and the state of Vietnam have sent thank-you letters and telegrams to leaders of countries, international organizations, Parties, and international friends for extending condolences over the July 19 passing of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. -- President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta will pay a state visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 3 at the invitation of Vietnamese State President To Lam, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu will pay a visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 1 at the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Society -- Police in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam on Monday handed over three Chinese nationals who caused a traffic accident in the province to police in Quang Ngai Province in the central region, as the trio confessed that they had killed a taxi driver and stole the vehicle in Quang Ngai on Saturday evening. -- Traffic police in Quang Ngai Province said on Monday that they had fined a young woman VND7 million (US$278.5) and revoked her drivers license for three months after she was found driving and taking her hands off the handlebars of her motorcycle to make a heart shape. -- Two police officers in Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam successfully saved a young man from drowning in a stream on Saturday, the provincial police reported on Monday. Business -- Hapag-Lloyd, the largest container transport shipping in Germany, on Monday signed a contract to purchase 2,000 20DC containers from Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat Group. Lifestyle -- Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper will organize the 'Vietnam Pho Festival 2024' in Seoul, South Korea in October in association with Saigontourist Group under the theme 'Enjoy Pho, Discover Vietnam.' The Day of Pho(December 12), initiated by Tuoi Tre in 2017, went international for the first time in 2023 when the newspaper held it in Japan under the name of 'Vietnam Pho Festival.' World News -- At least 140 people were injured in southern Russia on Monday when a train carrying 800 passengers smashed into a truck on a level crossing, causing eight carriages to derail, Reuters reported, quoting Russian Railways. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Five coal miners were killed in an accident at a coal mine in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam on Monday night, the state-owned Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) reported on Tuesday. The accident happened at 10:10 pm at a mine of Hon Gai Coal Company, a subsidiary of Vinacomin. The five workers were inside the mine when coal and rock suddenly collapsed. Upon receiving reports of the accident, Nguyen Xuan Ky, secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of the Peoples Council of Quang Ninh Province, tasked relevant agencies with coordinating with Vinacomin for search and rescue efforts. The work ended at 5:28 am on Tuesday. Vinacomin initially provided VND20 million (US$795.6) to each family of the deceased, with the group's labor union also contributing VND20 million per victim. Hon Gai Coal Company pledged to cover funeral costs and offer VND100 million (US$3,973) in support to each family. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) and some contractors on Tuesday started using tunnel boring machines to drill the underground section of the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line, the second of its kind in the capital city. The boring operation began at Kim Ma Station at the depth of 17.8 meters. The tunnel drilling is part of contract package CP03 to construct the underground stations and a tunnel, the MRB said, noting that the package is now 43.4 percent complete. The main contractor of the package is the HyunDai & Ghella (HGU) consortium, while FECON Corporation is in charge of using two tunnel boring machines to drill the passage. During the process, FECON Corporation is being assisted by experts from Tunnelpro, an Italian provider of geo-engineering and underground works services, and from the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association. Nguyen Quoc Bao, deputy general director of FECON Corporation, said that the firm would drill a four-kilometer-long tunnel. German manufacturer Herrenknecht designed and produced the tunnel boring machines for the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line project. A map details the direction of the underground section of the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line, the second of its kind in Hanoi. Photo: MRB Each machine measures over 100 meters in length and weighs some 850 metric tons. As scheduled, after the first machine finishes drilling nearly 200 meters of the tunnel, the second one will continue the work. After completing the drilling of 240 meters, the two machines will speed up the boring work to reach 10 meters per day. It is estimated to take 16 months to complete the tunneling process. A geotechnical monitoring system had previously been installed at drilling locations to monitor the movement of the machines and possible land subsidence. As per its design, the Nhon - Hanoi Station metro line runs 12.5 kilometers from Nhon in Nam Tu Liem District to the Hanoi Railway Station in the downtown area, with 8.5 kilometers on elevated tracks, four kilometers underground, and one depot. Work on the metro line, which costs an estimated VND34.5 trillion (US$1.4 billion), is slated for completion in 2027. The Cat Linh - Ha Dong metro route, the first of its kind in Hanoi, was put into operation in November 2021. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Changing motorcycles four times to travel more than 160,000 kilometers across Vietnam over the past 14 years, artist Dang Ai Viet, 76, has painted the portraits of 3,157 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers a solemn title given to women whose husbands and children made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Although her journey has been known and admired for a long time, her stories still touch the hearts of many people. She began the journey when she was 62. Over the past 14 years, the senior woman has traveled alone to meet Heroic Mothers nationwide. She came to talk with Heroic Mothers, eat meals with them, listen to their stories, and paint them. During the journey, she sometimes had to pass through forests and mountains, even suffered hunger, thirst, or failed to find accommodation. However, she was never fearful of hardships. Artist Dang Ai Viet shares her 14-year journey to sketch portraits of Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre Viet noted that only love gives people the strength to achieve what seems impossible. She wanted to honor the lives of her companions in wartime and the days she spent fighting for the countrys peace. As a young woman, Viet was an artist for Phu Nu Giai Phong (Liberated Women) newspaper and fought against U.S. troops in Trang Bang Town, Tay Ninh Province, near Ho Chi Minh City. Now, she is racing against time to sketch portraits of Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. Artist Dang Ai Viet did a painting when she was young. Photo: Supplied "My biggest regret is not painting [Heroic Mothers] before they passed away. While I'm still healthy, I must race against time to honor them and keep up with my own health. "I will portray Heroic Vietnamese Mothers as long as my heart still beats." She recalled that when she reached Lai Chau Province in northern Vietnam in 2011, only one Heroic Mother was alive there. On June 16 this year, she immediately came to Ha Tinh Province in north-central Vietnam after painting Heroic Vietnamese Mothers in Da Teh District, Lam Dong Province, located in the Central Highlands. Viet said she had received a report from the Ha Tinh Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs saying that the province was home to 21 Heroic Mothers, but when she arrived in the province, one Heroic Mother had passed away. Two portraits of Heroic Vietnamese Mothers painted by artist Dang Ai Viet. Photo: Supplied After sketching Heroic Vietnamese Mothers' portraits, Viet will focus on painting those winning the titles of Heroes of the People's Armed Forces and Heroes of Labor in Vietnam. She has completed the job in two military regions. Seven remaining military regions are waiting for her, Viet shared. Her painting journey is increasingly hectic but she feels happy, the artist said. She wants to remind young generations of those who sacrificed their lives for the countrys peace through her paintings. The fourth motorcycle that artist Dang Ai Viet has used during her journey to paint Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has recently announced it will consider proposing amendments to legislation related to military service recruitment to prevent a number of young people from abusing body tattoos as a way to dodge conscription. The ministry made the announcement after having listened to opinions of people in southern Tay Ninh Province as well as from some other localities over the past several years regarding this issue. To evade military service, many young men intentionally get tattoos before their medical exams for recruitment, as a way to avoid being selected, according to the people's reports. Residents of Tay Ninh commented that these young men are unfairly exploiting Joint Circular No. 50/2016 from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, which outlines the political requirements for conscripting citizens into the Vietnamese Peoples Army. As per the joint circular, citizens with tattoos will not be selected for military service, prompting many young people to intentionally get inked to disqualify themselves from recruitment. In light of this situation, people have urged the defense ministry to implement measures to prevent citizens from abusing tattooing to evade military service, in order to uphold social equality and ensure an adequate number of qualified citizens for army recruitment. According to the ministry, the current regulation regarding tattoos is part of the political and ethical standards for selecting citizens for military service. Citizens will not be selected if their bodies bear tattoos with images or words that oppose the regime, promote division, or are deemed horrifying, bizarre, violent, or sexually provocative. Tattoos that are offensive in visible areas, such as the face, head, and neck, or those located from the lower half of the upper arm down, one-third of the lower thigh down, or covering half or more of the back, chest, or abdomen, are deemed unacceptable. The ministry stated that if selected for military service, citizens with such tattooing would be considered offensive, negatively impacting the image, etiquette, and conduct of revolutionary soldiers, as well as the cultural environment within the army. However, the ministry clarified that citizens with removable tattoos that do not contain the aforementioned content may still be eligible for military service. The ministry acknowledged that some citizens have exploited this regulation to avoid military service, leading to discontent among the public. To prevent abuse of the regulation, the ministry issued a dispatch in late 2019 urging military service councils to collaborate with relevant agencies to accurately identify and classify tattoos for acceptance. They also called on citizens with unacceptable tattoos to have them removed to qualify for military service. Currently, there are no legal provisions prohibiting individuals from getting tattoos, nor is there a ban on body tattoos for young men of military service age who have not yet undergone health examinations for recruitment. In November 2020, the ministry issued guidance stating that if tattoos cover a small area and do not impact the military etiquette, discipline, or environment, citizens with such tattoos will still be considered for military service, according to Vietnam Television. Concerns about the abuse of body tattooing to evade military service have been raised not only by residents of Tay Ninh but also by people from other provinces and cities, including Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Nam Dinh, over the past few years. In response to these concerns, the ministry has announced plans to study and fully evaluate tattoo-related policies and their impacts, proposing amendments to Government Decree No. 27/2016, which outlines various regimes and policies for in-service and demobilized non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and their families. The ministry will collaborate with relevant ministries to amend Joint Circular No. 50/2016 at an appropriate time, ensuring that there is a comprehensive political, legal, and practical foundation for the changes. This aims to ensure that the regulations on military service recruitment are implemented effectively, practically, and rigorously. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The administration of Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam has written to the Ministry of Transport and the Department for Roads of Vietnam proposing being allocated VND60 billion (US$2.4 million) to build the new Dakrong bridge to smooth a route connecting with coal mines in Laos. The provincial Peoples Committee has proposed sourcing the fund from the ministrys urgent or backup capital reserves, the office of the provincial administration said on Tuesday. The reinforced concrete bridge will serve as a vital link to Laos coal mines, which contain a total of one billion metric tons of coal, according to the provincial administration. The backbone Western Ho Chi Minh Road connects La Lay International Border Gate in Dakrong District with National Highway 9. The bridge is aimed at replacing the deteriorating Dakrong Bridge on the Western Ho Chi Minh Road, along which hundreds of trucks travel to transport coal from Laos to Vietnam through the border gate each day. However, the current Dakrong Bridge, which was put into service in 2002, is at risk of collapse, leading to a restriction on vehicles payload. The restriction has hindered the transportation of goods, while the deteriorating bridge poses potential risks to drivers and their cargo. Meanwhile, coal mines in Laos Sekong and Salavan Provinces, located about 118 kilometers from the border gate, have an output of one billion metric tons of coal. Due to its proximity to seaports, Laos relies on Quang Tri to export an estimated 20-30 million metric tons of coal per year. As the number of vehicles using the bridge and border gate is expected to rise, the province proposed that the ministry allocate funds to build a new bridge to replace the deteriorating one, thereby meeting transportation demands, boosting socio-economic growth, and enhancing bilateral trade between Vietnam and Laos. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Easy Tiger (Colin from Accounts, The Twelve, Territory, Scrublands) has announced three key appointments. Christopher Sharp (pictured left) joins Easy Tiger as the Head of Scripted Content, with experience in Australia, the UK, and the US. He has held pivotal roles in TV and film finance, development and production, including senior positions at prominent production companies and government funding bodies, most recently as Head of Scripted at Screen Australia. Nel Minchin (pictured centre) steps into the newly created position of Head of Factual. An experienced director, producer, and writer, she has achieved success with projects including Matilda and Me, Making Muriel, The Truth about Anxiety with comedian Celia Pacquola and most recently the documentary series, The Way We Wore presented by Celeste Barber. Screenwriter and director Shelly Lauman (pictured right) joins the team under the Screen Australia Enterprise Program. Ian Collie and Rob Gibson, founder and CEO of Easy Tiger respectively, said of the appointments, Its an exciting time of growth for Easy Tiger Christopher, Nel and Shelly are exceptional talents who will help us continue to develop our diverse slate of scripted and factual shows. Were fortunate enough to work with some of the best and brightest talents in the business, and with these new appointments were well-positioned to continue making must-watch shows for audiences in Australia and around the world. Since opening its doors in 2017, Easy Tiger has delivered a consistent string of hit shows in all genres for local and international partners, from classics like Rake and Jack Irish to recent hits like Colin from Accounts and Scrublands. On screens now and set to launch soon are a suite of the companys highly anticipated returning and new titles including; the second season of award-winning The Twelve currently dropping weekly on Binge; the second season of Colin From Accounts which has again been an audience and critical hit in Australia and internationally as well as winning numerous awards; epic outback drama Territory (formerly Desert King) set to launch globally on Netflix 24 October; filmed in India and Australia romantic drama Four Years Later is coming soon to SBS; Christmas film Nugget is Dead will launch on Stan in time for the festive season; the second instalment of Scrublands also for Stan will hit screens this year; and Optics, a co-production with Chaser Digital for ABC, is currently in production. This week on Foreign Correspondent the ABCs East Asia correspondent Kathleen Calderwood reports on the new Hong Kong where freedoms have been curtailed, where the economy is struggling and where mainland Chinese are being encouraged to resettle. Hong Kong is a changed city. Five years after a record number of anti-government demonstrators engulfed the streets, the protest movement is now effectively silenced. With activists either fleeing the country or ending up in jail, the city is being remade. Kathleeen also reports from Taiwan where many thousands of people have taken refuge, some still fearful they will face repercussions if they speak out against Beijing. 8pm Thursday on ABC. EXCLUSIVE: For nearly six decades Maggie Dence has been a presence on Australian television screens. Famously as the title character in The Mavis Bramston Show she seemingly has seen a resurgence recently in Heartbreak High, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Queen of Oz, The Messenger. Except that isnt quite true -Dence has been working every decade since 1966. Not bad for a young girl who entered business college after leaving school at the age of 15. I was born in Chatswood on the North Shore, and I lived most of my life in Killara, until I got married. So Im a North Shore girl, as we say in Sydney, she tells TV Tonight. We didnt have television, but my parents loved going to the pictures, always on a Friday night. Where I lived there were six cinemas within close proximity. I was so young that sometimes Id just fall asleep. I have a memory of my father, carrying me to the car. It was a bit of a flea pit, but it had an extraordinary history. The films were a big influence, with Dence writing a letter to Australian star Chips Rafferty who recommended two acting schools one of which was was the Independent Theatre. Doris Fitton ran the Independent Theatre at North Sydney. (The building is) still there, owned by Winona School, and its been beautifully restored. When we all worked there it was a bit of a flea pit, but it had an extraordinary history. Doris was brilliant in that she managed to get the rights to a lot of plays that certainly werent going to be done by commercial management. We were doing Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and all of that. So it was a great training ground, really. She studied alongside Leonard Teale, Diana Perryman (Jill Perrymans sister) and Ruth Cracknell before roles at Phillip Street Theatre, first as the Wicked Witch in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Then I auditioned for a new faces revue called Whats New?, where I met Barry Creighton and Noeline Brown. But it was a flop. One of the critics said, Well never see any of these people again. But we didnt take that on board. After a year in England, Dence returned to Australia where Channel Seven invited her to replace Noelene Brown as the face of The Mavis Bramston Show, a satire created by Carol Raye. I honestly had no idea what I was putting my hand up for, but I was arriving back with no work and needed a job. So I said, yes. Originally, Channel Seven werent going to bother with the Mavis character. They felt they didnt really need it because Noeline had done three appearances, and the joke was that she was to go back to England, Dence explains. But Ampol, the petrol company, were the number one sponsors and they wanted Mavis. So thats why I got a contract. She describes the Mavis character as over the top, flamboyant, totally devoid of any real talent, egomaniac. She believed in herself and was larger than life. Crazy, high camp, really. The gimmick was that she had her own show in Australia, because we went through a period where people would be brought out to star in shows, and they would be third rung of the ladder. They werent the stars of the West End or Broadway, but theyd be fobbed off on us. I can remember there was an election, and Mavis ran, I cant remember what for. People were writing on the ballot papers, Id rather vote for Mavis. Ampols decision to retain the Mavis character paid off big time, with Dence travelling across Australia to open new petrol stations. Ampol was so smart. I was the face that launched a thousand petrol bowsers! she laughs. I was told that I couldnt move around the set because I was too tall Subsequent roles included Wake in Fright and shows such as Division 4, Bony, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and Homicide. I didnt enjoy the Homicide that I did, because I was playing the wife of the man whod been murdered, and the cops came to break the news to me. It was quite an emotional scene and I was told that I couldnt move around the set because I was too tall, and the cops (were shorter), she recalls. I did have to walk at one point, and they said, Youve got to bend your knees. And I just thought, Oh, God, I look like John Wayne or someone. I perched myself on a chair and wept over my husbands death. By 1976 she was cast alongside Michael Caton as Aunty Rose on Crawford Productions The Sullivans, a popular supporting soapie couple until Dence tired of the travel from Sydney to Melbourne. I just said, I dont I dont want to stay. They offered me six months off with TB and I said, No, no, Im going. So my nose was a bit out of joint, and I realised they were actually going to kill me. It would be a brutal, tragic scene with Aunty Rose found floating in the Yarra River following a family picnic, devastating viewers who had watched so loyally. Im well aware there was a soft spot for Uncle Harry and Aunty Rose Im well aware there was a soft spot for Uncle Harry and Aunty Rose. I didnt want to come back, but a death scene is somehow so permanent! she exclaims. But to be associated with a show that was a really classy soap.. I know some cast members say it wasnt a soap, but I dont look upon that as a derogatory term. It looked great, it was well cast, everybody was very obsessed with getting the look of it and the period right. It was a terrific show, and it ran for five years. What more can you say? Comedy came calling in the form of UK comedy Doctor Down Under and Seven sitcom Kingswood Country, with Dence cast as Merle Bullpitt, sister to Ross Higgins cantankerous, misogynistic, racist ocker, Ted. I loved playing Merle. She was so frightful and they were a great cast to work with at RS Productions. It was hugely successful. Its still popular. I mean, it probably would be so frowned upon by a huge percentage of the population, but theres also a mob of people out there that have great affection for Kingswood, she insists. Ross Higgins played such a sad character, and so funny. Judi Farr was wonderful as Thelma. It was a great team, I was lucky. Following a brief but memorable role in Prisoner, Dence was cast as school principal Dorothy Burke in Neighbours. Its extraordinary that Prisoner still crops up. I was barely in it, but it was, I know, a very savage character, a bit like Silence of the Lambs. Who could forget those sort of characters? she asks. I was really grateful to get Dorothy Burke in Neighbours. I did stick with it for three years, and then they decided to retire the character. So that worked out well. But it was a godsend, because, things were a bit lean, and that was a really great opportunity. My husband was very busy directing E Street, and we just were able to contribute to our superannuation fund in no uncertain terms. I loved working with Kristian Schmid and Ben Guerens and Annie Charleston. In hindsight it was an odd job, because there were, I think, 21 regular characters, and so there were 10 people I never worked with. Id never struck that before. I dont think I ever did a scene with Stefan Dennis, whos terrific in that show. I feel I was in on the ground floor of a very famous romance! Another role in 1995 in ABCs Correlli saw her starring alongside Deborra-Lee Furness and a young Hugh Jackman. Id worked with Deborra-Lee on Skyways or Flying Doctors or something. I remember being in the car with her, and she was talking on her mobile, and then she said, Oh, that was my friend, hes cooking dinner for me tonight,' she teases. Sadly, I didnt get to work with Hugh. All my scenes were with Deborra, she was terrific. But I feel I was in on the ground floor of a very famous romance! More roles would come in Small Claims, All Saints, Wonderland, Out of the Blue, Black Comedy, A Place to Call Home, Rake, Frayed, The Messenger, Queen of Oz and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. It was just a privilege to be in the presence of Sigourney Weaver, a major film star and a fantastic actor, just to be able to watch her work. Leah Purcell was there, of course, too. So that was heaven on a stick. Those young actors that are in it are extraordinary The breakout success of Heartbreak High, (Dence was also in the 1997 original) in which she played Nan drew more acclaim, now seen by new generations of viewers. Its a point not lost on her. Heartbreak High was such a such a gift. I mean, that was an amazing success, thank God and those young actors that are in it are extraordinary. To be riding along on their coattails was fantastic. They are immensely talented young cast, she assures. I worked mainly with Will and James. Will McDonald had done Home and Away and James Id seen in FanGirls. But theyre so smart, these kids. I dont think a great wealth of experience is any guarantee of anything. I just think talent is talent. Its like Will McKenna in The Messenger. Hes just leapt onto the scene, and hes had a couple of good credits under his belt. But hes just such a natural, marvellous talent. I dont know why I became an actor For her amazing body of work, Dence has an Order of Australia and an MEAA Lifetime Achievement. Yet if there are any plans to slow down, its not one Dence has mapped out. She remains a jobbing actor, moving with the times and showing an acute understanding of the industry in 2024. I suppose its what Ive done all my adult life. I dont know why I became an actor. Its something that came into my head at a very early age, and I just aimed for it. The times that we were working in the 60s, 70s and 80s was a very busy time, there were fantastic television opportunities. They dont exist now. Theres no Crawfords, no Grundys doing four shows a week. Theres work, and some of its fantastic. The good news is a lot of these people, like Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett are having fantastic careers. We didnt have that kind of opportunity, but we did have the joy of having a lot of work. TOMORROW: Highly-regarded actress who first hit our screens in the 1980s. Photos: National Film & Sound Archive, Netflix. Sanjana Chawla, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: In a significant move to support education and empower those in need, the Professor Obaid Siddiqui Memorial Scholarship 2024 has been awarded to six incoming students of the MA Convergent Journalism (MACJ) programme at Jamia Millia Islamia. The announcement was made by the MACJ alumni group in July 2024, ahead of the new academic session. Support TwoCircles The MACJ programme, established in 2005 and upgraded to a two-year masters degree in 2007, is renowned as one of the top journalism programmes in India. Named after Professor Siddiqui, a veteran journalist and the programmes founder, the scholarship offers substantial financial aid, covering up to 75% of the tuition fee. This initiative helps alleviate the financial burdens faced by students, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds. Since its inception in 2022, the scholarship has been a beacon of hope for students struggling with tuition and living expenses. This years recipients include Nida Fatima Momin, Shoaibur Rahman, Mohammad Naiyar Azam, Adnan Ali, Saher Hiba Khan and one student who chose to remain anonymous. The fund, totaling Rs 2.5 lakh, was raised through contributions from alumni, with an additional Rs 75,000 collected to support two more students. This financial assistance goes beyond mere support; it empowers students to pursue their academic and career aspirations without financial constraints. Shoaibur Rahman, a recipient from Katihar, Bihar, shared his experience of overcoming financial hurdles. I initially considered leaving the course due to financial difficulties. However, a friend informed me about this scholarship, which eased my financial worries and allowed me to continue my studies, he explained. His story highlights the transformative power of the scholarship in enabling students to follow their dreams. Sidra Fatima, a student from the outgoing 2025 batch, praised the scholarship as a crucial initiative. Not everyone can afford the high fees for a masters degree. The scholarship provides relief to those who excel academically but face financial barriers, she said. Fatima hopes that in the future, more deserving students will benefit from this support. The scholarship exemplifies how educational support can empower individuals and transform lives. It honors Professor Siddiquis legacy by providing not just financial assistance but also hope and confidence to students. Raghu Kalra, a member of the scholarship selection committee and alumnus of the 2014 batch, expressed his confidence in the recipients future success. These students are exemplary and will undoubtedly achieve great things in journalism. Alia (name changed on request), an alumnus of the 2022 batch, highlighted the scholarships broader impact. Many students across various demographics face financial barriers to pursuing higher education. This scholarship addresses that gap, but its crucial to ensure diversity and representation in future awards, she noted. In a world where education is often a privilege, initiatives like the Professor Obaid Siddiqui Memorial Scholarship play a vital role in making education accessible. They demonstrate the power of collective effort, and its impact on individuals and society, inspiring a brighter and more inclusive future in journalism. Md Kaifee Alam, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on July 23 decisively ruled out the possibility of re-conducting the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG. A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, concluded there is insufficient evidence to suggest a systemic leak of the exam paper that would undermine its integrity. Support TwoCircles Though the ruling cleared the path for the release of revised NEET results and the commencement of the counselling process. the journey to becoming a doctor in India remains arduous. With limited seats in government-run colleges and exorbitant fees in private institutions, many aspiring medical students are compelled to seek education abroad, each with its own set of challenges. Gufran Hashmi, a 24-year-old from Purnia, Bihar, is one such example. He had enrolled at Zaporizhzhia State Medical University in Ukraine in December 2020 after failing to secure a seat in medical colleges back home. However, his studies were abruptly interrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Circumstances forced me to abandon my MBBS studies. Now, I am assisting my father in his business, he said. After three attempts at NEET, I went to Ukraine, but the war halted my education. Hashmis experience is not unique. Many students who had started their medical education abroad were forced to return to India and pursue alternative courses such as nursing or pharmacy. The National Medical Council (NMC) guidelines came too late for us, he continued. They allow for course transfers to other countries, but securing a transfer letter from the Ukrainian college was another hurdle. Some students couldnt obtain it. The NMC, which replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020, issued guidelines permitting transfers to foreign colleges within three months of the public notice. However, the financial burden remains significant, as students face high initial fees and additional costs for transferring their education abroad. The fees are overwhelming, Hashmi lamented. We have to pay consultancy and agent fees again if we want to transfer to another country. This financial strain, combined with the time already invested, is exhausting. Had I stayed in Ukraine, I might have completed my studies. For students who complete their medical education abroad, challenges persist. They often face extended course durations and limited patient exposure compared to their Indian counterparts. Despite these hurdles, the trend of pursuing medical degrees overseas is rising, as evidenced by the increasing number of candidates taking the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). The FMGE, administered bi-annually by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), assesses foreign medical graduates seeking to practice in India. Data shows a significant increase in FMGE candidates from 28,597 in 2019 to 62,077 in 2023. Aman Ameer, a NEET aspirant from Vaishali, Bihar, reflects on the situation: The number of MBBS seats is insufficient. Competition is intense, and the rise in NEET applications exacerbates the issue. A recent study by the Center for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) shows a growth in medical colleges from 335 in 2010-11 to 612 in 2022-23. However, the proportion of NEET qualifiers who secure MBBS seats has declined. In 2016, 14% of NEET qualifiers could secure a seat, while this fell to just 8.8% in 2022. Yes, the number of seats is increasing, but most are in private colleges with fees ranging from Rs 70-75 lakhs to over Rs 1 crore, said Ameer. For students from middle-class backgrounds, this is unaffordable. Consequently, many opt for education abroad, where costs are lower. The CSEP report highlights that, except for the years 2020 onward, private medical colleges have consistently offered more seats than public ones. Indian medical colleges are generally considered superior to foreign ones, said Aadil Umar (name changed), a second-year MBBS student from Saharsa, Bihar, studying at Mainamoti Medical College in Bangladesh. But the high fees in India force many to study abroad. Students studying MBBS abroad face extended course durations compared to their Indian peers. For example, MBBS programs in countries like Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and Russia typically last five years, compared to 4.5 years in India. The recent NMC guidelines now require a one-year internship in the foreign country followed by an additional year in India, extending their total education period to seven years. Jyoti Khillare (name changed), a third-year MBBS student from Maharashtra studying in Russia, noted that the 2021 NMC guidelines do not affect students who enrolled before that year. We are only required to complete one internship in India; whereas, new students face extended requirements, she says. The Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) poses additional challenges. NMC guidelines mandate that 7.5% of internship seats be reserved for foreign medical graduates, but the number of candidates often exceeds the available spots, resulting in long wait times. Dr Ashwini Dalmiya, president of the Delhi Medical Association, suggested, To reduce FMG waiting times, NMC should consider allowing internships at non-teaching medical institutions, as was the practice in the past. Differences in medical technology and infrastructure between host countries and India further complicate matters. Umar explained, Countries like Bangladesh have smaller hospitals, while Russia boasts advanced medical infrastructure. NMCs new requirement for hospitals to be on the same campus as colleges can compromise the quality of practical training. The NMC maintains a list of approved foreign medical colleges. Dr Dalmiya said, The NMC must ensure that these colleges meet educational and clinical training standards comparable to those in India. The FMGE preparation remains a significant concern for students. We focus heavily on clearing the FMGE, often subscribing to online educational platforms, Khillare added. The challenges faced by Indian students pursuing medical education abroad underscore the need for reforms in both domestic and international medical education systems. (Names changed upon request) By Giulia Segreti ROME (Reuters) -Leonardo is in talks with France's Airbus and Thales over alliances in the space sector, the head of the Italian aerospace and defence group said on Tuesday, confirming for the first time the ongoing discussions. "We are discussing in a very constructive way with Thales and Airbus about possible alliances and synergies for a stronger Europe in the space industry," Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani said in a call with analysts after the release of the company's results for the first half of 2024. He added that a new, combined strategy was required because Europe needs a stronger space organisation to compete with bigger competitors such as the U.S. and China. The European Union is aiming to pursue a more aggressive European space strategy to prevent being muscled out by U.S. and Chinese launcher technology. Reuters reported earlier this month that the three companies were exploring a tie-up of space activities. On Monday sources said Airbus was drawing up a turnaround plan for its struggling space business, without waiting for the outcome of the talks with Leonardo and Thales. The companies did not comment on the matter. Cingolani said on Tuesday work among the three companies is "in progress" and that the talks are chracterised by a "collaborative spirit". Leonardo manufactures satellites, orbiting infrastructure and sensors and manages satellite services and propulsion and launching systems. It has two joint-ventures with Thales: Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio. Airbus and Thales Alenia Space are Europe's largest makers of satellites for telecommunications, navigation and surveillance. "Our new space division is a rather massive operation," Cingolani said, adding that Leonardo would be very "selective" in its activities in the space business. (Reporting by Giulia Segreti; editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Paul Simao) India's youngest female Muslim MP Iqra Hasan is also a feminist Undoubtedly, Iqra inherited the political legacy from her family but it is evident that her relentless efforts and dedication on the ground played a crucial role in her success, making her win a testament to her individual merit and hard work. Tuesday July 30, 2024 11:45 PM , Uzair Ahmed In the recent 18th Lok Sabha Election, India has witnessed emergence of young and dynamic MPs from different parties and states, which bodes well for the Indian democracy. One of these young Parliamentarians is Choudhary Iqra Hasan, who made history by becoming the youngest Muslim female MP to enter the Parliament. Winning from Kairana Lok Sabha Constituency in Western Uttar Pradesh, Iqras victory generated significant buzz on social media. Undoubtedly, Iqra inherited the political legacy from her family but it is evident that her relentless efforts and dedication on the ground played a crucial role in her success, making her win a testament to her individual merit and hard work. Iqra Hasan, a third-generation politician from the Hasan family, defeated the incumbent BJP MP Pradeep Kumar in the Kairana Constituency by a significant margin of 69,116 votes . What was particularly surprising and shocking to many was that, despite the extensive campaigning by prominent BJP leaders, including the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Chief Minister Yogi for Pradeep Kumar, Iqra Hasan managed to secure her victory without any notable figures supporting her campaign. Utilising her sole strategy and walk alone approach, she worked on the ground and engaged directly with the people, achieving a remarkable win that left the BJP astonished. Iqra Hasan Family Background Choudhary Iqra Hasan or Iqra Munawwar Hasan, was born into an influential Muslim-Gujjar family in Muzaffarnagar (of which Kairana was originally a part before being included in the newly formed Shamli district in 2012). Iqras father, Munawwar Hasan Sahab, was a prominent political figure, having served as a Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and as a member of the state legislative assembly in 1991 and 1993, working with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). [Iqra Hasan with her mother Tabassum Hasan in a file photo.] Iqras mother, Begum Tabassum Hasan, also served as an MP, elected in 2009 from the BSP and again in 2018 from the RLD in a bypoll election . Iqras elder brother, Choudhary Nahid Hasan, is a three-term incumbent MLA from the Kairana Vidhan Sabha constituency. In 1984, her grandfather, Akhtar Hasan, made history by winning the Kairana Lok Sabha election on Congress ticket, defeating BSP Chief Mayawati in her debut Lok Sabha election. Iqra Hasan Education Since her childhood, Generation Z parliamentarian Iqra Hasan, studied away from home and living in girls hostels. She completed her secondary education at Queen Mary School in Delhi and graduated with LLB degree from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University (DU). For her postgraduate studies, she went to London and completed MSc in International Law and Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 2020. Political Career During the second wave of COVID-19, Iqra Hasan returned home from London, marking a turning point in her life and providing her with an opportunity to enter politics at an early age. Upon her return, her elder brother, Nahid Hasan , was imprisoned on what were believed to be false charges. Iqra worked tirelessly to secure his release while simultaneously campaigning for him in the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha election. Due to her hard work and dedication, her brother won the election and became an MLA again, despite being in jail. This accomplishment inspired many and was a significant factor in her decision to run for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. However, her political career actually began in 2016 when she contested a Zila Panchayat election, though she did not win. In an interview with the Lallantop News Channel, Iqra said: I have been very interested in politics since my childhood, having grown up seeing my family involved in it, but I never expected to enter electoral politics so early. I always wanted to pursue academics and become a professor or educator. In fact, I intended to return to London for my PhD but couldnt because of the pandemic and the responsibilities that arose from my return. Before this Lok Sabha election, Iqra gained attention in 2019 when a picture of her protesting against the CAA and NRC in front of the Indian High Commission in London went viral. At that time, no one anticipated that she would soon become a member of the Indian Parliament. "A strategic feminist" SOAS alum Iqras inspirations include her late father, who was a very hardworking person and served the people sincerely and honestly. She was inspired by hearing stories about her father directly from people while campaigning and engaging with them, as he had passed away in a road accident near Palwal in the state of Haryana. Her brother was also an inspiration to her. During the process of trying to secure her brothers release from jail, she met Kapil Sibal, the current president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, a few times, and he also inspired her greatly. As Iqra shared this in an interview with India Today news channel. Describing herself as a strategic feminist', Iqra says: Im a feminist, but that doesnt mean I need to declare it openly. Coming from a traditional, conservative, and patriarchal Muslim family, I have different approaches to working for womens rights. She has promised to work extensively for womens empowerment, upliftment of backward classes, and to promote and facilitate higher education for young girls. The journey of 29-year-old Iqra Hasan from Kairana in Western Uttar Pradesh to becoming the youngest Muslim female MP has been nothing short of remarkable, shattering glass ceilings and inspiring countless young girls to pursue their dreams of serving society. India needs young, educated, and forward-thinking parliamentarians like Iqra, who are deeply rooted in the Indian culture yet are modern in their outlook, able to understand the present and advocate for students and systemic reforms. As an ardent admirer, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to Iqra for her future endeavours in the House and eagerly look forward to witnessing her impactful contributions in the Parliament. [The writer, Uzair Ahmed, is a student of Darul Huda Islamic University, PG Block in Dept. of Civilizational Studies. He hails from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. He can be contaced via smail: uzairahmedup892@gmail.com.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Landslide in Wayanad; 19 killed, many trapped At least 19 people have been killed in a massive landslide that struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district early in the morning Tuesday Tuesday July 30, 2024 11:00 AM , ummid.com News Network Thiruvananthapuram: At least 19 people have been killed in a massive landslide that struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district early in the morning Tuesday. Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan earlier confirmed 8 deaths in the landslides that struck Meppadi, Mundakkai Town and Chooral Mala in Wayanad district. The official sources later said 19 people have been confirmed dead. The death toll could further up as hundreds are still trapped and missing, they said. 'Rescue operation is on' The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has said that Fireforce and National Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed to the affected area, with an additional NDRF team en route to Wayanad. "The rescue operation is on and all efforts are made to save those trapped", the officials said. Two teams of Kannur Defence Security Corps have also been instructed to move to Wayanad to assist in the rescue efforts, according to a Facebook post by the KSDMA. At least 19 people have been killed in a massive landslide that struck hilly areas near #Meppadi in Kerala's #Wayanad district early in the morning Tuesday. #WayanadLandslide pic.twitter.com/Y6ZjXmZHtU ummid.com (@ummid) July 30, 2024 In a statement released by his office, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the operations will be coordinated, and state ministers will reach the hilly district to lead the rescue activities. Pinarayi Vijayanadded also said in the wake of the landslides and other rain-related disasters in Wayanad district, the health department National Health Mission has opened a control room. "Deeply anguished" Former Wayand MP has expressed deep anguish and appealed the Congress and UDF workers to assist in relief work. "I am deeply anguished by the massive landslides near Meppadi in Wayanad. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon." "I have spoken to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad District Collector, who assured me that rescue operations are underway. I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts. I will speak to Union Ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad." "I urge all UDF workers to assist the administration in the rescue and relief operations", Rahul said. In her message, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi urged the local administration to speed up the relief and rescue operations. I am deeply saddened to see the devastation caused by the massive landslide near Meppadi, Wayanad. My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones. I hope and pray that everyone is brought to safety as soon as possible." I urge the government to take immediate action to expedite relief and rescue operations and request UDF workers to step forward to do all they can to be of support and comfort to all those affected by this tragedy, Priyanka wrote on social media platform X. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Lesson for India in Zulfikar Bhutto's 'Charismatic' Politics Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos presence in history has become even more important today. His leadership has become a symbol of what we in India must avoid Tuesday July 30, 2024 10:05 AM , Ramya Ramanathan Standing in front of a massive gathering of his supporters, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto once claimed that there were two Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos present at that particular moment Aik jo yahan khada hai aur doosre aap, har aik aap mein. It was probably this streak of charisma which propelled him into the political limelight in Pakistan during the late 60s and early 70s. His journey, from being the Foreign Minister who pushed General Ayub Khan to go to war against India in 1965 to finally becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1972, is intertwined with the dynamism of Pakistans complex economy and society which have a reputation of being fraught with one crisis after another. Politics has always been dominated by the army which never proved to be extremely sympathetic towards civilian governments. Even when given a chance, they have run into issues with grave consequences that have always resulted in embarrassment. In Charisma and Disenchantment : The Vocation Lectures, Max Weber explains how charismatic regimes are dependent upon the supreme leaders authority. This indicates the presence of a vocation solely dedicated to politics. The charismatic ruler is held to have an inner calling to lead his nation. People accept his rule not because of customs or laws but because they believe in him. It is not difficult to place Bhutto against this theoretical and sociological narrative. Bhutto possessed a distinct personality and even appropriated religious laws and dictums to give himself a political boost. His Islamic Socialism sounds great on paper and he compelled his supporters to accept the concept that Islam and socialism were highly compatible with each other. Islam was viewed as a social and all-encompassing system by students who backed his claims, and one of them went as far as to argue that Pakistan might as well rejoin India if it was to diverge from Islam. Bhutto states, quite explicitly, that Islam was a uniting force between the right and the left in his relatively young nation and its prerogatives could not be understood by the outside world. Within the ideology of Islam itself, there was no contradiction with socialism. He desired to see a form of Scandinavian socialism (with Asian features) thrive in Pakistan and focused on rampant nationalization that would transform industries and the banking sector. His educational background also prompted him to think along socialistic lines and become a firm advocate of socio-economic reorientation. Black and white documentaries and interviews dating back to the 70s, a decade truly ahead of its time, can attest to the emergence of the Bhutto Effect whose wave swept across students of prominent Pakistani universities. Despite having several dissidents, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto succeeded in enrapturing a major section of students. His claims of putting an end to Buffalo Bill Capitalism aimed to radically modify the existing economic model without abolishing private enterprises. He was convinced that he offered a policy which was positive, democratic and promised economic justice to the masses. The entire period of Bhuttos political tenure was rooted in his personal and privileged ideals. He agreed that people belonging to feudal backgrounds, like himself, often set out to reform society and bring about social justice, often identifying themselves as militant social reformers. He looked up to certain events in world history, the French and Russian Revolutions being two of them, and took cues from them to create a new society which would follow the path he espoused. However, his charismatic personality became problematic towards the end of his tenure. Scholars like Muhammad Abrar Zahoor have called him out for controlling political issues and dealing with them like a Sindhi wadera [landlord]. Additionally, there wasnt anything Islamic about his Islamic Socialism. It was just a catchword that was used to give legitimacy to his socialistic reforms and to reduce the hostility by which it was previously met. Socialism was not a demonic ideology and he wanted to prove this through the success of his policies. Unfortunately, his attempts at nationalizing every economic sector of Pakistan over which he had his eyes on ravaged the entire economic structure which was comparatively stable under Ayub Khans military government. People suffered because of his poorly executed programs and Bhuttos charm began to evaporate. Business families turned against him as their assets were hit the hardest and began to feel extremely alienated. This is that one section of society that politicians must not have standing against them. Dire repercussions had to be faced, as a result. His foreign policy of bilateralism and non-alignment did not change the prospects of Pakistan either. He even tried to weaken the army by attacking its basic constitution by creating the Federal Security Force [FSF]. He appropriated its services to terrorize his political opponents. His self-aggrandizing tendencies faced a major blow when it was realized that his nuclear weapon policy, dubbed as the Islamic Bomb, was a result of espionage and assistance from a friendly power, not a product of a technologically advanced state. The combination of Islam and technology was just an illusion. Even though Bhuttos populism echoed that of Indias leader at that time - Indira Gandhi, it set the stage for General Zia-ul-Haqs Islamization which ended up distorting aspects of Pakistani culture and society. Bhuttos downfall was, indeed, as meteoric as his rise (Zahoor). Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos promise of democracy soon morphed into despotism. People of Pakistan were waylaid, once again. The gap between his political declarations and actual practices nudged the masses to drift away from him. He utilized unprecedented political power and tactics to eliminate all those who came in his way and continued to gain more adversaries as time passed. Despite being the leader of the only civilian government to complete its tenure of 5 years, his administration had a lot of faults. It glitters on paper but has a grotesque underbelly. India can learn a major lesson from the turbulent past of Pakistan, which is groaning under the pressures of economic crisis and political fraud even in the present. It ceases to become the object of ridicule when the struggles of its citizens are brought to light. All of us, collectively, must choose to pay attention. Charismatic figures exercise a lot of clout over the political atmosphere of India and the way her citizens participate as occasional politicians during elections. They continue to have a strong presence in society. Peoples mandate should rest upon reasonable promises of efficient resolutions for real issues instead of individual charisma of a towering personality who is not as grand or clever in reality. Worshipping these leaders must not become the norm. They always end up to be wolves in sheeps clothing who prey on peoples aspirations and cheat on their souls for their own benefit. Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos presence in history has become even more important today. His leadership has become a symbol for what we must avoid. A leaf from our history books must be taken out for a lesson with which the present generation cannot compromise. [This article has been written by Ramya Ramanathan. She studies history at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Olympics 2024 inaugural disgraceful even for Donald Trump The row over the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics ceases to die, and the latest to join its criticism is former American President Donald Trump. Tuesday July 30, 2024 5:05 PM , ummid.com News Network Washington: The row over the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics ceases to die, and the latest to join its criticism is former American President Donald Trump. Trump, who is the Republican Party nominee for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections, during a Fox News show said he 'is open minded" but found the Olympics opening ceremony disgraceful. I thought that the opening ceremony was a disgrace, actually. I thought it was a disgrace," Trump told 'The Ingraham Angle' on Fox News Monday night. I am very open-minded. But I think, what they did was a disgrace, he reiterated in response to a question. Olympics 2024 opening ceremony was held on Friday July 26, 2024 in River Seine, Paris. The opening of the Paris Olympics was a glittering ceremony. But, a scene which critics said parodied Leonardo da Vinci's acclaimed painting "The Last Supper" sparked a huge outrage. Slamming the Paris Olympics opening event, Journalist Kyle Becker said: "The 2024 Paris Olympics has gone full Woke dystopian. The opening ceremony was filled with transgend*r mockery of the Last Supper, the Golden Calf idol, and even the Pale Horse from the Book of Revelation. "The Olympics has made it clear that Christian viewers aren't welcome", he added writing on social media platform X. Some critics have even called the Olympics opening ceremony "satanic", "blasphemous" and "worst Olympics ever". Glorifying Satanism in Paris, the new centre of Sodom and Gomorrah during the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony..pic.twitter.com/qKoLpyMua0 Henry Kabogo (@Kabogo_Henry) July 27, 2024 "Glorifying Satanism in Paris, the new centre of Sodom and Gomorrah during the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony", Henry Kabogo, Chairman and Founder Member Water Bottlers Association of Kenya (WBAK) and Director Victoria Springs, said. A number of social media users compared the Paris Olympics opening ceremony with previous ones to express their anguish. "Contrast between France's abomination and Russia's elegant opening ceremony in Sochi 2014 (bottom right) is why West's degenerates fiercely desire to wage war against nation still holding on to traditional values", a social media user wrote. The 2024 Olympic games are scheduled from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home DTE Maha Direct 2nd yr Diploma 2024 Merit List - Check Here Submission of grievances, if any, after the release of Direct 2nd Year Polytechnic Diploma Merit List 2024 is from August 01 to 03, 2024 Wednesday July 31, 2024 1:52 AM , ummid.com News Network DTE Maharashtra Direct 2nd Year Post SSC Diploma (DSD) Admission 2024: Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Maharashtra is set to publish on its official website dsd24.dte.maharashtra.gov.in the Provisional Merit List of students seeking admission in Direct Second Year Post SSC Diploma in Engineering /Technology (Polytechnic) today i.e. Wednesday July 31, 2024. Candidates should note that submission of grievances, if any, after the release of Direct 2nd Year Polytechnic Diploma Merit List 2024 is from August 01 to 03, 2024. Candidates should also note that the DTE will analyse and resolve the grievances, if any, and then release the DSD 2024 Final Merit List on August 05, 2024. Steps to check Direct 2nd year Post SSC Diplomal Merit List Click here to go to the official website: dsd24.dtemaharashtra.gov.in . Click on the link marked with "Check Provisional Merit Status" under the Online System section of the home page. Enter your Application ID starting with DSD24 and Date of Birth. Click on Submit button to check your name and position. Candidates should note that the DTE Maharashtra has not specified any time to release the 2024 Direct Second Year Post SSC (Polytechnic) Diploma in Engineering / Technology Merit List 2024. However, it will release the Direct 2nd year Polytechnic (DSD 24) Merit List by today evening. Maharashtra Direct 2nd Year Post HSC Diploma Admission 2024 - Important Dates Online Registration: June 12 to July 29, 2024 (Extended from July 03) Document verification: Till July 29, 2024. Display of the Provisional Merit list for Maharashtra State/All India/J & K Migrant candidates on website: July 31, 2024 Submission of grievance, if any, for all type of Candidates: August 01 to 03, 2024 Display of the Final Merit list of Maharashtra State/All India/ J & K Migrant candidates on website: August 05, 2024 Display of Provisional Category wise Seats (Seat Matrix) for CAP Round I: August 05, 2024 Online submission of option form: August 06 to 08, 2024 Display of Provisional Allotment of CAP Round-I: August 10, 2024 Display of Provisional Vacant Seats for CAP Round-II: August 16, 2024 DTE Maharashtra DSD24 CAP Round The DTE has released on its official website Information Brochure (Marathi and English) and detailed admission notification dor DTE DSD24 admission process, though it is yet to confirm the CAP Round dates. DTE Maharashtra has however released Provisional Seat Matrix CAP Round Admission 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21 and 2019-20 along with round wise Cut-off list for previous years for reference of the students. Direct Second Year Post SSC Diploma admission are conducted in Civil, Mechanical, Information Technology (IT), Computer Engineering group, Electronics and Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering group and other streams. [The featured image used here is generated by AI.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home UGEAC 2024 Round 1 Seat Allotment Result Today - Direct Link Candidates should note that BCECE will also make active today on its official website "bceceadmissions.nic.in" the link to download Allotment Order for Undergraduate Engineering Counselling UGEAC 2024 Wednesday July 31, 2024 1:47 AM , ummid.com News Network UGEAC Seat Allotment 2024: Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECE) is set to publish on its official website bceceadmissions.nic.in result of the First Round Seat Allotment of Under Graduate Engineering Admission Counselling [UGEAC] 2024 today i.e. Wednesday July 31, 2024. Candidates should note that BCECE will also make active today on its official website "bceceadmissions.nic.in" the link to download Allotment Order for Undergraduate Engineering Counselling UGEAC 2024. Candidates should note that downloading of Allotment order / Booking of Slots for Document Verification and Choice Upgradation (1st Round) should be done from July 31 to August 04, 2024. Steps to check UGEAC Round 1 Seat Allotment 2024 Click here to go to official website: bceceboard.bihar.gov.in . Under online forms section of the home page, click on the link marked as "Online Counselling portal of UGEAC 2024". Log-in using UGEAC ID and Password or JEE Main Application No. Enter your date of birth and security code. Click on "Download Provisional Allotment Order of UGEAC 2024 First Round". Download allotment order and take a printout. Candidates should note that if they find their name in the round 1 list, they should verify their documents from August 01 to 04, 2024 for admission confirmation. Candidates should note that the BCECE has confirmed the date to release the UGEAC Round 1 allotment. It has however not confirmed the time. It should however be noted that UGEAC 2024 round 1 allotment will be released any time by today evening. UGEAC 2024 Round 2 Allotment Candidates who do not get the admission in UGEAC Round 1 can participate in UGEAC 2024 Round 2. As per the UGEAC notification, UGEAC Second Round Allotment result will be published on August 09, 2024. The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECE) had on June 25, 2024 released UGEAC 2024 Rank Card and Merit List prepared for Under Graduate Engineering Admission Counselling 2024 conducted for admission in First Year BE / BTech engineering courses in Government Engineering Colleges of Bihar on its official website bceceboard.bihar.gov.in. UGEAC Choice Filling was held from July 20, 2024. The last date of registration and choice filling was July 26, 2024. UGEAC 2024 Counselling - Important Dates Publication of UGEAC Merit List on Board's Web: June 25, 2024 Starting date of UGEAC Online Registration and Choice filling for Seat Allotment: July 20, 2024 Last date of Online Registration, Choice filling for Seat Allotment and locking: July 26, 2024 1st Round Provisional Seat Allotment result publication date: July 31, 2024 Downloading of Allotment order / Booking of Slots for Document Verification and Choice Upgradation (1st Round): July 31 to August 04, 2024 Documents Verification and Admission (1st Round): August 01 to 04, 2024 2nd Round Provisional Seat Allotment result publication date: August 09, 2024 Downloading of Allotment order / Booking of Slots for Document Verification and Choice Upgradation (2nd Round) : August 09 to 12, 2024 Documents Verification and Admission (2nd Round): August 10 to 12, 2024 Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) is constituted under Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Act, 1995. Apart from Bihar NEET Medical and Engineering Counselling, it conducts competitive examinations every year for admissions in various professional courses of Medical, Engineering and Agricultural streams in the Institutions of the state of Bihar. [The featured image used here is generated by AI.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. China to hold internet civilization conference in late August Xinhua) 10:07, July 30, 2024 BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 China Internet Civilization Conference will be held on Aug. 28 and 29 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, its organizers said on Monday. The conference will be themed on promoting the spirit of the times and jointly advancing civility in cyberspace. Yang Jianwen, deputy chief of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and the Cyberspace Administration of China, said at a press conference that in addition to the opening ceremony and its main forum, the conference will also feature sub-forums on topics such as advancing civility in cyberspace, fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, protecting minors in the online environment and promoting internet art development and cultural strength. There will also be sub-forums on artificial intelligence and online law enforcement to ensure a sound business environment, according to Yang. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) A Ryanair flight was just 36 minutes into its journey when fists also started flying as an intense brawl broke out between passengers mid-air. According to individuals on the flight, several passengers started screaming at one another from across the plane while 30,000 feet in the air. A passenger on board the evening flight from Agadir to London Stansted on Wednesday told The Sun that an argument ensued between two families during boarding. Allegedly, it all began when a man, believed to be in his 20s, asked another passenger if they would be willing to move so that they could sit with his wife and young children. The woman, who was sitting with her own daughter, reportedly declined to move, which immediately prompted the man to start threatening her. While the flight took off with no problems, as soon as the seat belt signs came off, the woman's husband, believed to be in his 30s, is said to have jumped to his wife's defense against the man threatening her. Soon, punches were being thrown between the two men while the staff reportedly tried to intervene. A 36-year-old finance worker from Herts who wishes to remain anonymous told the news outlet: "They were trying to punch each other. One of the families was part of a larger group, so other passengers started to join in." He then revealed that a woman sitting in the row behind started having a panic attack and began screaming, causing children to cry, and from there it was a "snowball effect." "We were only in the air for 36 minutes before we had to do an unexpected landing. It was so stressful, he continued. It was like a flight from hell. And it all escalated from that one passenger wanting to change seats." The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Marrakesh. Moroccan police then escorted the nine individuals involved off of the plane. The situation took another turn for the worse when a passenger became ill during the altercation and had to be given oxygen mid-flight. A spokesperson for Ryanair said he was treated by medics on landing, who ultimately deemed him unfit to fly. Refusing to get off the aircraft, he became abusive towards the cabin crew. He can be heard saying in the cellphone footage: "They think I'm a terrorist. That's why they're bringing the whole army here to take me down. "Give me my f****** bag. I will whack your jaw, bruv.". Other passengers begged him to leave the plane before police finally removed him. The spokesperson disclosed, "It took almost two hours in total to treat and offload these disruptive passengers, during which time the rest of the passengers remained onboard, the crew reached their permitted flying hours, and the flight to be delayed overnight." (VAN) Cai Mon Durian is not a specific variety of durian but rather a name used to refer to durian varieties originating from the Cai Mon area in Cho Lach District. The first geographical indication for durian products in the country Recently, Ben Tre province announced the geographical indication for seven products, including Cai Mon durian. This makes it the first locality in the country to have a geographical indication for durian. Before Cai Mon durian, no durian product had been protected by a geographical indication. Some products had been developed with collective trademarks and certification marks, such as Cai Lay durian (Tien Giang), Cam My durian (Dong Nai), Da Hoai durian (Lam Dong), Dak Mil durian (Dak Nong), Hoa Thuan durian (Kien Giang), Khanh Son durian (Khanh Hoa), and Ngu Hiep durian (Tien Giang). The Ri6 durian grown in Ben Tre has an edible ratio of up to 32.85%. Photo: Minh Dam. Cai Mon durian is not a single variety of durian but rather a name used to refer to durian varieties originating from the Cai Mon area in Cho Lach district. Initially, Cai Mon durian was mainly concentrated in Cho Lach district, renowned for its distinctively delicious quality. Later, the cultivation area for Cai Mon durian expanded to Chau Thanh district and some communes in Mo Cay Bac district bordering Cho Lach district, where the geographic location, soil conditions, climate, and freshwater sources for irrigation are similar. Currently, the Ri6 and Monthong durian varieties play a dominant role, accounting for about 90%. According to research by the Ben Tre Department of Science and Technology, the analysis and comparison of the physical and chemical properties of Ri6 and Monthong durian varieties grown in Ben Tre province with those from Binh Duong and Dong Nai regions show clear differences, especially the higher edible flesh ratio, demonstrating the superior quality of "Cai Mon" durian. Specifically, the Ri6 variety has elliptical-shaped fruit, with an average weight of 2.61 kg/fruit (ranging from 2 to 3.5 kg/fruit). The fruit's skin is greenish-yellow when ripe, with tall, sparse, pentagon-shaped, and smooth thorns. The flesh is dark yellow, dry, not sticky, fiberless, and usually not mealy. The flesh is thick, with a high flesh ratio, having a rich, sweet, and fragrant taste. The seeds are small, with a low seed-to-fruit ratio, and the flesh ratio is 32.85%. Cai Mon durian on the day Ben Tre announced its Geographical Indication. Photo: Minh Dam. Regarding the Monthong variety, the fruit is cylindrical with a pointed apex and an average weight of 3.62 kg per fruit (ranging from 3 to 5 kg per fruit). Monthong durian usually has clearly defined segments, and its skin is yellow-brown when ripe. The flesh is very thick, light yellow, moderately fibrous, and prone to being mealy, especially when the flesh turns white, which commonly occurs during the rainy months (July-August). The flesh has a high ratio, is dry, sweet, and rich. The seeds are small, with a low seed-to-fruit ratio, and the flesh ratio is 33.09%. Additionally, the quality indicators of the fruit, such as sweetness (Brix level), richness, and the content of essential minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, are mostly higher in Cai Mon durian compared to the same varieties grown in the other two regions. According to the Ben Tre Department of Science and Technology, the natural conditions, soil, climate, hydrology, rivers, and cultivation practices in the province offer unique advantages for durian growth compared to other regions. Specifically, the land formed by the alluvial deposits of the Tien River system, rich in medium nutrients, contributes to the distinctive aroma, flavor, sweetness, color, and richness of durian, which has gained widespread fame. Concerns Over the Brand Infringement of Ben Tre Durian Ben Tre province currently has over 2,760 hectares of durian, with nearly 2,000 hectares of fruit-bearing orchards concentrated in the districts of Cho Lach, Chau Thanh, and Mo Cay Bac, yielding an average annual output of approximately 24,198 tons. In July 2022, the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for the export of durian from Vietnam to China was signed, opening up significant opportunities for businesses and durian producers in Vietnam in general, and Ben Tre in particular. The Ben Tre Provincial People\'s Committee recently sent Official Letter No. 4702 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting prompt support for the protection of the "Ben Tre Durian" certification trademark in China. Photo: Minh Dam. Besides significant opportunities, the production and export of durian face many challenges and risks. One of these challenges is the issue of exported durian not meeting quality standards, which damages the product's brand. To maintain and protect the reputation and quality of Ben Tre's exported durian to the Chinese market, the Ben Tre Department of Science and Technology is processing the registration of the certification mark "Ben Tre Durian" in China. The application for protection was submitted to the China National Intellectual Property Administration and was accepted on June 14, 2023. However, the review process for the trademark registration has been slow and prolonged, significantly affecting production and business plans for durian in particular and the local socio-economic development in general. Therefore, the Ben Tre People's Committee has recently issued Official Dispatch No. 4702 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting assistance in quickly securing the certification mark "Ben Tre Durian" in China. The aim is for the province to establish intellectual property rights for the "Ben Tre Durian" certification mark and to prevent unauthorized use of the "Ben Tre" geographical name for durian. The Ben Tre People's Committee has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Trade Office in China (Ministry of Industry and Trade), and the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology) to support the request for expedited examination, announcement, and granting of protection certificates for the "Ben Tre Durian" certification mark by the end of this year. This will allow the locality and the community of durian producers and traders to timely use this certification mark for harvesting and exporting durian (off-season) to the Chinese market. HA NOI Viet Nams overseas investment reached approximated US$150.7 million in the first seven months of 2024, data of the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment showed. The amount was channeled in 64 new projects and added to 15 existing ones. Vietnamese investors poured money into 12 sectors abroad during the reviewed period. The mining sector topped the list, accounting for 38.9 per cent of the total, followed by processing-manufacturing (19.2 per cent) and the wholesale and retail sector (16.4 per cent), statistics showed. Among the 23 countries and territories receiving Vietnamese investments during the period, the Netherlands took the lead with 36.2 per cent. It was followed by Laos (24.3 per cent), the United States (12.4 per cent) and Cambodia (8.2 per cent). As of July 20, Viet Nam had 1,750 valid overseas investment projects with combined capital of nearly $22.27 billion, the majority of which, 31.6 per cent, operated in the mining industry and 15.5 per cent in the agro-forestry-fishery sector. Laos was the largest recipient of Vietnamese investment with 24.7 per cent. Cambodia ranked second and Venezuela came third with 13.1 per cent and 8.3 per cent, respectively, according to the FIA. VNS HCM CITY E-commerce sales in Viet Nam are expected to reach US$30 billion by the end of this year, heard a meeting held in HCM City by the Ministry of Industry and Trades Trade Promotion Agency and the citys Investment & Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) on July 29. Nearly VN800 billion ($31.65 million) worth of goods were sold on the countrys top five e-commerce platforms of Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, Sendo and Tiktok Shop every day, ITPC Deputy Director Ho Thi Quyen quoted a report by market analysis firm Metric. Sales on the platforms in the first half of the year amounted to VN143.9 trillion, surging 54.91 per cent as compared to the retail industrys growth of 7.4 per cent. Metric pointed out that the growth mainly came from TikTok Shop and Shopee. Only Tiktok Shop and Shopee registered positive growth rates of 150.54 per cent and 65.96 per cent in revenue in the period. Meanwhile, Lazada, Tiki and Sendo saw negative growth in both revenue and sale volumes. The report pointed out that Lazadas revenue fell by 43.81 per cent and Tiki by 48.55 per cent. Metric said that both Shopee and Tiktok Shop successfully took advantage of livestream shopping trend, while notably, the number of shop malls increased by 12.29 per cent in the period. The top 10 brands with the highest e-commerce revenue included only one Vietnamese brand Vinamilk raising a need for domestic brands to develop business strategies to compete in the domestic e-commerce market. Metric predicted that the demand for school supplies with prices of below VN50,000 per item will increase in August and early September as a new school year begins. Various kinds of shopping developed strongly, particularly social media live streaming commerce, and multi-channel sales, during the six-month span, bringing huge revenue for sellers. Quyen said that business skills on the digital platforms have become significant in developing brands and images for enterprises and cooperatives, adding such digital tools as social media, livestreaming and email marketing help firms not only reach out to more customers but also optimise their business management and operation. Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Agency Le Hoang Tai highlighted that in order to capitalise on the opportunities that the digital platforms have brought about, companies should equip themselves with new business skills which are in accordance with the current trend. In the coming time, the agency will continue joining hands with its partners to organise programmes to support businesses, cooperatives and household businesses in promoting trade via digital platforms and bolstering agricultural digital economy, while helping them access new technologies and expand their markets. VNS MEXICO CITY The Western Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade (COMCE Occidente), the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico and the Mexico's National Bank of Foreign Trade (Bancomext) on July 29 launched a business guide to support Mexican enterprises interested in the Vietnamese market. The 13-chapter document consists of information on Viet Nam's economy and foreign trade, updates on bilateral trade, potential sectors and products, useful tools related to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as contacts in Viet Nam. Speaking at the event, President of COMCE Occidente Miguel Angel Landeros emphasised that the document provides valuable and practical information related to the business environment in Viet Nam, while highlighting opportunities, challenges, and the most suitable methods to enter and expand business activities in the country. He said that the relations between Mexico and Viet Nam are being strengthened in all areas, and their trade ties will continue to grow strongly as both countries are members of the CPTPP. Mexican Ambassador to Viet Nam Alejandro Negrin said that as the CPTPP has come into effect, the business guide will further support Mexican businesses in exporting or expanding operations in the Vietnamese market. For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Van Hai affirmed that bilateral trade still has a lot of room for further development, especially as the two are large markets and have many similarities, with many products and industries complementing each other. According to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Mexico, bilateral trade turnover reached US$3.1 billion in the first half of this year, up 22 per cent over the same period last year, of which Viet Nams exports to Mexico was worth $2.64 billion. VNS HA NOI Over 60 booths from the semiconductor and high-tech industries participated in an exhibition introducing products and technological solutions, facilitating investment promotions and offering potential trade connections. On the afternoon of 29 July, the Ha Noi Promotion Agency (HPA), in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park Management Board, and the Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, organised the 'Ha Noi Semiconductor Technology Investment Networking Day 2024'. The event runs until 31 July. Nguyen Anh Duong, Director of the Ha Noi Promotion Agency (HPA), said that the event aims to provide information on the current situation, orientation and solutions to promote the development and cooperation of semiconductor technology enterprises in the city. It also aims to discuss opportunities and solutions for developing a work force in the semiconductor field at Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park and across Ha Noi. This event also serves as an opportunity for businesses and investors operating in the semiconductor technology industry and those investing in and trading products within the semiconductor and high-tech ecosystem in Ha Noi and other provinces and cities across the country to connect, promote investment and trade in the semiconductor industry in Ha Noi and Viet Nam. Additionally, government agencies can propose appropriate policies to develop high-quality human resources, creating essential conditions to attract investors in the semiconductor field. This is directed towards establishing research centres, semiconductor production facilities and providing manufacturing services for the semiconductor industry. With its strategic position and numerous unique advantages, Ha Noi holds significant potential and opportunity for development and investment attraction in the technology sector, including the semiconductor industry. Ha Noi has continuously improved the investment and business environment, actively reviewed administrative procedures, simplified and expedited the processing time, facilitating and reducing costs for residents, organisations and businesses. The city has issued and implemented policies to support businesses, organised numerous investment promotion activities, held business dialogues and resolved many difficulties and obstacles for businesses during their production and business processes in Ha Noi. These efforts have contributed to improving the investment environment and enhancing the city's provincial competitiveness. VNS SEOUL After a second date, Lee Tae-hyung, 26, wanted to ask the woman out again. He sent her a KakaoTalk message saying, Do you have time this weekend? and the reply he received was, I dont think I can make time. I have plans this weekend. The message made me wonder. Is she politely saying, No, I dont want to go on another date with you, or does this mean that I can ask her again next week? Lee said. Lee asked his friends and found out that if she were actually interested in another date, she would suggest other times she could meet him. Simply saying she is busy usually means no, they concluded. Hesitating to say no directly, as Lees date did, out of fear of offending someone, is a common human reaction. But South Koreas social norms, expectations and pressures often amplify the challenge, making indirect refusals the preferred course of action unless a direct response is absolutely unavoidable. I dont think When declining a request, especially from a close friend they care about, Koreans usually make sure theyre declining only if theres no other choice and try to reschedule. This is why softening phrases like I dont think are almost always used when declining a request. This phrase adds uncertainty to a negative response, allowing Koreans to decline politely without closing the door entirely. For example, they might say, I dont think I can attend instead of I cant go, which sounds blunt to Koreans if they are trying to maintain social relations. In different social settings in Korea, there are various ways to say no. In the workplace, where top-down hierarchies between bosses and subordinates are common, many choose to use white lies. A 2019 survey by local job search website Incruit found that 82.3 per cent of 282 Korean employees admitted to telling white lies at work, primarily to avoid hurting the feelings of those who ask, particularly superiors. Park Soo-jin, 34, a marketing company employee, illustrates this phenomenon. I enjoy eating breakfast alone at the hotel when I travel for leisure. But when my boss asked about breakfast on a business trip to China, I said, I dont eat breakfast, she said. She felt that simply saying she wanted to eat alone seemed inappropriate as it could hurt her boss feelings. The difficulty of saying no also stems from group social pressure. Ahn, a 30-year-old advertising employee, frequently cancels plans with his girlfriend due to impromptu team dinners at work. My girlfriend gets upset, but its hard to decline when nobody else (on the team) is doing it, Ahn said. I once had to lie to my boss that I was sick so that I could skip a team dinner and go see her. Many people say that saying no is also hard in Koreas dating scene. Lee Ji-an, a 25-year-old who went on a blind date in March, struggled to decline a second date despite a lack of romantic connection. It was difficult to bluntly say no because I worried that it might affect my relationship with the friend who set us up, Lee said. She tried replying late to messages and saying she was busy a few times, but the guy did not seem to get the point. Unsure of how to refuse politely, she sought advice from friends and discovered that it was a common experience. Some of her friends even offered her a prewritten template for such situations. I could just fill in the name and send it to the guy, Lee said. Her struggle is also commonly shared online, where other dating-related forums suggest sending templates like, I had a great time today. You seem like a great guy, but I dont think were going to work out. I hope you find someone wonderful. Why is no so difficult? One linguist views that in Korea, saying no is especially difficult not only due to social pressure but also because of hierarchies created by Korean languages honorific system. Professor Lee Chan-kyu of Chung-Ang Universitys Department of Korean Language and Literature sees that the hierarchical communication patterns of Korean language complicate the expression of negative opinions, especially in professional settings. Effective communication is typically two-way, Lee explained. However, in many Korean workplaces, top-down approaches prevail, with those in superior positions speaking informally, and with only subordinates using honorifics when speaking back. Interestingly, I found that employees both those in superior and subordinate positions who use honorifics with each other report greater satisfaction and less stress when communicating within the company, Lee said. Expressing ones honest opinion is also something many Koreans feel uncomfortable about. It is slowly changing. But for instance, to children, Koreans are more focused on saying, Youre a good kid because you do what your parents tell you to do, compared to in other countries, Kim Hoh, CEO of The Lab H, a business communication consulting firm, said. We are not used to asking kids opinions or preferences. He added that this kind of hierarchical organizational culture has made it so Koreans are not accustomed to refusing something directly. As if navigating the nuances of saying no in Korea isnt complex enough, there are special exceptions where saying no is not only seen as acceptable but in fact expected. Such situations occur for instance when Koreans are presented with someone elses kind offer. For instance, when visiting an acquaintances home and the host invites you to join their family meal, it is customary initially to decline before eventually accepting. Similarly, during Seollal family gatherings, when older relatives give younger ones cash gifts like sebae money, it is expected for the recipient initially to refuse, as a way of demonstrating humility and gratitude. When I offer something to someone, I am accustomed to asking three times. Its because some Koreans believe its polite to decline twice before accepting the third offer, said Kim Sang-hyun, 40. -- ANN/THE KOREA HERALD KIEN GIANG - Along with offering discounts for local residents, Kien Giang Province is also looking into exploiting night flight products to attract tourists to Phu Quoc. The Kien Giang Department of Tourism recently announced that in the first six months of 2024, Kien Giang welcomed about 5.4 million visitors. Among them, international tourists were estimated at more than 500,000, and total tourism revenue exceeded VN13.3 trillion (US$526 million). To attract visitors, Sun World Hon Thom Phu Quoc will launch special promotions for Kien Giang residents traveling to Phu Quoc. From August 1 to September 5, locals can experience the cable car ride to Hon Thom and the Cau Hon bridge for VN250,000 per person. Here, visitors can swim, snorkel, and enjoy the night market "Vui Phet" in Hoang Hon town in An Thoi Ward. They can also watch puppet shows and street music performances showcasing the unique cultural characteristics of Vietnamese people. Du To Tuan, director of Vietravel's Rach Gia branch, said that HCM City and the Mekong Delta region have a lot of tourism potential. Tourists can conveniently travel by car with their families to Phu Quoc. The company is currently offering a promotion where buying a tour package comes with a free tour. "Tourists who book tours to Phu Quoc and some other destinations with values of VN10 million or more will be given a free tour to experience some ecological tourism sites and explore the cultural beauty of the local people," Tuan said. Recently, Viet Nam Airlines sent an invitation to the Kien Giang Centre for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion for cooperation to attract tourists with night flight products to Phu Quoc. Viet Nam Airlines hopes that the provincial People's Committee, Kien Giang Department of Tourism, and local tourism businesses will be interested in creating accommodation packages combined with flight tickets, offering free or 80 per cent discounted tickets for the first night. The centre is determined to implement this programme as a tourism product of Kien Giang. The airline is requested to finalise the specific night flight products, such as a 9pm flight time, ticket pricing policies, and cancellation and exchange policies, and send them to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism and the Phu Quoc City People's Committee. - VNS A 44-year-old California woman was arrested after she allegedly stabbed her wife to death with a Samurai sword and wounded her mother-in-law. Weichien Huang is accused of attacking Chen Chen Fei, 47, and Fei's mother about 3:30 p.m. last Thursday in their Los Angeles County home, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The couple had been in a fight before the attack, authorities said. The mother-in-law, who was not identified, was able to wrestle the sword away from Huang despite her injuries and run outside to find help. She is in stable condition at a local hospital. Fei's body was found in the home. Huang has been charged with murder. Police said that no further information on the case was available at this time. HA NOI Major General Vu Trung Kien, Deputy Commander in charge of law at the Viet Nam Coast Guard Command, said on Monday that he hopes the US Department of States Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will enhance cooperation with the Viet Nam Coast Guard and Border Guard amidst complicated developments of drug and human trafficking crimes. Hosting a Ha Noi reception for Shelby Smith-Wilson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the INL, Kien suggested both sides strengthen information sharing on crime syndicates and drug crimes at sea, and organise training courses to improve capacity for the Vietnamese law enforcement officers in the fight against drug crimes, human trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He also recommended the INL continue arranging foreign language training courses for the staff of the Vietnamese forces. Over the past time, the US Government and the INL in particular have supported the Vietnamese coast and border guards to better their law enforcement capacity, and organised various regional programmes and conferences which offer Southeast Asian countries opportunities to discuss and join hands to settle drug and crimes effectively. The US official affirmed that the US Government always accompanies the Vietnamese Government in ensuring a safe and open Indo-Pacific, and spoke highly of the efforts by the Vietnamese forces in the fight. She said the INL always attaches much importance to its cooperation with the Vietnam Coast Guard, hoping for stronger collaboration in the above-mentioned areas as well as the implementation of initiatives to improve the role of women in law enforcement at sea. VNS HA NOI - The official visit of Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta to Viet Nam is poised to bring numerous strategic benefits to both nations, strengthening and developing bilateral cooperation in the future. This statement was made by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Viet Nam to Indonesia and concurrently to Timor-Leste, Ta Van Thong, during an interview with the Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) on the occasion of President Jose Ramos-Horta's visit to Viet Nam from July 31 to August 3. Promoting bilateral strategic interests Since Viet Nam and Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations on July 28, 2002, the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries have made significant progress. Bilaterally, despite the geographical distance, Viet Nam and Timor-Leste have maintained a close relationship, consistently supporting each other on the international stage, particularly in the struggle for national liberation. This visit by President Jose Ramos-Horta, his fourth high-level visit to Viet Nam, provides an opportunity for both sides to discuss measures to promote cooperation and deepen bilateral relations. Multilaterally, both sides have been strengthening cooperation and coordinating positions at regional and international forums. Viet Nam, along with other ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat, has always supported Timor-Leste in its preparation and capacity-building efforts, facilitating consensus among ASEAN members for Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN. In terms of trade, bilateral trade between the two countries remains limited, primarily involving rice and textiles. In 2023, Viet Nam's exports to Timor-Leste reached US$15.49 million, while imports from Timor-Leste were $371,000. In the first five months of 2024, exports to Timor-Leste stood at $6.09 million, an increase of 29.4 per cent. Regarding investment, Viettel currently has a successful project in Timor-Leste named Telemor, with initial investment capital of $500,000, which has gradually increased to $15 million, securing a firm position in this market. In education, the two countries' Ministries of Education have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation activities. Currently, around 40 Timor-Leste students are studying in Viet Nam, with hopes of welcoming more students in the future. Ambassador Ta Van Thong affirmed that the official visit of the Timor-Leste President to Viet Nam will bring numerous strategic benefits to both nations, contributing to the strengthening and development of bilateral relations. Exploiting potential strengths Ambassador Ta Van Thong believes that the Timor-Leste market holds significant potential for Vietnamese exports such as rice, processed foods, milk and dairy products, footwear, beverages, household goods and electrical machinery. Viet Nam's economic activities in the coming years will require more inputs such as fuel (petrol), raw wood, raw seafood, minerals and metals. These are also potential products in Timor-Leste. By cooperating with Viet Nam, Timor-Leste's goods will become crucial inputs for manufacturing, enabling both countries to participate more deeply in regional and global value chains. Ambassador Ta Van Thong suggested that Timor-Leste facilitate research and investment opportunities in fields such as oil and gas exploration and exploitation, forest and mineral resource processing, metal ore mining and investment cooperation to produce goods for export to countries offering preferential treatment to Timor-Leste. He also urged Timor-Leste to expedite the ratification of the trade agreement signed between the two countries and to boost cooperation in transport, import-export and seaport sectors to support trade exchanges. Ambassador Ta Van Thong emphasised that President Jose Ramos-Horta's official visit to Viet Nam is not only an opportunity to strengthen friendly relations but also a chance to demonstrate support and close cooperation between the two countries. This visit provides an opportunity for both nations to review cooperative activities, negotiate and exchange experiences in economic, educational, agricultural and fisheries sectors. Viet Nam supports Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN Timor-Leste is currently in the process of joining ASEAN, which will further expand economic, political, and cultural cooperation opportunities with regional community members. For successful ASEAN accession, Timor-Leste needs the support of member countries, with Viet Nam playing a crucial role. Ambassador Ta Van Thong emphasised that, based on the traditional friendship between the two peoples, Viet Nam has always strongly supported Timor-Leste in joining ASEAN. In coordinating support for Timor-Leste to become an official member, Viet Nam particularly focuses on training and capacity building for officials. According to Ambassador Ta Van Thong, investing in personnel training is one of the key factors to help Timor-Leste build a strong human resource foundation, enhancing productivity and work quality, empowering local authorities, thereby promoting the country's sustainable development and facilitating international and regional integration. In summary, President Jose Ramos-Horta's state visit to Viet Nam marks a historic moment for Timor-Leste as it seeks to join ASEAN, while also promoting comprehensive cooperation, bringing strategic benefits to both countries and contributing to the consolidation and development of bilateral relations in the future. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay a state visit to India from July 30 to August 1, according to a communique of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit will be made at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it said. Viet Nam and India established diplomatic relations in 1972. In 2016, the two countries elevated their relationship to the highest level Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Over time, political trust between the two nations has been continuously strengthened through regular high-level visits and contacts across various channels, including Party, State, Government, National Assembly, local levels, and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides have maintained and effectively promoted bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Defence and security cooperation continues to be a crucial and strategic pillar of their partnership. Economic and trade cooperation has recovered and developed positively after the pandemic, with bilateral trade reaching nearly US$15 billion in 2023. As of May 2024, trade between the two countries had reached nearly $5.94 billion. India currently has 380 active investment projects in Viet Nam, with a total capital of $1.067 billion, ranking 24th out of 144 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam gives high regard to the European Unions assistance in the countrys socioeconomic development and global integration, foreign minister Bui Thanh Son said at a press conference following his talks with Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Fontelles was leading the EU delegation to attend late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs funeral, highlighting the latters contributions to Viet Nams rising position in the global context, as well as the Viet Nam-EU relations. Viet Nam and the EU have seen positive progress in all areas of cooperation, notably with four cooperation agreements and eight dialogue mechanisms. The Southeast Asian nation is also the first country in ASEAN to have an all-round cooperation with the EU, including politics, trade, national defence and security. The EU is the largest non-refundable aid provider as well as a leading trade-investment partner of Viet Nam, with positive progress brought by the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) after four years of execution. Their bilateral trade turnover reached US$58.5 billion in 2023. This figure in the first six months of 2024 was $24.7 billion, a 16 per cent year-on-year increase. EU is the fifth largest investor in Viet Nam with nearly $30 billion in accumulated FDI (foreign direct investment). Meanwhile, Viet Nam is the largest trade partner of the EU in ASEAN and the 16th largest globally. Vietnamese foreign minister Son requested that the EU continue its ODA (official development assistance) for Viet Nam through bilateral and multilateral channels, as well as regional programmes. This support should focus on key sectors for Viet Nams sustainable development such as public governance capacity, green economy, digital economy, circular economy and sustainable fisheries. He also requested the EU recognise Viet Nams efforts in countering illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and soon remove the yellow card for Vietnamese seafood exports. Other areas for cooperation include the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Reaffirming the EUs support for Viet Nams net-zero commitment through JETP, Fontelles emphasised that the immediate crucial task was to accelerate progress based on project priorities and institutional reforms. Viet Nam also welcomed the EUs positive role in the Indo-Pacific through initiatives and strategies that strengthen the cooperation between the EU and the region. In addition to the EUs Global Gateway Initiative, Viet Nam also supported enhancing the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership. Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, Viet Nam appreciated the EUs role and contributions in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) based on international laws. VNS At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Pham Minh Chinh, is paying a state visit to India from 30 July to 1 August. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Thanh Binh talks to the press ahead of the visit. Could you elaborate on the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's state visit to India? Viet Nam and India share a traditional and robust friendship, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Indian leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as successive generations of leaders and people from both countries. In 2016, the two countries established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework. This visit marks the first by a Vietnamese Prime Minister since the establishment of this new framework. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is one of the first foreign leaders invited to visit India after its Lok Sabha elections and the formation of the new government. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement, where India played a crucial role in supporting the negotiations and signing of this agreement. Given this context, the Prime Minister's visit holds immense significance, reaffirming Viet Nam's consistent policy of valuing traditional friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. It also aims to strengthen the relationship between the leaders of both countries, especially between the two Prime Ministers. The visit has been meticulously prepared by both sides, featuring a rich and substantive programme focused on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various fields. This aims to address current geopolitical and economic changes, consolidating traditional areas of cooperation while expanding into new potential sectors such as electronics, telecommunications, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, the green and digital economies, AI, semiconductors, new materials and essential minerals. The visit also provides an opportunity for the two countries to enhance their collaboration on regional and international security and strategic issues, affirming mutual support in multilateral forums of shared interest. How do you assess the relations between the two countries in recent times, particularly in terms of trade and investment cooperation? The Viet Nam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been developing positively, with a solid foundation and high political trust. Relations between the Party, State, National Assembly and people of both countries have been expanding, with regular visits and interactions at all levels. Various cooperation mechanisms, such as dialogue platforms and specialised cooperation subcommittees, have been maintained and effectively utilised. Defence and security cooperation is a crucial pillar at a strategic level, with the two countries signing a Joint Vision Statement on defence partnership and a Memorandum of Understanding on logistics cooperation in June 2022. This includes cooperation in training, defence industry, naval visits and providing credit and non-refundable aid packages. Economically, bilateral trade has increased 2.5 times since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reaching nearly US$15 billion in 2023. Both countries have significant potential in trade and investment cooperation, with India being one of the most populous and dynamically developing economies. Major Indian corporations are promoting cooperation with Viet Nam in strategic areas such as renewable energy, manufacturing, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, port infrastructure and logistics. On the Vietnamese side, Vinfast has started building a car assembly and manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, with committed capital of $2 billion. Cooperation in science and technology, information and communication, education and training, culture and tourism has been developing positively. Currently, there are over 50 direct flights between the two countries each week. India is among the top three countries with the fastest-growing number of tourists to Viet Nam, with Indian tourist numbers increasing 2.5 times over the past four years (from 170,000 in 2019 to 400,000 in 2023). Over the past decade, India has granted nearly 3,000 short and long-term scholarships to Viet Nam under various programmes. Additionally, the Indian government has supported the restoration and conservation project of the My Son World Heritage Site in Quang Nam Province. The two countries are also promoting and enhancing cooperation in new potential areas such as renewable energy, semiconductors, innovation, green economy, digital transformation, information technology, smart agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Both countries closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, especially within the United Nations framework and at regional forums led by ASEAN. In summary, Viet Nam-India relations have developed comprehensively and expanded across most fields, with significant potential and opportunities for further promotion in the future. VNS HA NOI The European Union (EU) views Viet Nam as a leading partner in the region and a key player in international ties and has implemented several strategies and initiatives to elevate Viet Nam-EU relations to new heights. That was the message conveyed by Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy during his meeting with President To Lam on Tuesday. Fontelles is in Viet Nam on an official visit from July 29-31 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. President Lam thanked Fontelles for leading the EU delegation to attend the funeral of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, which demonstrated the EU's respect for the significant contributions of the General Secretary to strengthening Viet Nam-EU relations in recent years. The President congratulated the EU on electing a new leadership and expressed confidence that Fontelles visit would provide important momentum to further strengthen Viet Nam-EU relations. He also acknowledged Fontelles contributions to the relationship during his tenure as President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007. Emphasising that the EU is a very important partner for Viet Nam, President Lam expressed satisfaction with the positive development of relations between Viet Nam and the EU, evident in the increased exchange of delegations and high-level contacts and the effective implementation of various agreements. Four years since it was implemented, the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has given a new impetus to trade and investment, making Viet Nam the largest trading partner of the EU among ASEAN countries. Cooperation in tourism, education and training, culture and arts and people-to-people exchanges has also been dynamic, contributing to mutual understanding and fostering cooperation in other areas. The President suggested that both sides continue to strengthen delegation exchanges, especially at high levels, and effectively implement the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EVFTA and other agreements. He also urged the EU to encourage its remaining member states to promptly ratify the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), to lift the yellow card issued against Viet Nams seafood exports based on Viet Nams efforts and results in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to continue providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Viet Nam. The president also requested support for Viet Nams effective implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and called for enhanced cooperation on cybersecurity, maritime security, disaster prevention and response, crisis management and crime prevention. Welcoming the EUs strategies and initiatives for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, President Lam said Viet Nam would be ready to act as a bridge for the EU in the region, including strengthening ASEAN-EU strategic partnership relations. The EU high representative said he appreciated Viet Nams balanced foreign policy and supported Viet Nams goals to become a developed, high-income country by 2045 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. On international and regional issues, both sides agreed that countries needed to contribute responsibly to security and development both regionally and globally, and that conflicts should be resolved through peaceful means based on international law and the UN Charter. Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), both sides reaffirmed their support for ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight and for resolving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. VNS HA NOI Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung met with Josep Borrell Fontelles, Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Ha Noi on Tuesday afternoon. Affirming Viet Nam's priority for its comprehensive partnership and cooperation with the EU, Trung said the sides have established comprehensive cooperation pillars, from politics, economy, trade, investment, forestry, to defence-security, while sharing significant common interests and a wide range of people-to-people exchanges. Expressing his satisfaction with the ongoing development of the Viet Nam-EU ties as well as the relations between Viet Nam and EU member states, the Party official emphasised the need to further enhance cooperation effectiveness within frameworks such as the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). He also called for the remaining EU member states to expedite the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and to soon lift the ECs yellow card warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on Viet Nam's seafood exports. Borrell Fontelles, who is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from July 29-31 at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, expressed his admiration for the countrys significant achievements in national development. He affirmed that the EU highly values Viet Nams role and position within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the region, as well as its comprehensive partnership and cooperation with Viet Nam. Expressing his pleasure at the robust development of the EU-Viet Nam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation, he highlighted the importance of identifying specific directions to further elevate the bilateral ties in the future. He agreed with Trung on the need for both sides to continue strengthening political trust, all-level delegation and people-to-people exchanges, as well as to significantly enhance joint work in all areas of EUs strengths and Viet Nams needs such as management experience, finance, high technology, clean energy, and climate change adaptation. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy again expressed deep condolences to the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam on the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, whom he described as a leader with strategic vision leaving significant imprints on the Viet Nam-EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation. On this occasion, the host and guest also exchanged information and views on global and regional situations and other issues of mutual concern. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a Vietnamese delegation left Ha Noi on Tuesday evening for a State visit to India from July 30 August 1 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the first State visit to India by Chinh as the head of the Vietnamese government, and the first visit to India by a Vietnamese PM in a decade. The visit takes place when the Viet Nam-India comprehensive strategic partnership is developing strongly on the foundation of firm relations and high political trust. Bilateral ties across the party, state, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels have expanded, while defence-security cooperation, a key pillar in bilateral relations, has seen significant progress. Two-way trade has increased 2.5 times since 2016, reaching nearly US$15 billion in 2023. Major Indian conglomerates are rolling out cooperation with Viet Nam in strategic sectors like renewable energy, processing industry, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, seaport infrastructure, and logistics. Meanwhile, Viet Nams automaker Vinfast has started construction on a car assembly and production plant in Tamil Nadu state of India, with total committed capital of $2 billion. The number of Indian visitors to Viet Nam shot up 2.5 times over the past four years, from 170,000 in 2019 to 400,000 in 2023. The two countries have supported each other and promoted cooperation at international and regional forums and organisations, especially the United Nations. During the visit, PM Chinh and Indian leaders are expected to outline directions for deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership across various fields, particularly trade-investment, renewable energy, processing, green economy, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, logistics, automobile, science-technology, information-communication technology, education-training, culture-tourism, agriculture, and people-to-people exchange. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Le ThanhLong called for the European Commission (EC)'s early removal of its yellow card warning against Viet Nams seafood exports while receiving Josep Borrell Fontelles, EC Vice President and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Ha Noi on Tuesday. Long thanked Borrell Fontelles, who is on an official visit to Viet Nam from July 29 to 31, for coming to pay the last respects to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, which reflects the importance the EU attaches to the deceaseds contributions to Viet Nam - EU relations. He noted that the EU is one of the leading partners of Viet Nam. With common efforts, the bilateral ties are developing well, from traditional fields like politics - diplomacy, trade - investment, and development cooperation to new areas, including defence - security and climate change response, within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. The EU is currently the top supplier of non-refundable aid, the fourth largest trading partner, and the fifth biggest investor in Viet Nam, which in turn ranks first among ASEAN trading partners of the EU. The two sides have also worked actively together in such areas as defence - security, justice, labour, agriculture, science - technology, and environment to reap many practical results. Among them, a highlight is the cooperation in climate change response, according to the host official. The Deputy PM suggested the EU continue increasing all-level delegation exchanges, especially those at high levels, to enhance political trust, creating a stepping stone for partnerships in other spheres. He also delivered PM Pham Minh Chinhs congratulatory letter to the EC President and invited the latter to pay a visit to Viet Nam in the near future. Long proposed both sides to coordinate to fruitfully enforce the EU - Viet Nam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), as well as other cooperation deals and mechanisms on the threshold of the 35th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year. He also called on the EU to promote its remaining member countries ratification of the EU - Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the ECs early removal of the yellow card warning against Viet Nams seafood exports on the basis of the countrys efforts and achievements in the combat against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. For his part, Borrell Fontelles highly valued Viet Nams development achievements along with growing role and position in the region and at multilateral forums. The EU views Viet Nam as a priority and important partner in the Asia-Pacific region, he said, adding that it hopes the two sides will elevate the bilateral relations and enhance connections in defence - security, climate change response, the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) implementation, justice, and the fight against IUU fishing, he added. Appreciating the EUs projects that have helped with Viet Nams socio-economic development and integration into the world, Long proposed the EU maintain the provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam in the fields of public governance capacity building, green transition, digital transformation, sustainable fishery development, financial and technological support, and manpower training to help the country effectively carry out the JETP. At the meeting, the two sides also touched upon some international issues of shared concern. They agreed that conflicts must be resolved by peaceful means on the basis on international law. Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, they shared the stance that disputes in the East Sea should be settled peacefully in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus helping to guarantee security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight and consolidate peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world. VNS QUANG BINH Three Chinese nationals have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Vietnamese taxi driver last week. The suspects, two males and one female, have been named as H.J.C., 18, L.S.J, 16, and G.Y., 17. The three are being questioned over the allegedly killing the driver during a cross-country taxi ride before leading police on a high-speed chase. The incident came to light on July 28 when the police in the central province of Quang Binh spotted a taxi with plate number 14A-325.45 behaving erratically. They attempted to pull it over but were met with defiance. The driver fled, hitting two vehicles as he evaded capture. As the situation escalated, the police mobilised additional units to join the pursuit. Upon apprehending the suspects, they discovered the body of a driver, later identified as Nguyen Van Hai, 47, living in Ha Phong Ward, Ha Long City, the northern province of Quang Ninh. Hai is the owner of the taxi and worked for the taxi corporation Mai Linh in Quang Ninh. Initial investigations revealed that the three foreigners hired Hai for a cross-country journey on July 27 and subsequently murdered him in Quang Ngai on the same day. The suspects were transferred to Quang Ngai Province on July 29 for further questioning. VNS Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and key opponent retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez were locked in a standoff Monday with both claiming victory in the nation's presidential election. National election officials were delaying releasing detailed vote tallies after proclaiming Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, to 44% for Gonzalez, the Associated Press reported. The opposition refused to recognize the tally, and several foreign governments, including the U.S., held off recognizing the results, according to AP. "Venezuelans and the entire world know what happened," Gonzalez said. American Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had "serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people." Chile's President Gabriel Boric warned: "The Maduro regime should understand that the results it published are difficult to believe." Venezuelans showed up before dawn Sunday to vote in the presidential election that held the possibility of ending 25 years of socialist party rule and potentially lead to a "bloodbath" depending on the results. Reporters saw lines outside seven polling stations around the country, Reuters said, as two-term Maduro faced off against Gonzalez, a former diplomat. Earlier this month, Maduro warned of deadly consequences if he were to lose, telling supporters at a campaign rally that the country's destiny "depends on our victory." "If we want to avoid a bloodbath, or a fratricidal civil war triggered by the fascists, then we must guarantee the biggest electoral victory ever," he said. The remarks alarmed Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who vowed to send a top diplomat to monitor the voting. On Sunday, Maduro walked back his comments, saying, "No one is going to create chaos in Venezuela," the Associated Press reported. "I recognize and will recognize the electoral referee, the official announcements and I will make sure they are recognized," he said after casting his ballot. Maduro also 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. The country's opposition leader, former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, won an October primary election to challenge Maduro but in January was barred from running by Venezuela's top court, which is reportedly loyal to Maduro's United Socialist Party of Venezuela. The court upheld findings that Machado was involved in corruption and lost money for state-owned companies including the U.S.-based Citgo petroleum company, Reuters reported at the time. Machado's hand-picked replacement was also barred from running, after which the opposition Unitary Platform coalition selected Gonzalez. Maduro has presided over an economic collapse that led about one-third of the population to flee Venezuela, and Machado invoked them after voting Sunday, telling those "who are anxious to return" that a "reunion in very close," AP said. At a polling place in the state of Bolivar, 61-year-old Luisa Gonzalez told Reuters that she'd supported the late President Hugo Chavez, the country's first socialist leader, but had since soured on his successor, Maduro. "I work cleaning houses and my four grandchildren depend on me. I earn just $15 per week and that is enough to eat one day but not the next," she said. "We have spent years look for change. I was a Chavista, but people have changed." A voter in central Valencia state, however, said he hadn't given up on Maduro. "There are things that without doubt need to improve in our country, but this government has lived through sanctions and blockades like no other. That's why I back President Maduro and think he deserves another chance," said Jose Lopez, 57. LAO CAI - Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasised the necessity of strengthening management efforts and proactively providing assistance and employment opportunities to prevent women and children from being exploited or lured into criminal activities, or becoming victims of human trafficking. Quang's statement, on Tuesday, was made in Lao Cai City, where the Ministry of Public Security, the Viet Nam Women's Union, in coordination with the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, organised a launch ceremony for a campaign to combat human trafficking on what was the 2024 National Day against Human Trafficking. Also in attendance were Ha Thi Nga, President of the Viet Nam Women's Union, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Deputy Head of the 138/CP Steering Committee, along with leaders of various ministries, local authorities, representatives of international organisations in Viet Nam and a large number of citizens. Since 2013, the United Nations has designated July 30 annually as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. On May 10, 2016, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 793/Q-TTg, making July 30 the National Day Against Human Trafficking. With the theme 'Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking' this year's event aims to reaffirm the commitment of the Government and people of Viet Nam to preventing human trafficking, especially child trafficking. Park Mi-hyung, Head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) delegation in Viet Nam, said that the theme of the 2024 World Day highlights the importance of comprehensive and focused efforts to protect children, addressing risks and vulnerabilities, enhancing resilience and safeguarding children. Human trafficking remains one of the most profitable criminal activities, targeting the vulnerability of individuals. Therefore, it is essential to continue to work together to equip knowledge, skills, and strengthen solidarity in this fight. The latest Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has highlighted a grim reality, that one in three trafficking victims worldwide is a child. Children are subjected to various forms of trafficking, including labour exploitation, forced criminality or begging, illegal adoption, sexual exploitation and online sexual abuse. In Viet Nam, in the first six months of 2024, authorities detected and handled 50 human trafficking cases involving 126 victims and 121 children were victimised in 48 trafficking cases, said Ha Thi Nga, President of the Viet Nam Women's Union. Criminals exploited legal loopholes in marriage counselling, foreign marriage brokerage, tourism and family visits or took advantage of social media platforms, user connections, anonymity and information security to lure and deceive victims. These actions directly violated the fundamental human rights, including those of women and children, inflicting profound pain on many families and causing social instability. As the organisation representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, the Viet Nam Women's Union prioritises the care, education and protection of children, through the role of mothers and families with activities such as parenting skills education, mutual economic development support and implementing government programmes and projects to support women's economic development and family building, according to Nga. Recently, the organisation's 'Mother Mentors' programme has provided care and support for children in especially difficult circumstances to create the best conditions for their academic and life achievements. Practical actions necessary Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Quang said that human trafficking was recognised by the United Nations as one of the four most dangerous crimes in the world, with many victims being children, women and minors. "Recognising the danger of this crime, Viet Nam is committed to mobilising the combined strength of the entire political system and the public, with international friends' support, in the war against human trafficking," he said. In recent years, the Party and State adopted many consistent and comprehensive policies on preventing and combating human trafficking. The Government has developed and implemented the Programme on Combating Human Trafficking for 2021-2025, with an orientation to 2030. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that in the future, the situation of human trafficking globally and in Viet Nam would remain complex, with children continuing to be the main targets of traffickers. In this context, it was necessary to regard the prevention and combat of human trafficking as a key, ongoing task, carried out persistently everywhere and at all times, emphasised the Deputy Prime Minister. Anti-trafficking efforts needed to be integrated into socio-economic development programmes, childcare, education and protection, addressing fundamental social security and stability issues and promoting the role of mass organisations in protecting women and children, especially in remote areas. Additionally, it was necessary to enhance communication, counselling, and guidance, replicate good initiatives and models with appropriate forms for each region and group and focus on sharing information, experience and skills to help children, women and vulnerable people identify and protect themselves and their loved ones, preventing criminal exploitation. Quang urged media agencies to increase the frequency and innovate communication to encourage every citizen to actively participate in preventing, fighting and reporting human trafficking. He called for early detection and prevention of human trafficking risks from the grassroots level, decisive implementation of crime prevention plans and swift investigation and prosecution of traffickers. Furthermore, it was crucial to enhance management, proactively assist, educate, support, and provide employment opportunities to prevent children, women and those in difficult circumstances from being exploited or becoming victims of human trafficking. The Deputy Prime Minister directed a review and completion of legal documents on combating human trafficking and supporting victims, particularly policies for children in special difficult circumstances, ethnic minority children and orphans along with effective implementation of victim reception and support activities. At the same time, he called for stronger inter-agency coordination and international cooperation, especially in information exchange, investigation verification and criminal pursuit, to improve the effectiveness of preventing and combating human trafficking, particularly child trafficking. VNS HA NOI Construction of the underground section of the Nhon-Ha Noi Station metro line began on Tuesday morning at Kim Ma Station (S9) with two customised tunnel boring machines. Nguyen Ba Son, deputy head of the Ha Noi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) said that this tunnelling process marked an important milestone for the underground sections of Ha Noi urban railway network and particularly the Nhon-Ha Noi station metro line (Metro Line 3) "This is proof of all stakeholders efforts and determination to develop a modern, safe and effective public transport system for the city, ensuring quality and practical values for the community," he said. According to the project management board, the progress of contract package CP03 for the underground section and stations of the metro line is 43.3 per cent. The main contractor is the joint venture Hyundai & Ghella (HGU), while FECON JSC is in charge of tunnel boring. In addition to its experiences working on the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line in HCM City, FECON also has construction and technical support from TunnelPro, a leading construction company specialised in tunnel boring machines (TBM) from Italy, as well as from the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association. According to FECON deputy general director Nguyen Quoc Bao, the tunnel construction technology using TBMs on Metro Line 3 is among the most advanced technologies in the world. These Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machines also suit the citys mixed soil geological conditions. Alongside the tunnels, other elements of the underground section such as lowering slopes, underground stations, garages and transition lanes are also under construction. Preparations are now completed, including equipment and software checks, personnel management, transporting the tunnel lining segments and reserve compartments and installing monitoring equipment. Along the route, six buildings are slated for demolition while 42 buildings are temporarily vacated for one month. Relocation arrangements and compensation are being conducted according to plans. Construction on the underground section of Ha Noi Metro Line 3 is expected to be completed in 2027. The entire line is planned to be functional shortly after. According to the blueprint, Metro Line 3 measures 12.5km in length with eight elevated and four underground stations. It is expected to alleviate traffic congestion and urban pollution issues while improving the quality of life for residents in the west of the capital city. VNS HA NOI The Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARN) has established a robust regulatory framework and implemented effective safety measures for the country's nuclear energy industry over the past 30 years, according to Huynh Thanh at, Minister of Science and Technolgy. at was speaking at the agency's 30th anniversary ceremony on Tuesday. at said the agency's increased inspections had significantly raised safety standards in radiation facilities and service providers in the industry and improved their capabilities to respond to emergencies. He also said the agency was working closely with provincial science and technology departments to ensure stringent compliance with nuclear regulations nationwide. VARN director Nguyen Tuan Khai said the agency had tightened its grip on radiation and nuclear activities. With strengthened management systems, radiation facilities and service providers are now under stricter control. This includes issuing licences, registrations and maintaining a centralised database. All licensing procedures are now also fully online. He also said the agency conducts around 70 annual inspections of the facilities to ensure compliance. It has also established itself as a regional leader in nuclear regulation, supporting the ministry in overseeing the industry. It has also coordinated with other government bodies to fulfil Viet Nams commitments under international nuclear treaties, including those on non-proliferation and the management of nuclear waste. The agency also kicked off the 6th Conference on Nuclear Regulations to review the country's progress in radiation and nuclear safety over the past few years. Attendees discussed key issues such as regulatory framework, nuclear security, and emergency response. It serves as a platform for experts and stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices. At the ceremony, the ministry honoured seven organisations and 11 individuals for their outstanding contributions to radiation safety and nuclear security over the past year. VNS HA NOI More than one hundred domestic and international health experts exchanged cancer treatment experiences, at the recent national lung cancer research conference in Ha Noi. The conference was jointly organised for the first time by AstraZeneca and K (Cancer) Hospital, promoting the exchange and sharing of experiences in lung cancer research practices in Viet Nam and internationally, in efforts to improve the capacity of clinical trial research at hospitals. At the conference, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said: "We have witnessed remarkable progress, from traditional chemotherapy methods to targeted drugs and advanced immunotherapies. These achievements improve treatment efficiency and bring hope to many patients. Huong believed that research institutions would participate in more clinical trials, especially international and multi-centre studies, to contribute to people's healthcare activities. Clinical trials play a critical role in developing new treatment solutions and medicines. These trials contribute to improving treatment practices and directly impact human health. AstraZeneca is actively involved in Viet Nam, conducting studies with over 6,500 patients across various diseases. Notably, a significant focus lies on non-communicable diseases like lung cancer, which has the highest new case rate globally and ranks third in cancer numbers in Viet Nam. Acting Director of the health ministrys Administration of Science, Technology and Training Nguyen Ngo Quang highlighted the collaboration and exchange of experiences between Vietnamese medical units and international organisations in clinical trials. "The rapid increase in clinical trials in Viet Nam is a testament to the dedication and commitment of scientists, doctors and the entire healthcare system. This growth is a beacon of our potential and aspirations for progress in the medical field, reflecting a healthcare system that is growing strong and ready to integrate and compete with the region and the world," said Quang. The conference showcased numerous studies conducted in Viet Nam, marking significant advancements in lung cancer treatment and cancer prevention in general. It also provided updates on pivotal clinical trial findings recently presented at major international conferences. These research findings are poised to revolutionise the clinical practice of lung cancer treatment. Deputy Director, K Hospital o Anh Tu said that the challenges Viet Nam has faced in treating lung cancer are due to economic constraints and barriers. Tu emphasised that the introduction of innovative medicines and advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic tools have significantly improved survival rates for late-stage lung cancer patients. Whereas survival rates for such patients were previously measured in months, they can now be measured in years and even multiple years. Many hospitals in Viet Nam have passed the stringent evaluation procedures of large pharmaceutical companies, medical management agencies and organisations, and reputable clinical trial management organisations (FDA, independent inspection units). These hospitals demonstrate not only the capacity to recruit patients effectively but also a commitment to high-quality research data and adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and ethical principles in biomedical research. VNS The commitment was made by Liu Yanhua, chairwoman of Sailun Group and Sailun Vietnam Co., Ltd., at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on July 29. "Sailun has so far invested a total of $1.5 billion in Vietnam, encompassing a tyre manufacturing factory in Tay Ninh province, a research and development (R&D) centre in Ho Chi Minh City, and a joint venture with Cooper Tires in 2019. The factory in Tay Ninh is the group's largest overseas manufacturing facility, generating employment for 7,000 and sourcing 100 per cent latex supply from Vietnam. Meanwhile, the R&D centre in Ho Chi Minh City is also Sailun Group's largest overseas R&D centre," Yanhua said. She expressed gratitude to the government and local authorities for creating better conditions for Sailun Group to make investment in Vietnam since 2012. At the same time, the group commits to investing another $200 million in the country soon. DPM Quang emphasised the Vietnam-China relationship was developing well, creating a premise for the two countries to promote cooperation in various fields, including investment. As of July, China has 4,750 valid projects with a total registered investment of over $28.5 billion, ranking sixth out of 144 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Among them, Tay Ninh takes the lead in attracting Chinese investments, with 104 projects totalling over $4.8 billion. The DPM said he appreciated Sailun Group as one of the world's leading tyre manufacturers and Sailun Vietnam's business results, human resource development, and corporate social responsibility activities. Founded in 2002, the group now has more than 13,700 employees worldwide, with total assets of 26 billion yuan ($3.58 billion) and annual revenue of 18 billion yuan ($2.48 billion). Sailun's products are present in 180 countries and regions. China leads number of newly-registered projects in Vietnam While Singapore is the leader in terms of foreign investment value, China is ahead in terms of number of new projects in Vietnam. Chinese group proposes to build Tu Lien Bridge and Hanoi Metro Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received leaders from some of the top Chinese infrastructure and energy development firms in Beijing on June 27, including Yan Jiehe, founder of Pacific Construction Group. In mid-July, DEEP C Industrial Zones (IZs) announced that its Haiphong 3 complex was available for investors. General sales and marketing director Koen Soenens revealed that DEEP C Haiphong 3 is a strategic industrial hub for the light industry, auto component manufacturing, port operations, and logistics. The close position to Lach Huyen deepwater port and VinFasts automotive manufacturing complex makes DEEP C Haiphong 3 suitable for customers who need to import and export components, raw materials, and finished products on a large scale, Soenens said. DEEP C now boasts over 3,400 hectares across five industrial zones in Haiphong and Quang Ninh This unique position helps minimise transportation costs for supply chain optimisation. DEEP C Haiphong 3 currently has 38 hectares of industrial land ready for handover, with electricity and water infrastructure scheduled for completion within 2024. The current 520ha total land area encompasses 350ha of reserved zones as general industrial land, 19ha of port area, and 51ha designated area for Cat Hai town. The remaining space will cater to utilities, green spaces, and internal road networks. Bruno Jaspaert, general director of DEEP C IZs, noted that the zones strategic location perfectly suits a variety of industries, from port operations and inland container deports to logistics services and the manufacturing of oversized and overweight cargos requiring direct port access. It will also cater to automotive parts manufacturing and the auto-supporting industries, among others. Committed to investment attraction associated with sustainable development, DEEP C Haiphong 3 is a model of industrial symbiosis that promotes resource exchange and waste reduction at three levels: factory-to-factory, factory-to-IZ, and IZ-to-residential community. The presence of Cat Hai town also represents a prime example of level 3 industrial symbiosis, promoting sustainability and contributing to creating a ready workforce for future production activities. Haiphong 3 aims to secure three key ventures with a total value reaching $200 million by the end of 2024. In addition, DEEP C aims to become a reference point for IZ developers in Vietnam by building ecological IZs that promote sustainable economic growth. With the orientation of developing the IZ in an ecological and sustainable direction, DEEP C IZs is aware of its corporate responsibility to the community and society. It strictly observes the operating principles of associating economic benefits with investors interests and responsibility to the community and society. DEEP C is set to continue its strong investment attraction to Haiphong 3, successfully develop large-scale, modern IZ projects following a green model, and contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of Haiphong and other localities where DEEP C has been doing business. Established in 1997, DEEP C now covers 3,400ha across five IZs in Haiphong and the nearby province of Quang Ninh. The company has attracted more than 170 projects in production and logistics valued at $7.5 billion in total investment value, creating stable jobs for tens of thousands of direct and indirect workers in industrial production and services. The zones currently house global brands such as PHA, Bridgestone, Tesa, Tenowo, SKC, StarCharge, Pegatron, Nippon Express, and Yusen Logistics. Groundbreaking for Thang Long Project-Tesa Site Haiphong sets milestone On January 26, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Thang Long Project-Tesa Site Haiphong took place at DEEP C Industrial Zones Haiphong, marking an important step for the establishment of Tesa's new production facility in Vietnam. DEEP C IZs in Quang Ninh prepared for hefty funding flow Over $1.5 billion is being committed for DEEP C Industrial Zones in the northern province of Quang Ninh thanks to a couple of new deals. DEEP C Industrial Zones set up for sustainable future After 25 years of constant development, the DEEP C Industrial Zones cluster has proved to be one of the most successful models of its kind in the country. DEEP C Quang Ninhs modern and green industrial marvel Targeting to build a multi-sector industrial area to engage high-tech and environmentally friendly projects along with seaport development, DEEP C Industrial Zones Quang Ninh is creating an ideal rendezvous for investors. In mid-July, SPX Express and Frasers Property Vietnam held a groundbreaking ceremony for an automated sorting centre in the southern province of Binh Duong with an investment of $30 million. Covering 10.6 hectares in the Binh Duong Premium Industrial Park, the facility boasts an advanced automatic sorting system with a processing capacity of over 2.5 million parcels per day. E-commerce names going automated, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com Scheduled for completion in 2025, the facility is set to be the most advanced automatic sorting centre for SPX in South Vietnam. The groundbreaking event follows the agreement signed between SPX and Frasers Property in March to strengthen the infrastructure network in the Vietnamese market. Nguyen Kim Anh, director of SPX, highlighted the companys key objectives for 2024. In addition to strengthening the infrastructure network, we will continue to prioritise improving the customer experience by simplifying the process of handling customer support requests, shortening delivery times, and improving the quality and stability of services during seasonal peaks. A report released by Momentum Works in July revealed that Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia, with gross merchandise value increases of 52.9 per cent on-year. Vietnam also overtook the Philippines as the third-largest e-commerce market in Southeast Asia in 2024. According to Euromonitor and the Vietnam E-commerce Association, Vietnams e-commerce revenue is booming, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 25 per cent to $39 billion across 2021-2026. For $1 billion of additional e-commerce sales, it would require an additional 93,000 square metres of logistic space. Following that, more than 2.2 million sq.m of additional e-commerce-dedicated logistic space is estimated to be required by 2026. The e-commerce warehousing sector has substantial growth potential due to the continuous rise in e-commerce. The growth rate in this sector is driven by increasing demand for fast and accurate delivery, as well as advancements in automation and robotics technology. Indeed, major industrial real estate businesses and e-commerce companies are actively investing and innovating to meet increasing demands and optimise operational efficiency, said Cherry Tran, general manager of Pro-Invest Vietnam. To meet the growing needs of the e-commerce sector, industrial real estate companies are actively investing in the development of warehousing projects. BW Industrial Development, a joint venture between Becamex IDC and Warburg Pincus, is an investor in the ready-built factory and warehouse market, with more than 50 projects and developing more than three million sq.m of factories/warehouses. BW Industrial plans to add 12 more projects in 2024 and build about 700,000-800,000sq.m of warehouses and factories each year. Mapletree is also another major player in Vietnams warehousing market, with 922,000sq.m of net leasable area. The Singapore company has been aggressively expanding its warehouse portfolio in Vietnam, with mega logistic hubs in Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, and Binh Duong provinces. Another warehouse project with 198,000sq.m of net leasable area in Bac Ninh is slated to be completed in 2025. In addition, industrial real estate companies are also building modern warehouses with state-of-the-art infrastructure and integrating new technologies. They offer high-tech warehouse leasing services to e-commerce companies, helping them save on investment costs and focus on their core business activities. E-commerce warehouses are increasingly adopting automation technology to enhance efficiency, said Tran from Pro-Invest Vietnam. Warehouse management systems that integrate AI and machine learning help manage inventory and optimise operational processes. Meanwhile, the use of robots for tasks such as sorting, packaging, and transporting goods within warehouses is becoming common. Robots can operate continuously without breaks, increasing order processing speed and reducing errors. Smart warehouses have also gained traction in Vietnam. Among them, sensors help monitor inventory status and environmental conditions in such warehouses, providing accurate information to adjust operational processes in real-time. Meanwhile, big data and predictive analytics help forecast demand and optimise inventory layout, improving efficiency and reducing costs, Tran added. Along with industrial real estate companies, e-commerce companies like Tiki, Shopee, and Lazada have also stepped up their expansion and technology adoption amidst the e-commerce boom. Specifically, Tiki is heavily investing in automation technology for its warehouses. The company utilises robotic systems and warehouse management software to enhance operational capabilities and quickly meet customer demands. It is also continually scaling up its warehouse network to meet growing demand and improve delivery speeds. Similarly, Shopee has implemented automated warehouses with robotic systems to handle goods quickly and efficiently. This helps Shopee maintain a competitive edge in rapid delivery. At the same time, it is also investing in expanding its warehouse infrastructure and distribution systems to handle the increasing volume of orders. Lazada also applies advanced technologies such as robots and AI to automate warehouse processes and optimise inventory management. By expanding its network of warehouses, Lazada strives to meet growing customer demands and enhance its delivery capabilities. Cainiao Vietnam to enhance supply chain with premium warehousing With the launch of premium warehouse facilities in strategic locations, Cainiao Vietnam, a subsidiary of Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, is contributing to the development of the logistics sector in Vietnam. ITL Corporation commits $200 million to Vietnam's warehousing infrastructure ITL Corporation is set to invest approximately $200 million in warehousing infrastructure over the next five years, underscoring Vietnam's significance in their strategic expansion. Cainiao PAT Logistics Park welcomes warehousing partner Mixue Cainiao Group, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, welcomed food and beverage company Mixue to its PAT Logistics Park in Vietnams southern province of Long An on March 18. Speaking at a press conference on July 29, Ly Kim Chi, chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Foodstuff Association said, "In the context of the global food supply chain undergoing positive changes, Vietnam has taken advantage of its natural conditions and high-tech agricultural development to export products and processed foods to over 180 countries and territories." "In Ho Chi Minh City, food processing is one of the four priority industries for development, accounting for 13.78 per cent of total industrial production value and contributing 13.69 per cent of the added value of the entire industry. The municipal city maintained the industrial production index of food processing at an average 7.04 per cent per year during the 20182022 period," Chi said. She further noted the city's food processing industry has been on the recovery in the first six months of 2024. It is estimated that the export turnover of food and foodstuffs reached $2.8 billion within the first six months, an increase of 35 per cent from a previous year and accounting for more than 15 per cent of the city's total export turnover. Municipal businesses posted a record high growth rate of export orders in the first half, especially for rice, vegetables, coffee, and seafood products. The 28th Vietfood & Beverage Propack Vietnam 2024, which takes place from August 8 to 10, will offer a platform for Vietnamese businesses, including those from Ho Chi Minh City, to promote their products and brand awareness while scouting potential customers. The expo also paves the way for Vietnamese enterprises to expand their markets and network with international partners. At the expo, numerous foreign brands showcase their products and look for investment and collaboration opportunities in Vietnams lucrative food and beverage industry. These brands are from China, India, Poland, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Russia, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. In addition, there are also seminars discussing the green and sustainable development trends in food and foodstuffs, such as "Towards Net-Zero: Strategies and solutions for carbon reduction in the food industry" and "Green Packaging - The inevitable trend of food packaging." Commenting on these trends, Chi added, "The world's leading import and consumption markets, such as the United States, Europe, China, and others, have tightened their requirements for sustainability for all products in the food supply chain. Changing consumer behaviour, especially the growing preference for organic products, prompt exporters and enterprises to research and develop new products to keep up with consumption trends." Vietfood & Beverage-Propack Vietnam 2024 to open in Ho Chi Minh City in August The 28th Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2024 will take place from August 8-10 in Ho Chi Minh City, expecting to attract 900 participants from more than 20 countries and territories. Binh Dinh may host $80 million Indus Coffee project Binh Dinh may be the intended destination for an instant coffee processing plant valued at $80 million for Singapores Indus Coffee, operating under Food Empire Holdings Limited. YP2C Centre in Yen Phong 2C IP of Bac Ninh province Contributing 15 per cent to total revenue, the industrial park (IP) and real estate segment is accounting for 39 per cent of the groups profits. In its strategy, the company has gradually transformed IPs from a basic traditional model into an industrial city model integrating ecological urban areas, aiming for greener development. The model will be a fusion of production, living and commercial space, aiming to entice the worlds top businesses. In addition, GELEX has developed cooperation with multinational corporations such as Frasers Property Vietnam to develop high-end industrial centres meeting international standards in northern Vietnam. A joint venture between the two is set to deploy projects worth around $250 million in the first phase. GELEX is tranforming its industrial complexes to become more modern and integrated After one year of cooperation, the collaboration has started construction on three high-end industrial real estate ventures: YP2C Centre in Yen Phong 2C IP of Bac Ninh province; Yen My Industrial Centre in Yen My IP of Hung Yen province; and Dong Mai Industrial Centre in Dong Mai IP of Quang Ninh province. All are in the north. The high-quality industrial spaces feature ready-built factories and warehouses, as well as built-to-suit complexes with features that meet high-quality criteria that help to improve productivity and focus on the wellbeing of workers. All projects are designed to meet LEED certification requirements. The efforts to upgrade IPs and real estate products will contribute to boosting international demand and enticing foreign investment flow to increasingly sought-after green IPs in Vietnam, GELEX said. Meanwhile, Viglacera Corporation, a member unit of GELEX, currently possesses a large amount of industrial land in localities nationwide. Viglacera currently owns 12 IPs, including one in Cuba, with over 4,000ha of land for rent, attracting more than 400 domestic and foreign investors. These include many large-scale manufacturing and high-tech corporations including Samsung, Hyosung, Amkor, Canon, Yazaki, Toyoda Gosei, Foxconn, and BYD. Viglaceras Dong Van 4 Industrial Park in Ha Nam province In March, two schemes on IP infrastructure construction and development were consecutively assigned to Viglaceras member units. The first is the Doc Da Trang IP infrastructure investment and construction project based in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa. It is valued at an estimated $75.3 million and was assigned to Viglacera Yen My. The other initiative is the second-phase Song Cong II IP infrastructure construction and development in Thai Nguyen province in Vietnams northeast, valued at around $66 million and assigned to Viglacera Thai Nguyen. In the previous month, Viglacera announced the kick-off of Thuan Thanh Eco-Smart IP in the northern province of Bac Ninh. It is located near Ring Road 4 and expected to be completed in 2026. Viglaceras IPs bring diverse choices to investors, meeting abundant requirements from businesses. The company strives to best avail of existing advantages to effectively deploy investment preparation and compensation, especially promote sales and lease of IPs, bringing high efficiency to the real estate segment. At the same time, it continues to develop new IP projects in localities with advantages in land, transportation infrastructure, power and water sources, and social housing schemes, to bring utmost comfort to customers. Gelex targets making it to Top 20 Vietnamese private businesses After three years of comprehensive restructuring, Gelex has gained outstanding growth in the four key business lines of industry, utility (including power generation and clean water), logistics, and real estate. Gelex gives up logistics core to widen foothold in industrial park development Gelex will give up logistics, which is one of its four core business sectors, and divest from Dong Nai Port JSC to wade deeper into industrial park development. Gelex to raise stake in Viglacera The Vietnam Electrical Equipment JSC (Gelex) plans to acquire a 21 per cent stake in the industrial group Viglacera. Gelex explores divestment in energy projects Vietnamese conglomerate Gelex Corporation is in negotiations to divest its stakes in power projects to foreign inevstors. GELEX and FPT sign MoU on digital transformation A new deal between GELEX Group and FPT Corporation is expected to advance comprehensive digital transformation and both parties' business operations, while further driving the countrys development. A new generation of foreign capital has flowed strongly into Vietnam and a positive signal for the industrial real estate market. How do you see this movement compared to before? Nguyen Van Tien, vice chairman of the Vietnam Industrial Real Estate Association Vietnam and Southeast Asian countries are becoming ideal destinations for foreign direct investment, thanks to low costs and strategic locations in the repositioning of manufacturers supply chains. Such investors are becoming more demanding in choosing locations. Factors affecting the choice of location include infrastructure, regional connection, electricity, water and telecommunications. Tax incentives, financial support, and other incentives from the government play important roles in attracting funding from abroad. Areas with abundant human resources, high skills and competitive labour costs are prioritised by investors. In addition, in the global movement wave, foreign backers are increasingly interested in high-tech industries, such as electronics manufacturing, IT, and renewable energy. These require industrial parks (IPs) to meet high requirements for infrastructure and human resources. Investors are also increasingly interested in sustainable development and social responsibility. IPs with a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development are attract more financiers. Green development is a topic of interest to both localities and investors, and more action plans are being developed to realise green goals. What is your perspective on this trend? The green development trend in the industrial real estate sector is a positive and necessary change, meeting both the need for environmental protection and the requirements of modern investors. Focusing on green development will bring long-term benefits to the environment, businesses, and communities. Investors are increasingly interested in criteria of social and environmental responsibility. Green development helps IPs pull in high quality, especially international businesses with high and strict environmental standards. In addition, using energy and resource saving solutions protects the environment and reduces long-term operating costs for businesses. For example, using renewable energy or smart water management systems can reduce energy and water costs. Green development not only focuses on economic factors but also focuses on the living environment of workers and surrounding communities. A clean, safe and environmentally friendly working environment will improve the quality of life and work performance of workers. What factors motivate industrial real estate developers to be greener and more sustainable? Green development in the industrial real estate sector is and will become a must. This comes from different reasons of economy, society, and legality. Currently, many countries and regions have issued mandatory regulations on environmental protection, energy saving, and sustainable development. For example, European Union standards on CO2 emissions and waste management are becoming increasingly stringent. Vietnam has also issued many incentive and mandatory policies on green development, such as the Law on Environmental Protection, energy saving programmes and green construction standards. Meanwhile, consumers are increasingly smarter and more interested in sustainable products and services, thereby putting pressure on businesses to comply with green standards to maintain and expand the market in and out of the country. Partners, especially international corporations, often require suppliers and partners to comply with social and environmental responsibility standards. This forces businesses to apply green development measures to meet and maintain cooperative relationships. Enterprises that apply green development measures often have higher reputation and better competitiveness in the market, especially in industries that require high environmental standards. Society is increasingly aware of the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development, putting pressure on businesses and governments to take action. Green credentials garner a boost for industrial property Sustainable real estate development is becoming a core component for investors in industrial property. Lower competitiveness affecting Vietnam's industrial parks The competitiveness of industrial parks in Vietnam is currently weak, at the same time as most need to evolve into specialised or green-oriented facilities. A United Airlines flight was diverted Sunday due to what the pilot called a "biohazard" as crew members began vomiting after a passenger suffered an undisclosed medical emergency. United Airlines Flight 2477, which took off from Houston Sunday morning for Boston, was diverted to Dulles International Airport after a passenger experienced a "medical issue," the airline said in a statement Sunday. United's website initially described the reason for the diversion as an "urgent customer situation," reported WCVB-TV in Boston. In an audio recording, the flight's pilot can be heard telling air traffic controllers that there was a "biohazard" onboard. "I talked to the crew and it sounds like it's quite bad back there, it's still really bad," he says. "The crew is vomiting, and passengers all around are asking for masks." He added: "Especially with this being a biohazard, I think we need to get this plane on the ground ASAP." United Airlines crew and passengers vomiting due to a biohazard from a passenger and flight diverted to Dulles as UA2477 (Boeing 737-800 IAH-BOS) this afternoon. Big thanks to Bill B. for sharing the audio and @RadarBoxCom for tracking. pic.twitter.com/LOojAnsbZH Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) July 28, 2024 Officials at Dulles, however, said that none of the 155 passengers or six crew members required treatment at the airport. The United statement after the diversion said that "aircraft is undergoing a thorough deep clean, and we are working to get customers to Boston as soon as possible." No immediate details of the medical emergency or suspected cause of the reported vomiting were released. The flight eventually took off Sunday evening and landed in Boston close to 8 p.m. On July 29, Hanoi hosted a conference focused on connecting investment for the semiconductor industry, with the aim of attracting more resources and investment for its future growth. The event, titled "Semiconductor industry development in Hanoi 2024," gathered key stakeholders from various sectors. Policymakers, businesses and experts gathered at the event to discuss about the development of the citys semiconductor industry Nguyen Tran Quang, deputy head of Hanoi Centre for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion (HPA), said that as the "lifeblood" of the digital economy, semiconductor technology forms the foundation for many modern solutions. "Vietnam has been attracting many large corporations in the semiconductor industry, including those from the United States, South Korea, Japan, and European countries," Quang said. Hanoi is not outside the global race for semiconductor technology development. With significant progress in attracting investment, developing infrastructure, and building human resources, Hanoi is quickly becoming a hot spot on the worlds semiconductor industry map. Nguyen Tran Quang, deputy head of Hanoi Centre for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion (HPA) In the first six months of 2024, despite various challenges, Hanoi achieved notable socioeconomic progress. The citys regional GDP increased by 6 per cent on-year. The industrial production index rose by 5 per cent, with the processing and manufacturing sectors up by 4.1 per cent. The product consumption index climbed by 13.1 per cent. Exports also showed impressive growth, with a turnover of $8.9 billion, an 11 per cent increase over the same period in 2023. Based on specific and practical goals, Hanoi has always stated its leading position in attracting foreign investment. The city has been constantly improving the investment and business environment, actively reviewing and simplifying administrative procedures, creating convenience and reducing costs for people, organisations, and businesses, Quang said. During this period, Hanoi attracted $1.16 billion in foreign investment, making it an attractive destination for international capital flows. In recent times, several large technology companies have announced plans to invest in Hanoi. Notably, Samsung, one of the world's leading technology corporations, has expanded its operations in Vietnam with the construction of a research and development (R&D) centre in Hanoi. This group is expected to invest billions of dollars in the country, creating thousands of jobs for local workers. Intel has also considered expanding its production operations in Hanoi. The presence of these major players is not only drawing foreign investment but also providing a strong impetus for the development of supporting industries, from component production to technical services. The HPA leader expressed hope for continued support and cooperation from domestic and international investors, especially those in the semiconductor industry. He highlighted the government's preferential policies as a key factor in attracting investment, including tax incentives, favourable land, and streamlined administrative procedures. Industrial parks and high-tech zones in Hanoi, such as Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, are equipped with modern infrastructure and ready to welcome significant investment projects. Hanoi's strategic location in the centre of Southeast Asia, with easy access to major markets like China and ASEAN countries, offers logistical and cost advantages for semiconductor manufacturing businesses. Nguyen Viet Hung, director of Hanoi Department of Information and Communications, emphasised the growth potential of the local semiconductor industry. He outlined plans to develop digital businesses, implement appropriate policies, enhance digital infrastructure, promote scientific and technological research, and create markets. The city is also working to promptly address challenges and create better conditions for businesses to accelerate digital transformation and invest in core technology research. This includes efforts to develop and provide Made-in-Vietnam digital technology products and services, such as AI, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, and semiconductor chips. Furthermore, Hanoi is fostering collaboration with universities and research institutions to promote training and innovation in digital technologies. To support the semiconductor industry, the city offers numerous preferential policies, such as exemptions from land and water surface rent for ten years, a half reduction in rent for the remaining time, and a corporate income tax (CIT) rate of 5 per cent, with a four-year CIT exemption and a half reduction for the next nine years. Regarding human resources, leading universities in Hanoi, such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology and the University of Technology - Hanoi National University, have launched specialised training programmes in semiconductor engineering and technology. These institutions are working with technology companies to provide internships, training, and research opportunities, enabling students to gain practical experience with advanced technology. The opening ceremony of the exhibition At the conference, delegates discussed the potential opportunities for Vietnam and Hanoi in the semiconductor industry. They also analysed the role of the Internet of Things and AI technology in the semiconductor production and supply chain, as well as strategies for developing human resources in the semiconductor chip industry. The conference is part of the Hanoi Semiconductor Investment Festival 2024, which will run until July 31. On July 29, HPA, Hanoi Department of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology jointly opened an exhibition featuring 60 booths on 2,000-2,500 square metres, showcasing the local semiconductor industry. Hanoi to develop comprehensive and modern urban metro lines Hanoi plans to invest over $55 billion to build a synchronised and modern urban railway network. Hanoi's CPI in H1 rises by over 5 per cent The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Hanoi increased by over 5 per cent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2023. Hanoi to expand IPs to welcome FDI Hanoi will continue to expand industrial park and cluster infrastructure to welcome foreign direct investment inflows. The joint venture, Vie BOARD, is scheduled to be established in August this year, contingent upon obtaining antitrust approvals and other necessary authorisations. The new company will create an impression-based DOOH advertising business, including media management, planning, sales, and distribution, combining Docomo's unique data-science technology with DatVietVAC and DatVietOOH's pioneering DOOH media in city centres, railway stations, and train cars in Vietnam. The technology and practices for measuring impressions related to advertising effectiveness and visibility in DOOH advertising have not been widely adopted in Vietnam. Using Docomo's unique, highly advanced data-science technology will allow the joint venture to estimate impression data including viewer counts and characteristics in the local market. Vie BOARD will use the resulting metrics to streamline DOOH media planning, advertisement placement, impact measurement, and analysis. This will enhance ad effectiveness visibility, enable efficient ad delivery, and contribute to the expansion of the DOOH market. In addition, Vie BOARD will pioneer new DOOH opportunities and promote digitalisation of impression-based DOOH advertisement placement in Vietnam, utilising DatVietVAC's expertise in sales and strong relationships with local clients, advertising agencies and location owners. In terms of specific roles, Docomo will propose methods to apply measurement techniques of DOOH business developed in Japan and provide impression data within Vietnam. DatVietVAC and DatVietOOH will provide expertise in managing DOOH operations locally, sales functions expertise, and facilitate relationship-building with clients and advertising agencies in support of business expansion and development. Docomo has developed and implemented technology to measure advertising effectiveness based on non-specific location data, helping to digitally transform Japan's DOOH business. Docomo has also developed a unique technology for highly precise measurement of viewer counts and characteristics using international GPS data. In addition, the company has been actively pursuing opportunities for DOOH business expansion in overseas markets poised for significant growth. Among the fast-growing Southeast Asia, Vietnam's DOOH market is poised for significant expansion due to accelerating smart-city initiatives and infrastructure development, including mass-transit railways. This growth is expected to significantly expand the DOOH market in Vietnam. Recognised for its data-science technology by DatVietVAC, Docomo has partnered to combine both assets, aiming to expand Vietnam's DOOH market. This partnership has culminated in the agreement of the creation of the Vie BOARD, which will initiate DOOH business using data-science technology. Going forward, Docomo, DatVietVAC and DatVietOOH, working through their new joint venture, Vie BOARD, will develop DOOH advertising products and services for local advertisers and contribute to DOOH adoption and advertising effectiveness in Vietnam. Japanese flour miller Nippn to build factory in Vietnam Nippn Corp., one of Japan's largest flour suppliers, announced on July 23 that it will build a factory in Vietnam to supply ingredients to domestic food manufacturers. Japan's Atsumi & Sakai announces establishment of new office in Ho Chi Minh City Tokyo-based law firm Atsumi & Sakai announced the establishment of a new office in Ho Chi Minh City on July 9. KCN Vietnam takes up green mission The company has established sustainable construction standards for its upcoming projects, aiming to secure green building and sustainability certifications. This commitment reflects the groups dedication to adopting green initiatives, environmental, social, and governance principles, and supporting the National Green Growth Strategy towards 2030. We are committed to embedding environmental values, social principles, and strong governance into our companys core. Meeting green certification standards presents challenges, but we are confident in our strategic partners experience and the long-term environmental, economic, and welfare benefits for our employees, customers, community, and national development, said Hardy Diec, COO of KCN Vietnam. By pursuing its green building strategy, KCN Vietnam is strengthening its position in the industrial property sector and significantly contributing to Vietnams sustainable development goals. The group has partnered with experienced consulting firms to ensure that upcoming projects adhere to rigorous environmental and sustainability standards. Projects adhering to green standards aim to balance environmental and economic efficiency This green initiative will also benefit client enterprises, especially those involved in foreign direct investment, by enhancing competitiveness and facilitating global supply chain integration. Additionally, applying green standards aims to optimise energy and resource use, reduce emissions, and deliver positive impacts for employees, customers, partners, investors, and the surrounding community. The groups first green building project is Phase 2 of its development in DEEP C Industrial Zones in the northern city of Haiphong, targeting LEED certification. This project promises optimal energy and resource use, with potential savings of up to 25 per cent in energy and a 10 per cent reduction in water consumption, while significantly lowering carbon emissions compared to traditional projects. KCN Vietnam has also collaborated with top experts in green building consulting throughout the design, construction, and operational phases to meet LEEDs stringent standards. By implementing these sustainable practices, the group aims to set benchmarks for environmental and sustainable development in the ready-built warehouse and factory sector, enhancing Vietnams industrial property competitive edge. As Vietnam pursues its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the industrial property sector plays a pivotal role in advancing a green economy. Developing green industrial parks, incorporating circular economy models, cleaner production, and the efficient use of resources is becoming increasingly mainstream. KCN Vietnam acquires two land lots in DEEP C Haiphong II KCN Vietnam, one of Vietnam's leading industrial real estate developers, officially received handover of two land lots in DEEP C Haiphong II. Speaking at the first panel of Vietnam Industrial Property Forum (VIPF) 2024, Dinh Hoai Nam, director and head of Business Development, SLP Vietnam, said, "Over the past four years, more professional investors have ventured into Vietnam's industrial real estate market, setting a new bar on the industry. It is expected that they will shape the competition focusing on quality products, which will benefit tenants and new investors coming to Vietnam, in terms of product quality and price. This trend will improve the Vietnamese real estate market and optimise costs for new investors in the market. We will be able to enjoy better products at good costs, which will invisibly make the Vietnamese market more attractive in the long term." When SLP invested in Vietnam in 2020, the company successfully raised $1.1 billion to invest in the Vietnamese market. At that time, the companys focus was on warehouses and logistics facilities for rent. During the implementation process, the company sees that the demand for warehouses still exists. However, it is subject to the domestic consumption market and objective factors globally, which including a decline in production and output. "SLP's core strength remains in warehouses, and the company has adapted itself to the change of the market by launching ready-built factories," Nam said. "In light of the relocation trend driven by the China Plus 1 strategy and unpredictable geopolitical environment, we forecast the factory segment, especially ready-built factories will explode in the next 2-3 years. Meanwhile, the warehouse segment has a certain delay. When manufacturers enter Vietnam, Vietnamese consumption is expected to gradually recover. Thus, the absorption rate of warehouses is expected grow better in the next 2-3 years." The representative of SLP also pointed out new types of products arising from both objective and internal factors. Objectively, the investment cost in Vietnam's industrial infrastructure is quite high. Thus, SLP and some investors think about building high-rise buildings to optimise project efficiency. This leads to the wave of multi-story factories and warehouses. The market has recorded better absorption for this product. Another new product is built-to-suit factories instead of ready-built factories. These new products serve large investors shifting production to Vietnam and renting large warehouses and factories with customised requirements. The new wave of built-to-suit products, including factories or warehouses, will serve tenants in the fields of electronics, e-commerce, and pharma, he added. SLP commits to long-term investment in Vietnam SEA Logistics Partners (SLP), an industrial and logistics infrastructure developer and GLPs operational platform in Southeast Asia, has committed to making a long-term investment in Vietnam as a bright spot in the regional industrial real estate market. Foreign developers account for three-quarters of Vietnam's warehousing Foreign developers dominate the modern warehouse market in Vietnam, accounting for over 75 per cent of the market share by net leasable area (NLA) in 2023. Numerous well-known industrial property developers have already performed well in Vietnam. How does Soilbuild differentiate itself from other players to engage tenants? Ben Ding Khoon Yew, general director of Soilbuild International (Vietnam) In Vietnam, there is an increasing demand for quality ready-built factories and warehouses aligned with global standards. Soilbuild International is committed to building upon the foundation and experiences that we have accrued over 47 years of developing quality industrial space in Singapore catering to the diverse needs of local organisations and multinational corporations. Soilbuild aims to deliver more comprehensive and localised support for its prospective tenants by combining its expertise in industrial real estate with its deep knowledge of the country to support its customers business growth. Our local team also possess a wide network of partners that can help customers further grow their business. We provide asset-light and hassle-free solutions that optimise costs and allow businesses to focus fully on operations, and act as their integrated growth partner that delivers quality business spaces with functionality, and timeliness based on strong knowledge of the local market. Soilbuilds factory includes flexibility in space design that caters to specific needs, along with dedicated customer support at every stage of the project, and future-proof facilities with sustainable and green features. What are the potential targets the company is looking to acquire in Vietnam, and why did Soilbuild choose particular provinces to work in? Vietnam has been benefiting greatly from the shift in the global supply chain, leading to the increasing demand for ready-built facilities with quality that meets the global standards of multinational corporations in Vietnam. Therefore, Soilbuilds key business model will be developing our industrial hubs with ready-built and built-to-suit facilities, focusing on four key economic regions of Vietnam: north, central, south, and the Mekong region. Soilbuild is striving to support Vietnam in elevating the manufacturing value add and supply chain quality, attracting high-quality and sustainable manufacturing into Vietnam. For example, the central province of Nghe An is emerging as Vietnams next manufacturing hub, attracting major companies like Foxconn, Sunny, and Goertek. This provinces advantages include a strategic location, efficient logistics, abundant workforce, favourable tax incentives, and efficient and business-friendly local government. The groundbreaking ceremony of ready-built facility Spectrum Nghe An will be held on August 1 Spectrum Nghe An is our maiden industrial project in Vietnam, so this event will mark an important milestone in our development journey in Vietnam. Moreover, the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Hung Yen are already known as vibrant industrial hubs in Vietnams real estate because of their strategic location, manufacturing ecosystem, excellent infrastructure, human resource talents, and sophisticated local government. Of these, in the first half of the year, Bac Ninh ranks first among all localities with almost $2.6 billion of foreign investment, three-fold compared to the same period last year. The cost of construction materials and labour is increasing. Which solutions does Soilbuild have to reduce factory construction costs, and how do you assess the adoption of AI and automation to reduce operation costs? Despite rising labour and construction material costs, Soilbuild stays focused on developing high-end ready-built facilities for lease segments. This means that our labour and construction material costs are higher than the general market. However, to offer competitive rental prices, we have invested significant effort in researching and implementing appropriate design solutions to save construction materials while optimising efficiency, functionality, quality and timing. In addition, as an integrated growth partner, we bring international sustainability standards and professional management expertise. Coming from Singapore, we have benefited from the adoption of technologies. Soilbuild International will also extend its strong digitalisation and technology adoption from Singapore into Vietnam from the design development, construction, and operational stages. For example, we will adopt a common data environment for the project team, and use technology for project monitoring, defects checking and security systems, among others. Through the years, we have been pushing the boundary of our sustainability journey to not only reduce the overall energy consumption and emissions but also secure a more sustainable future and resilient urban landscape for future generations. We are committed to promoting sustainable development throughout Vietnam. How will Soilbuilds ready-built complexes be equipped to optimise operations for their tenants? As a forward-looking developer, we strive to incorporate the latest technology in the design, construction, and operation of all our developments. In one of our latest high-spec developments, Tai Seng Exchange in Singapore, we have effectively utilised technology to create a smart and sustainable building that optimises operations for tenants. Tai Seng Exchange has been named Best Industrial Smart Building Development by PropertyGurus Asia Property Awards. Examples of technologies implemented include the new-generation building management system - a state-of-the-art to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability; lift destination control system to improve the security and efficiency of the buildings elevator system by directing passengers to the most appropriate lift; motion sensors in common areas to detect movement and manage lighting and energy usage efficiently; and photocell sensors in a car park to automatically adjust lighting based on natural light availability, further reducing energy consumption. These technologies reflect our commitment to leveraging innovation to create cutting-edge, eco-friendly developments that meet the needs of our tenants. How does Soilbuild incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into its building design and operation? Soilbuilds approach to integrating ESG policies into its building design and operations emphasises multiplying the green to ensure that both sustainability and responsible practices are embedded at every stage of the assets life cycle from design and construction to operation and maintenance, and occupiers operations. Innovative design features such as natural ventilation achieved through wind simulation strategy, rainwater harvesting, and green spaces are incorporated to enhance sustainability and promote wellbeing in our latest development, Tai Seng Exchange in Singapore. Sustainable construction practices like selecting eco-friendly materials, utilising low volatile organic compound paint, reducing waste, and implementing efficient building techniques are also incorporated. In the maintenance of our green buildings, we adopt energy-efficient systems, smart building technologies, and effective waste management strategies. By continuously monitoring and optimising building performance through our new generation building management system, we maximise energy savings and reduce environmental impact. We also engage with building occupiers through green leases to encourage them to incorporate energy-saving practices, and waste reduction in their operations. By multiplying the green through the entire life cycle of the asset, Soilbuild not only reduces its environmental footprint but also enhances social responsibility and governance standards, creating a positive impact on the community and the environment. Ben Ding Khoon Yew, general director of Soilbuild International (Vietnam) At the VIPF 2024 (on July 30), Ben Ding Khoon Yew, general director of Soilbuild International (Vietnam) shared about the experience of developing green and ecological industrial parks (IPs) in Vietnam and other countries, as well as sustainable journey of Soilbuild. "We are paying a lot of attention on sustainable development," he confirmed. Despite being a new player in Vietnamese market, Soilbuild - an integrated real estate and construction company, has already run for 47 years in Singapore, and presented in Myanmar, the United Kingdom, and Australia with a portfolio of industrial, commercial and residential buildings. The journey of Soilbuild started in 2010 before sustainability became a key theme in Asia, Solaris@One North, a business hub in Singapore, had achieved the then-highest sustainability standards of Green Mark Platinum in Singapore. Key features include using natural lights and ventilations, building green belts and shields, and water harvesting. Numerous Soilbuilds buildings have achieved various standards of Green Mark and LEED Platinum status since then. "We have won bidding of numerous key projects thanks to green factors," Ben emphasised. With the progression of technologies, the latest Green Mark Platinum building, the Tai Seng Exchange (TSX) in Singapore has integrated technologies into the design, such as wind simulation to optimise ventilation, sensors, lift destination control system, and new generation building management system. Soilbuild obtained a green loan for the building. As a continuing its sustainability journey, Soilbuild is pushing even higher limits with the next building in Tampines Singapore to obtain Green Mark Platinum SLE (Super Low Energy), which requires more than 60 per cent energy savings. The ultimate goal will be net zero (NE) and positive energy (PE) buildings. Coming from Singapore, we have benefited from the adoption of technologies. Through the years, we have been pushing the boundary of our sustainability journey to not only reduce overall energy consumption and emissions but also secure a more sustainable future and resilient urban landscape for future generations. We are committed to promoting sustainable development in Vietnam, Yew affirmed. 3D design of Spectrum Nghe An ready-built factories and offices In Vietnam, the first project of the ready-built factory in Nghe An is being built to LEED certification standard, continuing the sustainability journey from its home country Singapore. Soilbuild is an early adopter of sustainability. Our approach to integrating ESG (environmental, social, and governmental) policies into its building design emphasises multiplying the green to ensure that sustainability is embedded at every stage of the asset's life cyclefrom design to construction, operation and maintenance, and occupiers' operations, Ben said. In COP26 (in 2021), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made a commitment to stop deforestation by 2030 and phase out coal-fueled power generation by 2040, with ultimate goal to reach net zero carbon emission target by 2050. Yew highly appreciated Vietnam to make significant strides in industrial sustainable development, focusing on various sectors such as energy, environment, and social development. "We see that Vietnam is considering a carbon tax, which is also a good sign. Vietnam's greening roadmap is very encouraging, which helps businesses develop more responsibly," he said. "Numerous companies in the world have conducted annual sustainability reports and this should also be encouraged by the Vietnamese government so that all large- to small-scale companies, everyone should conduct this report annually." In addition, in order for businesses to participate more deeply in green development, green finance, which has yet to be popular in Vietnam, must also grow. "The government should unified with banks to develop frameworks for implementing this programme, while financial institutions should also create more attractive incentives for stakeholders to focus on green production," he suggested. In Tai Seng Exchange, Soilbuild has effectively utilised technology to create a smart and sustainable building that optimises operations for tenants. Tai Seng Exchange has been awarded the Best Industrial Smart Building Development by PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. Several technologies are integrated into the design of the building, including the functionality of the development like how to leverage wind simulation to optimise natural ventilation in some of our developments taking into consideration the functionality of the particular space like a podium. Soilbuild provides of infrastructure that promotes sustainable practices among all stakeholders like charging points for e-fork lifts, e-vehicles, LED lighting, and solar panels that will encourage other stakeholders to adopt green practices. A new state-of-the-art generation building management system will enhance operational efficiency and sustainability, while a lift destination control system will improve the security and efficiency of the building's elevator system by directing passengers to the most appropriate lift. Soilbuild's factories are equipped with motion sensors in common areas to detect movement to manage lighting and energy usage efficiently, and photocell sensors in car parks to automatically adjust lighting based on natural light availability, further reducing energy consumption. Nghe An approves $45 million Singaporean factory system plan Nghe An People's Committee has awarded an investment certificate to Soilbuild Group Holdings to develop a system of ready-built factories and offices located in WHA Industrial Zone 1. Soilbuild extends horizons into Vietnams industrial real estate Soilbuild Group Holdings, an integrated real estate group in Singapore, has broadened its investment in the industrial real estate segment in Vietnam through its Soilbuild International division. Foreign investment in the electronics sector has been a key engine in Vietnams economic growth and job creation. Between 2014 and 2023, Vietnam accounted for 10 per cent of electronics foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asia, just behind India and China. The semiconductor industry in Vietnam has experienced remarkable growth lately, transforming the country from a traditional manufacturing hub to a global player. Manager Ly Nguyen (left) and associate Tu Nguyen of the Tony Blair Institute Vietnam Major industry giants have recognised this potential: Samsung has committed to a $1 billion annual investment in Vietnam; Amkor has pledged $1.6 billion in chip assembly and testing in the Bac Ninh province; and Foxconn is set to invest an additional $550 million in Quang Ninh province. Vietnams strategic advantages make it a compelling destination for FDI. Its location as a gateway to Southeast Asia and proximity to China position it as a regional trade and investment hub. The countrys robust economic growth and swift recovery from the pandemic, with GDP growth reaching 6.93 per cent in Q2/2024, further bolster its appeal. The International Monetary Fund projects Vietnam to be among the top 10 fastest-growing countries over the next five years, underscoring its potential for investors. Vietnams participation in various free trade agreements and its membership in ASEAN have made the country more attractive as a manufacturing destination. Recent comprehensive strategic partnerships with the United States, Japan, and Australia will also facilitate Vietnams trade with these markets moving forward. The Vietnamese governments prioritisation of high-tech industries is evident in the establishment of numerous industrial parks (IPs) and high-tech zones, such as Saigon High-Tech Park and Hoa Lac High-Tech Park. Investors coming to these parks are offered incentives such as tax breaks and land use fee reductions. Furthermore, an increasing number of non-specialised complexes, including Yen Phong IP in Bac Ninh and Yen Binh IP in Bac Giang province, are increasingly catering to the needs of high-tech enterprises, enhancing Vietnams attractiveness as a destination for high-tech FDI. Addressing limitations However, the impressive figures in the number of registered projects or jobs created do not necessarily reflect the level of complexity and value creation in Vietnam. In the semiconductor industry, which is one of the most strategic and competitive industries globally, the number and size of registered projects in Vietnam are still modest, not just compared to established markets such as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, but also to neighbouring markets such as Singapore and Malaysia, followed by Indonesia and Thailand. Vietnams semiconductor sector is still at a nascent stage, with the industrys revenue expected to reach $18.23 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.48 per cent between now and 2029. While the growth potential is there, the countrys market size remains minuscule compared to that of the global market, which is projected to reach $607.4 billion in 2024. This is because most investments in Vietnam currently focus on semiconductor downstream activities of assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP), the lower-margin end of the semiconductor value chain. Challenges remain to be addressed if Vietnam wants to draw in more specialised and sophisticated investments. Firstly, while Vietnam is emerging as an export hub for high-tech products, its supplier network remains limited, focusing primarily on lower-value components. IPs often cannot facilitate supplier matchmaking or identify export markets, which is crucial for ensuring a reliable component supply for large-scale manufacturers. This limitation hinders the development of a comprehensive high-tech supply chain. Another concern investors have is the quantity and quality of high-tech engineers in Vietnam. The current number of chip engineers in Vietnam is estimated at some 5,000, and training programmes often do not align with market needs. This underscores the necessity for enhanced coordination among stakeholders, including industry players, academia, and governments, to develop targeted training programmes to meet industry needs. While there have been efforts by the government to provide incentives for investors in high-tech, these incentives are still modest compared to other markets. Competing countries such as Malaysia offer significant incentive packages consisting of tax breaks, subsidies, visa exemption fees, and streamlined processes. Vietnam can use mechanisms such as the upcoming Investment Support Fund to provide additional incentives for high-tech investors. Stable energy supplies are critical for energy-intensive activities such as high-tech assembly and manufacturing, but this has been a challenge, particularly in the north. Investors are increasingly prioritising clean energy sources to meet their global sustainability commitments. Recent initiatives, such as the direct power purchase agreement, aim to facilitate the use of renewable energy. Initiatives such as this highlight the role of IPs in ensuring a stable and clean energy supply. While Vietnam is emerging as an export hub for high-tech products, its supplier network remains limited in places Long-term building Realising the tremendous opportunities that the semiconductor industry has to offer, the Vietnamese government has commenced the development of a strategy for the industry. Given finite resources, the country should develop its semiconductor industry in a targeted and phased manner by focusing on segments that are attractive to investors while also bringing sustainable socioeconomic benefits to Vietnam. Based on these criteria, the most immediate priority should be leveraging its capacities in semiconductor ATP to target potential investors in this segment. Another segment wherein Vietnam has the potential to excel in the short term is semiconductor research and development (R&D). In the long term, Vietnam should invest in building up its capacities in wafer fabrication, the most capital-intensive segment in the semiconductor value chain. This would involve investing in highly qualified chip engineers, a strong regulatory environment with streamlined business procedures and intellectual property protection, and reliable and clean sources of energy. Besides existing incentives for high-tech park investments, such as corporate income tax and tax holidays, global investors are increasingly looking for IPs that offer facilities for circular economy development to meet their environmental, social, and governance commitments. Specifically, the renewable energy directive adopted in 2023 raised the EUs binding renewable target for 2030 to a minimum of 42.5 per cent, up from the previous 32 per cent target, almost double the existing share of renewables. As a result, investors are encouraged to seek opportunities where their investments can make a significant impact on the renewable energy transition. To increase their competitiveness, the government, and IP developers must integrate waste and wastewater management facilities, provide options for clean and renewable energies in existing and future IPs, and consider incentives for companies utilising or developing alternative energy options. In an increasingly competitive landscape, it is paramount that Vietnam develops a more streamlined business process to entice foreign investments. This requires simplifying administrative procedures, taking a customer service mindset when working with foreign investors by providing timely responses to their requests, and being responsive to investor queries. Investors looking for manufacturing locations will be increasingly interested in the presence of a robust supply chain and proximity to local talents, R&D centres, and academia to support innovation and synergies. Therefore, it is crucial that Vietnam consider these factors when developing electronics and semiconductor clusters across the country. Vietnams electronics clusters exist in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, and Ho Chi Minh City, primarily attributable to major players such as Samsung in the north and Intel in the south. More can be done to develop these clusters into vibrant, high-tech ecosystems. Vietnam is strategically poised to engage foreign investment in semiconductors. However, the window of opportunity will only be available for so long. If it does not act quickly, it will lose out to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia or Singapore, which have a solid line-up of local chip talents, a history of up to five decades in semiconductor supply chains, and established infrastructure and investment attraction capacity. Vietnam to ramp up its semiconductor workforce Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued directives in July for two ministries, focusing on developing the semiconductor sectors workforce. Vietnamese and US partners sign deals to propel semiconductor and IT sectors A groundbreaking MoU was signed between a leading Vietnamese entity and multiple companies in the United States on July 18, marking a significant milestone in the semiconductor industry. Appetite for high-growth stocks linked to semiconductors, AI and digital assets Investors are scouting for high-growth stocks related to semiconductors and AI as well as acquiring digital assets, heard a recent panel discussion about investment opportunities in H2. After nearly 65 years of producing high-quality goods, Tien Phong Plastic has left a strong impression in its offerings of plastic pipes and fittings in Vietnam. The company has made efforts to produce, research, and supply more than 10,000 assorted types of high-quality, international-compliant products. Tien Phong Plastic: a master of greener standards Thanks to these efforts, the company has made a significant contribution to the development of sustainable buildings in Vietnam, thereby contributing to protecting the ecosystem and environment for the community. Deputy general director Tran Nhat Ninh stated, Alongside business goals, we are strongly determined to pursue a green brand as part of its sustainable development strategy. We have actively adopted green standards in manufacturing and fully converted to additives that are safe for consumers health and the companys wastewater in 2024. Tien Phong Plastic strictly complies with national standards, technical regulations, and international standards in operation processes. As a result, it can master technologies, optimise operation productivity, and take the lead in producing safe, eco-friendly, and market-oriented products, serving consumer needs across various industries and opening up collaboration opportunities for the company with local and foreign companies. It has also gained the trust of international corporations like Battenfeld Cincinnati, Corma, Iplex, and Sekisui to strengthen collaboration and technology transfer. Thus, the company can produce top products for international markets, such as 2-layer PP corrugated plastic pipes and uPVC drainage pipes and fittings, which are specialised products for drainage systems. Tien Phong Plastic is the first company in Southeast Asia and the only company in Vietnam to produce large-sized HDPE pipes and 2-layer PE twisted ribbed pipes, offering more innovative and convenient technical construction solutions to the Vietnamese market. In addition, it has also cooperated with Japanese group Sekisui Chemical in researching and producing CPVC pipes and fittings used for fire protection systems. The new products can replace galvanised steel pipes and cross-wave underground regulation reservoirs that have a capacity of several hundred to several thousand cubic metres of water. They can also be reused and are flexible in many terrains, which help reduce flooding and ensure ecosystem safety. Meanwhile, the uPVC inspection chamber, which has been produced by the company for over a decade, offers a solution to regulate the flow of the drainage system, contributing to improving the living environment in line with global green consumption trends. Large corporations such as Minh Phu Group, PC1 Group, and Shinec have become strategic partners of Tien Phong Plastic, which have partly helped pave the way for the company to expand its market share, meeting different demands in several industries both in local and international markets. With great efforts to drive innovation and corporate social responsibility, Tien Phong Plastic has also made a contribution to help Vietnam realise its commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, which is also aligned with the National Green Growth Strategy towards 2030 and beyond. VIR and VIREA honour industrial property developers for green transformation strategies The forum took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 30, with the theme "Going green for new investment waves". Pham Phu Ngoc Trai, chairman of GIBC, and an expert on the circular economy, said, We highly appreciate the organising board in providing voting criteria that highlighted the economic benefits of compliance with environmental requirements and regulations and technological innovation. Industrial developers and businesses should continue to ensure compliance with environmental regulations to move towards sustainable development and international integration, said Trai. Vietnam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) Joint Venture Company VSIP is a joint venture between Vietnam's Becamex IDC Corporation and a Singaporean consortium led by Sembcorp Development. VSIP currently operates nine IPs nationwide, attracting more than $15 billion in foreign investment with 880 tenants from more than 30 countries and territories, creating over 250,000 jobs. VSIP currently boasts 80 domestic and international awards and certifications. VSIPs are an exemplary and modern example of green and sustainable development. AMATA VN Public JSC AMATA, a leading industrial real estate group from Thailand with over 30 years of experience in Vietnam, currently owns four IPs across Dong Nai, Quang Ninh, and Quang Tri provinces, and two integrated urban area projects. AMATA has more than 3,000 hectares that have attracted 220 investors with total investment of $6 billion, creating more than 60,000 jobs. With a strategic orientation for sustainable development under the concept of a "smart city", AMATA in Vietnam has been accompanying customers, partners, international organisations, and agencies in piloting and implementing the construction of model eco-IPs. Frasers Property Vietnam Co., Ltd. Frasers Property Vietnam Co., Ltd. is a Singapore-headquartered multinational company with extensive experience in owning, operating, and developing diverse products and services in the real estate sector. Frasers Property owns, develops, and manages more than 180ha of industrial land in key strategic locations in the north and south of Vietnam. The company has built more than one million square metres of infrastructure, factories, and warehouses according to green building standards that are fully adapted to the needs of the domestic manufacturing economy. The Eco Logistics Centre project managed and operated by Frasers Property Vietnam was the first ready-built warehouse project in Vietnam to be certified as a LEED Green Building by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Viglacera Corporation As an enterprise which specialises in construction materials manufacturing, real estate investment, and trading, Viglacera has pioneered the application of green technology in its products, helping to reduce carbon emissions and save energy. Viglacera's orientation is to develop green, smart IPs, aiming to establish ecological IPs to gradually contribute to reducing the "carbon footprint". With 25 years of IP development, attracting nearly $18 billion in foreign investment from more than 400 domestic and foreign enterprises, Viglacera says that all IP projects must follow green criteria to satisfy the high demands of partners and customers. Shinec JSC Shinec was established in 2001, headquartered in Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park, Thuy Nguyen district, Haiphong. The company plans to invest in the construction and trading of IPs with an ecological orientation nationwide and utility services. Shinec has successfully invested in developing Nam Cau Kien IP with an area of 263ha. Shinec is expanding eco-IPs nationwide covering 3,500ha, hoping to spread the image of Nam Cau Kien IP with green footprints and "happiness" to other investors. Vietnam's industrial property needs to keep up with new investment wave As a new wave of foreign funds flows into Vietnam, the nation's industrial property segment needs to adapt to satisfy the demand. Robust answers can ensure new industrial capital flows Although foreign investment is generally on a downward trend globally, Vietnam continues to be assessed as a bright spot for inflows, particularly in industrial real estate. Industrial parks strive to level up Industrial, service, and urban zones with smart technology application in operation and management of technical infrastructure will become hot development trends in the Vietnamese market, especially when it comes to some of the nations biggest foreign investors. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is targeting the Trump ticket with a new assault strategy: dubbing the candidates "weird." The two-term governor, seen as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, said he calls it like he sees it. "These guys are just weird," Walz, 60, said last week on MSNBC's Morning Joe, referring to Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance. "They're running for He-Man Woman Haters Club or something," he joked. "Their policies are what destroyed rural America," Walz added. They've divided us there in our exam rooms," he added. They're telling us what books to read ... You look at what they're [Trump] talking about. They went right to division." Speaking with CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday, Walz doubled down on his now-viral remarks. "Listen to the guy, he noted, referring to Trump, "he's talking about Hannibal Lecter and shocking sharks and just whatever crazy thing pops into his mind." He added: "My observation on this is: have you ever seen the guy laugh? That seems very weird to me, that an adult can go through six-and-a-half years of being in the public eye, if he has laughed, it's at someone, not with someone," Walz continued. "That is weird behavior." Kamala Harris' campaign seems to be testing out Walz's "weird" strategy, with even the Harris campaign getting behind the movement. In campaign statement issued Thursday on the TV appearance of a "78-Year-Old Criminal," asked: "After watching Fox News this morning we only have one question, is Donald Trump okay?" The campaign listed confusing bullet points of its "main takeaways" from Trump's interview, including, "Trump is old and quite weird?" During an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also got behind the Democrats' new line of attack and accused Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance of being "weird." "Every day, it comes out Vance has done something more extreme, more weird, more erratic. Vance seems to be more erratic and more extreme than President Trump," said Schumer. "And I'll bet President Trump is sitting there scratching his head and wondering, 'Why did I pick this guy?" he added. "The choice may be one of the best things he ever did for Democrats." WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been sentenced to prison for allegedly misleading authorities when he bought a shotgun in 2022. Judge C.J. Williams sentenced David Jerald Samuell Chiles, 35, to four years and three months behind bars on charges of false statement during a firearm purchase and felon in possession of a firearm during a hearing July 23 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. The sentence was on the low end of federal sentencing guideline recommendations. Prosecutors said Chiles is prohibited from handling firearms because of a 2011 felony forgery conviction in Texas and because he used methamphetamine and marijuana. He allegedly didnt disclose his conviction when he purchased a Mossberg Maverick 88 shotgun in August 2022. About two weeks later, he pawned the shotgun as collateral for a loan, according to court records. Then in October 2023, Fayette County sheriffs deputies searching a Wadena home on an unrelated matter found Chiles along with a loaded .22-caliber Heckler and Koch 416D rifle and meth, records state. A heroic sheriff's deputy rescued a Rottweiler and her four puppies after they were abandoned while residents fled a raging wildfire in a remote area of Northern California. A heartwarming video posted on social media on Sunday shows the four puppies trotting ahead of their clearly exhausted mother on a dirt road as they trailed deputy Trevor Skaggs to a waiting helicopter following the three-day ordeal. The dogs' owner had to leave the pets behind after the truck carrying them broke down during the evacuation Wednesday evening, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted on Facebook. The unidentified owner told authorities where the truck was parked in a remote area near Campbellville but a rescue couldn't be attempted at the time due to the blaze, the sheriff's office said. On Saturday, Skaggs, a member of the sheriff's Search and Rescue team, was flown by helicopter and dropped off nearby. He then ran 1 1/2 miles to the truck and "found the puppies and mother alive, but tired and very thirsty," according to the sheriff's office. "Unfortunately, the puppies' father was found to have not survived," the statement said. Skaggs gave the mother and her puppies water and pieces of a protein bar, then coaxed them into following him back to the chopper. "The puppies and their mother were then flown to the Chico Airport and are now being cared for by members of the North Valley Animal Disaster Group," the sheriff's office said. "It's been a horrific few days for our community and we are grateful to be able to share this amazing story. The blaze, dubbed the Park Fire, erupted Wednesday afternoon and covered more than 368,000 acres with just 12% contained as of Monday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It's the state's largest wildfire of the 2024 season and has been blamed on Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, who allegedly pushed a burning car into a gully at Upper Bidwell Park in Chico. Stout, who has previous convictions for child sex crimes and robbery, was arrested early Thursday and was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday. Russian Defence Ministry report on progress of special military operation (29 July 2024) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to carry out a special military operation. The Sever Group of Forces has engaged manpower and hardware of the 150th Mechanised Brigade, 71st Jaeger Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 103rd and 127th territorial defence brigades of Pavlovka, Konstantinovka (Sumy region), Staritsa, Okhrimovka, Volchansk, and Tikhoye (Kharkov region). Five counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 42nd Mechanised, 57th Motorised Infantry, and 92nd Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been repelled during the day. The enemys losses amounted to more than 220 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, one Turkish-made Kirpi armoured fighting vehicle, three pick-up trucks, one German-made 155-mm Panzerhaubitzer 2000, one 152-mm Giatsint-B gun, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. In addition, an Anklav-N electronic warfare station, a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery warfare station, and an ammunition depot were destroyed. The Zapad Group of Forces has improved the situation along the front line, defeated formations of the 14th, 44th, 115th, 116th mechanised, 3rd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 110th, 112th, 125th territorial defence brigades, and 12th Azov Special Brigade in the vicinity of Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Nadiya, Makeyevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Terny, Torskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. Three counter-attacks launched by the 66th and 67th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The AFU losses included up to 480 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 14 motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one UK-made 105-mm M119 and one UK-made 105-mm L-119 guns. Moreover, four field ammunition depots were destroyed. The Yug Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and positions. They have engaged manpower and hardware of the 23rd, 24th, 28th, 54th, 72nd mechanised, 59th motorised infantry, 79th air assault, 81st airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 117th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Verkhnekamenskoye, Bondarnoye, Chasov Yar, Katerinovka, Krasnogorovka, and Maksimilyanovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by the 5th Assault and 46th Airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled by Russian troops. The enemys losses amounted to up to 570 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer. In addition, an Anklav-N electronic warfare station and five field ammunition depots were destroyed. The Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Volchye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and improved the tactical situation. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on the 31st, 32nd mechanised, 68th Jaeger, 1st Tank brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 109th and 241st territorial defence brigades have been hit near Druzhba, Toretsk, Novgorodskoye, Rozovka, Ivanovka, Novogrodovka, and Novosyolovka Pervaya (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Eight counter-attacks launched by the 47th, 53rd, 151st mechanised, 114th infantry, 95th Air Assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Lyut Brigade of the National Police were repelled during the day. The enemy losses amounted to up to 400 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, to include one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun. The Vostok Group of Forces has improved the situation along the front line, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 72nd Mechanised, 58th Motorised Infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 102nd, 123rd, and 128th Territorial Defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Prechistovka, Makarovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Gulyaipole (Zaporozhye region). The enemy suffered losses of up to 130 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five motor vehicles, two UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzers, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer. The Dnepr Group of Forces has engaged the 65th Mechanised, 141st Infantry, 128th Mountain Assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 35th Marine Brigade near Novodanilovka, Lobkovoye, Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region), and Tyaginka (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one Anklav-N electronic warfare station, and two field ammunition depots. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have neutralised one Ukrainian Su-25 ground-attack aircraft, one ATCR-33S and one Skala-M air traffic control stations on the airfield; and hit clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 127 areas during the day. Russian air defence systems shot down two French-made Hammer guided bombs, five U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, and 68 unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, 631 aircraft and 278 helicopters, 28,647 unmanned aerial vehicles, 556 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,714 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,392 MLRS combat vehicles, 12,535 field artillery guns and mortars, and 24,178 units of special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation. Tags: WtR 39-year-old Robert Matthew Richards of Saratoga Springs, Utah has been identified as a suspect in the murder of 25-year-old Sara Filiatraut, according to a release from the Lyon County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office has been investigating the disappearance of Filiatraut since April 15th of this year. They discovered her remains in a remote area of Churchill County on May 22. An autopsy determined her cause of death as a homicide. The suspect, Richards, was working and staying in the Fernley area when Filiatraut went missing and left Nevada a short time later according to the Sheriff's Office. When Filiatraut's remains were found detectives learned that Richards was staying and working in Colorado. Detectives went to Colorado and with the assistance of the Grand County Sheriffs Office, as well as the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, executed a search warrant and collected several pieces of evidence. That evidence led to an arrest warrant being issued for Richards. That warrant charged him with one count of first-degree murder. On July 29th Richards was arrested in Utah in an operation including Lyon County Sheriff's Office detectives as well as local law enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service. Richards was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail in Salt Lake City where he will remain until he is extradited to Lyon County to face trial for the murder of Sara Filiatraut. Anyone with information in this investigation is urged to contact the Lyon County Sheriffs Office Investigations Division by email at detective@lyon-county.org or by phone at (775) 463-6600. The family of a 3-year-old boy fatally mauled by a pair of DOGS at a Minnesota home said he will donate his organs before doctors take him off life support. Loved ones will gather Monday night to say goodbye to Covil Allen during a hospital honor walk, according to a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising money for the boy's funeral costs. "This will honor Covil's life and save more children's lives in hopes that no other parent has to endure the pain that they are experiencing right now," the description read. Covil was brutally attacked by two dogs at a Brooklyn Park, Minnesota home July 19. According to a search warrant, the toddler and his family were at the home because "there was going to be a sale of dogs," and they planned to buy one, WCCO-TV reported. When the dogs pounced on Covil, several people tried to save him. "There were adults in the area that started to defend the 3-year-old by using hammers and pickaxes to get the dogs off," the warrant read. Responding officers saw the dogs "actively attacking" Covil and shot both dogs. One died at the scene, and another surviving dog was subsequently put down, said police, according to the outlet. The boy was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Covil's mother, Tasha Allen, was also attacked during the incident and has undergone several surgeries to her arms and legs, according to the fundraiser. The incident remains under investigation. It's unclear what charges, if any, the dog owners may face. Police refered to the dogs as pit bulls but the GoFundMe said they were bulldogs. Barbara Talisman isnt one for regrets. At age 64, she says, Im living my best life and enjoying it. Since retiring in August 2021, shes been pursuing a lifelong passion for travel as a permanent nomad: globe-trotting on cruises, hopscotching among house-sitting gigs, and sharing solo travel stories and hacks on her website, blog and podcast, Wheres BabZ. Members only But there is one thing Talisman wishes she could rewind: She didnt start putting away money for retirement until she was in her mid-50s, missing out on decades when she could have been growing a sizable nest egg. I never saved. I didn't learn financial education, I didnt know investing strategies, and my excuse was I was working for a nonprofit and not making a lot of money, she says. Gregory Reid Do you have a story to tell about a retirement decision you wish you could take back? Tell us about it retirement@aarp.org and we might include it in a future column. That was her first job out of college. Here I am at 24 years old. All this HR stuff appears on my desk. No orientation, just, Let us know if you have any questions. Living on a tight budget, she opted out of her employers retirement savings plan, a pattern shed repeat at subsequent jobs that treated retirement support in much the same way, she says it was heres the package and little else. Eventually, she says, I started my own consulting firm and was doing very well. But the pattern was set. Even then I chose travel over savings. My plan was to work forever. That plan ran aground after Talisman moved from Las Vegas to San Diego for what she thought would be a dream job in philanthropy and fundraising that turned out to be far from it. She decided to give retirement a try. At least by then, she had started putting some money away, if only because she was forced to. Six years earlier, her career had taken her to Australia, where employers are required by law to make minimum contributions on workers behalf to a government retirement plan. (This superannuation guarantee the super, for short is currently 11.5 percent of pay, rising to 12 percent in July 2025. Employees can make their own contributions on top of the employer-paid super.) Online shopping has its perks: You can shop in your underwear, the merchandise is delivered to your door and return policies are very liberal. Money-saving browser extensions can also help you enjoy maximum discounts. Members only Whats a browser extension? Its a module that you can download from your web browsers store to help you customize your shopping experience. Stores pay the companies that develop the browser extensions to send shoppers their way, and the companies send some of that money to you as cash back. When you shop, the extension works in the background to compare its list of discount offers against the pages youre on. When it finds a match, an offer will pop up right on the page so you can activate discounts or earn cash back. Be aware that your shopping behavior is being observed. Thats the price you pay for the added discounts. Here are four money-saving browser extensions based on trust and reputation, ease of use and features, cash back, rewards, discount performance and shopping partnerships. Honey says it wont sell data on your shopping habits Los Angeles-based Honey will compare prices among online retailers, alert you to price drops and offer coupons on purchases, when available, in addition to earning rewards points for cash back. It will also make suggestions and track prices using a unique best-price tracking feature. Paypal is its parent company, and Honeys sign-up terms include the promise that it will not sell your data to other companies. Former President Trumps signature 2017 tax law is having a ripple effect on scam victims: Theyre required to pay federal taxes on the money they lost. Its a nightmare scenario, as Kate Kleinert knows all too well. In August 2020, the retired secretary and widow began an online romance with a man posing as a United Nations surgeon in Iraq. As he supposedly traveled to meet her in Pennsylvania, he claimed hed been arrested and needed $20,000 for bail. Ultimately, she lost $39,000 in the scam. Then her tax accountant delivered shocking news: She owed $5,000 in federal taxes on the losses. Members only At first I didnt believe him, she says. I dont expect the government to give me back the money that I lost through the scam. But to not be able to get a tax break, when there are so many hundreds of frivolous tax breaks out there for people who hardly need them ... it was another smack in the face. (Kleinert now works with AARP to fight fraud.) The thief stole most of their life savings, now the government demands the rest, says Christopher Anderle, director of Legal Action of Wisconsins (LAW) Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. An income tax is supposed to tax those who have the ability to pay. Theft victims have lost the ability to pay, which is why, previously, they could deduct the loss. An April 2024 report, Scammed Then Taxed, from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, offered more examples of scam victims hit again by taxes, including Helen, a retiree in California who lost $277,000 almost her entire lifes savings to cybercriminals posing as Microsoft agents. She faces a potential tax liability of $60,000. Why the law changed and its impact So why was the deduction removed? No one really knows, says Anderle. Usually you get committee explanations about particular positions. There wasnt one here. It was a rushed process. There was no official reasoning behind why victims of theft should have their taxes so dramatically increased. Meanwhile, the law will likely affect an ever-growing number of people as scams increase in sophistication and frequency. Americans lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14 percent jump from 2022 and an astounding 317 percent rise since 2019, the Federal Trade Commission reported in February 2024. And yet the losses may be higher than the official numbers indicate, since many victims dont report their losses or seek tax assistance, says Anderle. GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson has named Louisiana Republican and conspiracy theorist Rep. Clay Higgins to a House task force to investigate the assassination attempt on Donald Trump earlier this month. Just months ago the hard-right lawmaker insisted with absolutely no evidence that "ghost buses" took agents provocateurs to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to instigate the insurrection. He has also claimed that the federal government is "waging a civil war" on Texas, and that the charges against Trump for removing classified documents from the White House was the result of a mysterious "perimeter probe" by unnamed "oppressors." President Trump said he has "been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM." This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS has this. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all. Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) June 9, 2023 Higgins, a member of the House Oversight Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, and chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, will be one of seven Republicans and six Democrats on the bipartisan panel. Johnson and House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries insisted in a joint statement that they have the "utmost confidence in this bipartisan group of steady, highly qualified and capable members of Congress to move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability and help make certain such failures never happen again." Higgins said in a statement he will be honored to serve on the high-profile investigation. "We will deliver the truth to the American people," he posted on X. The Task Force will have the House of Representatives full investigative authority, including subpoena power. Higgins' appointment was hailed by Trump supporters, but the lawmaker's critics erupted. Clay Higgins? Mr. Conspiracy? Great job. brian kenney (@hiegold) July 29, 2024 Clay Higgins, known for his unyielding commitment to conspiracy theories, has not shied away from promoting absurd claims. Recently, he propagated the bizarre "ghost buses" theory, alleging that FBI informants were transported to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, to incite the Chris Swart (@BwanaChris) July 29, 2024 Clay Higgins, known for his unyielding commitment to conspiracy theories, has not shied away from promoting absurd claims. Recently, he propagated the bizarre "ghost buses" theory, alleging that FBI informants were transported to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, to incite the Chris Swart (@BwanaChris) July 29, 2024 Republican Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, who witnessed the assassination, will lead the task force. Other Republican members of the panel are: Reps. Mark Green of Tennessee, David Joyce of Ohio, Laurel Lee and Michael Waltz of Florida, and Pat Fallon of Texas. The leading Democrat on the task force will be Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado. Other Democratic members are Reps. Lou Correa of California, Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Glenn Ivey of Maryland, and Jared Moskowitz of Florida The FBI has not determined the motivation of shooter and registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks when he opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One bullet grazed Trump's right ear as he spoke at the rally. Another bullet killed spectator and former Pennsylvania volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore. Two others in the crowd were seriously injured. Crooks sought information on the internet about appearances by other leading figures, including President Joe Biden and members of the royal family. The Secret Service has been sharply criticized for failing to take action earlier to stop Crooks who was seen by rally spectators and local police on the rooftop of a nearby building as much as 90 minutes before he opened fire. Hitmen used a jet ski to sneak up and open fire at rival drug dealers on a Mexican beach but wound up accidentally killing a local 10-year-old boy who was there with his family. The botched assassination attempt took place around 3 p.m. Sunday in the resort city of Cancun, according to the Mexican Rivera Maya News website. The state attorney general's office said that "initial investigations indicate that the attackers arrived by sea on a jet ski, shooting at some people presumably in a dispute over drug sales." A stray bullet reportedly hit the unidentified boy in the chest as he lay in a lounge chair on a hotel beach. He was rushed to a local hospital where he died, authorities said. The gunmen got away and the attorney general's office said it was "working to bring those responsible for this crime to justice." Cops in Southern California are driving the nation's first all-electric fleet of police cars after officials were jolted into giving up their old gas guzzlers. The South Pasadena Police Department unveiled a specially outfitted Tesla Model Y SUV with low-profile emergency lights, push bars and a black-and-white paint job with blue flourishes during a ceremony outside City Hall on Monday. Councilmember Michael Caccioitti, a regional air quality official, said the new, 20-vehicle fleet would eliminate emissions ordinarily caused when officers leave their cars idling during traffic stops or responding to calls, the Associated Press reported. "This is important, particularly in the Los Angeles area, which still has the most unhealthful air in the nation," said Cacciotti, who pushed for the switch. "We hope other police departments in the region and state will make the switch, too." The move came after satellite photos shot earlier this year showed parking lots full of Tesla EVs as the company struggled to sell off its inventory and laid off 10% of its global workforce in April. But after U.S. EV sales stalled during the first quarter of 2024, Kelley Blue Book said earlier this month that they grew by 11.3% during the second quarter, compared to the same period last year, buoyed in large part by new offerings from General Motors. The new police cars will cost city taxpayers $1.85 billion, with more than half the total cost paid for by local electricity companies and the state-funded Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, AP said. But it's expected to save South Pasadena about $4,000 on gas for each vehicle annually, and also reduce maintenance costs. In May, South Pasadena Police Chief Brian Solinksy said his department had been "investigating this transition for five to six years and determined that these electric vehicles will be the best operationally for us" and called the Teslas the "safest and fastest vehicles" available. In a video posted Monday on Facebook, police Sgt. Tony Abdalla said the department's existing fleet of gas-powered cars was "probably end of life about three to four years ago." Patrol officers who've tested out the Teslas gave them high marks for better handling and braking, including after a high-speed freeway chase in the rain, Abdalla said. "The officers said that they never would have continued with that pursuit in the cars that we were operating versus the Teslas," he said. Abdallah also said the driving range was "almost identical to the cars that were previously in service," adding, "We're able to get about another 200 miles of range in 15 minutes." Flam, a pioneering Mixed-Reality publishing platform, announces its latest MR advertisement with Aditya Birla Capital (ABC). This marks the addition of FinTech as a category on Flam; thus reaching a significant milestone. The experience is an immersive display, fortifying Aditya Birla Capital's support for Team India to win gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. ABC is also an official sponsor of the Indian Olympic Team. This collaboration introduces immersive experiences to the financial services sector, demonstrating Flam's versatility and adaptability across diverse industries. The partnership with Aditya Birla Capital represents a strategic entry of Flam into the Fintech sector. Knowing the secrets of producing interesting and creative content, Flam has transformed traditional print advertisements into dynamic, interactive experiences that can surely appeal to the targeted audience. This partnership unambiguously establishes Flam as a key market participant in mixed reality and demonstrates the companys versatility in adapting to the demands of various sectors. Flam has consistently pushed the boundaries of interactive advertising, delivering captivating experiences for brands like Britannia, Samsung, and AJIO, to name a few across various spheres such as F&B, Consumer Electronics, E-commerce, Real Estate, and more. With its proven track record and innovative technology, Flam now crosses a new frontier by getting into FinTech, Automobile, Banking, and more with mixed reality brand integrations lined up for the next 15 days and beyond. Outside its venture into Fintech, Flam continues to expand its footprint within existing sectors. With new partnerships in F&B and Real Estate in the pipeline, the brand is demonstrating its potential to drive growth for brands across various verticals. In this journey of expanding reach and influence, Flam remains committed to delivering exceptional mixed-reality experiences that are captivating and produce tangible results. The partnership with Aditya Birla Capital is a testament to Flam's ability to innovate and adapt, positioning the platform as a frontrunner in shaping the future of advertising. AkzoNobel, a global leader in paints and coatings, renowned for its Dulux Paints, celebrated five years of its flagship education initiative, Project Parivartan, with a colorful makeover for two government schools in the district. During the summer vacation, ten volunteers from AkzoNobels Mohali plant and skilled Dulux painters dedicated their time to create eight vibrant wall murals using nearly 700 liters of Dulux paint. These murals, designed to symbolize the boundless potential of the students, now serve as daily sources of inspiration. Rajiv Rajgopal, Chairman and Managing Director of AkzoNobel India, shared his enthusiasm, stating: As part of AkzoNobel Cares, we are honored to contribute to a more vibrant and empowered future for Mohalis youth. Project Parivartan not only enriches academic experiences but also fosters holistic development and access to quality healthcare for students and their families. The murals have been met with enthusiasm from the school community. Shubhwant Kaur, Head of Saneta Government High School, expressed: The children were ecstatic to return to school and see the colorful, inspirational murals. The vibrant colors now greet us every day. Sanjeev Kumar, Head of Mauli Baidwan Government High School, added: This transformation has positively impacted not just the school but also the local communitys perception of our institution. Launched in 2019 in collaboration with the Department of School Education (Government of Punjab), Project Parivartan supports nearly 2,000 children annually across five government high schools in Mohali. The initiative provides supplementary education, life-skills training on mental wellness, child sexual abuse awareness, and career counseling. AkzoNobel has also invested in infrastructure upgrades, including a science laboratory and donated 2,000 liters of Dulux paint for school renovations. Also Read : AkzoNobel India releases a new TVC In an era where fashion-conscious individuals face scrutiny and trolling for their style choices on social media platforms, Campus Activewear has launched its new brand campaign You GO Girl featuring Sonam Bajwa. The campaign intends to redefine narratives, encouraging women to courageously embrace their personal style, taking charge of their fashion journey. Beginning with a strong sentiment, LOG TOH KEHTE RAHENGE, LOGON KA KAAM HAIN KEHNA. DONT STOP FOR THE WORLD, DO YOUR THINGYOU GO, GIRL!, Campus sends a message to revolutionize fashion culture for women by breaking the old stereotypes associated with traditional footwear choices, and accepting their unique fashion statement. Therefore, Campus Activewears You GO Girl campaign aims to boost the confidence of Indian women and motivate them to create their own style with the new womens sneaker collection. Furthermore, the brand firmly upholds the belief that ideal footwear should seamlessly combine ease and style, ensuring no discomfort. Speaking of the campaign, Prerna Aggarwal, CMO, Campus Activewear Ltd said Campus is on a mission to transform the way women perceive footwear in India. By combining Sonam Bajwa's vibrant personality with our womens sneaker collection, we aim to empower women and encourage them to embrace their individuality and stride confidently in stylish yet comfortable footwear. The essence of the 'You GO Girl' campaign lies in motivating women to let go of unnecessary worries and focus on feeling confident and empowered in every step they take. This initiative marks a significant cultural shift in the realm of fashion, making it more inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for women across the country. Moreover, recent industry reports states that womens footwear segment in India is expected to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 20% until 2027. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, prefer highly comfortable footwear, and accessorising sneakers with almost every outfit has become a significant trend. Hence, the womens sneaker collection offers versatile designs suitable for various occasions, allowing customers to create their own fashion statements. From campus activities to office settings and social gatherings, the sneaker collection redefines the narrative around fashion. Speaking about the association and the campaign, Sonam Bajwa said, Gone are the days when womens footwear was limited to traditional collections. Today, sneakers have become an essential accessory in every woman's closet, suitable for any theme and occasion. The 'You Go Girl' campaign aims to further strengthen the fast-changing fashion narrative and motivate women to make their own fashion choices. I am glad to be a part of this campaign, empowering women to embrace their bold fashion statements. Fashion that defines you; style that brings out your authenticity and unique-self. To match the different occasions and settings, the sneaker collection features lifestyle shoes with chunky sole, classic court sneakers, and athleisure shoes with Nitrofly sole. Featuring Yasmin, OGL-06, Savvy, and other styles, the women's sneaker collection, is now available at Campus Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs), Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs), and exclusively on Myntra, with prices starting at INR 799. For more information, please visit Campus Activewear's Website or follow us on social media @CampusActivewear. CoinDCX, the largest crypto exchange in India, has elevated Mridul Gupta as its Founding Partner. In his new role, Mridul will be responsible for meeting the company's growth goals, focusing on international expansion, building high-performance teams, and driving profitability. In addition, Mridul will continue to be responsible for the India market, strengthening CoinDCXs product portfolio, marketing, partnerships, and operations to accelerate the firms strategic growth in India. Mridul joined CoinDCX in 2021 as its Chief Operating Officer and has been instrumental in building compliant crypto investment & trading products. His new position comes at a key point when the company has announced its international expansion plan in the Middle East and North Africa region with the acquisition of BitOasis. Sumit Gupta, Co-Founder of CoinDCX, said, Our vision is to enable access to Crypto & Web3 in a safe and compliant manner across the globe. Mridul has played a crucial role in scaling CoinDCX in India and has been instrumental in the BitOasis acquisition. As we scale up, shoring up revenues and launching new geographies will be key. Mriduls experience in launching operations across new geographies and turning them profitable will help CoinDCX transform to the next level. Mridul Gupta said, I firmly believe that crypto and web3 will go mainstream in the next 5 years and we are proudly leading this revolution across India and the Middle East. I am very excited for what lies ahead as we continue to innovate simple investment & trading platforms for retail users, build tailored solutions for institutions and create tools to explore Web3 for crypto enthusiasts. My vision is to transform CoinDCX as the most loved Crypto brand. I am thankful to Sumit, Neeraj and the entire CoinDCX team for their trust and support in me. An Electrical Engineering graduate from IIT Delhi, Mridul has ~15 years of experience in business, product and strategy roles across India and South East Asia. Prior to CoinDCX, he was the Chief Strategy Officer at Pine Labs. He has also worked at Stellaris Venture Partners, Goldman Sachs, his own startup and consulted multiple banks across India & South East Asia. He brings with him extensive experience in driving growth and scaling up capabilities of fast growing fintech organizations. Mridul is a firm proponent of the pivotal role crypto plays in the transformation of Indias economy for a decentralized future. Also read: BMEG Appoints Rohit Shaw as SVP, Rrahul Deo Manerao as West Business Head The halls of Le Meridien, Windsor Place, Connaught Place, New Delhi, buzzed with enthusiasm as the 2024 edition of India News Manch kicked off. Organized by iTV Network, this annual conclave once again gathered the best of India's political arena for a day of insightful dialogue and spirited debate. The event was broadcast live across all iTV Network stations, including India News, NewsX, and regional channels, ensuring that viewers nationwide could witness this grand spectacle. India News Manch 2024 promisedand deliveredunfiltered access to the minds of Indias political giants. The day was packed with extensive one-on-one discussions as the event was graced by several key political figures of India taking the centre stage at Manch to discuss pressing issues and challenges faced by the nation and its people, especially after the formation of the new NDA government. Attendees were treated to a star-studded lineup of special guests, including: The guest list for Manch featured prominent names including Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, Chairman of Media & Publicity at AICC Pawan Khera, Congress MP Manish Tewari, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, Lok Sabha MP Chandrashekhar Azad, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, President of Congress Overseas Sam Pitroda, Former Deputy CM of Haryana Dushyant Chautala, and several others. Watch India News Manch 2024: Here's What India's Leading Political Voices Said At the event,Union Minister Piyush Goyal revealed there will be a greater thrust of new reforms along with promising policy continuity. He revealed that they will soon be introducing BSIS standards so that 140 crore Indians get good quality footwear. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi further in the event discussed An engaging discussion on the Modi government's Viksit Bharat 2047 goal and the opposition's role in democratic processes. For Mission 2047, we aim to achieve 500 gigawatts by 2030. By 2047, our mission is to reduce emissions and increase renewable energy to achieve a developed Bharat. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated, Prime Minister Modi introduced the concept of Amrit Kaal, but this vision predates even the BJP, originating during the Jan Sangh era. The goal has always been to make India powerful, prosperous, and affluent. A vision of technological advancement was painted by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who enthused, India is transitioning from being a follower in 4G, walking alongside in 5G, to leading in 6G. This growth is evident across all sectors. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri underscored the vital role of energy in national development, lauding the potential of green fuels. He also took a critical stance on the Oil Bond Scheme, highlighting its detrimental effects on the country. SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav stated that the existing government was going to fall soon. He further extended the offer to anybody who wanted to join the party and make something out of themselves. The offer is open. This is the monsoon offer, and then we will have a winter discount, until the government falls, we will continue. Adding a touch of diplomacy, to the discussions, Pawan Khera, Chairman of Media & Publicity at AICC, made a notable remark about PM Modis 2024 general election results, saying, "He won and yet, in a way, he lost, but we won despite our loss in the elections. Further, giving the Conclave his opinion of the central governments recently presented Union Budget 2024, Congress MP Manish Tewari described it as essentially a reflection of the governments earnings and expenditures. For the past five years, I have been asking the government whether the increasing loans are for capital or revenue expenditure, and they have yet to provide a satisfactory answer, he said. AAP MP Sanjay Singh, used the platform to praise the Kejriwal leadership stating, "Under Arvind Kejriwals leadership, a new era of politics began in the country. He has been elected three times, and his work on education, water, electricity, and health has been significant. Initiatives like free bus rides for women and pilgrimage schemes for the elderly have garnered global attention" India News Manch lived up to its reputation as a platform for healthy debate and diverse perspectives. Attendees and viewers were treated to a full day of impactful conversations, insightful analysis, and robust debate on current national issues. For those who couldnt be there in person, the event was live streamed on Dailyhunt, ShemarooMe, Watcho, Mzaalo, Jio TV, Tata Sky, and PayTM. Stay updated on all the highlights and key moments by following India News and NewsX's social media platforms. Dont forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #IndiaNewsManch. Also read: iTV Network presents the 2024 edition of India News Manch At the revered India Today-Business Today Budget Round Table 2024 on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offered critical insights into the landmark internship initiative unveiled in Budget 2024-25. Addressing implementation concerns, she emphasized, "We still think it will be a nudge, we won't be enforcing anything on anybody." This collaborative approach intends to provide internships to 1 crore youth across India's top 500 companies, potentially revolutionizing the skilled labour landscape. Sitharaman emphasised the initiative's importance in bridging the gap between industry needs and available skills, marking a pivotal step in India's employment strategy. The high-profile event, co-powered by ICICI Direct and KIA's New Seltos, featured over 25 top industry leaders and more than 200 attendees. It served as Sitharaman's significant media engagement following her presentation of a record seventh consecutive Budget, focussing on decoding the intricate financial road map and outlining strategies to achieve Viksit Bharat through robust dialogue with business titans crucial to the nation's economic ascent. The India Today-Business Today Budget Round Table assembled an impressive roster of industry leaders and experts. Besides the Finance Minister, those who spoke at the event included Ajay Seth (DEA Secretary), Ravi Agarwal (CBDT Chairman), and Sanjay Kumar Agarwal (CBIC Chairman), Vinod Aggarwal (VE Commercial Vehicles), Kunal Bahl (Acevector Group), Dhruv Agarwala (Housing.com), Vineet Agarwal (Transport Corporation of India), Dr. Aashish Chaudhary (Aakash Healthcare), Dhirendra Kumar (Value Research), Ashu Madan (JM Financial Services), Vijay Kedia (Kedia Securities), Dr. Surjit Bhalla (former IMF ED), Abheek Barua (HDFC Bank), Aditi Nayar (ICRA), Rajiv Memani (EY India), Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Info Edge), Jayant Sinha (former MoS Finance), Prof Gourav Vallabh(BJP), Krishna Prasad Tenneti (TDP), Sushmita Dev (All India Trinamool Congress), Salman Soz (Congress), Ashok Gulati (ICRIER), and Ajay Vir Jakhar (Bharat Krishak Samaj). Key takeaways from the sessions included insights on the Budget's impact across various sectors such as commercial vehicles, e-commerce, real estate, logistics, and healthcare. Discussions focussed on India's journey towards self-reliance in markets, fiscal implications, employment prospects, and farmer welfare. The event also explored the intricacies of Budget formulation and implementation strategies. Political perspectives on the Budget were debated, and Finance Minister Sitharaman outlined the government's vision for a developed India, addressing industry concerns and strategies for economic growth. The India Today-Business Today Budget Round Table 2024 successfully brought together government officials, industry leaders, and economic experts for a comprehensive analysis of the Union Budget. This landmark event fostered crucial dialogues on India's economic future, exploring strategies for growth across various sectors and provided valuable insights into the nation's path towards becoming a developed economy. Also Read : India Today and Microsoft launch Lok Sabha Elections 2024 coverage London International Awards has announced the Digital and Use of Social Media & Influencers and Music & Sound juries with Malcolm Poynton, Global Chief Creative Officer/ President Creative, Cheil Worldwide as Jury President for the Digital and Use of Social Media & Influencers competitions. Chairing the Music & Sound Jury will be Carol Dunn, Managing Director, Barking Owl, Los Angeles. They will lead their respective juries onsite at Encore @ Wynn, Las Vegas, where they will view and judge all work that has been submitted into their respective categories. As there is no off-site pre-judging, all jurors are fully involved in all rounds of judging, so everyone is privy to the final results before they are published. The internet and digital access unlocked a whole new world for advertising. Brands quickly harnessed the power of social media platforms. Consumers can now actively comment, share and participate in promoting a brand. Gone are the days when blanket-marketing method was used. Consumers want brands to talk specifically to them. Malcolm Poynton is passionate about redefining how brands connect with consumers. He is a recognized industry thought leader and champion of how brands can grow, while positively impacting societies. One of the industrys most awarded creatives, he is recognized by AdAge as one of the Worlds Top 10 Digital Minds. On chairing the Digital and Use of Social Media & Influencers Jury, Malcolm Poynton said, Digital, social & influencer marketing is the most exciting, fast-moving space for creativity today. Its where elections are won, brands are built and fails become memes. Im looking forward to working with the incredibly talented LIA jury to shine a light on whats been hot in 2024. The importance of music and sound design cannot be downplayed. Aligning the right music and sound to the visuals sets the atmosphere. These essential components can elevate the emotional connection of a piece of creative work, enhance recall and brand identity. As Leo Tolstoy once rightly said: Music is the shorthand of emotion. Carol Dunns music career stretches over 30 years, which began on the label side as a switchboard operator at Capitol Records. By being inquisitive and sharing her love of music & film with renowned music supervisor, Karyn Rachtman (Clueless, Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty), she was able to parlay that position from answering phones to sitting behind her own desk and helping produce notable soundtracks such as, Boogie Nights, Stealing Beauty, Baz Lurhmanns Romeo + Juliet, Mystery Men, Bulworth, Rugrats I & II and Office Space, to name a few. As the landscape of how music is delivered began moving from actual records & CDs to streams and downloads, her career moved over to music publishing, where she sharpened her synch chops even further. From publishing, she moved directly onto the advertising side and has not looked back. In accepting the honour as Jury President of Music & Sound, Carol Dunn stated, I am honoured to have been named the LIA Music & Sound Jury President for 2024. My passion for integrating music with visuals has propelled me into a position where I can collaborate with some of the most skilled individuals in the industry. The opportunity to assess the work of my peers and be consistently impressed speaks volumes about the dedication and expertise we all have. Judging the subjectivity of creativity while prioritizing craftsmanship demonstrates an understanding of the nuances involved in evaluating artistic endeavors. As the leader of the jury, I have the important responsibility of facilitating discussions to determine the winners. Barbara Levy, President of LIA, said, We engage with digital technology and with music in our everyday life. We cannot imagine a world without either both powerful media that can move people and leave a lasting impression. We have two very strong Jury Presidents and Jury members for these competitions. People who are the top in the business. And when you have the top people judging, you are assured that only great work will make the cut. Digital and Use of Social Media & Influencers Jury Malcolm Poynton, Global Chief Creative Officer / President Creative, Cheil Worldwide Jury President Jill Applebaum, Chief Creative Officer, Public Inc, New York Frank Cartagena, US CEO, MullenLowe US Juliana Constantino, Executive Creative Director, Pereira ODell, New York Anthony Dever, Head of Creative & Brand Consultancy, TikTok, Sydney Graham Drew, Chief Creative Officer, Grey Malaysia & Singapore Harry Elonen, Senior Brand Manager, Mojang Studios, Stockholm Daniel Fisher, Global Executive Creative Director, Unilever and Special Projects, Ogilvy Ryan Ford, President / Chief Creative Officer, Cashmere Agency, Los Angeles Rita Harbie, Senior Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi ME, Dubai Matt Lawson, Chief Creative Officer, Asia Pacific, Deloitte Digital Asawin Phanichwatana, Chief Creative Officer, Creative JuiceBangkok, Bangkok Camila Rodrigues de Souza, Creative Director, Wieden+Kennedy, Sao Paulo Shannon Washington, Chief Creative Officer, Gotham, New York Music & Sound Jury Carol Dunn, Managing Director, Barking Owl, Los Angeles Jury President Cassiano Derenji, Executive Producer / Partner, DaHouse Audio, Overath Karla Henwood, Executive Creative Producer, Squeak E. Clean Studios, Sydney Eric Johnson, Executive Creative Director, North America, MassiveMusic, New York Chris Jordao, Partner, Quiet City Music + Sound, Old Greenwich Christine Leslie, Executive Producer / Music Supervisor, TA2 Sound + Music, Toronto Halle Petro, Executive Creative Director, Sonic Union, New York Henrique Tanji, CEO / Founder, Ritmika Audio Arts, Sao Paulo Parv Thind, Managing Director / Partner / Sound Designer, Wave Studios, London Sander van Maarschalkerweerd, Founder / Executive Music Supervisor, Sizzer, Amsterdam Brian Yessian, Partner / Chief Creative Officer, Yessian Music, New York Judging in Las Vegas commences on 29th September and will be completed on 7th October 2024. LIA is one of five global shows that is included in the WARC Creative 100 rankings. Also Read: LIA 2024: Havas Joji Jacob named Creativity In B2B Jury President Thats two-time Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee to you. After helping Team USA womens gymnastics to its first Olympic gold medal in team competition since the 2016 Rio Olympics, former Auburn gymnast Suni Lee secured the second Olympic gold medal of her career on Tuesday from Paris Bercy Arena. Lee won her first Olympic gold medal during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as she won the all-around competition. On Tuesday, Lee was set to compete on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor, meaning she was forced to sit and wait during the first rotation as Team USA started on vault. The Americans time on vault was followed by a trip to the uneven bars, which is arguably Lees best event. Lee ended up falling off the uneven bars during her warmup, but brushed it off quickly and put together a Team USA-leading score of 14.566. Following bars, Team USA took to the balance beam, where it was presented with quick gut check as Jordan Chiles fell off the apparatus to start the teams turn. And while following a fall is never easy as they are sometimes considered contagious, Lee made sure that wasnt the case and strung together a near-flawless routine, finishing with a score of 14.600. While waiting to learn her beam score, Lee was comforted by a pair of familiar words as War Eagle! was shouted out from the crowd, earning some fist pumps from the most decorated gymnast in Auburn history. In what felt like a victory-lap-of-a-final rotation on floor, Lee finished up her brilliant day with a 13.533 before carrying the American flag across the floor alongside Simone Biles as gold medalists once again. While Team USAs time as a unit ended Tuesday, both Lee and Biles still have work to do in Paris as theyre both set to compete in the all-around competition on Thursday. Bessemer City Schools officials underpaid employees and violated several financial procedures in the months leading up to a threat of state takeover, a recent audit found. A special report was published by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts on July 26. State Superintendent Eric Mackey requested the report after months of monitoring the small Birmingham metro school district. The special report draws attention to the ongoing issues in Bessemer that have risen to the level of my recommendation for state intervention, Mackey told AL.com in a statement Tuesday. Bessemer City enrolls about 3,000 students and employs just under 240 staff members. According to the report, the district failed to approve a 2024 budget, capital plan and salary schedule by the required deadline. The district also failed to comply with state bid laws and did not provide required contracts to at least two of its principals. The 12-page report was based on two years of board activities and financial data that spanned from Oct. 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024. Auditors met with Superintendent Dana Arreola, current board members and the districts former Chief School Financial Officer Patricia Stewart to discuss the findings. On July 3, after receiving the report, Mackey sent a letter to board members outlining several issues of major concern and threatening state takeover if they didnt fix key finance and governance problems. Bessemer board members voted to agree to intervention on July 22. If a takeover is approved by the state school board, work would start as soon as Aug. 9 the first week of classes for Bessemer City. In a statement to AL.com, Arreola, who was hired in 2023, noted that the findings mirror the concerns outlined by Mackey in his letter. The boards vote to accept the takeover, she said, gives us the opportunity to remedy this matter permanently as we work to improve outcomes for students. The auditors findings School systems must submit an annual budget, capital plan and salary schedule to the state education department by late September in order to get their allotted state funding. Bessemers board did not approve the systems budget and capital plan until an Oct. 17 board meeting, and did not approve a new salary schedule, according to the report. At the time of the audit, employees were still being paid their 2022-2023 rates, auditors found. Adequate policies and procedures were not in place to ensure that the budget, including the salary schedule, and capital plan were approved and submitted in accordance with Alabama Department of Education deadlines, the report states. As a result, the Board did not meet all requirements to share in the appointment of the Foundation Program Fund. Mackey said the department has not withheld any state funds from the district, as that would have left children in Bessemer without any educational options. As of July 30, the board had yet to approve an up-to-date salary schedule. Members, however, are meeting this week to discuss the districts budget for the new fiscal year. Erika Hughes, president of the central Alabama chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said problems with pay have been ongoing and stretch beyond the school board. The organization has filed multiple grievances concerning late, missing or incorrect employee payments in recent years, she said. Were paying certified employees on classified, and classified employees on certified salary schedules that havent been approved in two years, she told reporters recently. Whos holding them accountable? The report also found several instances where board members failed to follow state law when contracting services. School systems must open up a bid when seeking outside services or supplies that cost more than $40,000. State public works law also requires school repairs and construction projects costing more than $100,000 to be split into contracts of smaller amounts. The board failed to submit bids for a number of items, including janitorial services, trash disposal, pest control, furniture and fuel, auditors found. Several of the districts construction projects also failed to follow state bid and public works requirements. Recently, board members voted to stall key construction projects due to a disagreement over bid protocol. Arreola told AL.com last week that HVAC and roofing projects are now in progress, but its unlikely those repairs will be ready in time for the start of school. If a takeover is approved, Mackey said he will immediately appoint a chief academic officer and a few other ALSDE staff to help with financial matters. It is also likely that the department will have input on the districts current search for a new chief school financial officer. Officials have said that no other personnel changes are planned at this time. I am confident that working together with the Bessemer officials, ALSDE will be able to clear up all the financial issues over time, Mackey said. It will not be an overnight fix, but we will get there in due time. One Chinese tourist killed, five others injured in road accident in northern Tanzania Xinhua) 10:21, July 30, 2024 DAR ES SALAAM, July 29 (Xinhua) -- One Chinese tourist was killed, and five others injured Sunday when the vehicle they were traveling in was involved in an accident in the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, an official said. Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Principal Conservation Officer Catherine Mbena told Xinhua via phone that the accident occurred when the Chinese tourists were heading for their hotel. Six Chinese passengers and one Tanzanian driver were in the vehicle. The Tanzanian driver was also injured. The body of the deceased was preserved at the Nyerere district designated hospital, where the injured Chinese tourists received preliminary treatment. Edgar Muganyizi, the medical officer in charge of the hospital, in Serengeti district, Mara region, said the injured tourists, four women and one man, were airlifted Monday to Nairobi for further treatment. One of the injured tourists, a woman, was in critical condition, Muganyizi told Xinhua over the phone. Mara regional police commander Salim Morcase said the accident occurred after the vehicle overturned because of speeding. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley got into a heated exchange about accountability with the acting director of the Secret Service at a hearing Tuesday afternoon. Acting Director Ronald Rowe was answering questions about the security failures around the Pennsylvania rally where Donald Trump was shot earlier in the month. "Isn't the fact that a former president was shot, that a good American is dead, that other Americans were critically wounded, isn't that enough mission failure for you to say that the person who decided that that building should not be in the security perimeter probably should step down?" Hawley asked. When Rowe said he didn't want to zero in on one agent as the person to blame, and wanted to interview everyone involved to examine all failures. Hawley pressed, "Why don't you relieve everyone of duty who made bad judgement? So, yeah, I am centering on somebody. I'm trying to find someone accountable here." When Hawley kept asking if people in various roles been relieved of duty, Rowe finally gave an angry response. "Sir, this could have been our Texas Schoolbook Depository. I have lost sleep over that for the last 17 days. Just like you have." "Then fire somebody," Hawley sharply replied. "I will tell you senator, that I will not rush to judgement, that people will be held accountable and I will do so with integrity and not rush to judgement and put people unfairly persecuted." "Unfairly persecuted?" Hawley quizzically responded. "You have people who are dead." "Unfairly sir," Rowe repeated. "We have to have a proper investigation into this." It was the first heated moments in the hearing, which was much more reserved than a House hearing last week that ended with the resignation of the former head of the department. Earlier in the hearing, Rowe said he visited the shooting site shortly after being named acting director a week ago. Rowe said he went onto the roof of the building where the gunman shot from and laid in the prone position looking at the site of the stage. "What I saw made me ashamed," Rowe said in opening remarks at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. "I can not defend why that roof was better secured." Starting Thursday, Alabama residents get an inside lane on booking advance reservations in state parks provided they plan far enough ahead. Effective Aug. 1, a new feature will open at the online reservation system operated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Its called the Alabama Residents Advanced Reservation Window. When users begin the process of booking a site via the reservation page at alapark.com, theyll be asked to provide a ZIP code. Those with an Alabama ZIP code will be able to make reservations 13 months in advance, while those with an out-of-state ZIP will be limited to 12 months in advance. Verification is accomplished through the payment process: The ZIP code for the users credit card billing address must match the one given at the start of the reservation attempt. For an example, the one-month advantage means that as of Aug. 1, Alabamians will be able to book campsites for Labor Day weekend 2025, which wont yet be open to out-of-state campers. Alabamians consistently support our 21 State Parks, and this is a way we can show our appreciation, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship said in a news release announcing the change. Allowing Alabama residents to book earlier gives our neighbors expanded opportunities to stay, play and explore throughout our State Parks. According to that news release, Some destinations, such as camping reservations at Cheaha State Park during peak fall foliage season, have sold out in a matter of hours a year in advance. The new Alabama Residents Advanced Reservation Window gives residents an advantage when it comes to such high-demand reservations. In recent years, we have heard from Alabama residents inquiring about some form of reservation option that is unique to our states residents. With changes in our reservations system, we now have that technological capability and have made this happen, State Parks Director Greg Lein said in the release. We encourage guests to make reservations early and often through our Plan Your Adventure Online portal available on our website at alapark.com. We truly appreciate all the support Alabamians give our state parks. The advance reservation opportunity applies to RV, modern and primitive camping at all 21 state parks. For more information on them, visit alapark.com. Francine Pascal, the author best known for creating hit teen book series Sweet Valley High, has died. She was 92. Pascal died on Sunday in New York, the New York Times reports. The cause of death was lymphoma Pascals daughter, Laurie Wenk-Pascal, told the newspaper. Sweet Valley High debuted in 1983 after a friend remarked to Pascal there was no teen version of 1980s soap Dallas. Pascal was reportedly inspired to create the series, about blonde Californian twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, immediately. The books went on to spawn hundreds of sequels and spin-offs detailing the twins at different ages, ranging from middle school to college. There were also some wackier books which saw the twins mixed up in murders and even supernatural events. Only the first 12 books were written by Pascal although she wrote most of the outlines for the others. A TV adaptation of the books ran for four seasons starring twins Brittany and Cynthia Daniel. Diablo Cody was said to be penning a feature film adaptation of the books in 2009 for Universal, although the movie never materialized. As well as having sold over 200 million copies, Sweet Valley High arguably inspired the modern teen drama genre as we know it, with shows including Degrassi and Beverly Hills, 90210 debuting in late 1980s and early 1990s following the novels initial success as well as Clueless, Dawsons Creek and The OC in the following years. In 2011 a new adult novel series, Sweet Valley Confidential was released, revisiting the Wakefield twins in their 30s. The original book series ended in 2003. Pascal was born in New York in 1932. She studied journalism at New York University before going on to work for a variety of publications including True Confessions and Cosmopolitan. Her first young adult novel, Hangin Out With Cici, was published in 1977 and quickly adapted into a TV special. She also wrote other novels as well as writing for soap opera The Young Marrieds alongside her husband John Pascal, who died in 1981. Pascal is survived by two of her three daughters, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 2024 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Auburns DEI office Auburn University is the latest state college to announce the closing of its Office of Inclusion and Diversity, reports AL.coms Rebecca Griesbach. Now five institutions have made or announced the move, just months after a new state law was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey that bans DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs. The law requires that colleges be in compliance with the law by Oct. 1. Auburn officials say its office will close Aug. 15 and that staff will be reassigned to other departments. AU has reported that it was spending around $1.8 million on the diversity office. Technical problems The City of Tuskegees traffic speeding cameras have drawn complaints and even a lawsuit in the months since they were installed. And now, The Associated Press and CBS42 are reporting that the city has promised full refunds to those fined. Ticketed drivers number in the hundreds. The lawsuit claims the cameras incorrectly identified speeding cars. So Tuskegee Mayor Lawrence Haygood said all those fined will get their money back. Use of the system, from the German company Jenoptik, has been suspended. RIP Alma Powell Alma Powell, the widow of retired general and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, has passed away, reports AL.coms William Thornton. She was born Alma Vivian Johnson in Birmingham, where she attended Parker High School. She and her husband honeymooned at the A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, and she lived in Birmingham again while her husband was deployed during the Vietnam War. She studied speech pathology and audiology. Colin Powell died in 2021 of complications with COVID-19. Alma Powell was 86 years old. Brand-new pygmy hippo If youve never seen a pygmy hippopotamus -- and odds are you havent -- nows a good time to see a brand-new one. Pygmy hippos are an endangered species. The World Conservation Union estimates there are fewer than 3,000 living in the wild. Home for them is West Africa, but they are known to breed well in captivity. And theyre not nearly as big as the hippos were familiar with. The pygmies grow to only around 400-600 pounds. AL.coms Mike Cason reports that visitors to the Montgomery Zoo can now see a 5-month-old female named Ronda. Shes with mom Asali in the Pygmy Hippo Nursing Suite. Other adult pygmies are in their exhibit at the zoos Africa Realm. Six other pygmy hippos have been born at the Montgomery Zoo over the past eight years. Theyve all been placed at other zoos. Ronda, a five-month-old pygmy hippopotamus, is on display at the Montgomery Zoo. Pygmy hippos, native to west Africa, are an endangered species, with only about 3,000 in the wild.(Photo by Picasa courtesy of the Montgomery Zoo) Quoting They want to work. They just dont want to be subjected to punishments if they dont work. Jessica Vosburgh, attorney for Alabama prison inmates who say they shouldnt face punishment if they cant or refuse to work for an outside employer. By the Numbers 450 feet Thats about how high a window washer was when he became stuck outside the RSA Tower in Mobile. Mobile Fire-Rescue technicians lifted him to a nearby roof, where he was able to walk into the building without injury. Firefighters and rescue technicians extricate a man who became stuck when he was washing windows on the RSA Tower somewhere below the 33rd floor when he was working hundreds of feet off the ground at the downtown Mobile, Alabama, building Monday afternoon, July 29, 2024.Mobile Fire-Rescue Department More Alabama News Born on This Date In 1946, the late NASCAR driver and member of the Alabama Gang Neil Bonnett of Hueytown. On the podcast Jonathan Sobolewski tells a 1930s-era Alabama story about a man who got in trouble for going on a drunken elephant ride. You can read that grammatically however you want, because both he and the elephant had a little prohibited whiskey before the ride. You can find Down in Alabama wherever you get your podcasts, including these places: A former University of Alabama student is charged with multiple sex crimes including rape of another student, all of which was captured in photos and videos reportedly taken by the suspect. Gambill Colvard Gentry, 23, is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and multiple counts of first-degree voyeurism, authorities announced Monday. Gentry is from North Carolina. Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy said Gentry has been banned from campus. The units Sexual Assault Section over the past several weeks have been investigating the alleged crimes. A female told authorities met an acquaintance at a bar, woke up the next morning with no memory of the night before, and suspected that she had been assaulted, Kennedy said. On July 13, according to charging documents, investigators carried out search warrants on Gentrys cell phone. Investigators were able to obtain photo and video evidence that clearly showed that the victim had been sexually assaulted while unconscious,' Kennedy said. Depositions in the cases state that they found photos of the victims breasts and genital area while she appeared to be unconscious. One of them had a caption that read, Nice vagina. Happy Birthday slut. There were also images of Gentry performing oral sex on the victim was she was clearly incapable of consent,' the documents state. One of the images contained a caption that read easy rape. Gentry was taken into custody on July 25. He remains held without bond. Gentry is represented by Birmingham attorneys Tommy Spina, Brett Bloomston and Ben Preston. Mr. Gentry immediately voluntarily surrendered after learning that there was a warrant for his arrest out of Tuscaloosa County while he was at his home in North Carolina,' Spina said. He has no significant criminal history and is not a risk of flight,' Spina said. We are hopeful he will be released on a reasonable bond with whatever conditions or combination of conditions the court deems appropriate that would insure he would appear at all future court appearances as directed by the court and protect the safety of the public. Spina said Gentry will waive or give up his right to a preliminary hearing for his case to move forward and be presented to a grand jury in due course as with every felony case. Kennedy said evidence recovered during the investigation into Gentry leads investigators to believe that there may be other victims unknown to law enforcement. The Violent Crimes Unit is asking anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of Gentrys to contact the VCU at 205-464-8690. U.S. Senator Katie Britt today is introducing Lulus Law named in honor of 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin from Mountain Brook. Lulus Law would codify shark attacks as events for which wireless emergency alerts would be transmitted. The Wireless Emergency Alerts system was launched in 2012 and has been used more than 84,000 times to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations all through alerts on compatible cell phones and other mobile devices. Britt said Lulus Law would encourage authorities to quickly deploy warnings via mobile phone alert messages similar to an Amber Alert - to the public if a shark has attacked someone or if the conditions enhancing the possibility of a shark attack are present. Lulu and 16-year-old McCray Faust, both Mountain Brook High School students, were on a mother-daughter trip at Seacrest Beach on Floridas Gulf Coast June 7 when the teens were bitten while looking for sand dollars with their friends. Lulus twin sister, Ellie, was there as well and has describe what happened that day. Lulu was critically injured, losing her left hand and her right leg above the knee. McCray sustained bite injuries to her lower leg and foot. Lulu Gribbin, a 15-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who survived a shark attack, continues rehabbing from her injuries. Here she tests a walker for the first time.Photo courtesy Ann Blair Gribbin The shark attack happened just 90 minutes and a few miles away after 45-year-old Elisabeth Foley of Virginia was also critically injured in a separate attack. Though the beaches were shut down following the attacks, there was widespread concern that it took too long to do so and there was no notification system that would have alerted beachgoers including Lulu and her friends to the first attack. Multiple bystanders jumped in to help Lulu, including Stephen Beene, who pulled Lulu from the shark, and Matthew Lidle, who took Lulu from Beene and carried her to the shore. Doctors and nurses who were also vacationing there jumped into action, putting tourniquets on Lulus wounds. Lulu has since been moved from Florida to another hospital that specialized in amputees and is undergoing rigorous physical therapy that includes working with a prosthetic hand. We are eternally grateful that Lulu survived the shark attack on June 7. Lulu is a fighter, her parents, Ann Blair and Joe Gribbin said in a statement released by Britt. We will get through this, and she will adapt to her new lifestyle. However, we remain in disbelief this accident occurred, the parents statement read. This was the second attack that day in close proximity, and it could have been prevented with a better alert system. Thats why Lulus Law is so important, the said. Were grateful to Senator Britt for introducing this legislation, and we encourage Congress to pass it for families like ours who just want to keep our children safe. Lulu Gribbin, a 15-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who survived a shark attack, continues rehabbing from her injuries.Photo courtesy Ann Blair Gribbin The Federal Emergency Management Agency manages the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), which sends out local alerts that provide authentic emergency information to the public. Other WEA alerts include warnings about extreme weather, amber alerts, wildfires, and more. Having two teenagers myself, this hits close to home, Britt said. I cannot imagine what this journey has been like for Lulu or for her parents, When Lulu woke up, she said, I made it. This brave Alabama girl is resilientshe is a true fighter, personifying both grace and grit, Britt said. Im incredibly proud of her faith, her courage, and her strength. Lulus Law would empower authorities to quickly and accurately put information in the hands of beachgoers to help keep them out of harms way, Britt said. This is a commonsense measure, she said, aimed at keeping families safe a cause that I know people can rally around, just like her local community, our great state, and the entire nation have rallied around Lulu. A 15-year-old boy fatally shot earlier this month was accidentally killed when his friend tried to unload a handgun inside a minivan in which juveniles had been joyriding all night. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed the deadly shooting in the city council meeting Tuesday, imploring parents and guardians know where their children are, and what theyre doing. This is sad. This is tragic, Woodfin said. Just speaking directly to our parents, its extremely important to know where your child is, to know who they are with, and to know whats in the vehicle. Prentice Lovell Little, an Adamsville teen who attended Minor High School, was killed July 7 on the citys eastside. Just before 7 a.m. that Sunday, South Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a person who showed up at UAB Hospital with a gunshot wound. Once at the hospital, they learned that a minivan arrived at the emergency room with Prentice inside. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:28 a.m. Police learned the shooting took place in the 9200 block of Parkway East, between Walmart and Wells Fargo, near a small strip of businesses. Authorities previously said they believed the mishandling of the gun led to Prentices death. Police are investigating the July 7, 2024, shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in the 9200 block of Parkway East.(Carol Robinson) Woodfin on Tuesday said the group of five teens one 18-year-old and the rest under the age of 17 - had been driving around all night into the wee hours of the morning, literally about 6:30 in the morning, and found themselves on the eastern side of town. As they pulled into the parking, a 14-year-old was trying to clear a Glock handgun inside the minivan when it discharged and killed Prentice. All of those inside the car were friends or family, the mayor said. The 14-year-old was taken into the custody of the youth detention facility. The Jefferson County Coroners Office ruled the death a homicide which means one person died at the hands of another though Woodfin said the deadly shooting was accident. It wasnt an actual homicide, it was criminally negligent homicide, Woodfin said. The mayor said he spoke with the parents of those involved. In speaking with the parents, they did not know where these children were, they didnt know they had been riding around all night, they didnt know they were riding around until the sun came up, he said. They were unaware of a pistol being in the car and they found out the tragic news that one of them had been killed. I implore our parents in this community, I implore a person that takes on a parental role in this community, to always know where your child, children are, Woodfin said. Government cannot be everywhere. We cant be in every vehicle, he said. Thats not a realistic expectation. This is tragic, he said. One child lost his life, and another child has to be held accountable, but the ripple that sends for all the boys in that car within itself -- I dont know the emotional toll of that and what they have to live with the rest of their lives. A man and woman are being held in the Limestone County Jail in connection with the discovery of what authorities say was a homemade explosive device. The Limestone County Sheriffs Office said on Friday investigators were searching for a stolen motorcycle. Lt. Jay Stinnett encountered a man and woman pushing a motorcycle on Zehner Road. When Stinnett attempted to make contact with the two, they fled on foot. According to the sheriffs office, investigators found two book bags that the two dropped while fleeing. Inside one of the book bags was an explosive device. Authorities secured the scene. The Huntsville Bomb Squad was notified, responded and was able to render the device safe. Investigators identified the two as Terry Lee Cline and Amber Nicole Barnes, both of Athens. They were taken into custody. Cline has been charged with first degree property theft, attempting to elude, explosives or destructive device, drug possession and six additional outstanding warrants. Barnes faces charges of explosives or destructive devices, drug possession, attempting to elude, and three additional outstanding warrants. Both are being held in the Limestone County Jail without bond. Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin thanked the Huntsville Police Bomb Squad, Athens EMS, and the Owens Volunteer Fire Department. Its been eight years and five months since an inspection train rolled between New Orleans and Mobile, filled with politicians and other officials hopeful that Amtrak service would soon return to the Gulf Coast. Its been anything but smooth ever since. Visitors to the Montgomery Zoo can now get their first look at the zoos newest pygmy hippopotamus calf. Ronda, a five-month-old female, was moved to the Pygmy Hippo Nursing Suite in the South American Realm of the Zoo last week, along with her mother, Asali. The pygmy hippo is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The World Conservation Union estimates that less than 3,000 pygmy hippos remain in the wild. The pygmy hippopotamus, cousin of the much larger common hippopotamus, is native to the forests and swamps of western Africa, according to a news release from the Montgomery Zoo. The pygmy hippo is semi-aquatic and relies on proximity to water to maintain moisturized skin and a cool body temperature. The pygmy hippo is reclusive, nocturnal, and difficult to study in the wild, according to the zoo, but has a history of breeding well in captivity. Pygmy hippos grow to about half the height and one quarter of the weight of their larger cousins, typically reaching about 30-32 inches in height, 59-70 inches in length, and 400-600 pounds. Ronda is the seventh pygmy hippo born in the last eight years at the Montgomery Zoo. The others - Meela in 2023, Hadari in 2022, Betty Rose and Blanche in 2019, Monty in 2016 and Levi in 2018 - have all been placed at other zoos. Visitors can see the Montgomery Zoos other adult pygmy hippopotamuses in their permanent exhibit in the Africa realm of the Zoo. A convicted felony from Texas was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition during an arrest in December in which he was shot in the hand by a sheriffs deputy. Hunter Bixler, 35, of Leander, Texas, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kristi Dubose to a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. During his term of supervised release, Bixler will have to undergo substance abuse testing and mental health treatment. Bixlers sentencing stems from a Dec. 9, 2023, traffic stop that resulted in a Mobile County sheriffs deputy shooting Bixler in the hand. Bixler, according to authorities, was attempting to conceal a firearm during the traffic stop after failing to provide them with proper identification and, instead, giving them a false name and incorrect person identifiers. According to a news release, Bixler bladed his body towards the passenger in the vehicle before abruptly turning back to the deputy who was on the driver side of the window. Fearing for his personal safety that he was about to be fired upon by Bixler, the deputy at the driver side window discharged his service weapon and hit Bixler in the hand, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Alabama. Bixler was taken to a hospital where he received treatment for his injured hand. While in the hospital, he attempted to escape from custody and was quickly re-apprehended. An escape in the first-degree charge is still pending in Mobile County District Court. Bixler had been previously convicted of two felonies and had outstanding warrants active in Texas. The latest attempt to stem San Francisco's deadly drug crisis would pay addicts on welfare an additional $100 a month to stay clean. City Supervisor Matt Dorsey said Monday that he planned to introduce legislation to create the "Cash Not Drugs" program, and a hearing on the measure could be held in September, local TV station KTVU reported. The move came as the city's death toll from accidental overdoses reached 374 at the end of June, according to data compiled by the San Francisco Chronicle. "The underlying principle to 'Cash Not Drugs' is a simple one: A humane and effective approach to San Francisco's drug crisis should also include rewarding good behavior and not just punishing bad behavior," Dorsey said during a news conference on the steps of City Hall. Dorsey, a recovering alcoholic and addict, was surrounded by people holding green signs that said "Cash Not Drugs." Mayor London Breed spoke in support of Dorsey's proposal, saying that she "lost my sister to a drug overdose." "I want to make it just as easy to get treatment as it is to go out there and buy dope," Breed said. "Whatever it takes to get people on the right path that's what we need to do." Breed, who's seeking reelection in November, also said the city had failed to focus on "abstinence-based solutions" to its notorious drug problem before she took office, according to the Chronicle. In March, San Francisco voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition F, which requires people receiving cash benefits through the County Adult Assistance Program to undergo treatment if screening determines that they're using drugs. But the law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, won't require mandatory drug testing and will instead rely on the answers to a 10-question survey, the KFF Health News website reported in May. Last year, most CAAP recipients living in homes received $712 a month, while homeless recipients got access to shelter, food and up to $109 a month, according to the city government. This is an opinion cartoon. Sign up for JD Crowes newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to JDs weekly newsletter, Crowe Jam. Great news! The Mobile River Bridge, the I-10 Bayway project, is finally, really hopefully gonna happen. The plan calls for a new six-lane, 215-foot cable-stay bridge over Mobile River that will connect to a new six-lane Bayway that will end on the Eastern Shore. The new Bayway will replace the old Bayway, which will be demolished. The 3-hour delays, the endless bottleneck stuff is coming to an end, yall. Soon-ish. Thanks to a $550 million grant from the Biden administrations Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. Name that bridge: The new Bayway Bridge - Hallelujah! - should get a new name. Whatcha got? Ill go first. This new version of the I-10 Mobile River Bayway Bridge - if it happens - should be named after the folks who finally made it happen, right? The new name should be the Biden Buttigieg Bayway Bridge. The BBBB. The I-10 4B. Related: Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal | The White House The gateway from Florida to New Orleans is the Mobile 4B. Rolls right off the tongue, right? Instant classic name for this celebrated new bridge thats been a long time comin. Related: A game-changer for the whole U.S.; Alabama officials celebrate $550 million I-10 Bayway grant - al.com Related: Britt, Ivey, federal officials to celebrate $550 million I-10 Bayway grant - al.com Related: Its a shame: Alabama congressional delegation praise Mobiles $550 million I-10 project; most voted against funding - al.com What a great day for south Alabama!, tweeted Rep. Jerry Carl, who represents the Mobile district where the project is centered. This project is now one huge step closer to reality, and Im proud of all the work Team Alabama has accomplished together. Jerry Carl voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Proud to announce that the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project will be receiving a $550 million grant from the Department of Transportation. This is a HUGE WIN for Mobile, the state of Alabama, and the entire Southeast region, tweeted Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Tuberville voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, called the funding a major victory for Alabama! Moore voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Tuberville, Moore and Carl were all no votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill that paved the way for the U.S. Department of Transportation Bridge Investment Program grant that will go toward the estimated $3.5 billion I-10 project. Now retired Sen. Richard Shelby voted against the bill, as did Reps. Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer, and Mike Rogers. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt was not a senator at the time the upper chamber voted on the bill but said in 2021 she would have been a firm no on the bill had she been in Washington. " **************** Ive been pondering this new bridge thing for 24 years. I was hired by the Mobile Press-Register in 2000, and one of the first editorial board meetings I sat in on was with a group of city leaders who were sure they had the right game plan for the Holy Grail - a new Mobile River Bay Bridge. Maybe with a bike lane! Weve had several moments of hope since then, but all the new bridges were snuffed out by one thing or another. Mostly stubborn politics. Ill believe we have an awesome new bridge when I fly my bicycle across it and land in Bienville Square on Joe Cain Day. Ten years ago, we had a name the new bridge contest and this was the readers choice: Joe Cain Mardi Gras BridgeJD Crowe True stories and stuff by JD Crowe The mysterious Bubble Guy of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen - al.com How I met Dr. Seuss Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale I was ZZ Tops drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com. This is another installment in Birmingham Times/AL.com/CBS42 joint series Beyond the Violence. Sign up for the newsletter here. Tamera Walker, an educator and mother of three, said she and her daughters have found a family with The Bridge Educational Philanthropy , a Jasper nonprofit that gives area children mentors and academic support. The Bridge was founded during the pandemic, when Monisha Moore, now board president of the nonprofit, saw students and families struggling to thrive in school. Teachers with The Bridge help pre-K through college students by providing literacy, STEM, art and bilingual tutoring services. So far this year, 57% of participating students have improved in both math and reading, according to leaders at The Bridge. Every single one of those ladies working at The Bridge, our village, are wonderful people, Walker said. Those relationships matter. When those kids know that you care, you are able to help them accomplish things that they otherwise wouldnt, because when kids know that you care, they work harder. Walkers children, Layla Walker, 5, and DeCaleigh Calvin, 16, have received tutoring for more than a year. Walker said that she has seen her daughters make academic strides and become more responsible. Its giving her some purpose. Our village at The Bridge doesnt just provide academic help. It provides everything we need for them to succeed, Walker said. Calvin has interned with The Bridge for almost two years, where she primarily serves elementary students. She helps younger students with their assignments, lends them a listening ear and on some days can be found dancing and drawing with the students as well. I just really understand what they go through on a day to day. I think its really good for the kids, because I know sometimes its hard to trust an actual adult. I think that they need someone thats closer in age to truly understand whats going on with them, Calvin said. Calvin has dyslexia and said she sometimes struggles with balancing softball and volleyball obligations with her academics. Through The Bridge, she receives math tutoring and ACT prep. The Bridge helps me with everything like time management and understanding the things that I may have missed in class, Calvin said. They really push me to be the best that I can be. Moore said students call her and The Bridge teachers at all hours of the day asking for help with class assignments. She often spends her days teaching younger students how to communicate their feelings and helping older students with college and job applications. Our goal is to ensure that our students have all of the resources they need for a quality education because we know if theyre successful with their education, they have options when they get olderwe dont want them to ever fall through the cracks again, Moore said. She said every student gets a specialized learning plan to fit their needs. Students and their families are often referred to other area nonprofits to meet their needs outside of education, including resources for food, housing and therapy. What we tend to see is the reason our students are suffering in the classroom is oftentimes not primarily academic. Its because of other issues. It can be hunger, food insecurity. It could be abuse, Moore said. It takes a village. Research indicates that, when done right (a big caveat), one-on-one and small group support can boost student academics. While many school districts added tutoring and support services during the pandemic, with federal funding drying up, outside groups may be needed even more. Jasper City Schools earned a B on its most recent report card from the Alabama Department of Education, according to AL.com. While the majority of students have reached proficiency in English and science, only 40% of students are proficient in math, according to the most recent information available from the state. The Bridge gets to know their communitys needs by hosting community forums and distributing surveys to teachers, students and families. We believe it is so important to center students and their families voices. So often their voices are omitted or just forgotten about, Kristian Douglas, executive director of the nonprofit, said. Douglas said The Bridges services are important because he has seen what a lack of education can do to a child. When students are held back, they are at a higher risk of falling into the school to prison pipelineWe really want to make sure we are setting our students and their families up for success, Douglas said. A 2019 Alabama Literacy Act , which adds support services and funding to help more children learn to read also holds back students if after three years of additional instruction and support cannot read on grade level. Third-graders who cannot read well enough will not advance into fourth grade. The National Bureau of Economic Research found in a 2018 study that being held back in school may increase the likelihood of being convicted of a violent crime as an adult. Researchers found that the likelihood of being convicted increased by 58%, when students are held back, particularly in eighth grade. We know that students and their families do better when they receive wrap-around services for however long they need it. When we invest in social programs, we are disrupting the narrative. We are disrupting that unfortunate trend of gun violence so that our students can thrive and theyre not funneled into that cycle, Douglas said. The program is referral-based, but those who are interested can connect with The Bridge Educational Philanthropy through their website or social media. Pauletta Windham, vice president of community impact at the Walker Area Community Foundation, said The Bridge largely serves students living in single-parent households, low-income housing and foster homes. She believes the program works. Theyre making a difference in our community, and theyre really driving change, Windham said. Alaina Bookmans role at AL.com and the Beyond the Violence collaborative is supported by Report for America and individual contributions. Support her work today. Tarrant, Alabama is a town just northeast of Birmingham.joseph D. Bryant In the ongoing fight for control of a small town near Birmingham, a Jefferson County judge dealt a major blow to the mayor and a victory to his political nemesis. On Thursday at 2:32 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated heat advisory in effect until 7 p.m. for Jackson and DeKalb counties. The weather service adds, "Heat index values up to 104 degrees." "Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses," describes the weather service. Weather service Heat safety: Protecting yourself in hot conditions Stay hydrated: Make sure to drink plenty of fluids. Seek cool shelter: Stay in an air-conditioned room. Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors. Child and pet safety: Exercise vigilance when it comes to young children and pets. Never leave them unattended in vehicles during high temperatures, as car interiors can quickly become dangerously hot. Caution outdoors: Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. Time your activities wisely: If possible, move strenuous activities to early morning or evening for more favorable conditions. Recognize heat-related issues: Know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dress comfortably: Select lightweight and loose-fitting outfits for enhanced comfort. Additional tips for outdoor workers: For outdoor workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends regular rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. If someone is overwhelmed by the heat, swiftly relocate them to a cool, shaded location. In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance. These NWS heat safety directives are essential for safeguarding your well-being when facing high temperatures. Stay well-informed and take the necessary precautions to shield yourself and others from the potential hazards of extreme heat. Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service. By now practically everyone who follows news and commentary about climate change has seen graphs of global warming over the past century or more. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) produced this one in 2017, covering 18802016. Ever since it first appeared, it has been one of the most commonly used, whether in scholarly journals, government websites, news media, blogs, or social media. More recent data generally are communicated similarly -- and its not hard to understand why. Here, solid bars, one for each year, depict the change in global average temperature (depicted as anomalies, i.e., departures from the 20th-century average), and the psychological impact is predictable: fear. How? Bars in the early years, below the average, are a comforting blue; later bars, above average, are an alarming red. If all the bars were the same color, the psychological impact of the different colors would be lost. But the color choices arent all. Theyre just the most obvious. Another choice is less obvious, and readers unfamiliar with how to interpret graphic representations (or misrepresentations) of data are likely not to notice it. Ominously, the longest blue bars reach almost to the bottom of the graph, and the longest red ones almost to the top. Why? Because the vertical axis chosen (and note that word -- its a definite choice) covers only from -0.5C to +1.0C (-0.9F to +1.8F). A grand total of 1.5C (2.7F). On the one hand, this is quite defensible. Enter the raw numbers into common spreadsheet software, tell it to produce a bar graph, and that, or something very close to it, is what youll get. And why not? After all, it accommodates all the numbers, lowest to highest. What more can we ask? On the other hand -- if your intent is to help people think reasonably about changing global temperature, its utterly indefensible. Why? Because it makes a temperature variation of under 1.5C (2.7F) look, to the unpracticed eye, far more significant than it is. After all, most people hardly notice if a rooms temperature rises or falls that much. But on this vertical scale, the longest red bars reach almost to the top, as if to say, Were about to reach the maximum! True, the longest blue bars also reach almost to the bottom, which could be interpreted as Whew! We just barely missed freezing! (And since cold snaps kill, on average, 10 to 20 times as many people per day as heat waves, that should be really comforting -- but I digress.) But remember, blues a comforting color; red routinely means danger! That, after all, is why United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez called the first volume of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes Sixth Assessment Report code red for humanity, not code blue (though, admittedly, in a hospital code blue denotes a critical status of a patient -- but thats not common lingo). And since most people read from left to right, the graph subtly communicates that, whatever risks might have come with those low temperatures, weve left them far behind. No need to worry about them now. Its those high temperatures, marching inexorably upward, that we need to worry about. Back in the early 1990s, when I was managing editor of the book The State of Humanity, its general editor, the late economist and statistician Julian L. Simon, legendary for his antipathy to misleading statistical graphs, insisted that all graphs of the data provided by the 58 authors (including eight Nobel Prize winners) use a realistic, objective scale. For example, graphs of data expressed as percent should have a vertical scale of a full 100 points -- otherwise, the result could be highly deceptive. After all, if the vertical scale only went from 80% to 90%, a data point of 86% could appear to depict a quantity twice as high as 83% when, in reality, its only 3.6% higher. Another example: Graphs of data that dont depict percentages should have a zero baseline. Or, if they depict both negative and positive data, the vertical axis should stretch equally far below and above zero so the relative magnitudes would be quickly and easily comprehensible. Or, if they depict data so enormously different that low numbers just disappear, they should be drawn with exponential scales -- and that fact should be communicated prominently -- or with clearly marked discontinuities along the vertical axis. There are other examples, but you get the point. One of the basic principles is that the vertical axis should cover a truly significant range. Thats the bigger problem with NOAAs famous graph. As we saw above, it makes a very small change in temperature appear much larger and more significant. A more appropriate, less misleading way to graph the same temperature data is to use a vertical range thats fairly typical of the weather people commonly experience. Thats a scale theyll understand. In the United States, except when air currents rapidly move a much warmer (or cooler) air mass from one locale to another, the diurnal (daytime high to nighttime low) temperature range is typically around 5.6C (10F) in humid locales, but around 22.2C to 27.8C (40F to 50F) in arid to semi-arid locales. In other words, people are accustomed to those temperature ranges. It would seem reasonable, then, to depict global temperature anomaly data on a vertical scale of, say, halfway between the low and high ranges, i.e., 16.7C (30F). And, to complete our avoidance of psychological scare tactics, well jettison the color scheme and use a neutral color. How would NOAAs data for 1880 to 2016 look depicted that way? Like this: Remember, this depicts exactly the same data depicted in NOAAs graph. Does it look scary? No, but its a much more honest, objective, non-manipulative depiction of the data. So, now youre equipped not to be manipulated -- and to enlighten your friends and neighbors. Defenders of the scary way to depict the data could respond, But the fact is that this apparently slight change in global average temperature will, if it continues at scale, cause devastating changes in weather, sea level, crop production, and other measures -- changes that will impoverish humanity and possibly even bring about its extinction. So scary depiction of scary facts is just what we need. But the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change disagrees -- firmly and adamantly. Its 2018 Special Report on Global Warming of 1.8C concludes that if we do nothing to slow greenhouse gas-induced warming, the warming will make gross world product (GWP) in 2100 2.6 percent lower than it otherwise would be. What would it otherwise be? The Center for Global Development says economic growth through the remainder of this century is most likely to be about 3 percent per year. After factoring in the change in population, the result would be GWP per capita 8.8 times what it was in 2018. When poverty is a far greater threat to human health and life than anything related to climate and weather, can anyone think thats a catastrophic result? If you spend much time at all on social media sites on which people often post text or pictures meant to make points about controversial issues, youre bound to have seen fact checks stating that a post conveyed false or misleading information because it was missing context. (Thats a judgment thats often subjective and driven by the fact checkers ideology, but we can ignore that for now.) What you now know is that, when it comes to missing context about climate change, official government agencies can be among the worst offenders, not just on social media but also on agency websites -- from which their products, like the NOAA graph evaluated here, regularly make their way into scientific journals and mainstream media. A Google image search July 11, 2024, found NOAAs graph at about 100 sites. Where are those fact checkers when we need them? E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D., is President of The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, a Christian think tank addressing environmental stewardship and economic development for the poor. He is also co-editor, with David R. Legates, Ph.D., of Climate and Energy: The Case for Realism, an Amazon bestseller. Image: NOAA On March 19, 2021, UCLA student Christian Secor learned that the Department of Justice planned to keep him in jail. A month earlier a federal judge had denied Secor bond after a D.C. grand jury indicted him on ten counts of nonviolent January 6 mischief. Secors alleged offenses, argued Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, from him pushing on a crowd of people to breach the Rotunda door to sitting atop the Senate dais in the chair occupied minutes before by Vice President Mike Pence, merited pre-trial detention. What neither Secor nor his attorney knew was that the DoJ filing on March 19 contained one huge and highly prejudicial error. That error involved Kamala Harris, the vice president designee on January 6, 2021. That Harris, President Joe Biden, and Attorney General Merrick Garland allowed the error to go uncorrected for nearly a year was no accident. In fact, the failure to correct it suggests that January 6 was, in no small part, an inside job. As a Secret Service protectee, Harris enjoyed a special status. To have breached the restricted area where Harris was visiting, as Secor was accused of doing, strengthened the case against him. On January 6, 2021, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Vice President Michael R. Pence, in his constitutional duty as President of the Senate, presided over the Joint Session, said Paschall. Vice-President-Elect Kamala D. Harris, in her role as a Senator representing the State of California, was also present. In D.C., where Donald Trump got only 5 percent of the vote in his best year, no juror really cared about Pences fate. Besides, as the DoJ knew, Pence was never at risk. He was taken to a secure location in the tunnels under the Capitol grounds that, only by a stretch, could be construed as being in the Capitol building. Harris was another story. At roughly 2:20 p.m., twenty minutes after protestors first entered the building, Harris was evacuated from her chamber. Where she went Paschall did not specify, but, she claimed, Harris remained within the Capitol building until the certification process resumed at 8 p.m. Secors case was not unique. Harriss presence at the Capitol remained part of the judicial boilerplate for nearly a year. Countless other J6 defendants had their sentences affected for having breached Harriss space. Not until November 4, 2021, did Politico reveal that Harris was never evacuated. In fact, she was not in the Capitol or on the Capitol grounds on January 6 at any time during the protest. The consequences of Harriss silence on this issue were far reaching. According to Politico, Many of the 650-plus defendants arrested to that point faced charges that they, like Secor, had threatened her space. DOJ is now moving to correct the record, Politico continued, acknowledging in court that Harris was in fact away from the Capitol during the riot and only returned later. At that late date, Harris and Biden remained mum as to Harriss whereabouts during those crucial hours. It was not until January 6, 2022, that Politico broke the media silence and finally revealed where Harris was on January 6, 2021. The headline suggests the reason for her reticence, Harris was inside DNC on Jan. 6 when pipe bomb was discovered outside. The bomb at the DNC was discovered just about 1 p.m., minutes after the ubiquitous Ray Epps and his crew first breached the Capitol perimeter and about the same time a still unidentified man and his crew hung the noose on a gallows constructed on Capitol grounds hours earlier. An apparent plot was underway to instigate a riot and frame Trump as the provocateur. A year later, for instance, Politico was still blaming Trump supporters for the bomb, claiming that the riots could have been far more destructive than they already were, with the incoming vice presidents life directly endangered. Given her penchant for contrived drama, however, Harris has remained curiously silent about having her life directly endangered by these terrorist bombs. Biden remained silent as well. The violent, deadly insurrection on the Capitol nine months ago, he said in October 2021, it was about white supremacy, in my opinion. And yet neither he nor his vice president said word one about how some subset of these white supremacist mobs very nearly killed Kamala Harris. There was obviously something about this little drama they did not like. Harris, it seems, stumbled into a plot about which she knew nothing. According to the FBI, a single suspect had planted bombs at both the RNC and DNC on the night of January 5. Harris, however, arrived at the DNC office late in the morning of January 6 accompanied by her Secret Service detail. The Secret Service did a sweep of the building exterior with a bomb-sniffing dog. Yet somehow they missed a conspicuous bomb that had allegedly been planted the previous night? No, nothing about the official FBI narrative rings true. Of course, the bomb maker has not been apprehended. Nor have the gallows builders. Nor have several of the window breakers. Yes, Ray Epps was finally charged but only then because he had become too obvious to ignore. He was given probation for crimes that netted other men prison sentences of up to 20 years. Harris would not have known who planted the bombs, but she knew enough not to call attention to them, even if it meant allowing guys like Christian Secor to rot in jail. In October 2022, the 24-year-old was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. Jack Cashills new book, Ashli: The Untold Story of the Women of January 6, is available in all formats. Image: TaptheForwardAssist In our rapidly evolving technological landscape, its time to reimagine how we deliver government assistance to those in need. This essay, representing a start to the discussion, proposes an innovative approach: distributing aid through cryptocurrency instead of traditional fiat currency. By leveraging Project Hamilton, a groundbreaking blockchain initiative, and introducing the WLFR token, we can create a system that benefits recipients, reduces fraud, and fosters financial growth without additional cost to taxpayers. Many of the following suggestions can be implemented differently. The Crypto Assistance Program (CAP): An Overview The proposed Crypto Assistance Program (CAP) would convert government aid from dollars to WLFR tokens at the time of payment. To the needy recipient. WLFR, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, would be issued on the Project Hamilton blockchain. Recipients would receive this crypto-based assistance on a secure digital wallet accessible through a government-issued smart card or smartphone app. This system would allow for real-time tracking, easy transactions, and the potential for value appreciation. Project Hamilton, a joint initiative between the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, provides the ideal blockchain infrastructure for the CAP. Its high-performance design can process up to 1.7 million transactions per second, far exceeding the needs of even the most extensive welfare programs. This speed, combined with Project Hamiltons focus on security and scalability, makes it an excellent choice for handling sensitive financial transactions on a national scale. Image by rawpixel. Key features of the CAP include dollar-to-WLFR conversion at each payment period, protection against devaluation, and the ability for recipients to benefit from any appreciation in value. The system would recalibrate every week or two to ensure fairness and stability. If the WLFR value decreases, additional tokens would be added to maintain the original dollar value of the assistance. Conversely, if the value increases, recipients can use the additional value without penalty, only repaying any amount previously added to offset devaluation. Implementation and Technology To implement the CAP, the government would leverage Project Hamiltons blockchain technology to create a secure, user-friendly system. Each recipient would receive a CAP Carda smart card with an embedded chip linked to their digital wallet. Alternatively, recipients could use a smartphone app for those who prefer mobile solutions. The CAP Card or app would function similarly to a debit card, allowing users to purchase at participating retailers or withdraw cash from ATMs. The system would use near-field communication (NFC) technology for contactless payments, ensuring quick and easy transactions. A central database would manage and track all transactions, automatically adjusting balances based on WLFR token value fluctuations. This database would interface with the Project Hamilton blockchain to ensure transparency and security. Reducing Fraud Through Blockchain Technology One of the most significant advantages of the CAP is its potential to reduce fraud dramatically. Project Hamiltons blockchain architecture makes it an ideal tool for this purpose, offering transparency, traceability, and the ability to implement smart contracts. All transactions are recorded on the blockchain, creating an immutable ledger that can be audited anytime. Each transaction can be traced back to its origin, making it easier to identify and prevent fraudulent activities. Smart contracts on the Project Hamilton blockchain can enforce rules and conditions for fund usage, ensuring that assistance is spent as intended. The system can also incorporate blockchain-based identity solutions to enhance security and prevent identity theft or unauthorized access to funds. Real-time monitoring capabilities allow for instant flagging of suspicious activities, enabling immediate investigation and intervention. By leveraging these features, the CAP can significantly reduce common forms of welfare fraud, such as identity theft, double-dipping, and misuse of funds. This increased security not only protects taxpayer money but also ensures that assistance reaches those who truly need it. Benefits for Recipients The CAP offers several advantages for assistance recipients. The potential for growth in WLFR token value could provide access to more resources without additional government spending. Exposure to cryptocurrency can increase financial literacy and technological proficiency among recipients. The high-speed transaction processing of Project Hamilton ensures quicker access to funds compared to traditional banking methods. Using a CAP Card or app may reduce the stigma associated with traditional welfare programs. While transactions are traceable for fraud prevention, personal information remains encrypted and secure on the Project Hamilton blockchain, offering greater privacy for recipients. Implementation Challenges and Solutions Implementing the CAP would face several challenges, but each can be addressed with careful planning. To overcome potential technological literacy barriers, training programs and ongoing support services could be provided. Though, literacy barriers, if any, would be mitigated by the use of the already-familiar technologies of phone apps and credit/debit-like cards. The use of WLFR tokens as a stablecoin mitigates much of the risk associated with cryptocurrency volatility, but any fluctuations would be managed through the protection and adjustment mechanisms described earlier. To address merchant adoption, the government would partner with major retailers and provide incentives for accepting WLFR tokens. A conversion service would be offered for smaller merchants. The CAP would be developed in close collaboration with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with financial regulations and welfare laws. Creating the necessary technological infrastructure will require significant investment. However, by leveraging Project Hamiltons existing blockchain network and partnering with tech companies, costs can be reduced while still providing a robust and scalable solution. Phased Implementation Plan To ensure a smooth transition, the CAP should be implemented in phases. A pilot program would first select a small, diverse group of recipients in a specific geographic area, implementing the basic CAP system with a limited number of partnering retailers. This phase would allow for data gathering, user feedback collection, and identification of areas for improvement. The second phase would expand the program to multiple states or regions, increase the number of participating retailers and service providers, and refine the system based on pilot feedback. Finally, a national rollout would implement the CAP nationwide, fully integrating it with existing welfare systems and conducting ongoing monitoring and improvements. Conclusion The Crypto Assistance Program, powered by Project Hamilton and the WLFR token, represents a bold step forward in the distribution of government aid. By harnessing the power of advanced blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, we can create a more efficient, secure, and potentially beneficial system for those in need. While challenges exist, the potential rewards including reduced fraud, increased financial literacy, and the possibility of value appreciation for recipients make this an idea worth pursuing. As we move further into the digital age, its crucial that our social support systems evolve as well. The CAP offers a way to modernize government assistance, providing not just aid, but also opportunity. By embracing this innovative approach, we can create a more efficient and fraud-resistant welfare system that benefits both recipients and taxpayers alike. Michael Applebaum, MD, JD, FCLM, is a physician and an attorney in Chicago, IL. A vicious, conniving, immoral, unpopular, third-rate politician with extreme radical views has come to within an inch of the presidency. Kamala Harris could be sitting in the Oval Office as soon as next week. She is far from the best America has to offer. In a functioning meritocracy, said Tucker Carlson, Kamala Harris would be a C-list massage therapist working out of a strip mall. Yet somehow she became our vice president. Howd that happen? It happened because the radical Left has been quietly but persistently winning the culture war by acquiring control over key elements of American society -- academia, journalism, the mainstream media, Big Tech, and the Democrat party. Its important to realize that it is not merely Kamala we are up against. We are facing a machine that has been grinding away for decades. Were not running against a candidate, said Vivek Ramaswamy. Were running against a system. The machine seeks to replace our republic with a dictatorship under the control of the Deep State and the Democrats (one and the same). The initial stooge for this cabal was Barack Obama, who presided over the first attempt by a sitting president to take America down. The socialist Left, said Steve Baldwin in Western Journalism, believed that the Obama era was the best opportunity to transform America to a socialist-based economy. We enjoyed a four-year respite when Donald Trump was elected, but then the Left found their second stooge in Joe Biden. Joe immediately reversed the benefits of the Trump administration and, as Obama 2.0, set the U.S. back on a course of economic and social ruin. When Joes mind went on permanent vacation after three and a half years, the Democrats had to get rid of him, but that was okay because they had already planted the biggest stooge yet in the form of Vice President Kamala Harris. The real powers that be, said Elon Musk, are discarding the old puppet in favor of one that has a better chance of fooling the public. Harris is a DEI plant. She was selected as Bidens VP based solely on gender and race, not for talent and competence. She is living proof that meritocracy has given way to diversity. For most of Joe Bidens presidency, Kamala lurked quietly in the background. No one took her seriously, especially when listening to her speak. Harris has been described as someone giving a book report on a book she hasnt read. When Joe announced he will not run for re-election, we were awakened from our slumber with the very real possibility that this cackling public fool could become the 47th president of the United States. This woman would be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth, said Douglas Murray. The image of her cackling manically while saying nonsense, with her finger on the nuclear button, is just too much. Harris began her career in local San Francisco politics by leveraging her affair with the married mayor, Willie Brown. After racking up a questionable record as a prosecutor, she wormed her way into the U.S. Senate. Her only claim to fame as a senator was her despicable treatment of Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court. Based on notoriety from that fiasco, she campaigned for the presidency. Democrat Party voters, recognizing that she is nothing more than a mendacious, unprincipled opportunist, relegated Harris to the bottom of the pile and ended her presidential aspirations -- but not for long. In a sort of magicians hat trick, Harris managed to land on the ballot as Bidens pick for VP. Why was she picked? She appealed to the Left as someone they could control in case Biden fell out a window. Ideologically, said Mark Levin, Kamala is farther left than 97 percent of the Democrats, the most extreme radical politician ever to run for high office in the United States of America. Harris has endorsed the Green New Deal, eliminating automobiles and fossil fuels, higher taxes, income redistribution, defunding and disbanding the police, repealing the First and Second Amendments, and socialism. During the 2020 riots, Harris did nothing to uphold the rule of law. On the contrary -- she raised money to defend the rioters. Theres a bevy of quotes that she has given, said Ari Fleisher, that show just how out of touch she is with mainstream America. Kamala has accomplished nothing of value during her tenure as vice president. Ill put my record up against Trumps any day of the week, she bragged. What record? She shares responsibility for the atrocious Biden/Harris administration, especially allowing millions of illegals to threaten local communities around the country. Many people believe that the border invasion has been planned and organized by the Biden/Harris administration, said Becky Noble at RedState. When Biden appointed Kamala as the border czar, she accomplished nothing except keeping the border wide open. Harris admits she is against immigration control. If you believe in border security, said Tom Homan, former Acting ICE Director, Kamala Harris being president is our worst nightmare. To deflect against the avalanche of negatives, the media are attempting to whitewash Kamalas image. Some of the medias largest players are proving their newfound devotion to Harris by attempting to rewrite her past -- and some of their own coverage, Ingrid Jacques reported in USA Today. The current presidency is a failed presidency, said Mollie Hemingway, and Kamala Harris is the current vice president and so they are working so hard to say that she had nothing to do with the failed economy, with the failed border, with the failed foreign policy. What theyre saying therefore is that she did nothing while the country burned. The media want the public to believe that Harris never served as border czar, despite abundant proof to the contrary. Yes, its as Orwellian as it sounds, said Jacques. And its a little too close to the tactics used by the Soviets to simply erase opponents from photographs. Dont like someone or something that happened? Hit delete. The obvious question for the media, said Becky Noble, would be: If her record is so stellar, why the need to sanitize it? The answer is, of course, because it isn't, and they know it. The thought of her being in charge is terrifying. Can Kamala win? The big problem for Democrats, said Josh Hammer at Newsweek, is that Harris is not an unknown commodity. On the contrary, she is a very well-known commodity -- one who just happens to be about as popular with the American public as venereal disease. An NBC News poll last June found her to be the single least popular vice president in American history -- only 32% of Americans had a positive view of her. And as recently as a month or two ago, Democrat elites were openly discussing whether she could still be dropped as Biden's 2024 running mate. It's funny how quickly one can go from the weakest link to the great savior of Our Democracy." Is Kamala smart enough to perceive her own shortcomings and how much of a liar she is? My answer: She is too dumb to realize that she is a stooge of the Left, and if she did realize it, she probably wouldnt care. Its all about power, baby. Ed Brodow is a conservative political commentator and author of two No. 1 Amazon Best Sellers, AMERICA ON ITS KNEES: The Cost of Replacing Trump with Biden, and THE WAR ON WHITES: How Hating White People Became the New National Sport. Image: AT via Magic Studio A Florida death row inmate is slated for execution next month for the murder of a Florida college student and the rape of his sister during a camping trip. Loran Cole, now 57, will die by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Aug. 28, according to the death warrant signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Associated Press reported. Cole was sentenced to death for the 1994 slaying of 18-year-old Florida State University student John Edwards. He was also ordered to life in prison for the rape, kidnapping and robbery of John's 21-year-old sister, Pam Edwards, during a brother-sister camping trip in Ocala National Forest in central Florida, according to court records obtained by HNGN. Cole and his accomplice, William Paul, met the Edwards siblings at their campsite. The men lured the victims away from the site and ambushed them, pinning them to the forest floor. "While they lay close to each other on the ground, John apologized to Pam for having exposed them to the dangers of these two strangers," court documents read. Cole led John away, delivered several blows to his head with a large walking stick, and subsequently slit John's throat. That night, he also handcuffed Pam and raped her. The next day, Cole raped Pam again, gagged her, and tied her to two trees before using her car to flee. Pam was able to free herself the next morning, and flagged down a passing motorist who drove her to the nearest police station. Paul, now 51, pleaded no contest to murder, kidnapping and robbery, and was sentenced to life in prison. While our Democrat friends congratulate each other every hour on the hour about the wonders of presidential candidate Kamala Harris we might as well take a break from developing our critical theory of the ongoing undemocratic process of Defending Democracy unfolding before us. So, never mind lecturing our Democrat friends on the difference between a democracy and a republic. Mark Lewis goes into detail about how President Biden is talking bologna when he says that Democracy is the essence of who we are. But who cares? Democracy and Republic are just magic words that political hypnotists use to put the voters into a trance. The words mean nothing. And the names of the political parties in America -- Federalist, Democratic-Republican, Democratic, Whig, Republican, Progressive -- mean nothing. Although the Bull Moose Party might be a bit different. All these words are part of serving voters with the Current Narrative, the Glorious History, the Founding Myth. And we usually fall for it, just as our Democrat friends are all in a swoon right now about Kamala Harris. At some point, when the current Age of the Educated Class stumbles into an ideological stupor, philosophers and ideologists will construct a Narrative of Decline. I dare say it will parallel the Narrative about the Roman Empire that declined from world domination to extinction in the Dark Ages until the glory of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment led to a world of Logic and Reason and Freedom and Justice. Only I dont agree. I believe that the last 500 years, the Age of the Educated Class, is not a golden age of Logic and Reason and Freedom and Justice but an Age of Religious War and Slavery. The Reformation led to a century of religious wars centering on Germany and culminating in the Thirty Years War of 1618-48, in which about one-third of Germans died, mostly from famine. Of course, the Brits were doing their bit, with Cromwell the Puritan getting the Catholic Irish sorted in 1649-53 so that about 15-20 percent of the Irish died. A little over a century later, courtesy of the Enlightenment, Europe exploded into an ideological war, and about twenty percent of the 200 million population died in the 25-year French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. A century later, Europe had progressed so far that it featured two ideological World Wars in half a century, with 40 million deaths in World War Is war against the emperors and 50-85 million deaths in World War IIs war against the Nazis. Thats progress. I dont know how you categorize the Soviet Union and Maoist China. Best estimates are that Communism killed 100 million people in the 20th century. Does that come under the category of war or genocide? Now, lets talk about slavery. Of course, we know that after a victorious war, the Romans would celebrate a Triumph in the city of Rome, where they paraded the loot and the slaves captured in the victorious campaign. A little later, the Venetians developed a nice little trade in Circassian beauties that they would buy in Caffa in the Crimea and then sell into the harems of the Middle East. Pretty soon the Venetians expanded their slave trade and began supplying slaves to the start-up sugar plantations on Cyprus. And a little later, the Brits tried the same thing on Barbados. Then Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, and plantation slavery boomed in the Southern United States until Gen. Sherman politely asked them to stop. What a shame! But never mind. In the 20th century, lefty intellectuals invented the Communist slave state where everyone was enslaved except a few top Party members. By the way, what do you call a state that spends 35-50 percent of GDP on government programs and who knows what on economic regulation and DEI? Would that be a society based on serfdom? Do you see the point? Our rulers have gussied up Narratives to show how magnificent and progressive they are. Maybe they are right, or maybe they are lying to themselves and to us. But its much more fun to create Counter Narratives. Recently, of course, our rulers have pushed the 1619 Project Narrative to advertise that the United States was founded on slavery. Maybe they are right. But I have advanced a 1584 Project, based on the idea that the U.S. was built on a foundation of White Trash serfdom, the waste population of Europe that was first dumped on these shores in 1584. And I suspect that one day experts will agree that the centuries-long subjection of White Trash in America is one of the great injustices of the ages and that President Vance will sign a bill to create a fourth victim museum on the Washington Mall: the Museum of the White Trash American. Now back to your regularly scheduled regime Narrative about the wonders of Kamala Harris. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: Public Domain Up until about two minutes ago, Kamala Harris was universally acknowledged to be a terrible candidate, an irritating person, an ineffectual vice president with an extraordinarily low rating, and a terrible boss. The second she was anointed as the Democrat candidate, though, that all changed, and her elevation to a status somewhere between saint and rock star began. However, in a digital age, no matter how the media lie or the tech titans game internet searches, the past will find you. The latest example is a 2019 essay detailing just how horrible a boss Kamala Harris really is. Terry McAteer wrote in 2019 about his sons humiliating and demoralizing experience working as an intern for Kamala Harris when she was Californias attorney general. McAteer assures the reader that he vetted the information he wrote by running his essay past his son Gregory, who agreed that his dad had accurately recorded his experiences. Heres what Gregory described: Senator Harris vocally throws around F-bombs and other profanity constantly in her berating of staff and others. The staff is in complete fear of her and she uses her profanity throughout the day. As Attorney General, Senator Harris instructed her entire staff to stand every morning as she entered the office and say, Good Morning General. Never once during the month-long internship did Harris introduce herself to our son (as he was only in an office with 20 paid employees) and staff was too intimidated by her to introduce him. The only acknowledgment was a form letter of thanks signed by Harris given to him on his last day of service. Gregory was also given instructions to never address Harris nor look her in the eye as that privilege was only allowed to senior staff members. Kamala clearly confused her job as an elected servant of the people with her being anointed by Allah as a Middle Eastern potentate. Im surprised she didnt require her employees to bow down before her and then kick their backsides on the way out. Address her as General? Nope, she didnt get a military honor. The general in that title simply refers to the fact that her authority encompassed the whole state, not just a county within the state. Forbid employees from look[ing] her in the eye unless theyre in the privileged inner circle? Nope, shes not a god or a king. Young Gregorys experience mirrored reports from other people who worked for Kamala, resulting in a 92% staff turnover in the Vice Presidents office: In a new report by the watchdog group Open the Books, researchers quantified her human resources problem. They discovered a 92% staff turnover through payroll records. Half of her staff listed on public payroll records quit in the past year, the organization calculated. [snip] High turnover in the White House isnt new, but Ms. Harris numbers are higher than others. In the same time span, President Trump experienced a 72% turnover and President Biden had a 77% turnover. Vice President Mike Pence hired 29 employees during his first year in the Trump administration, and five remained on staff after three years, indicating an 83% turnover rate. Ms. Harris hired 49 staffers and retained only four three years later. Past employees described a toxic and dysfunctional environment in the vice presidents office that seemed to worsen as Ms. Harris approval ratings sank. Ive been working since I was 16 and can say with absolute assurance that the two worst bosses are insecure women and alcoholics. Well, actually, the worst boss of all is an alcoholic, insecure woman. These women often attain high positions (which is why they were my bosses), but their success never alleviates their insecurity. Instead, it only heightens their narcissistic tendencies. To build a carapace around that empty black hole inside of them, they never accept responsibility, demand worshipful responses from those around them, manipulate people like chess pieces, and are verbally abusive. You can add to all this the fact that Kamala seems lazy, something reflected in the fact that she refuses to read her incredibly important morning briefings. I suspect, though, that more than laziness drives that. Given that best guesses are that she has a barely-above-average IQ, the reports may overwhelm and even frighten her. I should note, though, that IQ measurements are very narrow: They measure logic, book learning, and brain speed. We know now that there are several other types of important intelligence, such as emotional intelligence or physical intelligence (knowing intuitively how to use your body). Theres also something I call strategic intelligence, which is the ability to manipulate situations to your advantage. Think of Obama, an uninformed man with a slow wit but one of the most remarkably successful people in modern American politics. The same goes for pre-dementia Biden, a singularly stupid man who managed to advance his career all the way into the White House, and then was a good soldier for the left. Kamala has that type of intelligence. The question for voters is whether they think someone who is stupid, lazy, and an abusive boss, and whose greatest intelligence is self-advancement is qualified to lead our nation. My answer is no. The leftist answer, though, will be yes because Obama and Biden were remarkably effective at moving the country to the left culturally, economically, and in terms of national security. Image: YouTube screen grab. Bless their little pointed academic left-wing heads over there at NPR. Just today, I received one of their regular missives on the subject of "attacks" on the Dems' new nominee in waiting, the venerable Kamala Harris. As usual, NPR is out in front of the media curve and has assumed the role of linguistic bodyguard for the Veep and her supporters. How, you say? Simple. By resorting to calling criticisms -- whether justified or not -- of the Vice-President as negative messages or attacks, their truth-challenged and tunnel-visioned editors have chosen sides and are going for the gold at what they consider the mischaracterization of Americans' comments about the sacred cows of politicians (no offense meant to cows) as argumentative, mean, and nasty or just plain unwarranted now that the VP is heading up the Dems' dance card. They bemoan the existence of memes, but are willing to create and promote their own (like calling simple criticisms attacks) especially when it comes to protecting a mixed-race female who happens to occupy the second most powerful job in these here United States. The first commandment of DEI says: "Thou shalt not criticize anyone who is either: member of a mixed race or a minority, female person or aspiring to be female person, one who is Left-leaning, an abortion proponent, climate zealot, open borders advocate or any combination of the above." Judging by the number of people who fit into those categories, you can see that the protection racket has to be big enough and widespread enough to cover a whole helluva lot of ground. This includes, but is not limited to, those who got where they are simply by being born into a body created by others and were appointed or chosen for their positions because it was their group's turn. It also extends to those who are under or unqualified for their jobs, but who protect them by playing their race or gender card whenever they feel threatened. Social media is a double-edged sword At first, NPR and other special interest organizations embraced social media and hailed it as America's new open doorway to unfettered public discourse. That was before all the conservatives decided to weigh in on Facebook and Twitter and now Truth Social and are regularly calling out the abuses of power that have increased exponentially since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took over. Now social media is a breeding ground (according to them) for hate speech and unfair attacks (there's that word again) on their chosen ones. Now with only three plus months to go before V-Day they've traded in their chain mail for email and are peppering the public with warnings about the demise of democracy if Donald Trump is elected President. And should he end up beating Kamala at the ballot box, the airwaves of NPR and the other elite media will be crying foul and playing the Jussie Smollett card. Should that happen, the Left will be forced to do a 180 and accuse the Right of rigging an election. For how could anyone not vote for such a likeable, mixed-race female with no demonstrable track record in her job or any measureable managerial ability? It would boggle the mind, but as we all know, we are not allowed to have boggled minds when it comes to choosing our leaders, no matter how unsavory or unappetizing the choices might be. Stephan Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, GHW Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, seven of which are on American politics and has written over 1,400 articles on politics, economics, and social trends. He can be reached at stephenhelgesen@gmail.com Image: NPR, Fair Use What an ugly mess the Olympics is making of its insults to the world's two billion-plus Christians whose cash and attention it seeks. Following the mockery of Christianity at the Paris opening ceremonies by a group of drag queens, first came a sorry-not-sorry apology put on by the Paris organizers of the Olympics, and then the International Olympic Committee: Wake up babe, the IOC just dropped their Im sorry you were offended apology. pic.twitter.com/YRewh5nXOi Ryan Selkis (d/acc) (@twobitidiot) July 28, 2024 It was denounced as inadequate by prominent bishops, who could see that they were blaming the offended, or in any case, who know bee ess when they see it. Here is one: After that, there was the claim from the left that Christians were all just reading it wrong, the show-biz bacchanal intended to mock the Last Supper was really just a tribute to the Greek gods -- you know, Olympics, Greeks -- so touchy Christians were all just reading it wrong. Now that's fallen apart. The social media posts of the actors involved before the event tell a different story: Apparently Barbara Butch is the creature playing Christ in the special Olympics opening ceremony. This is an instagram post of hers after the performance. I am not entertaining any more claims that this was a Greek Dionysus homage or whatever. pic.twitter.com/eSiSrKOiPf FilmLadd (@FilmLadd) July 27, 2024 They have been trying to erase them, but the Internet is forever. Not only have they told us they hate Christians with this sorry drama, they've tried to gaslight us that it's all in our heads. What a nasty, dishonest organization this is, not even being able to admit a mistake, let alone use common sense about who their audience is. Image: Twitter screen shot Will Tanner, one of the main minds behind the outlet The American Tribune, issued an ominous warning on X, directed toward American citizens: The rural violence experienced by the minority white civilian population (<7%)in South Africa at the hands of guerrilla thugs has already made landfall in the United States, and its fixing to get much, much worse. And, where else would you expect ground zero in this saga of anarcho-tyrannya stage of government dysfunction in which the state can ruthlessly legislate and penalize trivial matters but is hopelessly incapable of fulfilling its actual duty and guaranteeing inalienable rights but the former (southern) border, de facto dissolved by the Biden-Harris regime and their coterie of progressive Democrats keen to foster dystopian terrors; cartel members are now using signal jammers to sabotage communications and prevent any type of response from law enforcement as they carry out their criminal activities: And here is the video, which comes from the CJNG cartel in Mexico, one of those empowered by Biden's open border: pic.twitter.com/12f64SyrMm Will Tanner (@Will_Tanner_1) July 28, 2024 Imagine being an American rancher with land along the border, finding yourself under attack from cartel members intent on taking your property or the lives of you and your family, and you have no way to call for help because the sicarios are using signal jammers; instead youre utterly alone, just like the white farmers of South Africa who have been raped, beaten, and killed by ruthless criminals in nearly identical situations. (Ive written on the signal jammers being used in South African assaults here, and more of the situation at large here and here.) Remember 77-year-old Alejo Garza Tamez? Tamez was a brave Mexican rancher who refused to acquiesce to the demands of Los Zetas cartel members, and made a very Alamo-like last stand on his property when they returned up 24 hours later to seize the property by forcehe had ordered his farm workers to take the day off and fought alone, answered the demand for surrender with bullets killing four attackers in self-defense and wounding another two before he eventually died in the firefight. What about this story, from Breitbart News in November? GRAPHIC PHOTOS: Ranch in Mexican Border City Turned into Cartel Killing Field The gruesome discovery took place this week in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, after the activist group Amor Por Los Desaparecidos received an anonymous tip that there were human remains on a ranch on the western part of the city. The ranch is located along the highway that connects Reynosa with Nuevo Laredo. The Gulf Cartel seized the property from the owners by force. The group works to find the remains of the thousands of individuals who the Gulf Cartel has abducted in recent years. Their activities this year alone led to the discovery of 16 mass graves in Reynosa alone. The property was seized from the owners by force. Or this, from an article at The New York Times this past February? A Family Ranch, Swallowed Up in the Madness of the Border Desperate migrants. Cartel violence. Its all happening in the Chiltons backyard. But, it goes past the border too; back in December, mainstream outlets reported that South American gangs were using signal jammers during burglaries in high-end homes: Gangs from South America use security jammers to break in to expensive homes across country: police Police said they are highly functional and well-trained. A police official described the crews, which are believed to consist of four to six people, as highly functional and well-trained. Are these thieves armed? I dont see why they wouldnt be. If this development in open border drama isnt just the greatest case for the right to keep and bear personal arms, then I dont know what is. Image generated by AI. Last Tuesday, British authorities arrested a 24-year-old man after he allegedly stabbed a British Army soldier off-duty but in uniformthis week, leaked emails from the Royal Navy reveal that military members are being advised to forgo wearing their uniforms or covering any military insignias in public, because a lower profile would be more appropriate. After the politicians imported the Muslim third world into England, military members now find themselves in enemy territory in their own homeland. From Steven Edingtons new report at GB News out this morning: On 26 July Royal Navy officers were sent an email following the stabbing of an off-duty military officer discussing guidance around wearing uniforms outside of military bases. There is no ban on the wearing of uniform in public, but personnel should not feel compelled to wear it outside MOD establishments when common sense says a lower profile would be more appropriate, the memo continued. Commanding Officers or Heads of Establishment are to provide guidance on what is appropriate for their local circumstances. This could possibly include not wearing uniform outside the place of work; covering uniform and military insignia when commuting to and from work. Lets go through local circumstances that obviously demand a lower profile for those in military uniform: Anywhere near a mosque; All areas of London, but especially districts like Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Waltham Forest; A halal grocery store; Meeting with local constituents at a Methodist church (David Amess); Walking along the London Bridge (dont want to get run down by terrorists in van and then stabbed); Outside military barracks in Woolwich (Lee Rigby); And apparently Taylor Swift-themed birthday partiesthere are conflicting accounts out now about the assailants background, but three precious children are dead so far, and credible reports say the teenaged stabber is a newcomer off a dinghy last year, and counter-terrorism officers are already involved in the investigation according to the authorities. Listener discretion advised, but below is an account from a reported eyewitness: Distressing Audio of a local mother from Southport describing today's horrific stabbings. I was sent this a short while ago and it hit me like a freight train. I make zero apologies when I say this, I want Islam and all its practitioners removed from Western Society. We pic.twitter.com/21Z6pRUn8H Terry K (@TezTruth81) July 29, 2024 In the wake of the stabbing, some responded to the tragedy like this: Ali Al-Shakti, a 17yo recent 'asylum seeker,' went on a homicidal stabbing rampage in a children's dance class in Southport, England, murdering 2 young children, injuring 9, 6 critically, as well as 2 adults. And this is the reaction from some people pic.twitter.com/1cp6bJTMyf ShipofTheseus (@JewishSpaceLazr) July 29, 2024 Now, this certainly isnt to make a pro-war argument for the Western invasion into third world Muslim dumpster nations like Afghanistan and Iraq, but if we for a moment set aside the politicians with their greedy, ulterior ambitions and motivations and just focus on the fact that ordinary British citizens have made the ultimate sacrifice, and brothers and fathers and sisters and mothers never came home after more than a decade of dying in the desert, we see what a disgrace this manufactured migration movement really isBritish military forces have spent the better part of the 21st century giving their lives in service of their nation and their kinsmen, warring against a culture that is thoroughly violent and disgusting, and now those barbarians have been invited to set up shop inside the Brits own home. Heres this, also from Edington: Harrison Pitt, a senior editor at The European Conservative and a political commentator at the New Culture Forum, said: In a unified national culture, walking the streets while wearing the uniform of the British armed forces would be one of the proudest activities it is possible to imagine. It is a testament to the damage wrought by diversity and multiculturalism that this simple blessing can no longer be taken for granted. The politicians of the West colluded to open the borders and destroy our civilization, using progressive buzzwords like diversity and multiculturalism and as Pitt calls out, these policy influences have only brought oppression and deaththe muezzin call to prayer is the death knell for Western civilization and its people. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. There are questions that mankind has always been seeking answers to, not only through reason and argumentation but through intuition, faith, or direct experience. One of them concerns miracles. Christians believe that the Almighty God communicates with humans in various ways, one of which is through particular events in history or in the present. To be sure, believing that a specific event is actually a message from Above, or a miracle, is a personal decision for each individual. We believers know well that from a Christian perspective the understanding of Gods will can be nuanced and is often viewed as both accessible and mysterious. In other words, you cannot treat what you believe in like something taken from Walmart: chosen, paid for, packaged, and brought home. You cannot take the things we believe in and put them in your pocket: the moment you pronounce their names they escape you because in most cases they belong to the realm of symbols, which by nature allude to something that is hidden, that is elusive. Therefore, for one thing, it is useless to counter our statements from a rationalistic or positivistic standpoint. What purpose do self-referential objections and counter-objections serve? Nobody wants to convince anyone: it would be futile and senseless. Just recently many top Republican officials were embracing divine intervention -- the hand of God -- to help explain how former president Donald J. Trump survived the recent assassination attempt. The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn [my head] but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount, Trump himself said. He also credited luck or God for saving him from would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crookss bullet. Understanding Gods specific will for individual situations can be particularly challenging. There is an acknowledgment that Gods ways and thoughts are higher than human ways and thoughts: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). This means that certain aspects of Gods will may remain mysterious and beyond human comprehension. In summary, while for Christians Gods will can be understood through Scripture, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is also an acceptance of the mystery and sovereignty of God. This balance of knowing and not fully knowing requires faith and trust in Gods ultimate goodness and plan. Can we take for granted that we Christians, in todays Western world, are actually free to believe whatever we want to believe? Are we allowed, for one thing, to believe that Donald Trump survived by the grace of God, without being massacred by the media and the cultural Establishment, and labeled as a danger or a threat to society? Unfortunately, the answer is no. All in all, Christians are barely tolerated and treated as de facto second-class citizens who must refrain from talking about their faith and what it teaches in order not to be laughed at and ridiculed -- at best -- or regarded with suspicion or contempt. As an example of this Zeitgeist was last Fridays opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with its drag queen-themed parody of Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper. Independent journalist Kyle Becker said on X that The opening ceremony was filled with transgender mockery of the Last Supper, the Golden Calf idol, and even the Pale Horse from the Book of Revelation. The Olympics has made it clear that Christian viewers arent welcome. Luck or God? Trumps statement was cautious, but open. He showed statesmanlike wisdom. We ordinary citizens and Christians can afford to go a little further. Personally and honestly, I feel like believing that the world witnessed another miracle performed by God on July 13, 2024. I believe that God spared Ronald Reagan and St. John Paul II for a reason. Likewise, God spared Donald Trump for a reason. If you didnt believe in miracles before Saturday, Sen. Tim Scott told the cheering crowd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on opening night of the GOP convention, you better be believing right now! Thank God Almighty that we live in a country that still believes in the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the alpha and the omega! I couldnt agree more. We should not be intimidated by the Zeitgeist. Jesus Christ is Lord in our lives. Samuel Robert Piccoli is a blogger and the author of several books, among them Being Conservative from A to Z (2014) and Blessed Are the Free in Spirit (2021). He lives in the Venice area. Image: Samuel Colman Earlier this month, England underwent major political changes (at least on the surface), and the far-left Keir Starmer took up residence at Downing Street 10, leading a Labour Party landslide into the federal government. Then yesterday afternoon, Starmers finance minister Rachel Reeves shared the governments new high tax, high spending budget with the necessary actions she doesnt want to take, but has to, for economic security of course. Here are the details, from Kurt Zindulkas article at Breitbart News this morning: This is not a decision I wanted to make, nor is it the one I expected to make but these are the necessary and urgent decisions that I must make, Reeves told the Commons. Englands new government is feigning fiscal responsibility, but really its just implementing a penny-wise and pound-foolish approach, sustaining the globalist agenda of Western collapse, wealth redistribution, and progressive policies; see below, also from Zindulka: Leftist Labour Govt Cuts Winter Energy Aid to Millions of Pensioners, Preps Mass Tax Hikes In her first major address to Parliament on Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves the head of the Treasury Department confirmed the high-tax, high spending agenda of the new Labour government. Reeves claimed that she did not want to have to do this but asserted that the previous Conservative government of Rishi Sunak had left a 22 billion black hole in Britains finances, the Daily Mail reports. This deficit was exacerbated by illegal immigration and the asylum system, the overspend on which rose to 6.4 billion this year alone. The chancellor also pointed to more spending on the National Health Service (NHS), funding for the war in Ukraine, and highway and road maintenance. To meet the spending costs, Reeves said that the government would scrap energy bill support this winter for potentially up to 10 million pensioners. First of all, theres nothing conservative about globalist socialists like Rishi Sunak (its as bad as calling Mitt Romney or John McCain conservative; like what are they possibly conserving?) but nonetheless, Sunak approved massive debt and deficit spending, admitted millions of foreigners to the nation and then the dole, and financed forever wars with no accountability, and as anyone with a brain could predict, its left the English taxpayers in a very precarious position. According to a report from Reuters, heres what the new government had to say about Sunaks management: The assessment will show that Britain is broke and broken - revealing the mess that populist politics has made of the economy and public services, a statement issued by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said. Again, shipping in millions of impoverished foreigners who openly declare that they wont be assimilating and instead intend to conquer and destroy society as it is, from a culture that breeds 7th-century violence and oppression, is not populismits globalist leftism, which is exactly why everyone and everything is in fact broke and broken, respectively. Now, we just topped $35 trillion in debt for the first time in history, so a 22 billion hole seems like a dream at this point, but lets take a look at what Englands been spending the peoples money. First, the hordes of migrants, who arent really doctors, lawyers, and engineers, but the Pakistani groomers of Rochdale, the Afghans who stand out as the ones who commit the sex crimes against local women, and the jihadis from sub-Saharan Africa; from BBC this spring: UK foreign aid spending on asylum seekers rises again More than a quarter of all UK overseas aid was spent on asylum costs at home last year, new figures show. The Foreign Office statistics reveal 4.3bn of its foreign aid budget went on supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. That represents a 16% increase from the 3.7bn that was spent in 2022. The government said it had spent 15bn on development last year, including on humanitarian aid in Gaza and had had doubled spending in poorer countries. Now, of that 22 billion hole, 20%, or one-fifth of the shortfall, could be swiftly resolved by ejecting all the parasitic foreigners, or simply forcing them to pay their own waybut, this is what big government does instead: THOUSANDS of asylum seekers and Channel migrants are living in four and five star luxury at British taxpayers expense.https://t.co/AFKXWT6nfp UK Justice Forum Latest Video News Updates! (@Justice_forum) November 3, 2022 And of course, Ukraine. From Parliament itself: The UK is one of the leading donors to Ukraine, alongside the US and Germany. To date, the UK has pledged 12.5 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which 7.6 billion is for military assistance. This includes 3 billion for military assistance in 2024/25. Donors hows that for offensive? Bona fide theft via taxation and money laundering doesnt count as a legitimate donation but I digress. Thats 56% of the financial black hole right there! But yes, turning off the old peoples heat in the winter, and inevitably the air conditioning in the summer, is the only option, a necessary evil, something that Reeves did not want to do Reevess hand has been forced by conservatives and their populist policies! And of course, for the sake of the planet at some yet undetermined date in the future, we cant allow these old people to buy reliable energy they can actually afford (a 2023 figure revealed that the United Kingdom as a whole received 48% of its energy needs from the inaptly-named renewable energy sector), they must still be prohibited from using oil, gas, or coal. And the regime laughs. Image: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, OGL 3, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. An old truism in politics is that if the win is big enough, the other guy can't steal it. Venezuela's latest election just put paid to that nonsense. Any filthy tyrant, especially a socialist with a lot to hide and a will to entrench himself in permanent power, can steal an election ... right in front of his voters' faces. And in the case of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, be perfectly confident that he'll always get away with it. The opposition will be told to accept the result and go prepare for the next election six years from now. The West will wring its hands a bit, and just go along. Venezuelans have seen this movie before. Which is why Joe Biden's decision to drop sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for "free and fair elections" was such a disgusting deal, empowering the Maduroites to steal themselves another election, and enjoy the newly freed-up money, which included buying guns to fire into crowds, and then taking out the opposition afterwards through lawfare. That's what Maduro is doing now. Quite a steal for Maduro, and in more ways than one. The hopes were so high, the polls were so strong, and the opposition candidate, Maria Corina Machado, (along with her designated surrogate after she was disqualified from running, Edmundo Gonzalez), was so spotless, that the only question left in this election was how Maduro was going to get out of this one. He was going to lose; the crowds were out there, the slums had turned against him, the Venezuelans were rallying for Machado, and the polls were scarily unified showing gargantuan majorities in support of her and Gonzalez. Every dirty trick in the book was tried -- from disqualifying Machado, to disqualifying overseas voters, to creating confusing ballots, to arresting Machado's aides and even her security chief, hauling them all off, to attempting to kill her by cutting the brake hoses to her campaign's cars, which happened several days ago. Every dirty trick. Sound familiar? With every one of those acts foiled, Maduro got what he wanted through his customary method, which was stealing the election, same as Venezuela's socialists have been doing since 2004, through already-cast ballots, problems at polling stations, a mysterious stoppage of counting at midnight, followed by a change of direction in the voting, illogical turnout numbers, and a reported close result. This guy, who works for Maduro, took this selfie during the counting of the votes yesterday in Venezuela. He forgot that the real results were on the screens. You can see how Maduro lost, by a lot, every state. I am pretty sure he wont make it alive another day. pic.twitter.com/gUX6kyEVhx Ada Lluch (@ada_lluch) July 29, 2024 Except that this time, it was way too nakedly obvious that the result was fraudulent. Voters stood in the rain for hours, people walked to polling stations on canes and knees, lines were long, even in the slums, and turnout was huge. That's why we have scenes like these across Venezuela now, starting with unrest in the capital: 4:03pm. Asi esta la Prados del este a la altura de Santa Fe 29Julio pic.twitter.com/1dlCNQNWgx Gabriela Gonzalez (@GabyGabyGG) July 29, 2024 Venezuelan journalist Titi Gonzalez shows a panoramic view of western Caracas -once a stronghold of Chavismo- full of smoke from the spontaneous protests and subsequent clashes: pic.twitter.com/gnHystbEOh Caracas Chronicles (@CaracasChron) July 29, 2024 Destruction of campaign propaganda: | LO ULTIMO El pueblo venezolano esta comenzando a tumbar y sacar toda la propaganda del regimen de Maduro de las calles. pic.twitter.com/rexFvhdaD4 UHN Plus (@UHN_Plus) July 29, 2024 A esta hora: Centro de Maracay pic.twitter.com/O0eLLwOEoQ Leopoldo Lopez (@leopoldolopez) July 29, 2024 Queman afiches de Maduro durante cacerolazo en Santa Monica, al suroeste de Caracas. pic.twitter.com/lchj8GVKoC Monitoreamos (@monitoreamos) July 29, 2024 ...and the flag of its Cuban colonizers: The Cuban flag is taken down from public spaces. I hope my Cuban friends understand it's no disrespect to you but to the Castro regime that supports the Venezuelan tyrant. https://t.co/P2FAzibhlw Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) July 29, 2024 The protests spreading to a naval base: A esta hora: Base Naval Punto Fijo pic.twitter.com/2BbbQAWfeL Leopoldo Lopez (@leopoldolopez) July 29, 2024 Update: Reportedly the army base Fuerte Tiuna, and the airport out of Caracas, too. Update: With suggestions the military may be declining to fire, which is ominous for Maduro: JUST IN: Venezuelan military troops allow the popular uprising against Maduros fraudulent election to continue. This is a positive sign that suggests the military may help topple the illegitimate socialist regime. pic.twitter.com/vIwDPFoBRE Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 29, 2024 Ceaucescu talk among Venezuela's top observers. MADURO SE CREE NERON, PERO PARECE QUE DECIDIO SEGUIR EL EJEMPLO FATAL DE SU TOCAYO CEAUSESCU Suicida pues!! https://t.co/5NngpuNCBz Pedro Mario Burelli (@pburelli) July 29, 2024 With reports from across the country of spontaneous mass demonstrations against Maduros fraudulent re-election, the #Venezuela govt and armed forces face an unprecedented challenge - a barrio uprising. https://t.co/Zm4MnoQvKT Phil Gunson (@philgunson) July 29, 2024 Places that have never protested Chavista socialism now protesting Chavista socialism: Yo naci y creci en Casalta 3, tengo familia alli, desde que tengo uso de razon, Casalta nunca protesto asi con el chavismo. Esto es importante. https://t.co/4lpwrhRJ0a Maria Gabriela Trompetero (@GabyTrompetero) July 29, 2024 The protests getting very close to the presidential palace. A esta hora: Av. Urdaneta cerca de Miraflores pic.twitter.com/PQjk1IO42O Leopoldo Lopez (@leopoldolopez) July 29, 2024 Snipers have been positioned onto the roof of the presidential palace: I'm told by first-hand observers that the rooftops around the presidential palace are full of snipers to protect Maduro. Someone tells me, "We need to be saved because people will be masacred" Daniel Di Martino (@DanielDiMartino) July 29, 2024 Maduro has thrown out the entire diplomatic corps of multiple Latin American neighbors whose leaders have condemned or at least expressed concern about his fraud: And Chavez statues toppling: Adios Dictatora Maduro https://t.co/79saJ8OSp4 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2024 The fraud was naked and the anger is palpable. Maduro may yet get what he wants by massacring the protestors and arresting the opposition leaders. His powder remains dry, note other observers. But he's got a lot of incandescent anger inside as well as outside observers who can see what's going on and calling it for what it is, such as Argentina's president, Javier Milei and for that matter, Elon Musk, whom Maduro has since invited to fight with him. JUST IN: Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro labels Elon Musk his "archenemy" and says he is trying to invade Venezuela with his rockets. He sounds just like U.S. politicians. "Our new archenemy, the famous Elon Musk. Who desperately shows his face and he would like to come pic.twitter.com/pfkLqJ9x85 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 29, 2024 In Maduro's favor, he seems to have the Biden administration expressing mealy-mouthed "concern" instead of full blown damnation such as Milei has done, but more about that later. Musk tweeted earlier that he felt this kind of fraud set a precedent with implications for the U.S. That's the most worrying thing. If Maduro can get away with this, anyone else can, too. Who might that be? Image: Screen shot from Twitter video Now that the streets of Caracas are in flames with cries of 'liberty' shouted and statues of Hugo Chavez are being toppled and dragged through the streets following a fraudulent election result, where's the leader of the free world? Pretty well absent, actually, releasing mealy-mouthed statements through his surrogates of "concern" about Venezuela's election result, when it should be shouting "fraud" and demanding the dictator's ouster. Here's Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing his "concern" and calling for an extended investigation: Portavoz Miller: Como dijo hoy el Secretario de Estado Blinken @SecBlinken, es fundamental que cada voto en Venezuela se cuente de manera justa y transparente. pic.twitter.com/OweiHaWutX USA en Espanol (@USAenEspanol) July 29, 2024 What drivel. There were more of them, all touting the same "concern" line, perhaps to be followed by a "stern warning." Millions turned out in Venezuela on Sunday to have their voices heardbut results released so far by the electoral authorities don't reflect the courage or the will of the people. All votes must be counted fairly, transparently & publicly. The world is watching. pic.twitter.com/1hnJb3b8YS Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) July 29, 2024 Yeah, and you're waiting for someone else to go first. The claim that Venezuelans were "courageous" for voting is faded Xerox material from the Bush wars in places like Afghanistan, it didn't take any courage to vote, what took courage was speaking out after the vote was stolen. As for the transparency claim, that is ridiculous, too. The Venezuelan opposition leaders and their supporters already saw what happened pretty transparently, they went from voting site to voting site to read the "actas" or voting tallies and saw that their side had won more than 70% of the vote. It was transparent all right, it was just nakedly stolen. Power's remarks are quite infuriating when you realize how little she knows. We are concerned the partial results released by Venezuelan electoral authorities dont reflect the peoples votes & call for the release of full, detailed results for transparency. We will hold judgement until then.The U.S. & intl community are watching. https://t.co/1OlvsdrJsE Adrienne Watson (@NSC_Spox) July 29, 2024 Hold judgment? Nope, they've done that for years as election after election was stolen in that country. The time to act is now. Similar drivel here: Venezuelan voters showed up in huge numbers to express their will at the ballot box. It now falls on electoral authorities to ensure transparency & access for all political parties & civil society in the tabulation of votes & prompt publication of results. Credibility of the Brian A. Nichols (@WHAAsstSecty) July 29, 2024 Then there's this word-salad by Kamala Harris, so inchoate it appears to be supporting the dictatorship. Maduro, after all, says his fraudly result is the will of the Venezuelan people. A tweet like this would be convenient for him to tout. The United States stands with the people of Venezuela who expressed their voice in todays historic presidential election. The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. Despite the many challenges, we will continue to work toward a more democratic, prosperous, and secure Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 28, 2024 All of it is mealy-mouthed in the extreme, calling for "transparency" when what they should mean is "fraud." Events happen fast in national barrio uprisings, which this is, and these people have all been caught flat-footed. Not surprisingly, that puts the U.S. in this wretched lavender zone: The countries in red accept the elections in Venezuela, the countries in blue reject them. The purple countries demand a recount. pic.twitter.com/RntzigILZO Maxwell A. Cameron (@MaxwellACameron) July 29, 2024 Hemming, hawing, chin-stroking, hoping the issue can be committeed away, sometime in the next 20 news cycles when no one will be paying attention. It's noteworthy that Maduro got into a verbal fight with Elon Musk who called the fraud what it was, not Biden. I wrote about that here. Why the heck weren't we in the blue zone with the region's democracies? This is the United States of America, it ought to be easy to jawbone for the free world and offer at least verbal support to Venezuela's infuriated people. They didn't get that from the Bidenites. As for the Venezuelans, it's always 'go back to campaigning and come see us again in six years when there's another fraudulent election to get stolen from you. Try again.' That's what they get from this sorry version of the U.S. and the West. They've heard this for literally 20 years. The result is always the same -- the strengthening of the dictatorship. And the lesson here for everyone is that when fraud is tolerated once, as it was when Jimmy Carter "certified" Venezuela's 2004 recall referendum, despite not knowing what went on "in the totalization room" as his report about it stated, it gets worse the next time. And worse, and worse, until it gets so naked, so clearly fraudulent, so outrageous, we have the breaking point we see here. Fraud in their faces. This sickening fraud tolerance from the West and everyone inside only leads to worse fraud, because totalitarian socialists don't leave power willingly. Most of the lavender-zoners are in Europe and places quite far removed from Venezuela, so they can be excused as they don't have the area knowledge or the national interests at stake to advocate otherwise. But the Biden administration cannot be excused for this mealy-mouthed talk. We are in a near-war with Vladimir Putin of Russia and nothing will undercut Putin like the "loss" of his Latin American satellite state Venezuela, with which he has a close arms and energy relationship. If the liberty forces win in Venezuela, Russia will be cut off at the knees. We thought Biden wanted Russia to lose and Ukraine to win. What's more, Cuba and Nicaragua, two seriously problematic socialist hellholes, responsible for the border surge and support for global terrorism, stand to topple like dominos if Venezuela is lost to their malevolent socialist club. A chain reaction could happen with dictators going down across the hemisphere. So much for Biden's claims to favoring "democracy." Lastly, if Maduro manages to hold onto power, who will get the mass flight of refugees that follows, all of them with credible asylum claims for defying a evil tyranny? That's right, they head here, we get a migrant wave unlike any we have seen. We know he wants one. But does he want the Fox News photos of it as they head on in? Maybe that won't work for Kamala Harris's election prospects. But Biden never thinks about these things, he only reacts to events and in this case, doesn't know how to react. After all, he's an election-cheat himself with zero moral authority to complain about any other state's cheating. But even as Joe Biden is hiding in his basement and his designated successor is spewing ignorant word-salad gobbledygook, some heroes with moral clarity from the region actually did appear. This is what a real leader does -- President Javier Milei of Argentina, wasting no time after hearing this nakedly fraudulent election result, with this blast: DICTADOR MADURO, AFUERA!!! Los venezolanos eligieron terminar con la dictadura comunista de Nicolas Maduro. Los datos anuncian una victoria aplastante de la oposicion y el mundo aguarda que reconozca la derrota luego de anos de socialismo, miseria, decadencia y muerte. Javier Milei (@JMilei) July 29, 2024 Translation: DICTATOR MADURO, GET OUT!!! Venezuelans chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro. The data announce a crushing victory for the opposition and the world is waiting for it to recognize defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death. Argentina is not going to recognize another fraud, and hopes that the Armed Forces this time will defend democracy and the popular will. Freedom Advances in Latin America. Which was exactly what was needed, the right response. That's how you treat street criminals, mafiosos, dirtbags, lowlife, who lie and cheat. They only understand the language of force and must be spoken to in direct language. What's more, he acted fast, which is all they respond to. He wasn't interested in the niceties of commissions and truth committees and extended investigation, which would only serve to entrench Maduro in power and at most make him promise to do better next time. Milei delivered. He released this one in, too, addressing and encouraging the Venezuelan voters: BREAKING: Milei sends a message to the Venezuelan National: Dictator Maduro has committed elector fraud. He has awakened the Venezuelan lions and sooner or later socialism is going to end. Socialism is always murderous. Courage, dear Venezuelans pic.twitter.com/7p2YspPm6j Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) July 29, 2024 And this: Venezuela strong: It is better to live in a risky liberty than a peaceful slavery. Long live f***ing freedom. FUERZA VENEZUELA: "Es preferible una libertad riesgosa a una esclavitud tranquila" VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO pic.twitter.com/1FpEh2wCnK Milei SheIby (@TommyShelby_30) July 30, 2024 For good measure, he eats Maduros insults for lunch calling them flattery. Los insultos del Dictador Maduro para mi son halagos. Casualmente repitiendo los mismos agravios de muchos periodistas bienpensantes de la Argentina cuya posicion endeble permite que las atrocidades de Maduro sean legitimadas. Ni el se cree la estafa electoral que festeja. La Javier Milei (@JMilei) July 29, 2024 Maduro must have been taken aback given all the hemming and hawing he's heard in the past every time he's cheated at an election, and he should have been -- about a dozen Latin American states rapidly followed Milei and his lion's roar -- Peru, El Salvador, Panama, Guatemala, Uruguay, even Chile which has a left-leaning government. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson speaks to CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells during a PUC meeting July 25 in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building in Austin. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells speaks to commissioners of the Public Utility Commission of Texas during a meeting July 25 in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building in Austin. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, pictured in 2018. Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle State Sen. Judith Zaffirini pictured in 2022. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer Texas Republicans and Democrats rarely agree on anything, but CenterPoints grid failure during Hurricane Beryl united 13 senators Monday to rage against the utility and demand every electricity transmission and distribution company to better prepare for future disasters. However, the truth that emerged from the Texas Senate hearing is that state leaders have not adequately overseen the electric business for decades. Winter Storm Uri in 2021 demonstrated that our generation system is decrepit; Beryl proved the electric lines and poles are, too. The question is what the governor and lawmakers will do about it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad All the lawmakers agreed that millions of Houstonians should not have gone so long without electricity following a Category 1 hurricane. They also correctly questioned whether other Texas utilities might fail if struck by a natural disaster, such as a tornado, winter storm or straight-line winds known as derechos. As a CenterPoint customer in Laredo, I have to wonder, what if we had such a storm in Laredo? Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Democrat, asked. Are we going to isolate CenterPoint or look at CenterPoint as an example and then look at all other companies and all other providers of energy and say: These are the standards that you must meet going forward, standards related to reliability, to resistance, and what will this Legislature do about it? Zaffirini drilled into those questions when Public Utility Commission Chairman Thomas Gleeson testified before the special committee investigating the hurricane response. She forced Gleeson to acknowledge that the PUC has failed to hold utilities accountable. I would agree that we have not held them to a standard that would be considered sufficient, Gleeson said. The governors letter talked about the entire Houston and Gulf Coast area, and I would think about it even statewide. I think we need a comprehensive look at how we fund utilities and how they prepare for storms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican, focused on the perverse incentives of how Texas rewards utilities. The state grants a company, city or cooperative a monopoly to maintain transmission and distribution wires in a particular area. In return, customers pay for the service on their electricity bills. The funds are paid to maintain existing lines and manage vegetation near power lines. However, the company does not earn a profit on operations and maintenance. Utilities only have the opportunity to earn a 9.5% profit from big capital expenditures on new equipment or power lines. Bettencourt called that bassackwards. He accused CenterPoint of directing spending where the PUC allows it to collect a profit, such as $800 million allocated for backup generators, instead of trimming trees and vines. CenterPoint budgeted only $3.9 million to trim vegetation from 3,500 miles of power lines in 2023 on a grid with 29,000 miles of cables, committee members reported. The company has since promised to expand that to 7,000 miles, but only after at least 30 people died from lack of power. Since for-profit utilities make more money when they spend less on maintenance and more on installing new equipment, senators questioned whether Texas should reward performance rather than expenditure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hurricane Beryl put CenterPoint and Gulf Coast utilities in the hot seat, but every other utility CEO could find themselves in the same spot if disaster struck their region. Austin fired the CEO of city-owned Austin Energy when an ice storm broke tens of thousands of trees, leaving a third of the population without power for up to 10 days. State law encourages utilities to submit a resiliency plan, but officials have not set performance standards. Utility lobbyists have fought hard against accountability systems in the past and, despite displays of contrition Monday, will argue against new oversight during the 2025 legislative session. Gleeson acknowledged that in the last 30 years, the PUC has only once denied a utility its profits. Texans have also changed how they think about extreme weather, and the senators recognize that no one should be surprised by storm damage anymore. We have a new expectation for how reliable our system is, Gleeson acknowledged. We have to come up with ways to meet that new expectation. What was good enough 15 years ago is not good enough anymore. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It used to be Russia, Russia, Russia. When George Bush was running, he had to pick Cheney to get gravitas. It has always been that Republicans are racists, sexists, transphobes, and xenophobes. Anyone who disagreed with the radical green agenda is falsely called a climate denier. Republicans who challenge elections where Democrats ignored election laws in several states are called election deniers. People who dared disagree with Dr. Fauci were called anti-vaxxers and anti-science. Now the new talking points have been distributed. They just call us weird. Democrats new line of attack on Republicans? Youre being weird I think its really elegant in its simplicity, one Democratic strategist said. Democrats have recently begun adopting a fresh new line of attack on Republicans: quite simply, calling them weird. In a press release Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign responded to an appearance by former President Donald Trump on Fox News. Under a bulleted list of main takeaways from Trumps appearance was one that quickly captured the publics attention: Trump is old and quite weird? I think a good description of weird people would be when they are just strange. Kamala, Pritzker, Hillary, and others who say Republicans or Vance are weird seem to be confused. Here are some examples: They claim that they love children and want the U.S. to survive as a great country, yet they tell women not to have children because they pretend we are destroying the planet. They claim they can control the climate, yet they claim they cant control oil or food prices. Biden and others worry that, with immunity, a president may take a bribe for a pardon and have no repercussions. He is clearly talking about Bill Clinton giving a pardon to Marc Rich after his wife donated huge amounts of money to him. Yet not once have the media or other Democrats suggested that Clinton should have been prosecuted. Democrats claim they are for protecting democracy, yet they anoint Kamala for president despite her getting zero votes in the primaries. Democrats say they are against corruption and lawbreakers, yet they deny that Biden did anything wrong when he took Hunter around the world taking kickbacks. Bidens brain and ability have clearly been shot for years, yet until the debate, we were told he is sharp as a tack. Democrats claim they care about women, yet they never cared about all the women whom Bill and Hillary physically and mentally abused and sought to destroy. Democrats claim they care about children, yet they wont vote to give health care to fully developed newborns in botched abortions. Democrats claim they care about poor and minority children, yet, weirdly, they always vote against allowing them to go to better schools. They claim that women can do whatever they want with their bodies but dont allow them to have freedom of choice for health care policies and fire them if they dont take a vaccine. They claim they are 100% for Israel, yet they fund Iran, which pledges death to Israel. They claim they care about crime and protecting people, but they support prosecutors who allow career criminals to roam the streets. They claim they are against dictators, but they support presidents who dictatorially implement DACA and pay off student loans. They claim they care about womens rights and privacy, yet they force them to compete against men and share locker room space with men and their peckers. Not only are Democrats weird. They are nuts, and they are dangerous to our survival as a great country. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. In 1754, Prokop Divis, a Czech priest, attempted to control the weather but ended up inventing the lightning rod instead. Divis was a pastor in Primetice, a neighborhood in Znojmo near the Austrian border. In addition to preparing weekly sermons, preaching, and conducting worship services, he managed farmland belonging to the abbey. Divis developed an interest in electricity, a little-understood subject in his time. He began experimenting with small electric voltages, achieving notable success in promoting plant growth and therapy. He published his findings and even demonstrated them at the Imperial Court in Vienna. Photo credit: Chuck Lee In 1753, Russian physicist Georg Wilhelm Richmann attempted to extract electricity from a thunderstorm using a metallic rod but was struck by a ball of lightning and died of electrocution. The previous year, American polymath Benjamin Franklin had survived a similar endeavorthe famous kite experiment, in which he flew a kite into a storm cloud with a house key attached to the wet hemp string. Franklin observed that loose threads of the kite string were repelling one another, indicating that the string was charged. When he moved his hand near the key, he witnessed an electric spark jump from the key to his hand, proving that lightning was electrical. The news of Richmanns death inspired Divis to study atmospheric electricity. In letters, he proposed to several physicists the construction of a "weather machine"a device designed to suppress and prevent thunderstorms and lightning by constantly drawing atmospheric electricity out of the air. His theories were considered fringe science even in his time and were largely ignored. Receiving no responses, Divis decided to build such a machine in his own parish. Prokop Divis On 15 June 1754, Divis erected a forty-meter-high, free-standing pole in Primetice, on which he mounted his "weather machine." The device consisted of several tin boxes and more than 400 metal spikes. At the time, a well-established theory suggested that pointed spikes would conduct electricity more effectively. The pole was secured with heavy metal chains, which inadvertently grounded the construction, effectively making it one of the first grounded lightning rods. Divis described his invention as highly effective at driving off storms. According to his observations, clouds would form when the pole was taken down and disappear when it was erected again. He interpreted these occasional occurrences as evidence that the pointed spikes extracted latent electricity from the atmosphere, safely dispersing it before lightning could form. Several local newspapers and novelty papers from Southern Germany reported on his attempts. Despite his enthusiasm, Divis's invention faced skepticism from the scientific community. In 1759, when a drought threatened Primetice's farmers, they tore down the "weather machine," believing it was somehow to blame for the lack of rain. Divis then built a second "weather machine" and had it mounted on the tower of his church to prevent it from being destroyed by an unruly mob. However, the villagers took offense, leading church superiors to advise Divis to stop his experiments. Family house of Prokop Divis with his weather machine on the right. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Undeterred, Divis continued to correspond with scientists and promote his theory, which he called Magia naturalis. Divis found support from two like-minded priests from Wurttemberg who had visited him during his experiments, and helped him publish his theory abroad under the German title "Langst verlangte Theorie von der meteorologischen Electricite" (Much Desired Theory of Meteorological Electricity) in the same year that Divis died. Despite their efforts, the theory was largely ignored. Danish scientist Johannes Nikolaus Tetens dismissed it as a work of fantasy. For decades, Benjamin Franklin was credited as the inventor of the lightning rod. However, in the late 19th century, the European scientific community began to assert that Prokop Divis was the true inventor of the lightning rod. Some argued that Divis's free-standing apparatus in 1754 was better grounded than Franklin's experimental lightning rods at the time. Today, Prokop Divis is recognized as a visionary inventor who independently developed the lightning rod around the same time as Benjamin Franklin. Both men made significant contributions to the understanding and practical application of electricity, and their work has had a lasting impact on the safety and technology of lightning protection. A Federal court has ruled that US Customs and Border Protection agents must obtain a warrant to search phones. The ruling could have far-reaching repercussions on the methods employed by US security agents who man the countrys ports and borders. Why must US Customs secure a warrant to search phones? The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with protecting US borders. These include land borders, seaports, and airports. Relying on publicly available enforcement statistics, The Verge reported CBP has conducted more than 230,000 searches of electronic devices between the 2018 and 2023 fiscal years. A federal judge in New York has mandated Customs agents obtain a warrant before inspecting phones. The judge was presiding over a case filed by criminal defendant Kurbonali Sultanov. Border agents had inspected his device at the JFK airport. Customs agents recovered incriminating evidence on Sultanovs phone. He sought to suppress the evidence because it was obtained illegally. FYI : Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) officials need a warrant to search citizens and non-citizens' phone or electronic device when traveling in or out of the country. "It is one thing for courts to give border officials the authority to briefly detain and question air pic.twitter.com/qsAEaUgevF Csilla Brimer (@CryptoTweetie) July 29, 2024 The latest ruling doesnt help Sultanov. However, the presiding judge did reportedly accept the argument that the Fourth Amendment requires the search of a cellular device at the border to be supported by a warrant and probable cause. While delivering the latest ruling the judge explained the reasoning behind it. It appears the ruling aims to protect journalists, political opposition, protestors, dissidents, and the other usual targets or individuals. The previous ruling on the issue essentially unlocked direct and unhindered access to a persons electronic device at the border. This could be construed as potential violations of the First and Fourth Amendments, observed the judge. Will US Border Protection teams need legal permission to frisk the devices of all passengers? It is important to note that a federal judge in New York has mandated Customs agents must have a warrant to search electronic devices at the border. The ruling practically applies to New Yorks Eastern District. What this means is that agents stationed at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in Queens would need warrants to inspect electronic devices. JFK Airport is the sixth-busiest airport in the country. It has nearly 500,000 aircraft operations and processes more than 62 million passengers annually. If U.S. Customs and Border Security can scan cell phones and electronics without warrant does this mean they are doing this to the millions of migrants coming into this country to protect us??? https://t.co/t544PI85vP pic.twitter.com/0nyRWXElnI ck (@quaerotantum) February 15, 2024 Although the ruling applies primarily to New Yorks Eastern District, it could have far-reaching implications on the way Customs agents approach and process suspicious passengers at Americas land borders, seaports, and airports. IMHO, the judge is incorrect. When devices contain PII or PHI & are searched by Customs Agents, it's a violation of Fed law. Phones collecting & containing health data cannot & should not be searched w/out a warrant.https://t.co/CzL9UvR44a pic.twitter.com/KIiBoUmcZQ Chris Spera (@chrisspera) February 12, 2021 The latest ruling effectively overturns a three-year-old provision. Specifically speaking, in 2021, a US appeals court ruled that CBP agents can search travelers phones and other devices without a warrant. Interestingly, border agents didnt even need reasonable suspicion to inspect electronic devices. Legally speaking, the new law primarily applies to US citizens. However, the CBP could effectively den y any foreign passenger entry to the United States if they refuse a search, which can include electronic devices. Google is integrating a feature similar to Circle to Search into Chromes address bar for desktop PCs and laptops. Until now, Circle to Search was only available on mobile devices, with native integration on some Androids and through a Google Lens workaround on iOS. Circle to Search is one of Googles new crown jewels in the AI era. It lets you launch quick Lens-powered searches on anything you see on your screen. Lens will return useful results related to the item youre searching for, all without switching to another app. It can tell you nearby stores that sell a certain pair of shoes, translate text from an image, identify monuments or works of art, and much more. Chromes address bar now includes a Circle to Search icon in the desktop app As reported by 9to5Google, Chrome browser users will be able to use the Circle to Search-like feature on both desktop PCs and Chromebook devices. Its easier to use on Chromebooks, as the browser is getting a new search bar Google Lens icon. Clicking on it will bring up a resizeable box that you can use to highlight any item in the UI. Youll then receive the search results in a sidebar on the right. On the other hand, the feature is less visible in Chrome for Windows and Mac. Instead of having a Lens button in the address bar by default, theres a new Search with Google Lens option in Chromes settings. However, you can add the button to Chromes toolbar (not the address bar) by clicking on the Pin icon that appears at the top of the search results sidebar. After that, the Lens icon will be available next to the Extensions button. Either way, the Mountain View giant describes the feature by saying that Google Lens in Chrome makes it easy to search anything you see on your screen. Search within a video youre watching, a slide in a livestream, or an image on a webpage. Google Lens will give you answers right there, in your tab, and you can continue browsing with the new information youve found. Enables faster and more instant searches Chrome already offered the option to start a search on items while browsing. For example, you could highlight text or right-click on an image to get Google results in the sidebar. However, the Circle to Search integration adds versatility to the feature. Theres no doubt that Google wants to boost the reach of Lens by making it easier to use on as many platforms as possible. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra rumors have been all over the place. Weve even seen some conflicting rumors regarding its RAM count. Well, one of the most trusted tipsters has just decided to put those rumors to rest. Ice Universe has confirmed that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be getting a RAM bump, and it was about time. The Galaxy S25 Ultra will get a RAM bump, a trusted tipster says According to the tipster, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will feature 16GB of RAM. As a reminder, the Galaxy S24 Ultra shipped with 12GB of RAM. Many would say thats plenty, and while they may be right, AI is getting more and more prominent on Samsungs devices, so the RAM bump is warranted. Also, considering the price of the phone, many users expect to get 16GB of RAM. Ice Universe shared the information via X. He simply wrote 16GB yes!. He did not mention the phone name or anything, but its obvious what he meant. The reactions in the comments were quite positive. The Galaxy S25 Ultra will become official in Q1 2025, almost certainly. Were expecting the phone to arrive in January, alongside the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+. All three phones will ship with a bevy of AI features as part of Galaxy AI. Some Google AI features will also be a part of the package, of course. Samsungs next-gen flagship will also include an S Pen, and a brand new flagship chip The Ultra model will also ship with an S Pen, of course. The phone will get a boost in terms of hardware specs too. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to fuel the phone. Theres still a chance that well see both Exynos and Snapdragon versions, though. It is more likely that well get to see only a Snapdragon version, though. Samsung is allegedly having yield problems with the next-gen Exynos chip. Nothing is set in stone, though, as its based on rumors. So well just have to wait and see what will happen. The company is also expected to boost the phones camera prowess and some other aspects of the device. Its design is also a mystery at this point, the company could make more notable design changes this time around. Green Light is a Googles project designed to help reduce the time you spend at traffic lights thanks to the power of AI. While its main motivations are environmental, its effects can make your daily time behind the wheel less frustrating. Google is implementing AI everywhere and its no secret to anyone. The company is betting heavily on AI-powered features to offer solutions and services, being a pioneer in the smartphone industry. Green Light, a project to significantly reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from cars at traffic light stops, is another example of this. Googles Green Light project is helping reduce traffic light stops with AI Cars stopping at traffic lights are among the main daily sources of greenhouse gas emissions. With this in mind, Google developed the tool that, after an AI-powered evaluation of multiple parameters, provides recommendations that can help to effectively reduce such stops. Green Light takes into account parameters such as traffic levels, flow patterns, frequency of stops at traffic lights, nearby intersections, and more. The Green Lights recommendations are intended for city engineers. They are realistic and easily applicable, requiring nothing beyond what is already available at the traffic light stop. For example, tweaking a red light duration at certain times where the AI detected that there are usually low levels of traffic. Googles AI-powered suggestions to reduce traffic light stops are under testing in multiple cities. The current list of more than 12 cities includes names like Seattle, Boston, Rio de Janeiro, and Bengaluru. The company intends to make the list larger in the near future. Google also offers a panel of experts dedicated to evaluating the real impact of the Green Lights suggestions in each city. So, there is a quantifiable way to measure their effectiveness. According to current data, the project has helped a 30% reduction in traffic light stops. This translates to around a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at those intersections. Green Light is another proof of the huge positive impact that AI tools can have on everyday life, even if you dont notice it. Every day, we fear the bad side of AI technology. The reality is that AI has several bad sides, and one of them is AI deepfakes. Microsoft acknowledges this, and its calling on Congress to help outlaw AI deepfakes. An AI deep fake is when a person takes a piece of media and manipulates it to make it seem like the subject in the video did something that they didnt do. Say, theres a video of you giving a speech on ending world hunger. Well, if a person manipulates your lip movements and audio to make it sound like you want to restrict food from other countries, then thats a deepfake. Thats only one form of deepfake. Deepfakes can be used for fun. We see YouTube videos of people replacing actors in movies. So, the technology itself isnt bad. The issue comes when people use this technology in a bad way. Microsoft wants Congress to police the use of AI deepfakes With great power comes people wholl abuse it and ruin a fun technology for everyone. Deepfakes have been around for a long time, but generative AI technology has caused abusive deepfakes to explode. We all remember the recent drama with the sexually explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift. Thats not all, as there have been many other examples of this sort of behavior. Its bad enough when it happens to Taylor Swift, but shes 34. Theres also an issue with people making content about people who are less than half that age. AI-generated CSAM is also a major (and not unexpected) consequence of AI technology. According to a new report, Microsofts vice chair and president, Brad Smith, is calling for Congress to formally outlaw AI deepfakes. He made a blog post making this call for action. He wants a deepfake fraud statute. This would basically give people the legal grounds to prosecute people who make abusive AI deepfaked content. This will involve any sort of fraudulent content to make it seem like people are doing what they didnt. Its an important time This is most crucial this year, as 2024s a major election year. So, AI deepfakes have been running rampant, and theyre going to increase as people approach the polls. In the U.S., weve seen deepfakes targeted at both major political parties. One of the most important things the U.S. can do is pass a comprehensive deepfake fraud statute to prevent cybercriminals from using this technology to steal from everyday Americans, Smith said in his blog post. Hopefully, the government can come up with some sort of framework to police AI deepfakes. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to have a better battery life than its predecessor. However, the improvement is being largely attributed to a better chipset, and not due to Samsung embedding a larger battery in the upcoming flagship smartphone. Samsung to embed next-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 inside S25 Ultra? While the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Galaxy S25 Ultra should have the next-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Incidentally, neither Samsung nor Qualcomm have officially unveiled the top-end chipset. Although the Galaxy S25 Ultra may pack the same battery as its predecessor, it may have better battery endurance, a new leak suggests. The latest rumor is allegedly based on internal testing of the flagship chipset from Qualcomm. Looking at the internal testing data of 8G4, the CPU efficiency improvement is in the single digit percentage, but the GPU improvement is huge, D9300 peak at half the power is possible. If you care about CPU performance, please skip this generation and wait for 8G5. pic.twitter.com/6Le8FlN0M9 sun.dtsi (@negativeonehero) July 21, 2024 The abovementioned Tweet claims to show findings of internal testing data of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. TSMC is producing the chipset using its second-gen 3nm process node (N3E). The internal testing allegedly shows TSMC has significantly optimized the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4s GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). In other words, end-users can expect incredible performance from the Adreno 750 GPU. Will the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra have improved battery endurance? The Samsung S24 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery, which supports 45W wired Fast Charging via USB Type-C. Multiple rumors suggest Samsung will retain the same battery and even charging technology for the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra. Several leaks seem to agree on Samsung not embedding a larger battery. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 should put it marginally ahead of its predecessor. Galaxy S25 Ultra Some Specs Same 5,000 mAh battery and 45W charging as the S20 Ultra. 200MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide, and dual 50MP telephoto lenses. Faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and a slightly bigger 6.9 screen. READ DETAILS: https://t.co/JNh9v43her pic.twitter.com/wkhMft372N Rootmygalaxy.net Samsung Android Guides and News (@rootmygalaxy) July 28, 2024 The peak performance of the Adreno 750 GPU embedded inside the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 was reportedly similar to the GPU inside the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9300 AP. Whats interesting is that Qualcomm managed to get the performance at half the power consumption of the MediaTek chipset. This data could be extrapolated to mean the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC could have a much better battery endurance owing to its GPU. Although this would be an improvement, the leaker suggests skipping the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra. It appears that Qualcomm hasnt managed to significantly improve the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4s performance. Specifically speaking, the custom Oryon CPU cores manage only a single-digit performance increase compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Prime Performance Core. Moreover, some reports suggest smartphones packing this flagship SoC will need larger batteries. A rather weird problem has surfaced online for Samsungs brand-new flagship smartwatch. Displays on some Galaxy Watch Ultra units seem to be misaligned. The issue has been mentioned on Reddit, with images as proof. Displays on some Galaxy Watch Ultra units seem to be misaligned A user called lbuddha shared a couple of images of the issue. Those images are shown below. As you can see, whats shown on the display doesnt seem to be aligned with the case of the watch itself. The number 9 is a bit too tall, while the 3 is too low. The number 12 is pushed to the right too much, while the number 6 has the opposite problem. You get the gist, its not centered properly. Reactions in the comments are entertaining, to say the least. Many other Reddit users have advised the owner of this watch to return it and get a replacement. The user himself says that he got the watch directly from Samsung. Nobody in the comments seem to be having the same problem Whats interesting is that we didnt spot a second report in the comment, as it seems that nobody commenting on this issue has the same problem. Some users did say that their units dont have that problem, however, and even shared images to prove it (with the same watch face). We also dont have that issue with our Galaxy Watch Ultra review unit. It works perfectly fine. The question remains how widespread is this issue and if its a software or a hardware problem? If its a software problem, Samsung can easily fix it. A hardware issue is something else entirely. The best course of action for the owner of this unit may be to return it to Samsung, or at least get some feedback from the company. We can see why this would bother people, it would surely bother me if I had to use it. Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioners Courtney Hjaltman, from rear left, Chairman Thomas Gleeson, Lori Cobos and Kathleen Jackson speak to a leadership team from CenterPoint Energy about Hurricane Beryl during a PUC meeting Thursday, July 25, 2024, in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building in Austin. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioner Lori Cobos talks to CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells about the companys response to Hurricane Beryl during a PUC meeting Thursday, July 25, 2024, in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building in Austin. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A CenterPoint energy truck drives through a neighborhood the day after Hurricane Beryl made landfall nearby Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells, center, speaks to Jimmy Glotfelty, a commissioner with the Public Utilities Commission of Texas, July 25 in the Commissioners Hearing Room at the William B. Travis State Office Building Austin. Seated with Wells are Randy Pryor, vice president of major underground and distribution modernization, from left, Tony Gardner, a senior vice president, and Jason Ryan, executive vice president of regulatory services and government affairs. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer CenterPoint Energy expects to incur as much as $1.8 billion in costs from its efforts to restore power after Mays severe storms and Julys Hurricane Beryl, company executives said during a second-quarter earnings call Tuesday in which it reported a steep jump in profits over the year earlier. The company said it would seek approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas to issue bonds to recover $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion of its storm-related costs, Chief Financial Officer Christopher Foster told investors and analysts. Foster estimated residential customers could see a 2% increase in their electricity bills for the next 15 years to pay down the debt, which carries interest. Another $100 million of investments in its transmission system, the long-distance towers and lines, would be included in CenterPoints next scheduled rate increase request, Foster said. CenterPoint reported income of $228 million for the quarter ended June 30, up from $118 million in the year-earlier period. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Failure to recoup the costs could shake investor confidence in the company, one analyst said. The storm-related cost estimates come as CenterPoint executives try to walk a fine line of satisfying Texas elected officials who are calling for accountability from the company and even floating proposals to claw back profits while easing investor concerns over whether the company will gain approval for past and future capital spending. CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells speaks to a reporter about the effort to restore power in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at a CenterPoint Energy office in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer CenterPoint earns a 9.4% rate of equity, essentially profit, on its capital expenditures. It has dramatically increased capital investments in recent years, boosting the investor-owned utilitys stock price. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If CenterPoint were unable to recover its May and July storm-related costs, investors would lose confidence not only in CenterPoints current management team but also in the wisdom of investing in Texas utilities going forward, said Anthony Crowdell, an utility analyst with the investment bank Mizuho Americas. Does the risk change with investing in a Texas utility? Thats what everyones trying to figure out, Crowdell said. After Mondays fiery first hearing of a special state Senate committee tasked with investigating utilities response to Beryl, senators on both sides of the aisle suggested they were opposed to CenterPoint recovering its hurricane-related costs. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, highlighted four words used by CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells during the Senate hearing inexcusable, insensitive, unacceptable and insufficient then noted the utility still planned to ask for Beryl cost recovery. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, also posted on X, formerly Twitter, about CenterPoints intention to pass the costs of Beryl to its customers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That dog wont hunt, Alvarado said. Sandra Haverlah, president of the Texas Consumer Association, said customers shouldnt be charged for CenterPoints failure in providing reliable service and weak infrastructure. Its as if yesterday didnt happen, Haverlah said. Theyre moving forward and telling investors, dont worry, were getting paid back. And thats business as usual. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Crowdell, however, said Wells and Foster proposed during the earnings call at least one action that is a departure from usual operations: CenterPoint wants to use $250 million of shareholder equity this year instead of in 2025 to fund immediate capital improvements that the company promised to make in the Houston area as hurricane season continues. Those include using predictive modeling and artificial intelligence to target where improvements to its power lines and poles are most needed, nearly doubling the size of its vegetation management crews, and rolling out better communications with customers, including a new cloud-based outage tracker. With this decision, CenterPoint is clearly saying their primary constituents are their customers, Crowdell said. Investors typically dont want to hear that a company plans to increase reliance on equity because it means the company will bring in more shareholders, reducing individual shares, he said. Over a longer period of time, I think everyone will probably be happy. The people of Houston are probably going to get an even more resilient system, Crowdell said. But today, its not a happy day for investors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Investors also are tracking whether CenterPoint will secure PUC approval for its pending rate case covering $6 billion in investments since 2019 and up to $2.7 billion in resiliency plan investments to gird its infrastructure against extreme weather from 2025 to 2027. Investors are trying to figure that out: Will the regulator allow for this plan to go into action or not? Crowdell said. If approved, the rate case could add $1.25 to the average residential customers monthly electric bill, while the resiliency plan could add $3 per month, CenterPoint executives have said. The PUC has paused resiliency plan proceedings as CenterPoint negotiates a settlement with industrial electricity consumers and cities. CenterPoint is also negotiating a settlement with those groups for its proposed rate case. During Tuesdays earnings call, Wells said the company would continue to make customer-focused capital investments to achieve better outcomes for its nearly 3 million electric customers, 2.7 million of whom are in the Houston area. Samsung Galaxy Watch7 owners could get a software fix that addresses the concerningly low battery life of their smartwatch. Samsung seems to have acknowledged that the wearable gobbles up battery, and its engineers could be working on software to stem the drain. A fix to improve the Samsung Galaxy Watch7 battery life is under development Smartwatch owners usually wish their wearable had better battery life. However, it is nearly impossible to cram large batteries in such a small form factor. Several Samsung Galaxy Watch7 owners have been vociferously complaining about the devices abysmal battery endurance. Interestingly, the device is barely a few weeks old, and battery life should not degrade so quickly. According to Android Authority, a concerningly large number of Samsung Galaxy Watch7 users feel their wearables battery drains out quickly. Users raised similar complaints on Samsungs community forums for South Korea. Unexpectedly, a user claiming to be a Samsung representative posted a message implying Samsung is aware of the Galaxy Watch7s poor battery life. The representative reportedly even added that the company has already identified the issue responsible for the accelerated battery drain. If thats not encouraging enough, the alleged Samsung representative mentioned a software patch fix for poor battery performance should head out soon. Needless to say, theres no confirmed time frame for the updates release. How to improve the battery performance of a Galaxy smartwatch? It is important to note that Samsung hasnt officially acknowledged the poor battery performance of its latest Galaxy Watch7. Consequentially, the company hasnt confirmed it would release an OTA (over-the-air) patch to fix the wearables battery drain issue. Galaxy Watch 7. At what point can I expect the battery to not be a little shit? Pretty decent loss in less than 3 hours. Last night it lost 60% in 12hrs. The first night it fully died WITH power saver on. So slow progress but am I crazy to expect more? I'm not even using it much. pic.twitter.com/kEAReabfg6 Lillian (@LilyFigueroa608) July 22, 2024 Regardless, complaints about the Galaxy Watch7s poor battery life right out of the box, have been steadily growing. Hence, it is possible that Samsung could be conducting an internal investigation to discover any software or hardware flaw negatively impacting battery endurance. Samsung could release a software patch soon. However, in the meantime, smartwatch owners can take some simple precautions and change some settings to improve the battery life of their wearables, such as uninstalling unwanted apps, limiting notifications, and turning off AOD (Always On Display). Securing an ambitious agri-food deal with the EU will allow for a more free flow of goods from Great Britain into Northern Ireland, a government minister has insisted. Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is minister for EU relations in the Cabinet Office, said a negotiated sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and EU would be mutually beneficial to both sides. The minister, who will lead the UK side in talks about new links with the EU, was in Northern Ireland on Tuesday to hear from various stakeholders about the post-Brexit trade barriers that have created the need for checks on goods entering the region from across the Irish Sea. Labour has pledged to reset relations with Brussels, with the striking of a deal on food safety and animal and plant health among the new governments priorities. Post-Brexit trade arrangements require checks on certain goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Thomas-Symonds told reporters in Belfast that negotiations would not be able to start until early next year as the new-look European Commission is not yet in place following recent EU-wide elections but he said the Government wanted to undertake the groundwork before then. The Cabinet Office minister said Northern Ireland would be at the forefront of his mind when it came to the discussions with Brussels. I wouldnt expect hard-edge formal negotiations to begin until the early part of next year, but do I hope that an SPS agreement, an ambitious SPS agreement, is going to ease the situation in terms of GB-NI trade, absolutely, he said. The devolved institutions at Stormont were resurrected earlier this year having been in cold storage for two years because of the DUP exercising a veto power to collapse the governance structures in protest at the economic and legal barriers created between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as the result of Brexit. The Northern Ireland Protocol that Boris Johnson struck with the EU, and its successor, the Windsor Framework, which Rishi Sunak negotiated with Brussels, both involve a requirement for checks and additional red tape on the movement of goods from Great Britain into the region. Under those accords, Northern Ireland effectively aligns with many EU rules and regulations in order to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland. So any deal to smooth agri-food trade between the UK and EU would reduce the requirement for those type of internal barriers and checks between NI and Great Britain. Mr Thomas-Symonds, who met Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir at Belfast Port on Tuesday, said Labour intended to operate the Windsor Framework in good faith prior to any new SPS deal emerging. Its really important that we have a good faith approach to the implementation of the Windsor Framework, we voted for the Windsor Framework as an opposition party, he said. And I know it is really important with the European Union that we have good faith in implementing the Windsor Framework going forward. He added: It is of mutual benefit what we want to do its in the UKs national interest, in the UKs security, the UKs safety and the UKs prosperity to have a closer relationship. Its in the EUs interests as well. But its also I think for the EU to be dealing with a good faith partner that respects the rule of law, respects international law, and also respects and will remain a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, I think that is a framework for co-operation that is in the mutual interest of both sides. Great to be back in Belfast. Im determined to do all I can in my role to see Northern Ireland prosper. Delighted to be at @QUBelfast to meet so many businesses and civil society groups working hard to do the same. pic.twitter.com/B0f0jhqNCK Nick Thomas-Symonds (@NickTorfaen) July 30, 2024 On his visit to Belfast, the minister also met business and civic society groups at Queens University. Then at Stormont he met Assembly speaker Edwin Poots and also the chairman and deputy chairman of the committee set up to scrutinise the operation of the Windsor Framework Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan and DUP MLA David Brooks. On the potential shape of an agri-food deal, Mr Thomas-Symonds added: We are very ambitious in terms of the agreement. I mean, obviously, as you can imagine, its always subject to negotiations, theres two sides to this negotiation. But, certainly, we are very ambitious in terms of its scope going forward. The minister said he wanted a deal that would contribute to a free flow of trade across the Irish Sea. Mr Thomas-Symonds said a commitment to high legal and regulatory standards would frame the UKs approach to negotiations. We believe in high standards in the employment law space, but we also believe in high standards in farming, in terms of environmental standards, he said. We are not a government that is going to be engaging in a race to the bottom, indeed we will be engaging in a race to the top in terms of standards. So we actually think that being a country that aspires to those high standards that an agreement and ambitious agreement is in the interest of both sides. And, of course, we believe it will provide obviously a situation for freer flow of trade across the Irish Sea. Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years after being found guilty of running a banned terrorist organisation. Choudary, who counter-terror police say has had a radicalising impact on terrorists, was convicted last week of taking a caretaker role in directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) while its founder was in jail. He was also found guilty of encouraging support for it through online lectures to the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which prosecutors said was another name for ALM. It came after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Choudary will spend more than 26 years in jail in total due to the time he has already spent in custody, meaning he will not be released before the age of 85, the judge said. Anjem Choudary in 2015 (Hannah McKay/PA) Sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mark Wall told Choudary he was front and centre in running a terrorist organisation. The judge also said that he encouraged young men into radical activity. The judge said: These are offences which cause the risk of significant loss of life. He went on: Organisations such as yours normalise violence in the pursuit of an ideological cause. Their existence give individuals who are members of them the courage to commit acts that otherwise they might not do. They drive a wedge between people who would and could live together in peaceful co-existence. The judge labelled Choudarys views entrenched and abhorrent to many right-thinking people. During the hearing, defence barrister Paul Hynes KC said that by the time Choudary had started directing ALM, it was little more than a husk of an organisation and he was not gathering the masses to join. ITS was infiltrated by undercover law enforcement officers in the US, who were present at online lectures in 2022 and 2023, held over the Element messenger platform. ALM was proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK in 2010, though it was said in court the group has continued to exist under various names. A senior security official said last weeks conviction was a significant moment, adding the evidence presented in court showed Choudarys continued involvement in supporting terrorism and radicalising others. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Polices counter-terrorism command, said: There are individuals that have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudarys radicalising impact upon them. During a press conference, he added: ALMs tentacles have spread across the world and have had a massive impact on public safety and security. Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary being interviewed by officers (Met Police) NYPD deputy commissioner Rebecca Weiner said it was a historic case, describing Choudary as a shameless, prolific radicaliser. Ms Weiner said: It is usually the foot soldiers, the individuals, who are brought into the network who go on to commit the attacks who are brought to justice. And its rarely the leader, which is what makes this a particularly important moment. Prosecutor Tom Little KC, opening the trial at Woolwich Crown Court on June 13, said Choudary had a warped and twisted mindset. Omar Bakri Muhammad, who founded ALM, was in prison in Lebanon between 2014 and March 2023, and Choudary stepped in and filled the void, Mr Little said. In 2016, Choudary was convicted and jailed for five-and-a-half years for supporting the so-called Islamic State. The court heard that Choudary, whose licence conditions expired in July 2021 following his 2018 release from prison, said he viewed being called an extremist or fanatic as a medallion during lectures. Mr Murphy said: What became clear after his licence conditions was that he saw the online space as a means of engaging globally with larger groups of people. And what was clear to us was that increasingly there were a larger number of people that were willing to engage with Anjem Choudary online and he was having an influence over those individuals. Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, who prosecutors said was a follower and dedicated supporter of Choudary, was found guilty of membership of ALM. He was jailed for five years with an extra year on licence Evidence showed how Hussein was effectively acting as a personal assistant to Choudary, helping to host online lectures and editing extremist online blogs and publications for him. Defence barrister Hossein Zahir KC argued Hussein was a wholly inactive member. Choudary was arrested in east London on July 17 of last year while Hussein, from Edmonton, was detained at Heathrow Airport, having arrived on a flight the same day. Scotland Yard said Hussein had planned to visit Choudary. Anjem Choudary ran risk of causing deaths of many people by directing terror Anjem Choudary was told he risked causing the deaths of very many people as he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years for running a banned terrorist organisation. The 57-year-old, of Ilford, east London, was convicted last week of taking a caretaker role in directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) while its founder was in jail. He was also found guilty of encouraging support for it through online lectures to the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), which prosecutors said was another name for ALM. Sentencing him at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mark Wall told dangerous Choudary, who stood in the dock motionless wearing a white t-shirt, that he will not be liable for parole until he is 85 years old. The judge said: Taken together, your actions while directing Al-Muhajiroun ran the risk of causing or contributing to the deaths of very many people. In addition, by running an organisation such as Al-Muhajiroun, you contributed in a significant way to the fear of terrorist attack by radical Islamic organisations which then existed in this country and abroad. You also helped to undermine the attempts of many good people to foster bonds between Muslims and people of other faiths and none who then lived in the United Kingdom. Mr Justice Wall described Choudary as an intelligent man and a persuasive speaker to those open to messages of hate, saying he possesses great determination in pursing his aims. He went on: You have no doubt as to the rectitude of your views. Your views are entrenched and abhorrent to most right-thinking people. The judge told of chilling trial evidence about Choudarys denial of the holocaust and jokes about the 9/11 terror attacks. He added: I do not sentence you for holding those views, but the fact that you genuinely hold such extreme views coupled with your history of unlawful behaviour is an indication of the danger you pose into the future. I am sure that you will continue to preach your message of hate and division when or if you are given the opportunity to do so in the future. You are not someone who can be diverted from that course by any form of intervention. You pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public into the future by committing further specified offences such as this. The judge also told the Islamist preacher that organisations such as ALM normalise violence in the pursuit of an ideological cause, giving members the courage to commit acts that otherwise they might not do. He went on: They drive a wedge between people who would and could live together in peaceful co-existence. Choudary was front and centre in running ALM, the judge said, and he sought to groom young people into his way of thinking. Mr Justice Wall added: I do not conclude that you only targeted young people but you were prepared to encourage young men into radical activity and did so when you must have known that the appropriate course was to refuse to indoctrinate people of their ages. During the hearing, defence barrister Paul Hynes KC said that by the time Choudary had started directing ALM, it was little more than a husk of an organisation and he was not gathering the masses to join. It came after an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. ITS was infiltrated by undercover law enforcement officers in the US, who were present at online lectures in 2022 and 2023, held over the Element messenger platform. ALM was proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK in 2010, though it was said in court the group has continued to exist under various names. A senior security official said last weeks conviction was a significant moment, adding the evidence presented in court showed Choudarys continued involvement in supporting terrorism and radicalising others. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Polices counter-terrorism command, said: There are individuals that have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudarys radicalising impact upon them. NYPD deputy commissioner Rebecca Weiner said it was a historic case, describing Choudary as a shameless, prolific radicaliser. Ms Weiner said: It is usually the foot soldiers, the individuals, who are brought into the network who go on to commit the attacks who are brought to justice. And its rarely the leader, which is what makes this a particularly important moment. Prosecutor Tom Little KC, opening the trial at Woolwich Crown Court on June 13, said Choudary had a warped and twisted mindset. Omar Bakri Muhammad, who founded ALM, was in prison in Lebanon between 2014 and March 2023, and Choudary stepped in and filled the void, Mr Little said. Choudary was called dangerous by the sentencing judge (Metropolitan Police/PA) In 2016, Choudary was convicted and jailed for five-and-a-half years for supporting the so-called Islamic State. The court heard that Choudary, whose licence conditions expired in July 2021 following his 2018 release from prison, said he viewed being called an extremist or fanatic as a medallion during lectures. Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, who prosecutors said was a follower and dedicated supporter of Choudary, was found guilty of membership of ALM. He was jailed for five years with an extra year on licence. The judge told him: I am sure that you were in awe of Anjem Choudary and became involved in this offence partly because of his influence over you. However, I am equally sure that you knew full well what you were getting involved in and were anxious to become ever more deeply involved in it. I have regard to the fact that the organisation of which you became a part was not proscribed in Canada, where you lived. However, it is clear from the evidence at trial that you were aware of the nature of the organisation of which you became a part and its status in the United Kingdom which made it difficult for those such as Anjem Choudary to participate openly in its activities. Evidence showed how Hussein was effectively acting as a personal assistant to Choudary, helping to host online lectures and editing extremist online blogs and publications for him. Defence barrister Hossein Zahir KC argued Hussein was a wholly inactive member. Choudary was arrested in east London on July 17 last year while Hussein, from Edmonton, was detained at Heathrow Airport, having arrived on a flight the same day. Scotland Yard said Hussein had planned to visit Choudary. Megan Thee Stallion is the latest A-list performer to back Kamala Harris. Chronicle staff Houston is putting its music behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Megan Thee Stallion will join Harris at a rally Tuesday in Atlanta for a performance. Megan shared the news on Instagram. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "ATL HOTTIES SEE YOU TOMORROW," she wrote. Actress Taraji P. Henson was among those who approved, commenting, "That's right baby girl." Several fans also chimed in with, "Hotties for Kamala." Last year, Megan attended a Women's History Month brunch at the home of Harris and shared photos on social media. BERYL AID: Megan Thee Stallion launches Emergency Power Program to help Houston senior citizens after Beryl Advertisement Article continues below this ad Megan's support follows that of another Houston superstar. Last week, Harris began using the song "Freedom" by Beyonce as a campaign anthem. Though Beyonce has yet to comment, she did give Harris and her team permission to use the song. "In this election, we each face a question. What kind of country do we want to live in?" Harris asks in a video featuring the song. "There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos. Of fear. Of hate. But us, we choose something different. We choose freedom." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris was in Houston on Wednesday to meet with Mayor John Whitmire and other officials to talk about the region's recovery efforts from Hurricane Beryl. The next day, she attended the American Federation of Teachers' annual convention in Houston. A man has been arrested after a woman died trying to cross the English Channel as a charity warned deaths cannot be ignored. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said officers arrested an Egyptian man on Monday in Manston, Kent, on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration in connection with the Channel crossing where the woman died off the coast of Calais on Sunday. The agency said the boat continued its journey to the UK, with around 40 people arriving in Dover. An NCA spokesperson said the 29-year-old man has been bailed pending further inquiries as they work with the French authorities to understand what led to the death. The woman who lost her life was travelling with her family, a vigil at Parc Richelieu in Calais heard on Monday evening, and the family had been working with the Refugee Womens Centre in the weeks before their departure. The speaker from Groupe deces, who wished not to be named, said the Refugee Womens Centre made clear it was not (the) fault of the family and responsibility lies with elected officials as they continue to campaign for safe passage and a dignified and respected welcome for people. In July so far, the French coastguard has confirmed the deaths of seven migrants in the English Channel. NCA branch commander Mark Howes said of the incident at the weekend: This tragedy demonstrates how dangerous these crossings are, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the individual who died. Working with partners, we remain determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in organised immigration crime, and prevent them from exploiting the desperation of others. Belongings of people thought to be migrants are left on the beach in Gravelines, France, after they boarded a small boat to cross the Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA) Angele Vettorello, co-ordinator at the charity Utopia 56, told the PA news agency the situation on the border was a political choice by France, England and the European Union and that the last week had been really tough for people on the move. Ms Vettorello said: We are talking about people dying, we are talking about people injured, we are talking about people who struggle with a lot of mental health issues here, with awful living conditions and I think we cant ignore it, we cant ignore its the politicians who are responsible. We are talking about the life of people, all of this must stop. Speaking on Tuesday, the volunteer said some who tried to make the journey in the morning had been stopped by the police presence, and Utopia 56 has seen people try to cross around 10 times who are absolutely exhausted. On fewer boats, she added it makes the process longer and harder for people but at some point they will cross. There are really hard and difficult conditions here at the border so sometimes just crossing is the only way they have to find a new life. We meet some people saying We cant do anything else now, I have family (there), we want to cross. Flore Judet (left), programme and communications co-ordinator of Auberge des Migrants, with Angele Vettorello, co-ordinator at Utopia 56, at the base in Calais, France, for charities that support the welfare of migrants (Gareth Fuller/PA) A camp in the Calais area could be seen with clothes hanging on metal wire fencing, an outdoor wash basin and large canopy where its residents were sitting under the shade, next to tents set up inside a disused building. Residents sat around together and were coming in and out of the makeshift home having collected food from a nearby distribution spot. According to Auberge des Migrants volunteer Flore Judet, it is the biggest living site in Calais this year, with around 300 people recorded last week, although she added: It is really complicated to get accurate numbers because people are on the move. At a base of organisations that support migrants in Calais, a board showed that charity Refugee Community Kitchen had cooked 13,188 meals for people across Calais and Dunkirk in June this year. The warehouse, visited by PA, hosted a range of projects such as giving toys and Sim cards out to people in Calais, as well as storing essentials such as sleeping bags, clothes and tents ready for distribution. Ms Judet, a programme and communications co-ordinator for the group, said of the challenges of the work: Most obviously, people are dying, (its) really hard to manage, you feel so powerless. Of the crossings, she added: The fact that (there are) less boats doesnt mean people wont cross, they are struggling here. So far this year more than 16,000 people have arrived in the UK via the English Channel. Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After 72 hours the poll closes and, each Friday, we'll publish and analyse the results, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers. Do Brits complain too much about the weather when it gets hot? (Getty Images) (Getty Images) After a washout spring and early summer, the mercury is finally rising across the UK. Temperatures are expected to stay high for most of England until Wednesday 31 July, with heat health warnings and yellow weather warnings issued by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office. However, despite numerous complaints about wet and chilly conditions in June and early July, the hot weather isn't cause for celebration for some Brits. Talking about the weather is something of a competitive sport for Britons, and when the temperature gets too hot to handle, grumbling about it becomes a common topic of conversation. Whether it's griping about how sweaty we are on public transport or lamenting a lack of sleep due to uncomfortably warm nights, making our thoughts about the weather known is a very British way of coping with the heat. Do you think Britons complain too much about hot weather? Have your say: Voting has now closed Come back on Friday to read the results and analysis. Read more of Yahoo UK's Poll of the Week articles An evil man has been jailed for life for strangling his young wife in front of her TikTok lover and throwing her body into a tributary of the River Thames hidden inside a suitcase. Aminan Rahman, 46, gaslit, manipulated, financially controlled and assaulted 24-year-old Suma Begum before he murdered her in a flat in east London in front of her two children, the Old Bailey heard. The killing was witnessed by Ms Begums online boyfriend via a video call from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he was living. Rahman then stuffed Ms Begum into a suitcase while she was either dead or unconscious and was caught on CCTV dumping the suitcase in the River Lea, which runs through east London to the Thames. The suitcase containing her decomposed body was found washed up on the riverbank by a mudlarker 10 days later. Following a trial, Rahman, formerly of Bridgwater in Somerset, was found guilty of murder and assaulting Ms Begum having admitted preventing her lawful and decent burial. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Bennathan jailed restaurant worker Rahman for life with a minimum term of 22 years. In a televised sentencing, the senior judge told Rahman: Suma Begum was a lively, attractive young woman and a devoted mother. She was kind to you even when she decided, as was her right, that she no longer wanted to be your wife. She had dreamed of a new, different life with a man about her own age, which dreams you stopped on April 29 last year when you very deliberately killed her. Sadly these courts often have to deal with men who have murdered their wives or partners, but what you did was more shocking even than most of those awful crimes. Within moments of strangling Ms Begum you folded her body into a suitcase and threw it into the Thames basin, hoping it would never be found. He said the murderous violence was not an isolated incident as Rahman had seized his wife by the throat a couple of months before. In a victim impact statement on behalf of Ms Begums family, her half-brother Abdul Amin described Rahman as an evil man. He said: The reason this happened is because Aminan is a selfish and jealous man who could not stand the fact that his wife no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him. Reacting to victim-blaming comments on social media, he said: No matter where you are from or what culture you are from, a woman should never be killed by their husband or partner and no child should have to lose a parent in this way. Previously the trial heard how Ms Begums boyfriend, Shahin Miah, 24, had recorded an online video of the events leading to her death on the night of April 29 last year, which was later handed to Ms Begums mother and police. Giving evidence, Mr Miah had sobbed in court as he described a video call from Rahman in which he threatened to kill Ms Begum, who was on the bed in the background. Rahman also threatened to kill Mr Miah, who was in the UAE at the time, the court heard. Suma Begum was murdered and her body dumped in a river (Family handout/PA) Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Miah said: She wanted to run away and he then grabbed her throat. There were three screaming sounds before the video froze and nothing more could be seen after Rahmans initial lunge. In a second video call from Rahman that night, the defendant told Mr Miah: Look, I have killed (Ms Begum) and now you get ready. Mr Miah told jurors: I saw that frothing was coming out of Sumas mouth and he showed me on the video and he was swearing at me. The court heard that Ms Begum had married the defendant in an arranged Islamic ceremony over the phone in 2019. In 2020, she travelled from Bangladesh to live with the restaurant worker in Somerset and they had two children. A year later, Ms Begum met Mr Miah via social media app TikTok, later moving on to WhatsApp. Video grab of police body-worn video footage of a recovered suitcase containing the decomposed body of Suma Begum (Met Police/PA) About seven or eight months into their intimate, sexual online relationship, Mr Miah found out she was married to Rahman, he said. He said he told Rahman of the relationship, but the lovers stayed together and Ms Begum remained married. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC had told jurors: It is clear this young woman was no longer happy in her marriage, she was fairly openly in a relationship with another man, and she had expressed the desire to leave the defendant, something about which neither he nor her family were happy. But whether he was motivated by rage, shame, or pure jealousy, or a more complex mix of cultural expectations and emotions, may not matter. Within minutes of the killing, Rahman disposed of the body in the hope it would be washed out to sea as he set about creating a false story that his wife had abandoned him and the children, the prosecutor said. Rahman was also accused of attacking Ms Begum on an earlier occasion last February. She made a video displaying scratches on her neck and told Mr Miah that the defendant had taken her breathings away, saying: He almost killed me around my neck. Giving evidence, Rahman accepted killing Ms Begum but claimed he never intended to harm her and had acted in the defence of one of his children a claim rejected by the prosecution. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has insisted no-one has a veto on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The Labour frontbencher was repeatedly pressed by MPs to outline the UK Governments plan to recognise Palestine, amid suggestions such a move would kickstart the peace process. Mr Lammy did not commit to a time frame but told the Commons that the Palestinians have a just cause and the UK will work with its partners towards a two-state solution. Israels parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, in a largely symbolic vote ahead of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus trip to the United States earlier this month. Israel and Hamas are also currently considering a ceasefire proposal to end the nearly 10-month war and free around 110 hostages still being held in Gaza. Speaking at Foreign Office questions, Labour MP Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree) said: I believe recognition would level the playing field and would kickstart the peace process, which has been recognised by so many of our European counterparts. Recognition should not be at the conclusion. What will the Government do if Israel refuses to entertain any moves towards a two-state solution, which they have persistently and vocally rejected? Mr Lammy replied: No-one has a veto on recognition. As Ive said, we want it to be part of a process, it does not deliver a two-state solution in (and) of itself but it is absolutely right that the Palestinians are enabled to have a sovereign state. It is a just cause and we will work with other partners to bring that about. Independent MP Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) said the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine is vital to the UKs commitment in upholding international laws and norms, to the processes required to bring about an immediate and just peace, and to the notion that diplomatic means and not violence would resolve the conflict. He added: Failure to recognise the state of Palestine has already had and continues to have catastrophic implications on the people of Palestine as they face what the international court has described as a plausible genocide. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran, who is of British-Palestinian descent, pressed for Palestine to be recognised before saying: I know in my heart it is what Palestinians need to ignite the hope two states cannot happen without that hope to unite Palestinians behind a final cause that will stop the killing for good. For the Conservatives, shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell said: Can I urge the Foreign Secretary to avoid any suggestion of some sort of international legal moral equivalence between a terrorist murderer and the elected head of a democratic state. And in any question to an arms embargo, to remember just a few weeks ago British arms and military personnel were defending our ally Israel from missiles launched by Iran. Mr Lammy acknowledged he was responding to very, very serious issues, adding he would approach them with all sobriety and integrity. The Foreign Secretary has previously said the UK will not implement a blanket ban on arms sales to Israel but will consider issues linked to offensive weapons used in Gaza. The new Government has also called for an immediate ceasefire in the region and to increase aid to Gaza. The war in Gaza has killed more than 39,100 Palestinians, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. It began with an assault by Hamas militants on southern Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200 people. Elsewhere in the region, the Foreign Office has urged British nationals to leave Lebanon and not travel to the country amid mounting tensions. Conservative former minister Kit Malthouse said a largely defenceless population is being evermore persecuted in the West Bank. He urged the Government to consider a comprehensive set of sanctions against violent settlers, the organisations that support them in their activities and those that are complicit at a state level in what theyre doing. International development minister Anneliese Dodds expressed concern over the situation, adding the Government is keeping all sanctions regimes under review. A French DJ who performed during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony has filed a legal complaint after becoming the target of online abuse. Barbara Butch appeared alongside a number of drag queens at the event for a segment that sparked controversy as some viewers regarded it as referring to The Last Supper. Former US president Donald Trump told Fox News he thought it was a disgrace, but the ceremonys artistic director Thomas Jolly has repeatedly said he was not inspired by the Leonardo da Vinci painting showing Jesus Christ and his apostles. Paris Olympics organisers have said there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group and the intent was to celebrate community tolerance. Butchs lawyer, Audrey Msellati, told the Associated Press news agency the complaint, which does not name any specific perpetrator or perpetrators of the alleged crimes, was filed with the Paris prosecutors office, which must then decide whether it warrants a formal police investigation. The Paris prosecutors office later confirmed that it received Butchs complaint and tasked a police unit that specialises in fighting hate crimes to investigate. The DJ said she was honoured to take part in the Paris 2024 opening ceremony but the messages she has received are increasingly extreme. Msellati said in a statement, posted to Butchs Instagram: Since the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, artist, DJ, and activist Barbara Butch has been the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation. She has been threatened with death, torture, and rape, and has also been the target of numerous antisemitic, homophobic, sexist, and grossophobic insults. Barbara Butch condemns this vile hatred directed at her, what she represents, and what she stands for. Indeed, her commitments and personal values of benevolence, inclusivity and love for others have always been at the heart of her artistic project: promoting festivities for all, regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, religion or gender. She is today filing several complaints against these acts, whether committed by French nationals or foreigners, and intends to prosecute anyone who tries to intimidate her in the future. Butch said on her Instagram page: I was extremely honoured to take part in the Paris 2024 opening ceremony as a top artist, and to share my vision of the party. My heart is still full of joy and I thank you for all the love and strength you have given me since then. Speaking about the complaint, she added: Although at first I decided not to speak out to let the haters cool down, the messages I receive are increasingly extreme. All because Ive had the honour of representing my countrys diversity through art and music, alongside other artists and performers I admire. Whatever some may say, I exist. Ive never been ashamed of who I am, and I take responsibility for everything including my artistic choices. All my life, Ive refused to be a victim: I wont shut up. Im not afraid of those who hide behind a screen, or a pseudonym, to spew their hatred and frustrations. I will fight them without ever trembling. Im committed, and Im proud. Barbara Butch arrives at The Attitude PRIDE awards 2023 (Matt Crossick/PA) In 2023 the DJ was honoured as a Pride Icon at the Attitude Pride Awards and told the publication she was forced to close her restaurant in the south of France due to homophobia. A Paris 2024 spokesperson said: Paris 2024 strongly condemns the cyberbullying that Barbara Butch has been subject to following her performance during the opening ceremony. We are standing by her and all the artists who took part in the ceremony, and are offering them our support. We also support Barbara Butchs call for an investigation and charges to be laid against those responsible for these actions. Paris 2024 wishes to remind everyone that the Games and related celebrations are moments of fraternity and togetherness. We are totally opposed to all forms of discrimination and attacks that are in every way contrary to the Olympic values that promote respect, tolerance and solidarity. A group who turned up at a court with handcuffs and demanded to know where the senior coroner was have been found guilty of a plot to kidnap him. Lincoln Brookes, senior coroner for Essex, said he received a series of very bizarre letters in 2022 before receiving emails in April 2023 stating that corporal punishment may be administered. He described the emails, which claimed to be warrants for seizure of goods and persons, as troubling and upsetting. Mr Brookes told Chelmsford Crown Court that in an attachment to an email he was accused of detrimental necromancy. Mark Christopher, 59, of Forest Gate, east London, Matthew Martin, 47, of Plaistow, east London, Shiza Harper, 45, of South Benfleet, Essex, and Sean Harper, 38, of South Benfleet, Essex, turned up at the coroners court in Chelmsford on April 20 last year. The four defendants all denied conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment, but all four were found guilty on both counts by majority verdicts of 11 to one. Matthew Martin was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court of a conspiracy to kidnap Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes (Joe Giddens/PA) The verdicts of the jury followed a two-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and more than 10 hours of deliberation. Christopher was also found guilty, by a unanimous verdict, of sending threatening letters to Mr Brookes with intent to cause distress or anxiety. Mr Brookes was not in the coroners court building at the time of the incident last year. Essex area coroner Michelle Brown who had been conducting documentary inquests from paperwork and without witnesses or family present said the group came into her courtroom. She said the leader kept demanding that I find and get Mr Brookes. The judge, Mr Justice Goss, told jurors while summing up evidence in the case that the defendants were members of a group called the Federal Postal Court, or Court of the People. He said Christopher was the self-appointed leader with the title chief judge of England and all dominions. He trained under the late David Wynn Miller, the judge said. He said Martin was a sheriff and a coroner, Sean Harper a sheriff and his wife Shiza Harper a postal inspector and auditor. The other three defendants (Martin, Harper and Harper) were all qualified by him (Christopher), the judge said. After a few more minutes of deliberation, jurors cleared Martin of an allegation of assault by beating of security guard Eamonn McCormack on April 20 2023, and he was also found not guilty of the criminal damage of his spectacles. The judge bailed Martin, Harper and Harper until their sentencing, which is due to take place in the week beginning September 23. Martin said after verdicts were returned: Thank you jury very much, I know its been hard for you. Christopher, who was in custody during the trial, was remanded in custody until his sentencing. Detective Chief Inspector Nathan Hutchinson, of Essex Police, said afterwards: The ideologies of this group were concerning and they genuinely believed that they had the power to construct their own legal system, threaten others and were above English law. No-one should feel threatened for doing their job. He commended workers at the coroners court who acted calmly and rationally during an intimidating and traumatising ordeal. Its clear that throughout the investigation and court proceedings, that the group had no belief or regard in the British justice system, said Mr Hutchinson. The investigation team, especially investigating officer Pc Thomas Berry, remained focused and committed to gather the evidence needed to convict this concerning group of people and prevent them from causing harm to anyone. Essex Police said that on April 12 last year they received a report of letters, dated April 6, being sent to the coroner. These documents were immediately assessed by a senior detective and following consultation were deemed as low risk, a force spokesperson said. The letters were shared with key partners and national units including counter-terrorism police for a risk assessment, police said. An intelligence report was submitted in relation to the group, in order to monitor any developments and act proportionately, the force spokesperson said. The information was also added to the MP and Protected Persons Database. The force said investigators were not made aware of the letter dated April 18 which detailed this groups plans to attend court on April 20, giving officers no opportunity to proactively respond to the threats made. Charlotte Worthingtons reign as the womens Olympic BMX freestyle champion is over after she was knocked out of the competition in Tuesdays qualifying round in Paris. Worthington, who has spoken openly of the struggles she has faced in dealing with the spotlight since her success three years ago, finished 11th out of 12 in the heats, with only the top nine advancing to Wednesdays final. The 28-year-old made history in Tokyo when she became the first woman to land a backflip 360 in competition, but stopped competing for a period in 2023 while she sought to rediscover her love of the sport. In that context, Worthington said she was proud to have competed at a second Olympics. Charlotte Worthington, 28, said she was proud of reaching a second Olympics after her recent struggles (David Davies/PA) Im feeling a lot of emotions, she said. Im really proud. Im obviously gutted that my competition doesnt go on another day but having three years of being the only person in the world to call myself the freestyle BMX Olympic champion has been fantastic. Its been a hell of a ride and Im really proud of the journey to get here. Up there I wasnt fighting any other battle than the battle against myself. My personal goal was to be a two-time OlympianI didnt think Id be standing here right now. Ive achieved my goal. Worthingtons average score of 79.01 left her 4.25 points off the top nine, and more than 12 points off the standard set by the woman she beat to gold three years ago, world number one Hannah Roberts. Her two runs lacked the big tricks being attempted by her rivals, and Worthington admitted it had not gone to plan. There were two bits of the run that didnt quite come together, she said. This course would really showcase mistakes and I made a mistake and went flat and lost my momentum. Britains Kieran Reilly topped the scoring in qualifying for the mens event (David Davies/PA) The way I was riding through qualifying, I was banking on my speed and height and flow and use of course to be where I was scoring so I made a mistake and it showed. After what she has called a rollercoaster in the last couple of years, Worthington said the experience in Paris had been super enjoyable and said her love of BMX is back. She added: Ill absolutely not be able to stop riding BMX, Ill probably ride until I cant ride it anymore physically. I love this sport. There are so many elements to it, you dont have to compete. Its built me as a person and given me so much. I dont know what the future holds but Im still going to be dedicated to BMX and well see where we end up. Kieran Reilly, the reigning world champion, front-flipped his way into the final, recording the top score of 91.21, well clear of American Marcus Christopher in second place on 89.48. A new approach to legal migration aimed at boosting the UK workforces skills before recruiting abroad will be taken by the incoming Government, Yvette Cooper has said. In a swipe at the previous Conservative government, the Home Secretary said rising levels of legal migration in recent years reflected a failure over many years to tackle skills shortages and other problems in the UK labour market. In a ministerial statement published as MPs left Westminster for the summer, she pointed to a rise in non-EU long-term migration from 277,000 in the year to December 2022 to 423,000 in the year to December 2023. The number of work visas in the 12 months to March 2024 was, meanwhile, 605,264, or over three times that of 2019, she said. That reflects a failure over many years to tackle skills shortages and other problems in the UK labour market, meaning too many sectors have remained reliant on international recruitment, instead of being able to source the skills they need here at home, Ms Cooper said. The Home Secretary added: This is why we are setting out a different approach one that links migration policy and visa controls to skills and labour market policies so immigration is not used as an alternative to training or tackling workforce problems here at home. This approach will be important to enabling delivery of the Governments broader agenda. Under Labour, the Migration Advisory Council which provides advice to the Government on where skills shortages can be filled by migration will work alongside Skills England and other bodies as part of a new coherent approach to skills, migration and labour market policy. The agencies will also work alongside the devolved governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales towards the same end. Elsewhere in the statement, Ms Cooper said Labour would keep the Tory governments minimum income requirement for a partner or spouse to be granted a visa, but did not commit to raise it in line with the previous administrations intent. The lower limit was raised from 18,600 to a 29,000 income per year by Rishi Sunaks government, with plans to increase it eventually to 38,700 by an unspecified date in 2025. Ms Cooper said in the statement there will be no further changes to the current limit until a review by the Migration Advisory Council is complete. The Home Secretary also said the new Government would continue with a raft of other measures introduced by the Tories to quell legal migration numbers, including those aimed at reducing the potential for abuse on the student and graduate visa routes. Actors Jack Whitehall and David Duchovny can be seen enjoying cocktails in an idyllic location in Greece in first look pictures for Prime Video series Malice. Stand-up comedian and actor Whitehall, known for his travelogue Netflix series with his father, plays Adam Healey, a nanny who infiltrates the wealthy Tanner family. The 36-year-old said it was an amazing experience to star in the psychological thriller, described as being full of dark family secrets, manipulation, and betrayal. A first look at Prime Video series Malice (Prime Video/PA) The X Files actor Duchovny, 63, plays Jamie Tanner in the series while Game Of Thrones actress Carice van Houten stars as his wife, Nat Tanner. The cast ensemble also comprises Hijacks Christine Adams as Nats best friend Jules, and Homeland actor Raza Jaffrey as Jules husband Damien. In first-look stills of the series, which is set in London and Greece, the main cast members can be seen gathered around a table of food in a seaside location. Another photo shows the same characters with their children, walking with bags and pool inflatables. (Prime Video/PA) Whitehall said: What an incredible 18 weeks its been from shooting in London in February to ending in 37-degree heat in Paros, the whole shoot has been an amazing experience and I couldnt be prouder of what weve achieved. I feel so lucky to have been able to go to work everyday with so many insanely talented people on this job. I cant wait for you to see the end result when it launches worldwide next year on Prime Video! Tara Erer, head of originals for UK and Northern Europe, Amazon MGM Studios, added: Its been an absolute joy seeing James Woods scripts come to life with our incredible cast led by Jack, David and Carice. The twists and turns will have our customers on the edge of their seats! Malice will launch in the UK and globally next year on Prime Video. Some 9,700 Afghans came to Britain under the scheme - AFP Afghan refugee families torn apart in the evacuation to escape the Taliban take-over are to be reunited, the Government has announced. Seema Malhotra, the immigration minister, announced on Tuesday a resettlement scheme will be expanded so that Afghans, who were able to escape to the UK under legal routes previously set up by the government, can now apply for their partners and children to join them. Children, who were evacuated without their parents, can also apply for them and any siblings who were under the age of 18 at the time of the evacuation to be reunited with them in the UK. The Home Office said additional family members may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Some 9,700 Afghans came to Britain under the scheme but were forced to leave behind parents, children or other close family relatives in the chaos of the evacuation, codenamed Operation Pitting. Seema Malhotra, immigration minister, said 'families can be reunited' - Yesmeen Singh/Home Office They included people identified as being particularly at risk including female politicians, members of the LGBT+ community, womens rights activists and judges. It is thought hundreds of Afghans will now be able to apply to come to Britain under what is known as Pathway One of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). In a written statement published on Tuesday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Due to the speed and the circumstances surrounding the evacuation, a number of families became separated, and some individuals were evacuated to the UK without all of their immediate family. The Government pledged at the time that there would be a route for separated families to reunite under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. This Government is implementing that commitment and providing a means for families who were separated by the military evacuation from Kabul in August 2021 to be reunited in the UK. Ms Malhotra said: Its been almost three years since the evacuation of Kabul, and yet there remains an urgent need to ensure that those who assisted our efforts in Afghanistan by upholding democracy, freedom and human rights, often at huge personal risk to themselves and their families can be reunited. It is our moral duty to ensure that families who were tragically separated are reunited and are not left at the mercy of the Taliban, which is why I have expanded ACRS so that those who were left behind can be resettled in the UK. Afghans did right by us, and we will do right by them, ensuring our system is fair and supports those most at risk and vulnerable. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) separated families route opened on Tuesday, July 30 and the Government said the window to submit an expression of interest will remain open for three months, until October 30. People were evacuated out of Kabul by the UK Armed Forces - Getty Images Europe The overall ACRS formally opened in January 2022, with a Government pledge to resettle up to 20,000 people over the coming years. The latest figures, published in May, showed that almost as many Afghan nationals arrived in the UK having made the dangerous Channel crossing as through the Governments legal routes in the year to March. A total of 5,662 Afghan nationals came to the UK having crossed the Channel in that period, plus 350 of what the Home Office described as inadequately documented air arrivals, making a total of 6,012 people. Data also showed that some 758 lone Afghan children were recorded as applying for asylum having crossed the Channel - a figure described by a charity as showing they were being let down by a lack of options for family reunion. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: This a hugely welcome announcement. Over the last three years, weve worked with many families who were torn apart in the chaos of evacuating Kabul. They will now have a way to be safely together again thanks to the swift action that has been taken by the Government. For the children who have been apart from their parents for far too long, we know this will be life-changing. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure they are now reunited with their loved ones as quickly as possible. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, separate from ACRS, was put in place for Afghans who had worked with the UK government, and their families, before the Taliban takeover. An exterior shot of Prego, an Italian restaurant in Rice Village that recently closed. Andy Rathburn On top of the already high costs of running a restaurant in 2024, owners have had to scramble after May storms and July's hurricane. Houston restaurants lost up to tens of thousands of dollars as many were left without power for days, having to throw out inventory and repair damages. One example: Martin Nguyen opened the Sweet Boutique Bakery with his wife 15 years ago. They were forced to discuss having to close this summer after a slow six months. Sales had been down by 15% to 30% each month, and their busiest holiday, Valentine's Day, was down 35%. But the nail in the coffin was Hurricane Beryl. Despite only closing one day, would-be customers were dealing with their own power outages and not ordering cupcakes. "Food and beverage has always been tough, but right now it's especially difficult, especially for single location, mom-and-pop operations," Nguyen said. "It's almost impossible right now to operate (single location shops)." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here are 15 spots that recently closed in Houston. The Canary The Canary opened on Dec. 29 at 963 Judiway St. Courtesy of the Canary The Canary went from teasing the opening of its outdoor pool to announcing its closure in a matter of days. The neighborhood bar and grill had only been open for seven months in the Oak Forest area before closing in July. It had been a project from restaurant industry buddies that took three years to open. The highlight was supposed to be the backyard pool, which customers didn't get a chance to enjoy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Canary Coffee House Canary Cafe became Canary Coffee House when it moved to its Montrose location. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Canary Coffee House abruptly closed last week. It had been in its Montrose location since 2021 after outgrowing the former Lindale Park location. It served coffee, tea and beautifully crafted croissants, among other baked goods. In a short Instagram post, the business stated, "If we brightened your day even a little bit during the last few years, know you've done the same for us." Comalito Comalito at the Houston Farmers Market Courtesy of Comalito Underbelly Hospitality's Mexico City-inspired concept closed at the Houston Farmers Market after only seven months. The company said Comalito would relocate to a new space, but no further details have been revealed. Comalito had a buzzy opening, with award-winning chefs Luis Robledo Richards and Atzin Santos running the show. In a statement, Richards said the space was bigger than they had hoped for the concept that served street tacos and a stunning spiral churro. Advertisement Article continues below this ad QUEEN BEE DISTILLING: Lifelong Houston friends launch a women-owned spirits brand with vodka using local honey Eau Tour Eau Tour Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Eau Tour, from the Local Foods Group, was the French bistro that had been open in Rice Village for just over a year. It closed last month, and the team has plans to open a new restaurant in its place called Milton's, an Italian-American trattoria. They had plans to add Eau Tour menu items to their next door restaurant, Lees Den. Em's Pho Em's Pho served Vietnamese food, such as pho, grilled pork sandwiches and vermicelli bowls. The restaurant debuted at the end of 2018. A new restaurant, Absolute Thai, is now open at its location, 6420 FM 1463 in Fulshear. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Juanitos Mexican Restaurant Longtime Pearland restaurant Juanitos served its last Mexican plate June 1; it had been open for 34 years. In a Facebook post, the owners said they were selling the restaurant to their friends at Iguanas Ranas Cantina Pearland. Gratify Neighborhood Bistro Gratify restaurant in Rice Village. Grant Cooper After three years in Rice Village, Gratify Neighborhood Bistro called it quits this month. Part of the Big Vibe Group, the company behind Flora and Coppa Osteria, Gratify had classic American bistro food in a white tablecloth setting. CultureMap reported the restaurant group was focusing on growing its other concepts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris County Smokehouse A plate of brisket and sausage at Harris County Smokehouse's first location. steve campbell/Houston Chronicle Harris County Smokehouse closed its newer Katy location in May. The barbecue joint has been smoking for 36 years, with locations in northwest Houston and Tomball still operating. Customers can visit those locations for barbecue plates, brisket sandwiches, chicken-fried steak and other Southern foods. Holman Draft Hall Holman Draft Hall at 820 Holman is now closed. Greg Morago Holman Draft Hall called it quits earlier this month after seven years in Midtown. It was an indoor-outdoor bar with dozens of beers on tap, cocktails and bar food. Part of the Kirby Group, the bar is set to be turned into a new concept called Solarium. Love Buzz The Hamburglar at Love Buzz Pizza Pub Jody Schmal/Staff Montrose lost its favorite grungy pizzeria abruptly in May. Love Buzz closed after 10 years for a number of reasons, including an electrical fire, rising costs and increased competition. Owner Sam English also pointed to the lack of parking compared to newer peers. The closing announcement received a bounty of messages from customers sad to see a Houston staple go. Low Tide Kitchen & Bar Exterior of the restaurant Low Tide Karen Warren/Staff photographer Nearly two years since opening in Spring Branch, Low Tide Kitchen & Bar announced it would close. The restaurant served seafood and Southern fare. It started as a food hall vendor before opening in 2022 from restaurateur Alli Jarrett, who owned Harold's in the Heights. Harold's also closed earlier this year. Muse Muse Dylan McEwan Muse had a short-lived run in the River Oaks area. The sleek and modern restaurant opened in March of last year, showcasing global flavors. Dishes ranged from maki rolls to wood-fired steaks and seafood. A new sophisticated cocktail lounge, The Kennedy, is slated to open in the space this summer. Prego A view of the dining room at Prego in Rice Village. Anthony Rathburn Prego held its last dinner service May 31 after 40 years of business. The Italian mainstay originally had plans to relocate within Rice Village, when it announced it would pause plans and close the restaurant entirely. "We have decided that it is not the right time for Prego to make such a move," the owners wrote in a Facebook post. In the comments, customers shared that they hope to see it return in a new chapter. TEXAS BBQ: How playing the long game is paying off for The Pit Room Space Cadet Space Cadet Courtesy of Space Cadet Space Cadet had about a six-month run. It was situated in a renovated historic building in the Heights that has churned through businesses. The family-friendly restaurant/bar offered a mix of local flavors, from Cajun to Tex-Mex to barbecue. Xin Chao Softshell at Xin Chao. Mai Pham/Contributor Bledar Vranaraj was granted indefinite leave to remain in 1998 after falsely claiming to be a Kosovan refugee An Albanian drugs gang leader is among a record 27,000 appeals by migrants using human rights laws to block their deportation from the UK. Bledar Vranaraj, 45, was jailed for eight years after his gang was caught with seven kilogrammes of cocaine, worth 600,000. However, he is appealing his deportation on the grounds that it would breach his rights to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He was granted indefinite leave to remain in 1998 after falsely claiming to be a Kosovan refugee. He started a relationship the same year with a French woman with whom he has two children. She was granted indefinite leave to remain under the EU settlement scheme, allowing him to claim the right to stay as her family. His claim, which is being contested by the Home Office, has dragged on for nearly six years without resolution, adding to the backlog of 27,000 appeals waiting to be heard in court. The backlog, as of March, represents a 379 per cent increase in appeals from only 7,500 in March 2023. It comes on top of more than 110,000 asylum seekers, up to 60 per cent of whom are expected to be granted asylum based on the country profile of applicants. Drug-runners car had secret compartment Vranaraj arrived in the UK in July 1997, and was jailed for eight years in 2015 for running a drug ring with seven others out of houses in south-west London. Vranaraj was described as holding a significant role in the gang. Investigators recovered nearly 1 million in laundered money as well as a car registered to him that had been fitted with a secret compartment to transport drugs and money. The Home Office terminated his refugee status in 2018. However, Vranaraj challenged his deportation on the basis that it was a breach of his human rights and was unduly harsh on his family. Backlog in asylum appeals Vranaraj claimed that he would either be separated from them by having to return to Albania or move them to the unfamiliar territory in Albania. His lawyers also claimed that the Home Office had failed to properly consider his application for an EEA residence card, allowing him to remain in the UK. The lower immigration tribunal backed his appeal against his removal. However, the appeal court ruled this should be considered after the Home Office objected. The Refugee Council has warned that tribunal appeals are likely to increase. In the six months to March 2024, some 23,000 appeals were received by the first-tier tribunal, a 379 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier. By contrast, in the year to March 2024, the first-tier tribunal disposed of 9,943 appeals. As a result, the backlog in asylum appeals almost quadrupled from 7,510 at the end of March 2023 to 27,133 a year later Appeals that were disposed of in the last three months of 2023 had been outstanding for an average of 39 weeks. Without action, that period will only get longer, said the council. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, and Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, signed a strategic partnership agreement this year. Photograph: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty Images Gen Roly Walker, the head of the British army, has described it as the axis of upheaval. George Robertson, the new head of the UKs defence review, has called the countries the deadly quartet. Either way, less than a month into a Labour government, an emerging geopolitical alignment is being highlighted as a threat. The concerns centre on the growing military and trade links between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Though the four are some way from a cold war-style bloc acting in concert, they have enhanced bilateral ties since Moscows invasion of Ukraine in a manner that has fuelled anxiety among defence officials and policymakers. Related: North Korea-backed cyber espionage campaign targets UK military Russia has been the catalyst of this, said Richard Fontaine, the co-author of an April paper in Foreign Affairs entitled The Axis of Upheaval. A desperate search for munitions as the war in Ukraine has continued far beyond its initial expectations of a quick victory has led Moscow to source Shahed drones from Iran, artillery shells from North Korea and microelectronics, as well as other components and chemicals, from China to support its offensives. In return, Russia is supplying record levels of cheap crude oil to China (in 2023 it overtook Saudi Arabia as the leading supplier to Beijing) and defence technology and intelligence to Tehran, whose drone and missile attack on Israel in April used methods familiar to the war in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, visited Pyongyang last month and signed a mutual defence pledge with North Korea. You are not seeing leaders of all four countries coming together and holding summits, but there is a glue bringing them together, Fontaine said. There is Russias need for support for its war in Ukraine but it is taking place against a broader rejection of the rules-based international order, in other words, scepticism or even hostility to the post-cold war dominance of the US and its allies. Russia, China and Iran held five days of live fire naval exercises off the coast of the Gulf of Oman in March, the closest to a display of unified activity across the grouping, though a similar proposal to hold trilateral maritime drills with China and North Korea has yet to materialise. And there remains plenty of mutual suspicion, particularly between Russia and China, countries that fought a border war in 1969. Nevertheless, the growing cooperation was highlighted by one Nato official at this months summit in Washington. Benedetta Berti, Natos head of policy planning, said: I think the reality is that it is further along than what I think most analysts wouldve anticipated before 2022 though she was hesitant to use the word axis to describe it, preferring strategic convergence. Others prefer stronger language to gain attention. Fontaine, the creator of the phrase axis of upheaval, argues it summarises the sense of mutual dissatisfaction with western dominance and is less heavy handed than axis of autocracy or the George W Bush axis of evil, with which it nevertheless rhymes. And if Nato remains cautious, it was picked up by the British army last week. The key question is how western policymakers respond particularly at a time of heightened anxiety in Europe about the possible election of Nato-sceptic Donald Trump. Walker argued that growing militarisation by all four countries could present a converging threat problem by 2027 or 2028, where they would be more likely to come to each others mutual aid in a future crisis. The army chief went on to present a deliberately disturbing hypothetical: a cocktail of a Russia that has somehow emerged from its war in Ukraine with a sense of wanting retribution for the support that was given by the west; a China that, US intelligence has repeatedly argued, wants to be able to invade Taiwan from 2027 and an Iran that has finally abandoned the deal intended to prevent it enriching uranium to make an atomic bomb. In the middle half of 2027 or 2028, this convergence may have reached some sort of mutual singularity, Walker said, although it would depend on a remarkable bounceback by Russia, which has already sustained 550,000 casualties in Ukraine and a belief that China would be willing to sacrifice global trade relationships for what would be a militarily difficult and risky operation. But if Walkers warning sounded alarmist, it was nevertheless backed by the new occupiers of Downing Street. The prime minister completely agrees with the thrust of the head of the army, said Keir Starmers spokesperson. Labour defence sources said the general was talking about re-establishing credible deterrence by calling for the army to double its productivity or lethality by 2027. There are political reasons why an axis of upheaval may be emphasised. In the UK, although Labour has promised to lift UK defence spending by around 5bn to 2.5% of GDP, it has yet to set a date when it would do so. Highlighting coordinated state threats could help to justify a timetable for reaching the higher level, particularly when the future US position in Europe is uncertain. But the idea that global threats are interconnected raises military concerns. Neil Melvin, an international security specialist at the Royal United Services Institute thinktank, said: Not only is the US not in a position to fight two major wars simultaneously, but it does not want to be so dragged into helping Ukraine against Russia that it would leave the cupboard bare in the Indo-Pacific. The argument is not that war is in any sense inevitable, but rather how to best prevent it against a grouping of countries who for now appear focused on self-supporting rearmament. Melvin said: It is a rather Dr Strangelove world, but this is the discussion we now need to have. What does credible deterrence look like? Forensic team outside the property in Bishop Auckland - TEBL/BACKGRID UK The skeleton of a baby has been discovered under the floorboards of a house. Contractors made the find as they carried out renovation work at a property in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on Monday. Forensic analysts and an anthropologist have all been called in to work out its age and how long it has been in the current location. The cause of death will be determined in a post-mortem examination and CT scan later this week. Durham Police has taken steps to track down the previous residents who had been living at the property in Fore Bondgate, one of the oldest streets in the town. Det Ch Insp Mel Sutherland said: Our investigations are at an early stage. Obviously, this is a sensitive inquiry and at this point we remain open-minded as to the circumstances surrounding the death. A tomb in the Sindh village of Kharro Syed. Daudpota and his team restored and made new tiles to decorate it in a revival of the traditional Sindhi kashikari style. Photograph: Amjad Daudpota The small city of Nasarpur in Pakistan has a centuries-old reputation for its ceramics. Thats why, when the ceramic worker Ghulam Hyder Daudpota decided to come all the way to London to master his craft, he says it seemed futile. But, he adds: It turned into a life-changing opportunity. Daudpota grew up with eight siblings in a city where the mosques and shrines are embellished with terracotta and blue glazed tiles, known as the art of kashikari. He spoke little English until the age of 27 and his parents had no deep pockets to pay his tuition fees. But the talented Pakistani secured a full scholarship at the Kings Foundation school of traditional arts (KFSTA) in east London, before returning to his country and helping to revive the dying craft. Kashikari is ubiquitous across [the province of] Sindh, but when I was growing up it was considered a dying craft and only a few craftsmen were practising. If it wasnt for my time at KFSTA, I wouldnt be where I am at the moment, Daudpota says from his Nasarpur workshop, which now employs 40 people. Believed to have originated in the Iranian city of Kashan, kashikari involves making biomorphic patterns on terracotta clay by dabbing graphite on perforated paper, before applying turquoise metallic pigments found in copper and cobalt oxides. Teachers in my country discouraged me from pursuing traditional arts, saying it was primitive Ghulam Hyder Daudpota If you go back 100 years, we had a variety of glazes and techniques masterpieces that we see today in Shah Jahan mosque in the city of Thatta but we had no proper patronage and we lost our skills, we lost our knowledge, Daudpota says. Daudpota has since worked on designs at Islamabad airport, Pakistans pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 and on restorations at prominent mosques and mausoleums. In 2010 he was awarded the Jerwood prize for traditional arts for a tile fountain inspired by kashikari panels found in Nasarpurs old mosque. Daudpota sold the fountain for 5,000 and received 2,500 in prize money, which he took back to Pakistan and opened a workshop. It was a long way from what he had expected from life. Daudpota did not perform well at school and his parents apprenticed him to a local craftsman. An encounter while working on a commission at a private mansion changed the course of his career. It was a turning point in my life, he says. The house was owned by a teacher at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore. He told Daudpota that his experience would qualify him to study for a masters degree, provided he learned English within the next four months. He took classes at sunrise every day and passed the test. The NCA has a longstanding arrangement with KFSTA, sending one student to London every year for almost three months. Daudpota was chosen for the 2008 programme, and stayed for his two-year degree. When he was asked how he would pay for his tuition, he replied: God has helped me in the past and God will help me in the future. It prompted the interviewer to give him a scholarship. Farkhondeh Ahmadzadeh, a former student behind a Persian miniature series about to go on show at the Aga Khan Centre in Kings Cross, London, remembers how Daudpota worked at night in the O2 arenas car park to earn money to send to his mother. He slept on the bus on his way to the school, but he was always the first to come in and last to leave, she says. KFSTA promotes the living traditions of the worlds sacred and traditional art forms, such as Persian miniature painting, Moroccan zellige mosaic tilework and Egyptian Mamluk woodcarving. Formerly the Prince of Waless Institute of Architecture, set up in 1993, and later the Princes Foundation, it runs international programmes teaching traditional techniques of painting, stained glass, ceramics, carving, and traditional Islamic geometry. Its 2024 degree show is now being held at the Garrison Chapel in London, until 4 August, showcasing the projects of 10 masters students. Among the works on display is Indian stained glass installed on a light panel by Roopini Venkatasubramanian, who is from Tamil Nadu. Venkatasubramanian, who once studied quantum physics, was among those who received a scholarship. Venkatasubramanian, a Hindu, is inspired by the tradition of drawing geometrical patterns on the floor using rice flour pinched through fingers, called kolam. Related: London gallery brings African artists and Yoruba culture to global audience The school has kindled my spirit to identify, appreciate and value my culture and traditions back home, she says. Daudpota echoes her. Teachers in my country were discouraging me from pursuing traditional arts; they were saying it was primitive. The school broadened my perspective, and gave me the training platform to understand how we can turn a dying tradition into a living tradition. Darren Jones is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury - Wiktor Szymanowicz The Chancellors deputy has been accused of hypocrisy after appearing to change his mind about scrapping winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. Rachel Reeves announced on Monday that the allowance will only be received by people who already claim means-tested benefits, excluding almost 10 million retirees. But last autumn Darren Jones, now the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said pensioners would be left anxious and concerned by any change to the payment system. Asked about Mr Joness comments, Ms Reeves told LBCs Nick Ferrari she was in an extraordinary position where we had to close a 22bn gap this year in our public finances. Yesterday, I had to make changes across the board transport projects, new hospital building programme, an investment fund, as well as the difficult decision to restrict the winter fuel payment to pensioners who receive pension credit. Its not a decision I wanted to make, its not a decision I expected to make, but we had to close that gap. Mr Jones wrote to Jeremy Hunt after John Glen, who was one of Mr Hunts Tory Treasury colleagues, argued winter fuel cash would be better spent tackling child poverty. In a letter to Mr Hunt on Nov 20, he said: The paymaster general has suggested that some pensioners should be stripped of their winter fuel payment. Pensioners will be deeply concerned about such speculation, especially ahead of winter, and anxious that their incomes may be under threat from this government. Pensioners are already having to contend with dramatic increases to the cost of living, particularly when it comes to their energy bills. The price of gas has risen by 60 per cent over the past two years, while the price of electricity has risen by 40 per cent. All 11.4 million pensioners currently receive 200 from the state to help heat their homes every winter, with those aged 80 or over receiving a blanket payment of 300. Mr Jones said pensioners will be anxious ahead of this news ahead of the autumn statement and urged Mr Hunt to clarify whether he and Mr Sunak agreed with Mr Glen. In an accompanying social media post, he insisted pensioners mustnt be forced to bear the brunt of Tory economic failure. Ms Reevess deputy was accused of hypocrisy on Tuesday in the wake of the Governments decision to end the blanket payments for the vast majority of pensioners. Tom Tugendhat, a Tory leadership candidate and the shadow security minister, quoted Mr Joness letter alongside a headline about Ms Reeves scrapping winter fuel payments. Mocking Labours general election campaign slogan of change, Mr Tugendhat said: Not sure this is the change people had in mind. Dame Priti Patel, another Tory leadership hopeful, said: Back in 2023 Labours new Chief Secretary to the Treasury warned against means testing pensioners for winter fuel payments. Whats changed Darren? Why wasnt Starmer straight with pensioners during the general election that Labour would make this change? Pensioners deserve respect and thanks in retirement for their years of hard work. Paul Scully, a former minister, added: Not sure this has aged well in just a year. The joy of now having to make decisions. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Reeves described the move as a difficult decision which forms part of a suite of measures to fill what Labour claims is a 22bn budget black hole left by the previous government. During the 2017 general election campaign, Ms Reeves shared a Labour poster from 1945 promising a decent pension with the caption: Love this poster from 1945. This time again, its Labour who will stand up for pensioners, defending the triple lock and winter fuel payments. A week earlier Angela Rayner, now Deputy Prime Minister, had said: Pensioners will be worried with cuts to pensions, death tax for social care, winter fuel allowance cuts, Tories the nasty party #ToryManifesto Charities warned in the wake of Ms Reevess announcement that two million pensioners on low incomes will be hit hardest by her decision, which comes into effect in November. Age UK said more than 800,000 older people who live on very low incomes under 218.25 a week for single pensioners and under 332.95 for couples already miss out on pension credit. The charity warned this group now faces losing out on money that currently helps to cover their energy bill payments. Cardiff council's 12ft-high sculpture honours the first radio broadcast but fails to reference Marconi - Wales news service A Welsh council has unveiled a sculpture honouring the first radio broadcast, but has obscured the fascist inventor behind the achievement. Guglielmo Marconi sent radio signals for the first time in 1895 while using South Wales as the base of his experiments, and his work was deemed deserving of a statue by Cardiff council in 2022. However, councillors were forced to pledge that their 12ft-high sculpture would not reference Marconi, and a more abstract design simply depicting a radio has now been unveiled. This followed outrage over the Italian inventor being given a public honour, after revaluation in 2002 that he was a supporter of facism and the expansionist policies of Benito Mussolini. Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi was a fascist supporter - Universal History Archive/Getty Cardiffs Labour council previously made clear in a public statement: None of that history, good or bad, can be deleted, but we have a responsibility to learn from it, and ensure it is presented in a way thats consistent with Cardiffs values as a tolerant and welcoming city, where equality and diversity is championed and celebrated. To be clear the council in no way condones Marconis links to fascism and anti-Semitism. Marconi won the 1909 Nobel Prize for his work on radio waves, in which he sent the first signals over several miles while working at Lavernock Point south of Cardiff. He would later send the first radio signal over the open sea. A statue was commissioned by artist Glenn Davidson to honour these achievements, with the piece to be installed on the Cardiff Bay Barrage. The council reviewed the plans when it was pointed out that Marconi was a fascist who blocked Jewish scientists from joining the Academy of Italy. Documents unearthed in 2002 in an Italian archive showed his political sympathies. The inventor once stated: I reclaim the honour of being the first fascist in the field of radiotelegraphy, the first who acknowledged the utility of joining the electric rays in a bundle, as Mussolini was the first in the political field who acknowledged the necessity of merging all the healthy energies of the country into a bundle, for the greater greatness of Italy. Assurances were given that Marconi himself would not be depicted by the statue, which has elements referencing both a radio set and the prow of a ship. Approval for the statue was finally given in September 2022. A council spokesman said: The artwork celebrates the worlds first wireless signal over water and is designed to help connect people on the mainland with the isolated island they can see on the horizon. Huw Edwards will appear at Westminster magistrates' court on Wednesday - PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo Huw Edwards, the former BBC news presenter, has reportedly split from his wife ahead of his court appearance to face charges of possessing indecent images. The ex-News at Ten anchor has moved out of the family home he shared with Vicky Flind in Dulwich, south London, and is now said to be dividing his time between Wandsworth, which is also in south London, and Wales. His new address was revealed on documents published by Westminster magistrates court before the hearing on Wednesday. Edwards and Ms Flind, a TV producer, have not yet divorced. They share three sons and two daughters and were married in 1993. They are understood to have first met when Edwards was a BBC correspondent in Westminster. A source told The Sun: They separated quite a long time ago but have not announced it publicly. Huw has been living elsewhere for a while. CPS criticised Earlier on Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service faced criticism for breaching open justice principles by failing to release the information that Edwards had been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. Edwards was charged in June, but the details only emerged on Monday, after the date of his first court appearance was published by Westminster magistrates court. One prominent former attorney general said he found it very puzzling that the CPS had not released details of the charges brought against Edwards around the time he had been charged. He said the CPSs actions appeared not to be in accordance with the principles of open justice. The 62-year-old former broadcaster, who left the BBC last year, will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, charged with three offences relating to images shared on WhatsApp. Edwards, who was one of the BBCs most highly-paid stars, was arrested last November by detectives from Scotland Yard. A public matter The former attorney general, who asked not to be named, told The Telegraph: It is very puzzling that the CPs did not release the charge details to the media. Normally, with high-profile cases, an announcement is made that charges have been brought. This notifies members of the media that a first court appearance is imminent to allow them to report on it, in accordance with the principles of open justice. Im therefore puzzled that the CPS did not announce charges when they were brought in June, as at that point it became a public matter. According to the charge sheet, Edwards is accused of having six category A images, 12 category B pictures and 19 category C photographs on WhatsApp. The offences are contrary to sections 1(1)(a) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978. If found guilty, he could receive a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The CPS denied it had deliberately suppressed details about Edwards being charged or given him preferential treatment. Approach taken isnt unusual A CPS spokesperson said: Decisions on charging announcements are based on operational factors and no defendant receives preferential treatment. Our handling of this case followed our normal procedures working in partnership with police colleagues. Scotland Yard denied it had taken a different approach in informing the media in the case of Edwards. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: The approach taken in this case isnt unusual. Quite often when there is a lengthy gap between the date someone is charged and their first appearance, we will publish the details immediately before the first appearance. The purpose of us releasing the details is to allow media to cover the court proceedings so providing it is prior to that date we have met that requirement. In this case, another media outlet spotted that the listings had gone up. Had nobody done so they would have been shared with media proactively today, ahead of tomorrows hearing. Edwards was suspended by the BBC last July following media reports that a high-profile presenter had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a young man. His wife later confirmed he was the presenter at the centre of the allegations, adding that he was being treated for serious mental health issues. In April he resigned from the broadcaster on medical advice. Ismael Zambada Garcia (left) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez are in police custody in the US - HANDOUT/AFP The son of drug lord El Chapo kidnapped Ismael Zambada Garcia, a rival cartel leader, and delivered him to US federal agents, officials believe, in the latest twist to the dramatic capture of one of Mexicos most wanted men. Last Thursday, both Joaquin Guzman Lopez, El Chapos son, and Mr Zambada Garcia, the co-founder of Mexicos notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, ended up in US custody in Texas. In the original version of events given by US officials, Mr Zambada Garcia was lured by Mr Guzman Lopez onto a private plane and flown over the border. But the officials now believe that Mr Zambada Garcia was tricked into leaving his mountain hideout for what he thought would be an amicable meeting with his rival in the Mexican city of Culiacan and then ambushed. According to the New York Times, which spoke to three law enforcement officials anonymously, Mr Zambada Garcia who is one of his countrys most wanted men was forcibly flown across the border, where he was apprehended by US federal agents. Frank Perez, Mr Zambada Garcias lawyer, had previously insisted that his client had been handcuffed by six henchmen in military uniforms, and forced into a car and then onto the plane. My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the US government, Mr Perez said in a statement. Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client. Bodyguards clashed One of the officials said that the ambush turned violent when the two mens bodyguards clashed. Full details have not yet been confirmed but the private plane flight was said to be confirmed on Thursday morning, after Mr Guzman Lopezs interlocutors notified US law enforcement officials. The aircraft was then quietly waved into US airspace with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, while agents waited at Dona Ana County international airport. Mr Guzman Lopezs role in the capture of his rival was the culmination of a back channel that a small team of FBI agents had maintained over several years, according to officials. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexicos president, confirmed the existence of that channel on Monday. The discussions reportedly began after El Chapo Joaquin Guzman was convicted on drug conspiracy charges in Brooklyn and sentenced to life in prison, and intensified when Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of his sons, was extradited from Mexico last year to stand trial in Chicago. While a source close to Mr Guzman Lopez has said that no formal deal had been agreed before his surrender, experts say that the move could benefit both Guzman brothers, increasing the possibility that they could get favourable terms in future plea deals. Kidnappings form no basis for relief One of the officials said that the FBI agents had also been in communication with Mr Zambada Garcia before the events, who had apparently been seeking to negotiate his own potential surrender. The three law enforcement officials told the New York Times that the US government had not been involved in, and had no real-time knowledge of, the methods used to take Mr Zambada Garcia to the United States. Meanwhile, legal experts said that how Mr Zambada Garcia arrived in the US may have no impact on the criminal charges he is facing. US law is quite clear that even kidnappings that violate extradition treaties dont provide a basis for relief for the defendant, Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Columbia Law School, told the New York Times. Nonetheless, Mr Perez could push the kidnapping accusations, in an attempt to complicate any prosecutions, while Mexicos security minister has also said that its authorities had opened their own investigation into the events, adding that crimes may have occurred. Mr Zambada Garcia pleaded not guilty to drug charges on Friday in El Paso. Asked about the kidnapping claims, Jeffrey Lichtman, Mr Guzman Lopezs defence lawyer, said: Ive got no comment other than to note that Mr Zambada is free to employ any defence hed like against the charges he faces. Clashes between asylum seekers and the police in Greece. The country was one of three singled out by the report. Photograph: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock Authorities in EU member states are not doing enough to investigate credible reports of violations of human rights, including deaths, on their borders, an EU human rights body has said. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) said human rights agencies and NGOs were reporting serious, recurrent and widespread rights violations against migrants and refugees during border management but despite credible reports many were not investigated. An increasing number of cases are going to the European court of human rights, raising questions about border management in at least three countries, it said. National authorities in Greece, Croatia and Hungary did not effectively investigate incidents of ill treatment and loss of life during border management. Examples include insufficient efforts to locate and hear victims and witnesses, hindering lawyers in their work and not having access to key evidence (eg footage from border surveillance). Greeces migration policies have been in the spotlight since the Adriana, an overcrowded fishing boat, sank in June last year with the loss of an estimated 500-650 lives. The FRA cited five examples highlighting what it considered a flawed approach to loss of life and allegations of violence across Europes frontier states. In one of the most egregious cases, it cited the discovery of an unaccompanied child who was found unconscious with a fractured skull and swollen lip in France by volunteers. The child had been apprehended by police after hiding in a truck destined for the UK. The case, and allegations of possible police involvement, was reported to the public prosecutor in Boulogne-sur-Mer but the child could not be found later. In 2020, the Croatian police intercepted four Afghans who entered the country irregularly. According to the rights agency, they were held for two days, humiliated and beaten. The incident is being investigated but according to the victims lawyer the perpetrators have not been identified. In April 2020, Maltese authorities instructed a fishing vessel to take a boat in distress back to Libya. In six days at sea 12 people died or went missing. A magistrate concluded there was no prima facie evidence for criminal charges, the FRA said. In June 2022, two Palestinians recognised by Greece as refugees were allegedly subjected to physical and sexual abuse and abandoned on a life raft at sea after being stopped by police in Kos. The Turkish coastguard rescued them and an official complaint is still pending before the Greek public prosecutor. The FRA director, Sirpa Rautio, said: There are too many allegations of human rights violations at the EUs borders. Europe has a duty to treat everyone at the borders fairly, respectfully and in full compliance with human rights law. The agency has drawn up a 10-point plan including regular guidance and training for local prosecutors and investigators on how to protect victims and how to collect and preserve evidence, including mobile phone data. Facilitation of victims participation in criminal proceedings and their protection was paramount, the report said. The report added: Investigative authorities should request records of border surveillance and body cameras, global position systems, records of patrol cars and officers phones. Keir Starmer has said those who rioted in Southport on Tuesday night will feel the full force of the law after police vehicles were set alight and missiles hurled at officers. It came after far-right protesters pelted police with glass bottles and bricks and attacked a mosque following a knife attack that killed three children. The prime minister said they had hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery and insulted the community as it grieves. Thirty-nine police officers sustained injuries, North West Ambulance Service said, with 27 of them taken to hospital. Merseyside police said eight officers suffered serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and a concussion. Other officers suffered head injuries and serious facial injuries, and one was knocked unconscious. Rioters just set an industrial wheelie bin alight and rammed it at police riot shields. Officers charged back but then retreated. pic.twitter.com/ParTbxrTES Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) July 30, 2024 Three police dogs were also injured, with two sustaining leg injuries from having bricks thrown at them and a third suffering burns to her back leg. As officers from five forces struggled to bring the disorder under control, police introduced a 24-hour section 60 order giving officers enhanced stop and search powers, and a section 34 dispersal order allowing police to seize any item, including vehicles, used to commit anti-social behaviour, as well as being able to tell people to leave the area. Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said: Sadly, offenders have destroyed garden walls so they could use the bricks to attack our officers and have set cars belonging to the public on fire, and damaged cars parked in the mosque car park. This is no way to treat a community, least of all a community that is still reeling from the events of Monday. He appealed for anyone who has information or video footage of those involved in this shocking behaviour to come forward so we can identify and arrest those responsible. The protest was due to start at 8pm but the streets began filling before then, with scenes rapidly turning violent. Protesters barricaded themselves down a side street, dragging bins from a pub and industrial unit to provide more missiles to throw at police. Others turned on a nearby mosque, throwing bricks through the windows, and later, as darkness fell, one group of men ripped up a driveway to arm themselves with stones to throw at police, while across the road, another group tried to force entry to a corner shop. As darkness fell, smaller groups dispersed and roamed the streets, setting fires in the road. Residents walls and fences were pulled down; the bricks used as missiles, and the wooden panels added to the fire. Police from four neighbouring forces were called in as officers struggled to bring the situation under control. Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were all fatally stabbed in the attack on Monday. Eight other children suffered stab wounds and five were left in a critical condition, alongside two adults who were also critically injured. In the aftermath of the attack, for which a 17-year-old was arrested, several false accusations were spread on social media with incorrect names of the attacker. The only details released about the suspect by police described him as a 17-year-old from the village of Banks in Lancashire who was born in Cardiff. On Wednesday morning, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) paid tribute to the three girls killed, before condemning shocking scenes of far-right rioters running amok outside a mosque. The MCB called it an Islamophobic backlash that began with a false rumour on the internet. The MCB secretary general, Zara Mohammed, said: At a time of great tragedy, loss, and mourning, we must stand firm against the cynical forces of hatred and division. This does not represent our diverse Britain and the people of Southport. The online misinformation was earlier condemned by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper. On Tuesday night she said it was appalling police officers in Southport were facing attacks from thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community, adding: Its a total disgrace. Hundreds of people had taken part in a peaceful vigil on Tuesday evening outside Southports Atkinson arts venue, with many in tears as they laid flowers and cards of remembrance. But the vigil was followed by a far-right protest outside a local mosque, which quickly turned violent. Demonstrators gathered in the area surrounding Hart Street, where Mondays killings took place. The crowd of hundreds were heard shouting Islamophobic slogans as well as no surrender, English till I die and we want our country back as a police helicopter circled overhead. Riot police charged at the demonstrators after a police van was set alight and other police vehicles were damaged . Officers used teargas on the angry crowds of predominantly men covering their faces. Some officers were injured after plant pots and empty bins were among the missiles hurled at them and the Southport mosque building. A group of people attempted to overturn a riot van. Some men were seen pulling down a crumbling wall to use the bricks as weapons, pelting officers with them. Others ripped open black bin bags looking for objects to throw. Some spectators watched from front gardens, while passersby looked on, saying: I cant believe it, its horrible isnt it? Another said: This doesnt achieve anything. Southports MP, Patrick Hurley, said he condemned any attack on emergency services, adding: These are the same services that responded to the tragic attack yesterday. I want to thank our community for pulling together and supporting every person who has been affected by Mondays tragic attack, he said. Nowhere was this more evident than the solidarity, remembrance and sympathy heard at todays vigil. The violence was so serious that Merseyside police were forced to call in reinforcements. Officers were rushed in from north Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. In a tweet, Merseyside police said: Officers who had completed a shift in work today are back on duty supporting colleagues in Southport. From left, Kim Maker, Ziggy Gruber and Nathan Maker pose for a photo at Kenny & Ziggy's in Houston on July 28, 2024 Frank Flaig / Kenny & Ziggy's On Sunday afternoon, a couple walked gingerly into the restaurant with cuts and bruises on their bodies. Both were sunburned. Her face was as red as a tomato, except where she had worn goggles. His bald head was beginning to peel. Between them, they figured jelly fish had stung them hundreds of times. Nathan and Kim Maker made Kenny & Ziggys, Houstons popular Jewish deli, their first stop after leaving the hospital. The husband and wife had survived nearly 40 hours floating in the Gulf of Mexico before the Coast Guard rescued the avid scuba divers. Kenny & Ziggy's matzo ball soup in Houston on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Kim ordered matzo ball soup, a dish sometimes lovingly referred to as Jewish penicillin with bits of chicken, diced vegetables and a fluffy dumpling bobbing in a clear-as-consomme broth. Nathan got a triple decker sandwich Fiddler on the Roof of Your Mouth as its called on the menu teeming with pastrami and corned beef topped off with Russian dressing and coleslaw. There was also an order of onion rings and two different cheesecakes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a city known for barbecue, steakhouses, Vietnamese food and Tex-Mex, the Makers sought out the comforts of a classic Jewish deli. We had plans to eat here and almost didnt get the chance, Nathan said. Its the only thing we wanted. HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants Kim, 44, and Nathan, 49, dont have children. She is a special education teacher and he works as a contractor after 21 years as a firefighter. The couple, from Edmond, Okla., are avid scuba divers and have completed more than 500 dives each, Nathan said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Their diving trips have taken them to the Texas coast, Mexico and all over South Florida, where theyve eaten at Jewish delis frequented by New York transplants and snowbirds. Last year, the Makers had taken the same excursion to Freeport, just miles from Matagorda Bay. A woman they met on one of their diving trips had recommended Kenny & Ziggys, so they figured it was close enough to check out. They loved the frenetic energy of Kenny & Ziggys, with its Broadway-inspired decor, and feasted on everything from latkes to black-and-white cookies. The tall sandwiches, which they only saw on television shows in big cities, were a favorite. It was the best sandwich weve had in our life, Nathan said. They had plans to return to Kenny & Ziggys, which opened in 1999, last Wednesday. It would be a celebration of yet another diving trip and a chance to work their way through the restaurant's encyclopedic menu, which is four pages on laminated paper that's 2 feet long and 24 inches wide. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That morning, they ate breakfast tacos and drank Gatorade on the boat before their first dive. They almost didn't make it back. One of their friends started drifting from a downline, a cord used to guide divers to the surface, said Nathan, who helped pull her back. During the commotion, a current swept Nathan and Kim away from the rope, and they lost contact with the diving group. For 39 hours, the couple tried to stay alive as they were stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. A surface marker buoy helped keep them afloat, and Nathan tethered themselves together with carabiners and straps so they wouldnt drift apart. They said they saw the Coast Guard fly over them several times. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jellyfish stung them too many times to count. They started swimming so hypothermia wouldnt set in. Kim sang songs and they told jokes so they wouldnt fall asleep. When it rained, they opened their swollen mouths to catch fresh water. Nathan also tried to use his dive knife to catch fish so they could eat. They figured they could also use the oil from the fish to put on their faces to help with their sunburns. The closest he got was the dorsal fin of a jack fish, Nathan said. At one point during the second day, Nathan recalls hallucinating. He said he saw his father, who died last year, hovering above the surface of the water and throwing him a set of keys. The Coast Guard searched about 1,656 miles before they spotted Kim flashing an SOS signal early Friday morning. A boat was deployed and raced toward the couple. Two men plucked Kim from the water and then swooped Nathan, who said hes 6-foot-4 and weighs 260 pounds, to safety. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those guys are the absolute heroes, Nathan said. They were the hands of God for us. The Makers were taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Lake Jackson. Nathan was released first, but he wanted to stay with Kim. The staff rolled in another bed so he could stay next to her until they were cleared to leave on Sunday. Nathans brother picked them up, and they drove straight to Kenny & Ziggys. When they stepped into the restaurant, customers stared at them. Their faces were sunburned, and the scuba jackets had created a ring around their necks with an open wound that looked like we had hung ourselves. After seeing the reaction of all the onlookers, Nathan told their server, Frank Flaig, what they had been through. Flaig flagged down owner Ziggy Gruber, who said had just seen the news the day before about the missing couple. He added that the previous week, he had just been watching Shark Week on television. Gruber checked on the couples table, where they were eating with Nathans brother and sister-in-law, who planned to take them back to Oklahoma on Monday. Those people have been through an ordeal, we cant charge them, Gruber said. Flaig brought the check to the table and jokingly placed it there before tearing it in half and telling them there was no bill. The Makers plan to come back for another meal next month. They have tentative plans in Galveston to meet the Coast Guard team members who rescued them. Victorian chief health officer Dr Clare Looker says 33 confirmed cases of legionnaires disease have been detected in Melbourne as of Tuesday afternoon and those numbers may increase over the course of today. Photograph: James Ross/AAP There are now at least 33 cases of legionnaires disease across Melbourne, with 10 people also suspected of contracting the infection, as health authorities work to identify the source of the growing outbreak. Victorias chief health officer, Dr Clare Looker, confirmed the new figures on Tuesday afternoon, as she warned it was likely there were more cases in the community. We suspect those numbers may increase over the course of today, Looker said. While the source of the outbreak, which first emerged on Friday, remains unknown, Looker said the health department had been investigating possible causes. This included testing at about 18 cooling tower sites. Fortunately, legionnaires disease is not an illness that is transmitted from person to person, Looker said. What we are really looking for is an environmental source, and in the process of testing and sampling for that, we are disinfecting cooling towers, which should control that risk. Related: Legionnaires outbreak: Australians are contracting the lung disease, what is it and do I need to worry? Looker said those who had contracted the illness resided in metropolitan Melbourne, with the majority located in the northern and western suburbs. At this stage, we havent been able to identify a single site that has been visited by all the cases. Looker said most of the cases involved adults aged over 40. Most had required hospitalisation, with six people in intensive care. Legionnaires disease, unfortunately, is quite a severe form of pneumonia, she said. It can affect people often who have other underlying health conditions or [are] immune-compromised and so most of our cases are hospitalised. Looker urged anyone who had visited or lived in metropolitan Melbourne and developed symptoms including chills, fevers, a cough or was feeling unwell to seek medical attention. People can contract legionnaires disease by breathing in contaminated dust or water vapour. On Tuesday morning, the states health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, said authorities were yet to identify the source of the outbreak, which she described as concerning. Investigations are under way to properly understand the cause of the outbreak, she said. But right now, its really important that people that are experiencing a chest infection, fever, chills and so on seek medical attention and speak with their general practitioner. An outbreak of the disease occurred in Sydney in December and January, with at least 10 cases confirmed. Much time left? Germany's Olaf Scholz is looking at grim poll numbers and a worsening economy - Matthias Rietschel/Reuters Olaf Scholz didnt want to think about politics during his summer holiday. He was looking forward to quiet times, to being able to exercise, enjoy nature, read books and just spend a lot of time with my wife, he told the German media. If the German chancellor did risk a peek at the news on Tuesday, the calm of his three-week break may have shattered. Germanys economy shrank unexpectedly in the second quarter of the year, leaving the country teetering on the brink of recession and his party struggling to regain trust. Economists had predicted growth of 0.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2024. Instead, Germanys GDP shrank by 0.1 per cent. After the 2023 recession, recovery in the first quarter of 2024 was sluggish and temporary. Looking at the figures, Klaus Wohlrabe from the Ifo Institute for Economic Research says, The German economy is stuck in crisis. This is bad news for Europes largest economy and for Olaf Scholz. In the chancellors traditional summer press conference, he had announced that he would seek re-election next year despite dire approval ratings and even though surveys suggest only a third of his fellow Social Democrats (SPD) want him to. Scholzs party is heading for a drubbing in regional elections this September in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. Polls suggest that in these three states of the former East Germany both the hard Right AfD and the Left populist Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) are likely to perform extremely well. In all three states the AfD could be the largest party and the BSW looks set to get more than twice the vote share of the ruling SPD in both Saxony and Thuringia. Scholz hopes to turn things around before the federal elections in September 2025, showing the public that his government had made the right decisions for Germany. But this will be very difficult with economic figures that cant be explained away with a nod to the international situation. In contrast to Germany, the Eurozone overall showed solid growth, increasing by 0.3 per cent in the second quarter of this year. France is right in the mainstream with 0.3 per cent growth and Spain even managed 0.8 per cent. Scholz could argue that the German slump is caused by structural issues over which he has little control. As an export-orientated country, Germany is extremely sensitive to global economic trends. Its dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal inflated the effects of the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. And around a quarter of a million German citizens leave the country every year, adding to an acute shortage of skilled labour. But its unlikely that Germans will think that Scholzs government is blameless. They are now in their third year in power; before that, Scholz was vice chancellor and finance minister under Angela Merkel. The decisions made by him and those around him have had consequences. Despite the gas shortage, for instance, the Green energy minister Robert Habeck decided to switch off Germanys last nuclear power plants in 2023. While people were struggling with high bills, the government drafted a controversial heating law to phase out the use of fossil fuels in private homes. Due to the public backlash, Habeck eventually admitted that he had gone too far and was forced to water down the legislation. But the damage was done. Heat pump manufacturers had banked on an increase in sales and planned accordingly. In 2024, demand collapsed by 54 per cent with home owners unsure about the technology. Now, thousands of jobs are at risk in the sector. Planned investment in Germanys green transition stalled overall when the courts ruled last year that Scholzs coalition had unlawfully re-allocated unused pandemic funds for climate projects. This blew a 60 billion hole into the public finances and further eroded confidence in the sector. The list of economically harmful decisions made in Germany is long. There is Scholzs approval for the EUs planned ban on petrol and diesel engines from 2035, which will speed up the decline of the German car industry. Or his refusal to even consider loosening the debt-brake, a rule that prevents Germany from borrowing more than 0.35 per cent of GDP in new debt per year. When he returns from holiday, Scholz will no doubt have thought of reasons why the decline of the country he runs isnt his fault, but German voters wont be fooled so easily. Scholzs SPD is currently polling at 15 per cent, which would be its worst result in post-war history. News that the German economy is doing exceptionally badly is unlikely to bring voters back to those parties now running the country. Rico Krieger appeared, handcuffed, in a staged TV interview broadcast on Belarusian state media, begging the German chancellor to intervene. Photograph: Belteleradio Company/Reuters A German man sentenced to death in Belarus has been pardoned by the countrys president, just a few days after news of the case became public. Rico Krieger, 30, was found guilty on terrorism charges in a case that was held behind closed doors and only became public last week. Krieger, who formerly worked for the German Red Cross, was accused of placing explosives on a rail track in the country on the orders of Ukrainian intelligence. No one was injured in the explosion that supposedly ensued. Earlier this week, Krieger appeared, handcuffed, in a staged TV interview broadcast on Belarusian state media. Crying, he begged the German authorities to intervene in his case. Mr Scholz, please, I am still alive it is not yet too late, said Krieger, who was pictured handcuffed inside a cell, appealing to the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. The programme contained no evidence of Kriegers guilt except for his confession. The KGB, as Belarusian secret services are still known, has been widely accused of torture and fabricating evidence. Belarus is the only European country to retain the death penalty. On Tuesday, Belarusian state media reported that president Alexander Lukashenko, the countrys autocratic leader, had considered the case and granted a pardon to Krieger. Earlier, Lukashenko had met the prosecutor and defence lawyers, supposedly to gain a full understanding of the details. It was not immediately clear if and when Krieger will be released from jail. The case was widely seen as an attempt by Belarusian authorities to put pressure on Berlin, and German diplomats were known to be in discussions with Minsk over the case behind closed doors. It is possible that Krieger may form part of a broader prisoner exchange deal between Russia and the west. Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin, and Moscow has long been keen to retrieve assassin Vadim Krasikov from a German jail. Krasikov was convicted of murdering a Chechen exile in a Berlin park in 2019. On Friday, German government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said Scholz was aware of the case and worried about these events. Woodland on the North Downs near Abinger Hammer, Surrey. The government is off track to meet its woodland creation targets in England, the report highlighted. Photograph: Peter Lane/Alamy Goals to stop the decline of nature and clean up the air and water in England are slipping out of reach, a new report has warned. An audit of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which is the mechanism by which the governments legally binding targets for improving nature should be met, has found that plans for thriving plants and wildlife and clean air are deteriorating. This plan was supposed to replace the EU-derived environmental regulations the UK used until the Environment Act was passed in 2021 after Brexit. The report found that there was no data to measure many of the metrics such as habitat creation for wildlife and the status of sites of special scientific interest. It also highlighted that the government was off track to meet its woodland creation targets, and that water leakage from pipes had in fact increased since the targets were set. The Labour party announced on Tuesday that it would overhaul these goals. The environment secretary, Steve Reed, said the government would lay out detailed delivery plans for each target, such as tree planting and air quality, working with environment groups to do so. Reed said: Nature is dying. Britain is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Our animal species face extinction. Our precious landscapes are in decline. Our rivers, lakes and seas are awash with sewage and pollution. Air pollution continues to plague our towns and cities. Nature underpins everything the economy, food, health and society but we stand at a moment in history when nature needs us to defend it. That is why today we begin to chart a new course. Working with civil society, business and local government, we will develop an ambitious programme to turn the tide and save nature. Craig Bennett, the CEO of the Wildlife trusts, was part of a group that had been taking the previous government to court over its EIP, which it said was inadequate for the scale of the challenge faced. He told the Guardian: The previous plan didnt have anything like the detail needed its estimated only 3% of our land is protected for nature. We could turn it around by improving our wild spaces and designating new ones, but this would mean moving from the previous governments platitudes to clear action on reversing natures decline. Biodiversity wont stop declining by itself, we have to take clear actions. Glenys Stacey, the chair of nature watchdog the Office for Environmental Protection, said: We have found that government is largely off track to meet the environmental ambitions as set out in the EIP. We welcome a rapid review of the EIP to make sure it can drive environmental protection and improvement at the scale and pace that is needed to address deeply concerning trends, and with the transparency that the sector and others need in order to fully play their part. Sean and Shiza Harper were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment - Joe Giddens/PA A group who turned up at a court with handcuffs and demanded to know the whereabouts of the senior coroner have been found guilty of a plot to kidnap him. Lincoln Brookes, the senior coroner for Essex, said he had received a series of very bizarre letters in 2022 before receiving emails in April 2023 stating that corporal punishment may be administered. Lincoln Brookes, the senior coroner for Essex, said he had received bizarre and threatening messages from the group - Essex Coroners Court He described the emails, which claimed to be warrants for seizure of goods and persons, as troubling and upsetting. Mr Brookes told Chelmsford Crown Court that in an attachment to an email he had been accused of detrimental necromancy. Mark Christopher, 58, of Forest Gate, east London, Matthew Martin, 47, of Plaistow, east London, Shiza Harper, 45, of South Benfleet, Essex, and Sean Harper, 38, also of South Benfleet, turned up at the coroners court in Chelmsford on April 20 last year. The four defendants all denied conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment, but all four were found guilty on both counts by majority verdicts of 11 to one. Matthew Martin and the three other defendants were found guilty on both counts by majority verdicts of 11 to one - Joe Giddens/PA The verdicts followed a two-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and more than 10 hours of deliberation. Christopher was also found guilty, by a unanimous verdict, of sending threatening letters to Mr Brookes with intent to cause distress or anxiety. Mr Brookes was not in the coroners court building at the time of the incident last year. Michelle Brown, the area coroner for Essex, who had been conducting documentary inquests from paperwork and without witnesses or family present, said the group had come into her courtroom. She said the leader had kept demanding that I find and get Mr Brookes. Christopher the self-appointed leader Mr Justice Goss, the judge, told jurors while summing up evidence in the case that the defendants had been members of a group called the Federal Postal Court, or Court of the People. He said Christopher had been the self-appointed leader with the title chief judge of England and all dominions. He trained under the late David Wynn Miller, the judge said. He said Martin was a sheriff and a coroner, Sean Harper a sheriff and Shiza Harper, his wife, a postal inspector and auditor. The other three defendants [Martin, Harper and Harper] were all qualified by him [Christopher], the judge said. The defendants will be sentenced at a later date. Jurors are continuing to deliberate on two further counts which Martin denies. Martin denies the assault by beating of security guard Eamonn McCormack on April 20 2023, and the criminal damage of his spectacles. Kamala Harris, Vice-President of the United States - MIKE STEWART/AP Kamala Harris has changed her Left-wing stance on several key policy issues after her previous liberal views were attacked by Donald Trump. The Vice-President, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for Novembers election, has abandoned her opposition to fracking and private healthcare, and is claiming a tough record on crime and the illegal migration on the southern US border. It comes after Republicans attacked her over statements during the 2020 presidential primary race, when she positioned herself to the Left of the Democratic Party. The Trump campaign launched its first attack advert against Ms Harris on Tuesday, describing her to voters in six battleground states as failed, weak and dangerously liberal. She is under fire over claims she is effectively in charge of border control under Joe Bidens administration, when illegal crossings from Mexico have reached an all-time high. Trumps advertisement, which launched in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin, focused on her previous statements about the border. The former president has claimed Ms Harris is Mr Bidens border czar, a title she was never officially given but has been used by the US media as shorthand for her focus on the issue since 2021. Former president and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump - STEPHEN MATUREN/GETTY The Trump ad highlighted a 2021 interview in which Ms Harris was asked why she had not visited the border. I havent been to Europe, she replied. I mean, I dont understand the point youre making. Since she replaced Mr Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee on 21 July, Ms Harris has sought to downplay her previous liberal views while serving as a senator from California. In 2017, Ms Harris co-sponsored Bernie Sanderss Medicare-for-all bill, which would have scrapped private health care in the US and replaced it with an NHS-style system. She has since toned down her views, instead suggesting that private medical debt cannot be used to formulate a credit score. During the 2020 campaign, she said there was no question she was in favour of banning fracking, which produces a substantial proportion of US natural gas and oil. Her campaign said on Friday she would not ban fracking if elected later this year. Ms Harris has positioned herself as a tough former prosecutor in the early days of her campaign, as she attempts to define herself against Trump, a convicted felon. In her first major speech, she said she took on perpetrators of all kinds in her role as Californias district attorney. She has since rowed back on her 2020 statement that cities should redirect resources away from policing in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. Trumps attack ad comes after Republicans pointed to Ms Harriss previous statements on the US migration crisis, in which she called for a more humanitarian approach. She said in 2021: This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. Were talking about children, were talking about families, we are talking about suffering. But on Saturday, her campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said that Mr Bidens plan for a tough new border crackdown will continue. Some Democrats fear that the border is a major weakness for Ms Harris, who is looking to win back support in Arizona ahead of polling day. Voters in the state, which borders Mexico, are more likely to have concerns about illegal migration. Responding to Trumps border attack ads, a spokesman for her campaign accused him of peddling his trademark lies about her policy positions. As a former district attorney, attorney general and now Vice-President, Kamala Harris has spent her career taking on and prosecuting violent criminals and making our communities safer, the spokesman told The New York Times. Shell do the same as President. Four people are now known to have died during protests in Venezuela triggered by Nicolas Maduros disputed election win. Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters challenging the victory, which was claimed by the president on Monday but disputed by the opposition and questioned by many other countries. The National Hospital Survey, a network that monitors crises in the countrys hospitals, reported two dead in the state of Aragua and one in the capital Caracas. Earlier, Foro Penal, an NGO that specialises in political prisoner issues, reported a one fatality in north-west Yaracuy. 44 people are thought to have been injured. In Caracas, the capital, members of the national guard fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, with some wearing motorbike helmets and bandannas tied over their faces for protection. Some responded by throwing rocks back. Protesters smash an advertising board during demonstrations against the election results - Matias Delacroix Police throw a gas canister at protesters - MATIAS DELACROIX/AP Protests were reported in very poor areas of Caracas that had been bastions of support for Mr Maduro and his socialist government. Shots were heard in some areas and protests also broke out elsewhere in Venezuela. Marina Sugey, a 42-year-old resident of a poor area of Caracas called Petare, told AFP: We want freedom. We want Maduro to go. Maduro, leave! In the capitals Petare neighbourhood, people started walking and shouting against Mr Maduro, and some masked young people tore down campaign posters of him hung on lampposts. Heavily armed security forces were standing just a few blocks away from the protest. Molotov cocktails hit the ground near a protester in front of security forces in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela - Samir Aponte/Reuters Protestors stand back as a riot police officer throws tear gas towards them - YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images Maria Arraez, a 27-year-old hairdresser and protester, said: He has to go. One way or another. As the crowd marched through a different neighbourhood, it was cheered on by retirees and office workers who banged on pots and recorded the protest in a show of support. Two statues of Hugo Chavez, the late socialist icon who led the country for more than a decade and handpicked Mr Maduro as his successor, were knocked down by protesters. Some ripped Maduro campaign posters from street posts and burned them. Demonstrators burned rubber and objects in fires - Anadolu Venezuelans questioned the electoral victory claimed by Mr Maduro - Pedro Rances Mattey/Anadolu via Getty Images Edmundo Gonzalez, who ran as the opposition candidate, announced on Monday that his campaign has the proof it needs to show he won the election. Mr Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado, the opposition leader, told reporters they have obtained more than 70 per cent of tally sheets from Sundays election, and they show Mr Gonzalez with more than double Mr Maduros votes. I speak to you with the calmness of the truth, Mr Gonzalez said as dozens of supporters cheered outside campaign headquarters in Caracas. We have in our hands the tally sheets that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory. Both called on protesters to remain calm and invited them to gather peacefully at 11am (4pm BST) on Tuesday to celebrate the results. Edison research, a company that provided election data for the Venezuelan election, published exit poll results that show Mr Gonzalez as the winner by 65 per cent. Several foreign governments, including the US and the EU, held off recognising the election results. Demonstrators held Venezuelan flags - Getty Images An injured police officer falls to the ground - YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images Mr Maduro dismissed international criticism and doubts about the result of Sundays voting, claiming Venezuela was the target of an attempted coup detat of a fascist and counter-revolutionary nature. Mr Maduro, 61, attended a meeting on Monday at which the National Electoral Council (CNE) certified his re-election to a third six-year term until 2031. The oppositions cry of foul play prompted Tarek William Saab, the attorney general, to link Mr Machado to an alleged cyber attack seeking to adulterate the results. The King's visit, which took place in September alongside Queen Camilla, also included about 40,000 on wine - Benoit Tessier President Emmanuel Macron blew a hole in his palaces budget when he held a lavish state dinner of lobster and crab for King Charles last year, an annual audit has found. The Elysee Palace spent close to 500,000 on the September visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla, which included about 40,000 on wine. It was one of several gestures of Gallic opulence that tipped the palace into the red by 8.3 million. In all, the Elysee Palace spent 125 million last year, the Cour des Comptes, Frances state auditor, recorded. While that includes spending on Mr Macrons diplomatic and presidential duties as well as administration, personnel, security and estate management, among the most expensive engagements were the events for the King and Narendra Modi, Indias president. King Charles and the French President drink after a toast - Pool Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant were among the 170-odd guests invited to Versailles Palace to mark the Kings visit, seen as a move by Mr Macron to smooth over France-British relations since Brexit. The luxurious banquet was held on the first night of King Charles three-day state visit to France and was hosted by Mr Macron and his wife, Brigitte. At a cost of close over 475,000 which included a catering bill of 165,000 - the feast was executed by a team of 45 chefs led by Yannick Alleno, Anne-Sophie Pic and French pastry chef Pierre Herme, who all have Michelin stars. The menu took three months of planning, with the French classic foie gras ditched upon royal request. After a starter of blue lobster and crab, inspired by Louis XIVs tastes, the guests tucked into Mr Allenos poulet de Bresse with a cep gratin. For drinks, there were double magnums of chateau Mouton-Rothschild 2004 grand cru classe Pauillac, whose label was designed by Charles himself, and Pol Roger champagne. Guests were seated around a 60m long table decorated with locally sourced roses and hydrangeas in shades of pink, purple and white, and served on plates made by the famous Porcelaine de Sevres. A royal source said afterwards that the King and Queen were really delighted by the whole thing. When Mr Modi visited in July, he was treated to a curation of the Louvres masterpieces by Mr Macron himself and an equally sumptuous dinner, which all came to 400,000. While Frances audit court conceded that the Palace was more parsimonious on events like cocktails for less than 100 people, it was mostly critical of the Palaces extravagance. It was critical of the huge waste of money caused by poor planning, listing 830,000 lost in cancelling 12 apparently non-refundable trips. Mr Macrons critics often blast him as the president of the rich, but the reaction to the palaces finances has so far been muted. Honestly, I had doubts until the last moment but it was the right choice. It was magnificent. All of Frances history has been written inside these walls. It was fairytale-like, said one diplomatic source afterwards. Demonstrators hold a banner reading Let's go with the truth and without violence as they gather to protest election results that awarded President Nicolas Maduro with a third term, in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday. Photograph: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have returned to Venezuelas streets to decry Nicolas Maduros alleged attempt to steal Sundays election, as the countrys authoritarian leader vowed to squash what he called a violent counter-revolution and more than 700 arrests were made. Maduros disputed claim to have won the vote has plunged the South American country into another chapter of unrest and uncertainty which has spooked regional governments. I cannot say that I am relaxed. Im not. I am worried. I am leaving here worried, Celso Amorim, the envoy of Brazils president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told the Guardian on Tuesday morning as he prepared to fly out of Caracas after meeting Maduro the previous day. On Monday, thousands of residents of poor communities once loyal to the Chavista revolution marched through Venezuelas capital, Caracas, in a striking demonstration of the widespread anger sparked by Maduros claim to have beaten his rival, the ex-diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Maduro has said he won the election with more than 5.1m votes to his rivals 4.4m. But the opposition insist they won a landslide, with 6.2m votes to Maduros 2.7m. On Tuesday, the demonstrators were back after Gonzalez and his key backer, the prominent opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, called on followers to continue their protests. Its obvious that we won We crushed them. 70% of the country is against the government, claimed one of those to answer their call, a 35-year-old administrator called Ana Maria Gonzalez. Gonzalez celebrated how so many residents of low income communities were turning out to challenge the alleged power grab. The barrios came down, she said, using the local word for Venezuelas poor hillside favelas. This hadnt happened for so long. Another protester, the human rights activist Leida Brito, 65, shed tears as she spoke of her fury at the alleged fraud. We want political change and we voted for it but Nicolas Maduro and the electoral council have robbed us they have stolen our dreams. They have stolen the dream of our children being able to come back to Venezuela, Brito said of the historic exodus that has seen about 8 million citizens flee abroad, including her children who live in Chile and the Dominican Republic. Thousands of anti-Maduro motorbike riders mostly from the barrios swept through the streets of Caracas honking their horns and waving flags. This is Petare representing! We are coming down [from the hills] and the government is going down! shouted one rider as the tsunami of vehicles pushed ahead. There is an anti-Maduro motorbike rally of EPIC proportions currently sweeping through Caracas. The riders say they hail from Petare, one of the citys largest barrios. I have never seen anything like it. pic.twitter.com/P2kJPjFeJm Tom Phillips (@tomphillipsin) July 30, 2024 As public anger grew and Caracas residents began stocking up on food for fear of even greater turmoil ahead, there was also mounting international condemnation. The Organization of American States released a scathing report from its election observation department, which accused Maduros regime and Venezuelas government-controlled electoral authority, the CNE, of employing a coordinated strategy to ignore, deceive and defraud voters. The evidence reveals an attempt by the regime to ignore the will of the majority expressed at the ballot boxes by millions of Venezuelan men and women, the report said, describing an array of illegalities, vices and bad practices during the electoral process, which culminated in the CNE handing Maduro a deeply suspect victory. Nicolas Maduros regime has once again betrayed the Venezuelan people by promising to respect popular will when, at the same time, it was doing everything possible to manipulate and ignore that will, the report said, arguing that the result deserve neither to be trusted, nor to be democratically recognised. Speaking to the Guardian on Monday night, Machado urged Maduro to accept that his 11-year rule during which Venezuela has suffered a catastrophic economic and humanitarian meltdown he blames on US sanctions was over. He should understand that he was defeated, Machado said, rejecting Maduros claim that his victory was irreversible. I would say his departure is irreversible, she said. Under growing pressure at home and abroad, Maduros administration has pushed back, describing the protests as a foreign-backed far-right conspiracy to overthrow his government and force the Chavista movement from power after 25 years. Related: Maduros exit inevitable, says Venezuela opposition leader, as election protests grow Jorge Rodriguez, a close Maduro ally who is president of the national assembly, summoned supporters from the impoverished barrios to march on the Miraflores presidential palace on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate our victory and rally behind the embattled president. They want to turn this country into Argentina - extreme right - and we cannot accept this, said Freddy Falfan, 63, one of the Chavistas who joined the pro-government march from the working class area of Catia. Nancy Ribero, a 46-year-old activist, accused the opposition of trying to sabotage and destabilize her country. There was no fraud - the election was correct and proper, she claimed as the marchers strode through heavy rain. Security forces, meanwhile, went on the offensive, with masked men filmed detaining Freddy Superlano, a key opposition figure who backed Gonzalezs presidential bid. The attorney general, Tarek William Saab, announced the arrest of 749 delinquents who he blamed for injuring 48 police officers and soldiers as they sought to promote a bloodbath. He said one soldier had been killed. In a video message, Gonzalez denounced the crackdown: Regrettably in the past few hours we have received reports of people who have been killed and dozens of people who have been injured and detained. The NGO Foro Penal said that 11 people have died in the clashes, five of them in the capital. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he was extremely concerned about the the situation, adding: I am alarmed by reports of disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials along with violence by armed individuals supporting the government. He said: Those responsible for human rights violations must be held to account. Opposition supporters have urged the armed forces to take their side. But on Tuesday defense minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez issued a statement reiterating the armed forcess most absolute loyalty and unconditional support for Maduro. He accused far-right extremists of committing acts of terror in a bid to overturn Maduros legitimate victory. Padrino Lopez said the military was committed to peace. But at the same time we will take forceful action to maintain internal order, he added ominously. As the crisis intensified, Venezuelas diplomatic isolation grew, although crucially the governments of Russia and China have recognized Maduros victory. Their support has been critical to Maduros ability to overcome previous challenges, such as the failed 2019 bid to topple him by the now exiled opposition leader Juan Guaido. On Monday Venezuelas foreign minister, Yvan Gil, said scores of diplomats from seven Latin American countries who have criticsed the election result would be expelled. Flights to the Dominican Republic and Panama were halted. Brazils leftwing government which has long-standing ties to the Chavista movement dating back to President Lulas first 2003-2011 presidency, when Maduros mentor Hugo Chavez was in power has refrained from directly challenging the result. But, tellingly, Brasilia has publicly urged Maduro to publish election data that it believed was essential to the transparency, credibility and legitimacy of the vote. Amorim said Maduro had assured him such data would be published in the next two days during their encounter at the presidential palace on Monday. I thought he seemed calm. I didnt think he seemed to be in a fearful or bellicose mood, Amorim said of his host. Amorim said he had also met Gonzalez during his time in Caracas, who he described as having a pleasant, peaceful temperament. But there are, as you know, other forces at play that are more bellicose, he added of the opposition. The veteran diplomat, who is Brazils former foreign and defense minister, said he hoped Colombia, Mexico and Brazil could help defuse the situation by encouraging dialogue. Improper external interference, would not help. Lula and the US president Joe Biden held a call to discuss the crisis on Tuesday afternoon. According to the White House, the two leaders agreed on the need for immediate release of full, transparent, and detailed voting data at the polling station level by the Venezuelan electoral authorities. They also agreed that the Venezuelan election outcome represents a critical moment for democracy in the hemisphere. Abortion rights demonstrators rally to mark the first anniversary of the US supreme court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade, in Washington DC on 24 June 2023. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Roughly 7% of women of reproductive age in the US have attempted to induce their own abortions outside the formal healthcare system, a new study has found, up from 5% before Roe v Wade fell in 2022. The study, published on Tuesday in the Jama medical journal, determined how many people reported ever self-managing their own abortion in 2021 and again in 2023 a timeline that allowed researchers to examine how Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization, the supreme court case that overturned Roe, has affected self-managed abortions. People of color and LGBTQ+ people were more likely to report having ever attempted to end their own pregnancies. We think because its getting more difficult to access facility-based abortion, that self-managed abortion will increase, said Lauren Ralph, the studys lead author and an epidemiologist at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, a research group at the University of California, San Francisco. Its a really important piece of the puzzle, as we try to understand the full impact of the Dobbs decision on peoples reproductive lives. Since Dobbs, 14 states have enacted near-total abortion bans. On Monday, Iowa became the fourth state to ban the procedure past about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. Related: Tracking abortion laws across the United States Of the women who reported in 2023 attempting to induce their own abortion, 11% said in 2023 they had used mifepristone, one of the abortion pills typically used in a two-pill protocol, and 13.7% said they used misoprostol, the other pill, on its own. Another study, published in March, estimated roughly 26,000 more people in the US used pills to induce their own at-home abortions than would have done so if Roe had not fallen. Medical experts widely agree that these pills can be used to safely self-manage an abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy, and the World Health Organization even offers a protocol on how to do it. Misoprostol can safely be used on its own but often comes with more side-effects than the two-pill regimen while using mifepristone alone can result in more complications and is not typically recommended when ending a pregnancy . Far more people tried to end their pregnancies in potentially unsafe ways. In 2023, about 25% of those who attempted to self-manage their abortions used herbs, 22% hit themselves in the stomach and 19% used alcohol or other drugs. Another 15% said that, after their attempted self-managed abortion, they experienced a complication such as bleeding or pain that led them to see a doctor or nurse. Asked why they tried to self-manage an abortion, people said they wanted privacy, that going to an abortion clinic was too expensive or they preferred trying on their own first. Nearly 13% said they were concerned about clinic protesters. Four in 10 people who have ever self-managed an abortion were younger than 20 when they did it, and 9% of people who had tried to self-manage an abortion were concerned about needing parental consent. Many abortion-tolerant states still have parental involvement laws on the books, which require minors to tell their parents about their plans to get an abortion or to get their consent for the procedure. If a minor cannot or will not do so, they have to go to court and convince a judge to let them get an abortion without parental knowledge or consent which can be a tall ask. Ralph was not surprised to find that so many people who try to end their own pregnancies are so young. Given things like parental-involvement requirements, given things like difficulty accessing transportation, given things like not having your own bank accounts or having a consistent source of income in the same way that a young adult might, I do think that young people might be more likely to turn to self-managed abortion than their older counterparts, Ralph said. Young peoples experiences of abortion, she added, had long been understudied. Because people who self-manage abortions can face criminal consequences, Ralph and her fellow researchers used statistical analyses to account for people who may not be accurately reporting their experiences with the phenomenon. Just one state Nevada bans self-managed abortion, but legal experts have long warned that if a prosecutor wants to punish someone for attempting one, they will find a statute pliable enough to do it. Earlier this year, an Ohio grand jury considered whether to indict a woman accused of abusing a corpse after she miscarried into a toilet. (It ultimately declined to charge her.) Ralph found that about a third of people in both 2021 and 2023 said that their self-managed abortion succeeded, while a fifth said that they later underwent an abortion at a clinic. Another quarter of people said that nothing happened and that they may never have been pregnant in the first place. Fourteen per cent continued their pregnancies. Caressa Clarno, 40, prays at Saltwater Revival Pirate Church service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mike Macke found church by accident when he stopped by a floating bar on Houston's Clear Lake one summer day in 2022. Id gone to the bar to grab lunch (at Barge 295) and heard Jordan singing, he said. The music segued into something that sounded like a sermon, and Macke soon realized he had stumbled upon an 11 a.m. Sunday service at the Saltwater Revival Pirate Church. The singing was led by Pastor Jordan Applebe, guitar draped over his shoulder. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Macke, 34, wearing a fishing shirt, board shorts and flip flops, wasnt sure at first whether he had crashed the wrong party. I was there for a reason, and I didnt know it, he said. Ive missed one service since that day. The church, which formed in 2022, met every Sunday morning at Barge 295 before Hurricane Beryls storm surge plunged the floating bar to the bottom of Clear Lake. Until the church can reopen in some capacity, Saltwater has been meeting for services across the street at Jackies Bar and Grill, and as long as they have a space, said Applebe, they will leave the door wide open. Saltwater Revival Pirate Church pastor Rick King greets people after offering live service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Saltwater Revival Pirate Church pastors Jordan Applebe and Rick King are photographed after offering live service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer We are a nonjudgmental, non-denominational Christian church focused on spreading the message and the love of Jesus Christ to anybody willing to hear it, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad DIVERS FIND COMFORT AT DELI: After surviving nearly 40 hours at sea, rescued divers seek comfort at Houstons leading Jewish deli There is no such thing as a dress code or hierarchy at Saltwater, even for its leadership family, co-pastors Applebe, 37 and Rick King, 68, and their wives, Jamie Applebe and Tammy Kaser. I Googled the lowest rank you can hold on any ship, and that was deckhand, said Applebe, who grew up in La Porte. Theres a portion in the gospels where Jesus says if you place yourself last you will be first in the kingdom. Were all just deckhands, were all here to serve. The churchs origin story begins with Applebe, his acoustic guitar, and his habit of seamlessly sprinkling orations on faith into his solo gigs at a traveling bar ministry where King was one of the pastors. Holly Perez, 46, listens to sermon at Saltwater Revival Pirate Church at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Saltwater Revival Pirate Church pastors Jordan Applebe and Rick King are photographed after offering live service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer David Sassi, 54, listens to sermon at Saltwater Revival Pirate Church service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Saltwater Revival Pirate Church pastor Rick King reads from the bible during live service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Deidra Haass, 53, and Holly Perez, 46, listen to sermon at Saltwater Revival Pirate Church at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Saltwater Revival Pirate Church pastor Rick King speaks during live service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Pastor Jordan Applebe sings during live service offered by Saltwater Revival Pirate Church at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Pastor Jordan Applebe sings during live service offered by Saltwater Revival Pirate Church at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Monica Methol, 53, listens to a song written by her late husband, Michael Madison, during Saltwater Revival Pirate Church service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A bible is photographed during Saltwater Revival Pirate Church service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Pastor Jordan Applebe sings during live service offered by Saltwater Revival Pirate Church at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Saltwater Revival Pirate Church offers live service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Pastor Rick King listens to Pastor Jordan Applebe sing during live service offered by Saltwater Revival Pirate Church at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Kayla Rymer, 41, listens to sermon at Saltwater Revival Pirate Church service at Jackies Bar and Grill on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in Kemah. Pirate Church welcomes those seeking an alternative worship experience outside more traditional churches. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer King and Applebe decided they wanted to start their own church, but one that would break free from the business and formality of traditional worship. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Applebe, who was a working musician, had been performing at Barge 295 playing covers, and co-owners Mike and Patrick Robinson welcomed the idea. The first service on the barge on Aug. 28, 2022, attracted around 15 people and half of them were family, said Tammy Kaser, who is the churchs treasurer and Jamie Applebes mother. The pirate reference in the churchs name is partly historical and partly symbolic, simultaneously linking the church to the regions pirate origins via Jean Lafitte while wearing its outsider spirit on its spiritual sleeve. On special occasions, Applebe, King and members of the church might don pirate garb, and exclamations of Arg! or Arrr! will often serve as an amen. Its the church's non-conformist spirit, said Applebe, that draws many members in. Advertisement Article continues below this ad (The pirate theme) is the figurative of anybody who has ever felt like an outcast or different or left out, or someone whos had a sketchy or questionable past, he said. King, an Austin native who was pastor of a biker church there coming to Saltwater, said he's heard from many people who don't want to go to church because they may have to get dressed up or may feel judged or pressured to donate money. We try to eliminate every single obstacle in their past so people can just come and enjoy Christ with us, he said. No one on the Saltwater staff takes a salary, and when a collection plate gets passed around at Saltwater, all the money goes back to the churchs community outreach, said Applebe. It wasnt uncommon for members to arrive to church service at the barge by boat, said King, who lived on his 32-foot boat for seven years. I can literally take my dinghy from the boat across the lake and dock it (at the barge), said Saltwater member, Mark Webb, 61, who lives on a boat on Clear Lake. Coming from a Baptist church going into a bar for church, initially took me some getting used to, but make no mistake, regardless of the fact that our church was in a barge that was a bar, the Bible is what is preached every Sunday morning. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Before Beryl sank the bar, the church was welcoming around 100 people to its services from a boat in the marina or listening on a livestream that reached followers from as far away as Estonia. BAY AREA INSIDER: Must-read local news from League City, Clear Lake and other Bay Area communities For Macke, a former merchant marine, Saltwater reaffirmed his Christian faith. I grew up Irish Catholic, where you stand and kneel, and rehearse a couple of words, but I never got anything out of it as a kid, he said. The church is a holistic space for many, including the military veteran community, Macke said. Its an eclectic group of people." Peter Tatchells portrait is in the History Makers gallery alongside other prominent public figures. Photograph: National Portrait Gallery A vibrant portrait of the LGBTQ+ and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been hung in the National Portrait Gallerys History Makers gallery as part of a drive to better reflect the diversity of the UK. The painting by Sarah Jane Moon shows Tatchell in a casual pose, seated with his hands clasping his left calf. The 72-year-old activist is sporting a rainbow tie to celebrate almost six decades of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Tatchell, who has experienced more than 300 violent assaults and has been arrested or detained by police more than 100 times, said he was delighted and honoured to have his portrait in the gallery alongside so many esteemed public figures. I love the bold, expressive, joyful style [of the painting], which reflects the spirit of my campaigns, he added. He consciously chose brightly coloured clothes for sittings in order to avoid the sombre, dark tones of many portraits. Although few men routinely wear ties these days, it is not unusual for Tatchell. He realised many years ago that people had preconceptions about campaigners in T-shirts. I put on a tie and people started treating me much more seriously, so Ive stuck with ties ever since. Moon said she liked her subjects to wear what they feel comfortable in. She hoped the end result reflected Tatchells energy and enthusiasm and warmth and generosity. The portrait is the first by Moon to be acquired by the NPG for its permanent collection. Portraiture is a genre that has often upheld the status quo and perpetuated certain class structures, particularly in this country. Theres still a lot of commissioned portraiture that falls into the realm of society portraiture, thats quite conservative. But I think it is changing, she said. The artist, who is also gay, was delighted when Tatchell agreed to sit for her. He has such a strong moral compass, she said. His activism over so many years was an inspiration. Tatchell moved from Melbourne to London in 1971 and became a leading member of the Gay Liberation Front. He has espoused many human rights and social justice issues, including apartheid, racial justice, electoral reform and the climate crisis. There has been hugely positive progress in my lifetime. When I was a teenager in the 1960s, homosexuality was still punishable up to life imprisonment. But one of the big failures is that we havent fundamentally changed class and wealth inequality in the UK, he said. Im still going strong, and I hope to go on for another 20 years. There are so many injustices to fight and overturn. Sarah Howgate, the NPGs senior curator of contemporary collections, said: Since reopening last year, the gallery has worked hard to ensure that our new displays better reflect the diversity of the UK. Continuing this important emphasis, Im delighted that this portrait of Peter Tatchell, one of the most influential campaigners living today, by Sarah Jane Moon is going on display alongside many more of the UKs important history makers. Prince Michael: one of his books was about his encounters with ghosts in castles and palaces around Europe - Dimitris Aspiotis/Shutterstock Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, who has died aged 85, was the last surviving grandson of King George I of Greece. He was the youngest grandchild, born in 1939 (the eldest had been born in 1890), and he was a first cousin of Prince Philip. In his early life he was an integral member of the Greek royal family; later he was a historian and novelist. A man of great charm and sympathy, he acquired an eclectic group of friends and admirers spread across the globe. His grandfather, George I of Greece, was the son of King Christian IX of Denmark. After Prince Michaels second cousin, Christian Castenskiold, died earlier this month, Michael became the last surviving great-grandchild of the Danish king. The Greek royal family had a long and complicated relationship with Greece, George I having been imported as king from Denmark at the age of 17. He used to remind his sons: Never forget that you are foreigners among the Greeks, and never let them remember it. The royal family were so frequently in exile that a later king said it was imperative to have a suitcase ready and packed at all times. Prince Michael was royally connected, as he explained in an article in Vanity Fair in 2013: My father was Greek, my mother French; my grandfather was Danish, my grandmother Russian, and my other grandmother half-Spanish. Each of them was a member of the royal family of his or her respective country. He was the only child of Prince Christopher of Greece, whose brothers included the first King Constantine, Prince Nicholas (father of Princess Marina) and Prince Andrew (father of Prince Philip). He first married the rich Mrs Nancy Leeds, but she died in 1923, and then in 1929 he married Princess Francoise dOrleans, sister of the Comte de Paris, pretender to the throne of France. Prince Michael was born on January 7 1939 in Rome, where his parents were living at the time. His father died a year later in Athens after developing a lung abscess, his funeral reported in acerbic tones by the American ambassador, Lincoln MacVeagh an unsympathetic account which greatly annoyed Prince Michael in later life. His mother took refuge with her child in Morocco. Later they settled in Malaga, before moving to Paris in 1948. After his mothers death from a short and mysterious illness in 1953, he was adopted by the Comte de Paris, finding himself a lonely orphan in a family of 11 children. He was schooled in Paris, studying law and economics at the Institute of Political Studies. When he came of age at 21 he decided to move to his native land, Greece, a country he did not know at all. He was a cousin of King Paul of Greece and at the time was closely in line to the Greek throne, welcomed as a brother to Crown Prince Constantine, Sofia (later Queen of Spain), and Princess Irene. King Paul involved him in all their family life, and in due course he did military service with the cavalry, undertaking military manoeuvres in Salonika. Among the royal celebrations he took part in was the spectacular Silver Wedding celebrations of Queen Juliana in the Netherlands in 1962, which even Queen Elizabeth II attended, Prince Michael noting that, like Queen Victoria, she avoided gatherings of the royal mob. With his wife Marina Karella, who acquired an international reputation as an artist and sculptor - ZUMA Press/Alamy He was particularly taken by Empress Farah Diba of Iran, incontestably the star of the occasion, as he put it. In Athens he took part in the marriage of Sofia to Juan Carlos of Spain, the visit of General de Gaulle in May 1963, and he held a crown over the head of Princess Anne Marie of Denmark when she married the young King Constantine (who had succeeded his father earlier in 1964). He had met Marina Karella, from a Greek textile family, many times, but in July 1963 he spent time alone with her on the island of Hydra and was taken by her personality, character, spirit and integrity. He knew she was the only woman he wished to marry. That September he extracted her from a dinner and told her he was going to get married. Congratulations, she said. With whom? With you! She laughed, but then her expression became serious. She thought for a moment, and accepted him. There was a problem, since he was royal and she was not. But equally he knew that the royal life was not for him. Marina represented what he called the key to my independence. At this time Marina, then 23, who would become a talented and provocative sculptress, was designing sets and costumes for Cocteaus LAigle a deux tetes and costumes for Maria Callas in Norma. When he told King Paul and Queen Frederika they were sympathetic but not pleased. After King Pauls death, however, King Constantine gave his blessing, and Prince Michael renounced his place in the succession. They had hoped for a small wedding, but it was celebrated in style in Athens on February 7 1965, in the presence of the King and Queen, Queen Frederika, and even of Princess Andrew of Greece in her nuns robes. They lived in Greece, and their two daughters were born there, Alexandra in 1968 and Olga in 1971. In December 1967 there was a coup in Athens, as a result of which King Constantine and his family left Greece. Michael and Marina were partly there and partly in Paris. They were invited to the Shah of Irans celebrations in Persepolis in 1971 along with royalty from around the world. Then, exiled from Greece after the plebiscite rejecting the monarchy in 1974, they settled in Paris, and in 1980 they moved to New York. There they became friends with Andy Warhol through the Iolas Gallery painter, CPLY. As Bob Colacello wrote, Marina and Michael of Greece moved from Paris to Park Avenue and gave Saturday-night parties, mixing the raffish and the royal. From 1979 Prince Michael was the author of more than 25 books, mainly histories, biographies and novels pertaining to royal figures most of them related to himself. He had watched his mother observe a family tradition by burning his fathers papers and memorabilia following the sale of his villa in Rome after the war, a travesty which did not dampen his enthusiasm for researching in the family archives. His subjects included Napoleon; Alexander the Great; Louis XIV; Charlotte, Empress of Mexico; and histories of the Greek royal family. He was the author of more than 25 books, mainly pertaining to royal figures His first book, Sultana (1983), was a novel based on the legend of Aimee du Buc de Rivery, a French heiress who went missing at sea as a young woman and, according to legend, was captured by North African pirates and dispatched as a gift to the Turkish sultan, ultimately rising to become Sultana Nakshidil. The White Night of St Petersburg (2000) was a historical novel inspired by a meeting at the 1998 interment of Tsar Nicholas II and his family, with Natalya Androssov Iskander Romanov, the granddaughter of Grand Duke Nicholas Konstantinovich, Prince Michaels great-uncle, who, after a scandalous life, was declared insane, banished to Tashkent and expunged from the official Romanov family records. Another historical novel, Le Rajah Bourbon (2007), concerned Jean Philippe de Bourbon, a cousin of the first Bourbon French king, Henry IV, who travelled to India, ultimately serving in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Prince Michael claimed to have traced his descent to Balthazar Napoleon de Bourbon, a jovial Indian lawyer and part-time farmer living in a suburb of the Indian city of Bhopal, who was said to be delighted when Prince Michael turned up on his doorstep with the news that he was the first in line to the lost French throne. In one of his later books, Eddy and Helene an Impossible Match (2013), Prince Michael drew on a cache of letters which he had discovered to tell the story of how Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence and grandson of Queen Victoria, wooed Princess Helene of Orleans, a relationship which, as the Princess was a Catholic, came close to causing a constitutional crisis. Other publications included a novelised biography of the heroic warrior-queen, the Rani of Jhansi, and a book about the Princes encounters with ghosts in castles and palaces around Europe (he claimed to have been born a sensitive). While Marina was involved in the artistic world of New York and Michael with his writing, he also retained his royal connections. He was deeply shocked by the revelations of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Andrew Morton book of 1992. He had sat next to Diana at a ball given by King Constantine, and while impressed by her beauty and demeanour he was unimpressed by her lack of concentration. He admired the way that Elizabeth II quietly re-established her position after the negativity of the 1990s, and how she positioned Prince Charles as her undoubted successor, easing his eventual attaining of the throne. He did not envy Charles, however, and in 2022 expressed his sympathy for him, saying: I would not like that job at all. Prince Michael is survived by his wife Princess Marina, and their two daughters Princesses Alexandra and Olga. Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, born January 7 1939, died July 28 2024 Rachel Reeves says 'there's an obsession with the 7 per cent of children who are in our private schools' - Jeremy Selwyn Rachel Reeves has criticised what she claimed is an obsession with private school pupils. The Chancellor insisted the 20 per cent levy on independent school fees is needed after confirming on Monday it will come into effect from the beginning of 2025. Labour claims the policy will raise up to 1.7 billion to spend on state education, including 6,500 new teachers, but analysis suggests it could actually come at a cost to the Exchequer. Around 550,000 pupils or 7 per cent are currently in the private education system, but it is feared the VAT raid could price out tens of thousands and overwhelm state schools. Challenged on the policy by LBCs Nick Ferrari, Ms Reeves said: This decision is absolutely necessary to be able to recruit the 6,500 teachers we need in our state system. And yesterday we announced that will come into effect from the beginning of January so we can get on with implementing our manifesto commitment. Pressed on whether she knew the exact number of children who attend private schools, Ms Reeves replied: I havent got the number to hand. Theres an obsession with the 7 per cent of children who are in our private schools. Im more interested in the 93 per cent of children who are in our state schools with buildings that are often falling down, with unqualified teachers She added: [The] money will be used for a national priority that people voted for three and a half years ago. Documents confirm some parents priced out Treasury documents published after Ms Reeves announced the Government will start charging VAT on private schools from Jan 1 confirmed some parents would be priced out. The Government recognises that these policy changes may lead to increased costs for some parents and carers, and that some pupils may subsequently move into the state education sector, the documents said. It is the first time Labour has accepted in writing that its VAT changes mean a private school education will no longer be affordable for some families. Senior Conservative MPs redoubled their criticism of the policy in the wake of Ms Reevess announcement. James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary who is running to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader, said: This is an ideological decision that will hit small independent schools. Dont let them spin it as a necessity. Its the politics of envy. Alicia Kearns, a shadow foreign minister and the MP for Rutland and Stamford, insisted her party will fight the measures introduced by Sir Keir Starmers administration. This risks the 2000-plus jobs in my communities that our 10 independent schools provide, Ms Kearns said. It hurts those who put so much on the line for their children to attend the school right for them. Letter sent to Reeves Bradley Thomas, a new Tory MP, has written a letter to Ms Reeves and Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, urging them to rethink their plans to impose VAT on fees. Signatories to the letter include Andrew Mitchell, the shadow foreign secretary, and Sir Gavin Williamson, a former education secretary, two of Mr Thomass fellow West Midlands MPs. Earlier this year, The Telegraph revealed private school fees at nearly every institution plan to increase fees under Labours policy. Average annual fees of 16,656 for a UK day school would rise to almost 20,000 if VAT was added in full. A separate analysis by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) found Labours policy would raise no money at all if between 10 and 15 per cent of pupils migrated to the state sector. If this rose to 25 per cent of pupils, as previously predicted by the Baines Cutler consultancy, the policy could cost the Exchequer as much as 1.6 billion. Critics have also noted the negative consequences when a similar policy was introduced in Greece in 2015. It led to the closure of smaller independent schools which were unable to cope with the added levy, while there were acute shortages of both teachers and places in the state sector. Responsibility for the winter fuel payment has been devolved to Holyrood and is due to be paid out by Scotland's social security agency for the first time from November SNP ministers have been urged not to strip winter fuel payments from Scottish pensioners once they take over the benefit later this year. Responsibility for the winter fuel payment has been devolved to Holyrood and is due to be paid out by Scotlands social security agency, under the rebranded title of the pension age winter heating payment, for the first time from November. The Scottish Government had previously promised to maintain universal eligibility for the payments, worth up to 300, and the SNP explicitly ruled out any form of means testing in its manifesto for the last Holyrood elections. However, the surprise decision by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, to means test the payment in England and Wales means the amount of cash set to be sent to Holyrood by the Treasury to administer the scheme will be drastically scaled back. It leaves the SNP Government facing a dilemma over whether to break its vow to pensioners by scaling back eligibility, which it had previously said it opposed, or finding the cash from elsewhere in its budgets. Campaigners said it was vital that universal eligibility was maintained north of the border given the harsher climate over winter months. Challenging and difficult decisions for SNP However, John Swinney has hinted that he could scrap the payment for hundreds of thousands of Scots, warning of some challenging and difficult decisions for his government. Meanwhile, Ivan McKee, the SNP finance minister, admitted on Tuesday that he could not offer a guarantee that all Scottish pensioners would get a payment this winter. Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: Our hope is that it will be restored as a universal benefit, particularly in light of the fact that Scotland does generally experience worse weather than other parts of the UK. More than half of those who receive it use it as an important part of winter budgeting. Keeping or reinstating the winter fuel payment will also ensure that money is going to those who need it most, when they need it most. SNP ministers had previously claimed that making the payment available to all pensioners was the best option as it ensured high take-up and meant those on very low incomes who did not receive other benefits would not miss out. The Chancellor said on Monday that from this winter, only those who receive pension credit or other means tested benefits in England and Wales would get the annual payment. Age Scotland said that there were around 123,000 people in Scotland eligible for pension credit who were not claiming it, meaning many who could not afford to miss out on the payment would do so if the changes were replicated. A Scottish Government consultation carried out ahead of the devolution of the benefit found that 80 per cent agreed with universal eligibility, with just 14 per cent disagreeing. However, the Poverty and Inequality Commission, which provides independent advice to Scottish ministers, had backed means testing, saying the universal approach meant the benefit was extraordinarily poorly targeted as regards to addressing poverty. Mr McKee, asked on Tuesday whether the benefit would have to be means tested in Scotland, replied who knows. Previously, SNP ministers had been expecting 180 million from the Treasury to fund the payment. However, Mr McKee said he now expected this to be cut to, at most, 80 million, leaving a 100 million-plus gap to fill if universal eligibility was to be maintained. Wed need to find [the money] from somewhere else if we want to continue to pay that winter fuel payment, which we absolutely want to do, he said. Ms Reeves has said the measure to end universal eligibility was necessary to help plug a 22 billion funding gap, for the current financial year, which she claimed was identified after Labour took office. The SNP has repeatedly accused Labour of breaking pre-election promises to voters by imposing austerity. However, Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, said it was completely and utterly wrong to suggest Labour politicians knew the public spending cuts would be needed prior to the election. Despite the fall in funding linked to the winter fuel payment, he predicted that the Scottish Government would receive an overall boost to its budget from the Treasury as a result of an increase in public sector pay south of the border. The FBI deputy director, Paul Abbate, testifies during a joint committee hearing in Washington DC on Tuesday. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images Though they have not pinpointed a motive behind Donald Trumps failed assassination attempt, investigators are examining a social media account with antisemitic and anti-immigrant posts that they suspect might be connected to the former US presidents would-be killer, according to the FBI deputy director, Paul Abbate. Abbate on Tuesday appeared alongside the acting US Secret Service director, Ronald Rowe Jr, before a US Senate panel and said: In about the 2019, 2020 timeframe, there were over 700 comments posted from this account. Some of these comments, if ultimately attributable to the shooter, appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes to espouse political violence and are described as extreme in nature. While Abbate made clear that the account in question is believed to be associated with 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, he did not specifying which social media platform it was on. While the investigative team is still working to verify this account to determine if it did in fact belong to the shooter, we believe it important to share and note it today, particularly given the general absence of other information to date from social media and other sources of information that reflect on the shooters potential motive and mindset, he continued. Trump, who has agreed to participate in a victim interview with the FBI regarding his assassination attempt, has routinely espoused antisemitic and anti-immigration rhetoric. The Anti-Defamation League chief, Jonathan Greenblatt, and the White House both condemned him in 2021 and this year for, respectively, suggesting that Jewish people control Congress and the media and claiming that pro-Democratic Jews hate Israel as well as hate their religion. Trump additionally has drawn criticism for his anti-immigration comments, including his accusation that migrants are poisoning the blood of our country. Meanwhile, Rowe testified on Tuesday that he had visited and laid in a prone position on the roof of the warehouse complex in Butler county, Pennsylvania, from where Crooks fired at Trump during a political rally. What I saw made me ashamed, Rowe Jr said. As a career law enforcement officer, and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured. To prevent similar lapses from occurring in the future, I directed our personnel to ensure every event-site security plan is thoroughly vetted by multiple experienced supervisors before it is implemented. He also said that he directed the expansion of drones at protective sites to help detect threats on roofs and other elevated areas. During his testimony, Rowe further revealed that the Secret Service had started providing protection to six additional high-profile figures, including Trumps November presidential election running mate, JD Vance, and his family, as well as the independent White House candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr. I have heard your calls for accountability, and I take them very seriously, said Rowe, who stepped into his role after Kimberley Cheatle resigned as Secret Service director 10 days after the assassination attempt. Given the magnitude of this failure, the Secret Services office of professional responsibility is reviewing the actions and decision making of Secret Service personnel in the lead-up to, and on the day of, the attack. If this investigation reveals that Secret Service employees violated agency protocols, those employees will be held accountable to our disciplinary process. Abbate and Rowes testimonies follow a recent New York Times report that found that a Pennsylvania officer had spotted Crooks 90 minutes before he opened fire 30 minutes earlier than officials had previously said. Meanwhile, in an interview with ABC on Sunday, the lead sharpshooter on a local police departments special tactical team assigned to protect the president said that he and his colleagues were supposed to get an in-person briefing with Secret Service agents before the rally. But sharpshooter Jason Woods said that never happened. The ensuing shooting not only injured one of Trumps ears it also killed one rally-goer while wounding two others. Jonathan Marcus and his mother, Patricia, outside the High Court after a hearing in the paternity suit - Champion News The son of a toy-making tycoon is suing his brother in an inheritance battle after he claimed DNA tests proved one of them was not their fathers child. Stuart Marcus started out selling wooden dolls house kits above a small east London toy shop and ended up with a string of companies valued at 14.5 million before he died. His sons, Edward, 46, and Jonathan, 42, worked for the company, with Jonathan heading up successful commercial operations in Germany. Before his death in 2019, aged 86, Stuart Marcus arranged for 43 per cent of the business that made up his fortune to be put into a family trust for the benefit of his children and remoter issue... and their spouses. Stuart Marcus had built a string of companies valued at 14.5m by the time he died in 2019 - Champion News But Jonathan is now suing his older brother at the High Court, claiming Edward is actually the product of an affair his mother had with a former lover while his father was away on business and is not entitled to a share of the trust. Jonathans claim is based on a confession by Patricia Marcus, the brothers 81-year-old mother, that she had an affair with Sydney Glossop, a lawyer with whom she had a relationship before her marriage. Edward told the court that finding out he wasnt Stuarts son came as an absolute bombshell when his mother told him during a confidential chat in 2010, but he said she later retracted the confession. Jonathan discovered the news last year, triggering his bid to have Edward removed as a beneficiary of Stuarts trust, which he claimed is backed by DNA evidence. But Edward is fighting the claim, denying the DNA proves he was not Stuarts natural child and arguing that he would be entitled to share in the trust in any case. Edward Marcus has denied that the DNA test proved he was not Stuart's biological son - Champion News His barrister, Matthew Mills, told the court: Fundamentally, this case is about the most important question in a persons life their identity. What this case seeks to do is to entirely turn my clients life on its head. Edward is also arguing that, even if accepted, the DNA tests do not establish which one of the brothers is related to Stuart as no DNA sample was taken from him. He claims Mrs Marcuss extramarital relationship may well have continued longer than a single night in 1977 and may have gone on for years, opening up the possibility that it was younger brother Jonathan who was born to Mr Glossop and not him. Mrs Marcus, however, denied that the relationship with Sydney continued beyond one night in 1977 and gave evidence confirming her belief that Edward is Mr Glossops son, adding that her former lover had also accepted Edward as his son. Stuart Marcus's toy company focused on selling 'Sequin Art' craft projects for children - Champion News Jonathans barrister, Mr Braithwaite, said results of DNA tests showed that Edward and Jonathan are half-siblings, with it being 25 times more likely that they are half-siblings than full siblings. It follows that one or other of Jonathan or Edward is unlikely to be Stuarts son, he said. Patricia and Jonathan are both named as directors of most of the family companies, the court heard, but Edward quit the family business after 2014, following a complete breakdown in relations with the rest of the family, Jonathans barrister claimed. The judge has now reserved his ruling in the case, to be given at a later date. People attend a vigil outside the Atkinson building in central Southport. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Hundreds of people have gathered in Southport to pay tribute to the victims of a dance class knife attack as three children who died, and a yoga teacher who was injured trying to save them, were named. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed in what police described as a ferocious attack during a Taylor Swift themed dance and yoga workshop on Monday. Leanne Lucas, a yoga teacher who organised the event and helped lead the class, is believed to have been injured while trying to usher the children to safety. She was called a hero whose bravery has touched the hearts of the nation in a flood of tributes on social media. Police said five children and two adults remained in a critical condition in hospital. A 17-year-old boy, from the village of Banks in Lancashire but born in Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police said the motive for the stabbings remains unclear as they continue to question the suspect and comb through evidence. The Southport community has been left reeling from the attack. On Tuesday evening there was a protest outside a mosque as demonstrators chanting far-right slogans clashed with police in St Lukes Road. Officers put on helmets and riot gear after stones and bottles were launched at them and police riot vans were attacked by a crowd of men, many of whom were wearing masks and hoodies. Earlier, hundreds attended a vigil in the Merseyside town, with several families with children among those paying their respects. Many people could be seen fighting back tears and passing around tissues. Southport is not used to global attention. To be known around the globe for a defining incident has shook us all to the core, the Southport hospital chaplain, Martin Abram, told the crowd. Clearly, the crowd tonight shows we want to stand together. He referenced Taylor Swift and said the friendship bracelets her fans swap at concerts remind us we should never feel alone. The mayor of Sefton, June Burns, told the vigil that the scale of the tragedy hit her when she laid flowers among the hundreds of others that have been left at the scene. It really gets you, you cant help but cry because of the outpouring of grief, she said. Earlier in the day, the prime minister was heckled by onlookers as he laid flowers at the scene. One person shouted: How many more children, prime minister? Are you going to do something? While another shouted at him to: Go away. Locals clung to each other and cried as they laid flowers at the scene throughout the day and emergency services were applauded as they laid their tributes. Accounts by witnesses of how the horror unfolded continued to emerge, with one man describing how he locked eyes with the knifeman after he ran into the building to help stop the attack. The window cleaner Joel Verite described how he had seen a woman on the street covered in blood who had told him: Hes killing kids over there, hes killing kids over there. He ran into the dance studio, where he came face to face with a hooded man. I look up and theres this guy with a knife, he told Sky News. I just wanted to hurt him so bad. But I was scared for myself and I wanted to help people. He said the 10 minutes he was there before police arrived felt like a lifetime. They tackle him down to the floor, and I grabbed this girl and started running towards the ambulance as soon as I get outside, he said. Im just thinking, I hope she survives. It was like a scene youd see on a disaster film, honestly. I cant even explain how horrific it was. Taylor Swift issued a statement saying she was completely in shock after hearing the news of how children were killed in the class, which also involved making friendship bracelets. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families, she said. A fundraiser organised by Taylor Swift fans surpassed 100,000 on Tuesday, with donations from across the globe. On Tuesday, Alice was confirmed as the third fatality from the attack. In a tribute, her parents said: Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our princess. Like we said before to you, youre always our princess and no one would change that. Jinnie Payne, the head teacher of Churchtown primary school where Alice was a pupil in year 4, said she was the happiest of souls and a true ray of sunshine. The parents of six-year-old Bebe said: No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as we try to deal with the loss of our little girl. Natasha Sandland, the head teacher of Marshside primary school where Bebe was a pupil, said the school was deeply saddened at the loss of one of our brightest and most wonderful shining stars. Jennifer Sephton, the head teacher at Farnborough Road infant school, described Elsie as a kind and caring friend to all who met her. Elsie has been a loving and bright member of our wonderful community since first being brought here on her fathers shoulders, and even at her early age she was such a caring and charismatic young lady who loved to please, she said. There were concerns tensions were being inflamed by misinformation about the attack on social media and the far right speculating about the suspects nationality. Police said a name that had been widely shared on social media in connection with the suspect was incorrect, as they urged people not to speculate while the investigation was being conducted. Making a Commons statement after she had visited Southport, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, warned against people trying to stir up division or advance their own views by spreading misinformation about the attack. Those who do this for their own purposes risk undermining a crucial criminal investigation, and I ask everyone to show some respect for the community in Southport and for families who are grieving and in trauma, Cooper said. Sounding emotional as she spoke, Cooper said it was difficult to comprehend, or to put into words the horror of what happened in Southport. These were young children, dancing to Taylor Swift and celebrating the start of the school holidays, she said. What should have been a joyful start to the summer turned into an unspeakable tragedy. Still Life With Orange and Lemon, 1956, by Tony Shiels Photograph: none Unusually for a painter, Tony Shielss best known work may (or may not) have been a piece of sculpture. In May 1977, Shiels, who has died at 86, was standing below Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness in the Scottish highlands when a creature appeared in the water. It was, Shiels said, glossy and muscular. He managed to take two colour photographs of it, the clearest pictures of the Loch Ness monster then available. The world of Nessology erupted. But excitement gave way to annoyance when Shiels hinted that the shot had been staged, using a Plasticine model he had made. The subject of his photos was now dubbed the Loch Ness muppet. That Shiels later recanted his recantation cut no ice. Monster-spotters had a sense of having been toyed with. Shiels was unrepentant. He was an artist, and the role of the artist was to bring pleasure. This he had undoubtedly done. A Plasticine monster was no more fake than a painting: hoaxing was in the eye of the beholder. Seen in this way, Shielss work was a piece of performance art. His early training, though, was as a painter. Born in Salford, to Thomas, a bookmaker, and Jean, a schoolteacher, he was brought up in the Lancashire coastal town of Lytham St Annes, where his parents ran a hotel they later moved to Cornwall and ran a restaurant in Porthtowan. In 1951, his parents took him to visit the Festival of Britain in London, where he saw his first Picassos. In 1954, he was allowed to go to the Heatherley School of Fine Art in London and, while there, to the Academie Andre Lhote in Paris. In 1958, after avoiding national service by briefly studying at the Blackpool School of Art, Shiels moved to Carbis Bay near St Ives. In the same year, he married Christine Price. St Ives was then the hub of English avant-garde painting, although that, for Shiels, was not its attraction. Ive never been much of a one for art colonies really, he said, in an interview with the online journal artcornwall. I cant stand that shite, honestly. Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth regarded themselves as the towns bosses. Shiels instead befriended his neighbour, the painter Peter Lanyon, a fellow member of the Penwith Society of Arts. Peter thought they should allow anything into the Penwith as long as it seemed real, Shiels recalled. This included his own paintings, executed in a style that he dubbed surrealchemy. After a drunken incident involving guns lent to him by Terry Frost, in the 1960s Shiels and his family left St Ives for Ponsanooth near Falmouth. By then, he had already begun to paint the works he called Sea Heads, a series that would occupy him for the next 60 years. Often depicting what looked like fish, these combined strong, gestural brushwork with a vivid palette. They have Cubist roots in circles and straight lines, Shiels said of the works. Once I had done a few of them, I decided to do a few more, and for the rest of my life. In the tradition of the local artist Alfred Wallis, the Sea Heads were painted on anything that came to hand. In Piratical Sea Head (2016), the legend Guinness: Made of More shows through the surface. An exhibition of his work called Beer Mat Matters, in Penzance in 2020, featured small-scale works painted on pub coasters. The Sea Heads also called to mind Shiels parallel life as a stage magician. As a child, he had been taken by his father to the Blackpool Palace theatre, to see the magicians Dante and Gali Gali. Between 1970 and 1974, he performed at Cornish festivals as Tony Doc Shiels, Wizard of the West. In the year before his escapades at Loch Ness, he attempted to raise Morgawr, the Cornish sea monster, with the help of a coven of witches. Whether you believed in Shiels magic was neither here nor there. He remained, at heart, a Surrealist, his showmanship akin to that of Salvador Dali, his necromantic beard a variant of Dalis waxed moustache. This was not understood by his Cornish neighbour, the painter and occultist Ithell Colquhoun. I told her that I was a charlatan and she denied it, Shiels cheerily recalled. Oh no, she said. You have real powers, and all that nonsense. I said no more than anyone else, my dear. All this overshadowed his importance as a painter. Shiels had arrived in Cornwall a fully fledged French abstractionist. By 1963, he had reintroduced the figure to his work in canvases such as Four Frightened Bathers. Artists including Roger Hilton took note, and followed suit. Shiels influence was acknowledged in an exhibition called Creative Tensions, held in Penzance in 2019 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Penwith Society. In the 1990s, he moved to the west of Ireland. Christine died in 2022. He is survived by their sons, Gareth and Ewan, and daughters, Kate, Meg and Lucy. Anthony Nicol Shiels, artist and magician, born 25 May 1938; died 11 July 2024 John Podesta was promoted to become the White Houses presidential climate envoy in March this year. Photograph: Callaghan OHare/Reuters Trade frictions and increasing tension between the US and China wont affect climate negotiations between the two superpowers if he can help it, the US climate chief has pledged. John Podesta, a senior adviser to Joe Biden on international climate policy, said the relationship between the worlds two biggest emitters and largest economies was critical to climate action, despite what appears to be a deepening gulf over trade policy. Related: US pledges to be a climate finance leader but defends gas expansion I think both sides recognise that theres greater tension in the relationship and friction, but that we have an obligation to both the citizens of our respective countries and to the people of the world to keep discussing and see where we can find a way forward, he said. Examples of the pair working together include the joint hosting of a crisis meeting on methane emissions, planned for the next UN climate summit, Cop29, in Azerbaijan this November. Podesta will also visit China later this year, having hosted his Chinese counterpart, the envoy Liu Zhenmin, in Washington DC earlier this year. The US has angered China by slapping punitive tariffs on imports of green goods, including electric vehicles and solar components. Podesta defended the moves, and said they would not deter the US from cooperating with China on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Even as were calling out what we believe are unfair trade practices on their side, and trying to deal with those trade frictions, we continue to try to find a path forward, in both the multilateral and the bilateral process, he said. One of the most fraught issues that will be addressed at Cop29 is the need for a new global settlement on financial aid to developing countries, to help them cut greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the impacts of the climate crisis. The key task for the Azerbaijani hosts is to guide the world to a new collective quantified goal on climate finance. The US wanted a layered approach to this framework, Podesta said. Some developing countries want a simple number a trillion dollars a year is the amount demanded by India for the global goal that developed countries must ensure is provided, mainly from taxpayer funded public finance and development banks. But Podesta is resisting this demand, in favour of an approach that allows for several potential numbers within a framework that weighs the needs expressed by developing countries alongside the responsibilities of wealthy and high-emitting countries. I think it is highly likely that theres going to be what Im describing as maybe two numbers, or more than one number, a number that reflects what is the challenge and need, and embedded in that a number that reflects what the contributing community can do to stimulate that, he said. In practice, this could mean setting an estimate such as $1tn (779bn) a year as the overall need for finance for developing countries the $1tn figure comes from widely accepted research by the economists Lord Stern and Vera Songwe and a separate goal for how much of that finance should come from developed countries and development banks such as the World Bank. The rest would be presumed to come from private sector sources. That envisions using some of that [publicly provided] money to unlock other flows of capital into the space, including domestic resources [in the recipient countries], private sector flows, etcetera, he said. So I think what we need, given the literal needs that are in the trillions of dollars, is to be able to leverage public resources towards that end and create stronger mechanisms, for example to create private sector support for the deployment of renewable energy. He added: The goal needs to be realistic, and the mechanisms for achieving those goals need to be realistic. Podesta was also insistent on the need for more countries to contribute to the public sector finance requirements. [The current system] doesnt account for the capacity [of large developing countries to be donors] or the obligation to take account of both their emissions and their capacity to be part of the solution, he said. And Ive discussed that with my Chinese counterpart. Within the current negotiations, the world is divided into developed countries that must contribute to finance and developing countries that do not. But these demarcations were drawn up in 1992 when the UN framework convention on climate change, parent treaty to the 2015 Paris agreement, was signed, and the classification takes in China and other middle income countries such as South Korea, as well as petrostates such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This is increasingly untenable, Podesta argued, even though China has made much of its offers of finance to the developing world, which it has made on a voluntary basis. Were perfectly willing to take note of that [south-to-south finance] but that needs to be embedded in an overall framework in which voluntary becomes part of the commitment to the world. He noted that many of the poorest countries were in debt to China and making crippling debt service payments as a result. [China is] by far the largest emitter and its all well and good that they want to make voluntary contributions but also right now were seeing that theres outflows of capital from the poorest countries back to China, he pointed out. Barbados, France and Kenya are leading an effort to find innovative ways of financing the transition away from fossil fuels, which was agreed at last years Cop28 summit in Dubai. These could include a wealth tax on billionaires, favoured by Brazil, levies on petrostates and taxes on shipping and frequent flyers. Podesta refused to rule any of these in or out, but said it was vital to find ways for the private sector to fund the expansion of renewables in the developing world, particularly Africa. What we do recognise is the need for finance in least developed countries, he said. Were not seeing those flows occur. That is a failure of the international system to not being able to solve the energy poverty needs of an entire continent, he said. Reform of the World Bank would help, he added. Our push towards MDB [multilateral development bank] evolution and what were seeing now from new leadership at the World Bank gives me hope that we can create innovative mechanisms to be able to ensure that were seeing more private sector investment in this space, which can be self-sustaining. The exterior of Twickenham Green Montessori - Google A woman has been charged with 25 counts of child abuse at a nursery in south-west London. Roksana Lecka, of Avro Place, Hounslow, was charged with a string of crimes after detectives investigated concerns about the welfare of children at Twickenham Green Montessori, where fees are almost 2,000 a month. The 21-year-old was charged on Wednesday with 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 July 25. The Metropolitan Police said her arrest followed an investigation by it south-west child abuse team, which was launched on Jul 2 after concerns were reported to the police. Det Sgt Ian Cameron, of the forces south-west 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... Up to 1,900 a month The nursery cares for children aged under four and parents pay up to 1,900 a month for childcare. It is one of five nurseries in south-west London under the umbrella of Riverside Nursery Schools but it is believed that Ms Lecka worked only at the Twickenham nursery. The Telegraph understands the Twickenham nursery has suspended registration and is working with the police and local authorities. In a message to parents, Rik McShane, director of Little Dukes, which launched Riverside Nursery Schools, said the nursery would continue to do all we can to assist the police investigation. Thank you, as ever, for working with us through this difficult time, he told parents. Ms Lecka is due to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Aug 21. Nursery closed A spokesman for Twickenham Green Montessori told The Independent: 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. The nursery has been contacted for comment by The Telegraph. Host parents hug their students during Creating Friendships For Peace's farewell dinner, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in The Woodlands. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Students and families grab food during Creating Friendships For Peace's farewell dinner, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in The Woodlands. Each dish was made by the students local to their region. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer A student reads over her notes to tell to her host family during Creating Friendships For Peace's farewell dinner, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in The Woodlands. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Students grab food made by each family during Creating Friendships For Peace's farewell dinner, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in The Woodlands. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Students speak about their experiences during their month in the United States during Creating Friendships For Peace's farewell dinner, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in The Woodlands. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Students and families grab food during Creating Friendships For Peace's farewell dinner, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in The Woodlands. Each dish was made by the students local to their region. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Though its area is one-third of the size of Greater Houston, many residents in Cyprus have never traveled to their countrys opposite coast. Since 1974, the island has been divided by a patrolled U.N. buffer zone between its Greek Cypriot side to the south and Turkish Cypriot side to the north. But as teenagers from both sides of the conflict shared stories and laughs over their own family recipes in The Woodlands on Saturday, they found more similarities than differences. Bridging the gap Nonprofit Creating Friendships for Peace began bridging the gap between teenagers from warring nations in 1987 amid The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The nonprofit has since concluded that program and now brings high schoolers together from Cyprus, Israel and Palestine through one-month trips to the United States. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The nonprofit has been operating in The Woodlands since 2022, although Houston-area coordinator Amanda Van Dusen said this felt like the programs breakthrough year. This summer, host families hosted one teenager from each side of the conflict for one month as they bonded through icebreakers, dinners and sightseeing in Houston. Its all about creating opportunities for who is on opposite sides of their divided country to get to really build a relationship with someone from the other side that they wouldnt otherwise have, Van Dusen said. Although many of the teenagers had some connection to the other side of the island, lingering stereotypes remain in his southern hometown of Limassol, Greek Cypriot Nikitas Aristodemou said. Greek Cypriot Natalie Hickman said she had never met a Turkish Cypriot before joining the program. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shared community and history I didnt even know there were teenagers. Its just an assumption I had made, Hickman said. Honestly, CFP has opened my eyes, seeing that there is a whole community that we share history with on the other side of the divide. For members who already had connections from across the divide, the trip also presented an opportunity to learn about Texas and the United States. Although they enjoyed attending the South County Fourth of July parade, rock climbing and visiting the University of Houston, Hickman and her roommate, Asli Toros, said they most enjoyed bonding with both each other and Van Dusens two daughters during their stay. I was pleasantly shocked how nice people were and welcoming in hosting, Toros said. Being with the family was always entertaining enough for us I think bonding with (Van Dusens daughters) was probably one of my most special moments here. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Making connections Reunification of the island remains as unlikely as ever after talks ceased in 2017, and a two-state solution remains out of reach. But connections can still be made on the ground, Aristodemou said. Many members were recruited by friends and family members themselves. They plan to continue that cycle by recruiting more friends into the program. Its like youre making a bridge and most Greek and Turkish Cypriots, they dont really have a lot of connections with each other, Aristodemou said. So Im planning on making my friends become friends with more mutual Turkish Cypriots and that could be like a domino effect. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The true impact of the program continues back in Cyprus through its alumni program, Van Dusen said. At one event, Van Dusen said a man had his first experiences with people from the other side of the divide. Violent protests broke out in Southport on Tuesday night as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police following the deadly knife attack on children attending a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club. A mob gathered outside a mosque, hurling bricks, masonry and fireworks at officers, amid claims that police were not telling the truth about the suspects background and his motives, with rumours swirling on social media. Smoke was seen billowing from the area after a police van was set on fire. A total of 53 officers were injured, of which 49 were Merseyside Police and four were Lancashire Police. Eight sustained serious injuries including fractures, lacerations, a suspected broken nose and concussion and were treated in hospital. Other officers suffered varying degrees of injury including head injuries, serious facial injuries and one was knocked unconscious. Four men were arrested and taken into custody, three on suspicion of violent disorder and one on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article. Three police dogs were also wounded, with one suffering burns to her back leg. The Prime Minister on Tuesday night said: The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them. They deserve our support and our respect. Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves. They will feel the full force of the law. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also condemned the violence and said those responsible will face the full force of the law. The violence came after a vigil to remember the three girls who were killed in the attack, identified yesterday as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, took place nearby. Just hours earlier, Ms Cooper warned that divisions were being stirred up in the wake of the attack. There has been mounting speculation online about the identity of the attacker and the motive behind his rampage. A police van set alight as trouble flares in Southport - Richard McCarthy/PA A police vehicle was set on fire - Getty Images Merseyside Police described Tuesday nights scenes as sickening and said people were using the speculation about the attack to bring violence and disorder to our streets. Section 60 and Section 34 Orders were put in place at 7.54pm on Tuesday, giving officers enhanced stop and search powers throughout the Southport area for 24 hours, in a bid to control the chaos. Police said officers who had already completed a shift on Tuesday returned to duty to help colleagues deal with the protests. I am so proud to have witnessed off-duty officers (many of whom had not long finished a full shift) parade back on duty to support their colleagues who had displayed such courage whilst under constant and sustained attack, Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss said. Sadly, offenders have destroyed garden walls so they could use the bricks to attack our officers and have set cars belonging to the public on fire, and damaged cars parked in the Mosque car park. Riot police tried to bring protesters under control - Getty Images This is no way to treat a community, least of all a community that is still reeling from the events of Monday. Police have appealed for anyone with information or video footage of those involved in the violence to come forward. Rumours rife Russian state media were among those falsely identifying the suspect as an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat last year and sharing claims that he was on an MI6 watch list and was known to local mental health services. Unsubstantiated claims that the attacker shouted Allahu Akbar have also circulated on social media. In a statement to the Commons, Ms Cooper said those peddling misinformation about the tragedy risked undermining the ongoing criminal investigation and were being disrespectful to the grieving families. However, her statement did not rule out that the investigation could become a terror inquiry. Downing Street also appealed for calm after Sir Keir Starmer was heckled during a visit to Southport, with some protesters accusing the police of covering up aspects of the case. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said the heckling of the Prime Minister demonstrated how unhappy the public were with the state of law and order in the country. He said important questions about the case remained, including whether there was any truth in suggestions that the suspect was on a security services watch list and whether it was terror-related. In a video statement, Mr Farage said: I just wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us. I dont know the answer, but I think it is a fair and legitimate question. What I do know is that something is going horribly wrong in our once beautiful country. Merseyside Police officers are continuing to question a 17-year-old on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the attack. It is understood that although police are not treating the attack as terror-related, it has not been ruled out. Counter-terror police are continuing to support the investigation. Ms Coopers statement raised the prospect that the investigation could become a terror inquiry. She said the authorities would examine what contact the suspect had with different agencies, which could include the security services and police, as well as mental health services. The Home Secretary also made reference to Martyns Law, legislation about the safety of public venues that was proposed following the Manchester Arena terror attack in 2017, saying the Southport case would no doubt feature in the debates over the measure. A source said: Terror has not been entirely ruled out at this point. We recognise that it can go in any direction. All agencies are still involved, including counter-terror police. They are not leading the investigation, and it is not being treated as a terror incident, but they are still on hand. We dont want to categorically rule anything out. Russia Today cited claims by a website called Channel 3 Now that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat last year and was on an MI6 watch list. The Russian state-controlled television channel later updated its story to reflect that the claim had been retracted. Channel 3 Now claims to be a US-based website, although its Facebook page showed that it is partly managed from Pakistan, while its YouTube channel contains dozens of Russian-language videos. With an incorrect name of the alleged attacker being shared widely online, Merseyside Police was forced to issue a statement. A spokesman for the force said: This name is incorrect, and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing. Speaking about the violent protests on Tuesday night, Mr Goss, the Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable, said: There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody, and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets. We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK, and speculation helps nobody at this time. Our officers should not have to face this, but we will be there tonight to ensure the safety of the local community who have suffered enough, and will arrest those involved in criminal behaviour. The teenager being questioned by police cannot be named because of his age, but was born in Cardiff in 2007. It is understood his parents came to the UK from Rwanda in 2002. Ms Cooper urged people to avoid speculating on the case and allow the police to get on with their job. She told MPs: False information has already been extensively shared in the last 24 hours. Those who do this for their own purposes risk undermining a crucial criminal investigation, and I ask everyone to show some respect for the community in Southport and for families who are grieving and in trauma. In these dark and difficult moments, the police must be able to get on with their work and communities must be given the time and space to grieve and heal without outside voices seeking to use events to stir up division or advance their own views. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: People should listen to the police they should not do anything that is going to make the polices job harder to manage the situation, to conduct their investigations. It is unhelpful to speculate on things like the motive and the circumstances around this. Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of Liverpool City Region, said: I dont understand that people want to weaponise the deaths of three children before the investigations have concluded. James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, called for people not to get involved in the grief of others by sharing misinformation relating to the attack on social media. Mr Goss added: It is sickening to see this happening within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives. In the last 24 hours, we have seen overwhelming support and sympathy from the community and wider Merseyside communities for the families who are currently trying to deal with their loss and care for victims injured during the major incident. Yesterday, our officers and other members of the emergency services were faced with one of the most difficult situations they will ever face. Tonight, they find themselves being attacked as they endeavour to prevent disorder. The actions in Southport tonight will involve many people who do not live in the Merseyside area or care about the people of Merseyside. Doctor views brain scan Weight loss jabs slow the progression of Alzheimers, a major trial suggests, raising hopes that the disease could eventually be prevented. The study by Imperial College London, which tracked more than 200 patients with mild disease, found that the jabs halved brain shrinkage in areas that control memory. Half were given injections of liraglutide, one of the first in a new class of weight loss jabs, with the rest given a placebo. The injections appeared to reduce shrinking in parts of the brain that control memory, learning, language and decision making by almost 50 per cent. Tests suggested that cognitive decline was reduced by as much as 18 per cent, after one year of treatment, suggesting that the injections slowed the progression of disease. Era of unprecedented promise Researchers said the findings, presented at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in Philadelphia, suggest that the treatment protects the brain, much like statins protect the heart. Experts said the findings heralded an era of unprecedented promise in both treatment and prevention of dementia, with one million cases in the UK. Scientists said the jabs may reduce inflammation in the brain, lowering insulin resistance and the toxic effects of Alzheimers biomarkers amyloid-beta and tau, and improving communication between the brains nerve cells. This has the potential to prevent the development of Alzheimers disease, or to slow its progression. The research on liraglutide which is marketed as Saxenda for weight loss follows a slew of studies showing that weight loss jabs can have remarkable benefits in tackling other health conditions. Earlier this year a study found that semaglutide marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss could cut deaths from heart attacks by a fifth. Significant changes in cognitive measures The study, led by Prof Paul Edison, professor of science from Imperial College London, included 204 patients with mild Alzheimers disease seen at 24 clinics throughout the United Kingdom. Each received a daily injection for one year, with half getting the placebo. Before the study began, all patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate brain structure and volumes, glucose metabolism PET scans and detailed memory testing. These were repeated at the end of the study with regular safety visits. Researchers found statistically significant changes in cognitive measures and in brain volume. Dr Edison said: The slower loss of brain volume suggests liraglutide protects the brain, much like statins protect the heart. While further research is needed, liraglutide may work through various mechanisms, such as reducing inflammation in the brain, lowering insulin resistance and the toxic effects of Alzheimers biomarkers amyloid-beta and tau, and improving how the brains nerve cells communicate. He said those receiving liraglutide had nearly 50 per cent less volume loss in several areas of the brain, including frontal, temporal, parietal and total gray matter, as measured by MRI. These areas are responsible for a variety of critical functions that often are affected by Alzheimers disease, including memory, language and decision-making. Cognitive testing Researchers also conducted cognitive testing in the patients before treatment and at 24 and 52 weeks. Although the study was not powered to assess cognitive changes, researchers found that patients who received liraglutide had an 18 per cent slower decline in cognitive function in a year compared to those who got the placebo. Cognitive function was calculated as a composite score of 18 different tests of memory, comprehension, language and spatial orientation. Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimers Research UK, said: Around one million people in the UK are living with dementia, and it remains the only health condition in the top 10 leading causes of death in the UK for which there are no treatments to slow, stop or prevent it. People with dementia desperately need treatments targeting the different aspects of the condition if we are to continue progress towards a cure. But developing drugs for diseases like Alzheimers is costly, and can take many years. Being able to repurpose drugs already licensed for other health conditions could help accelerate progress and open up new avenues to prevent or treat dementia-causing diseases, such as Alzhiemers. This new research shows that people with early-stage Alzheimers taking liraglutide had a slower decline in memory and thinking, and less brain shrinkage, over 12 months, compared to placebo. However the study was carried out in a small group of people. Larger trials are now happening to see whether drugs like liraglutide are effective at slowing down the progression of Alzheimers disease. What remains unknown is the how, and more research into the mechanism behind liraglutide and its protective effect against dementia is needed. Research provides hope Liraglutide is one of a class of weight loss injections called GLP-1 agonists, which were devised to treat diabetes, which have been found to have dramatic effects in reducing weight. The best known is Ozempic, marketed as Wegovy for weight loss, although a newer jab tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro for weight loss, has shown more powerful effects. In recent months studies have found the class of drugs could have a major impact on other diseases, including cancer, heart disease and kidney conditions. Animal studies had also suggested they may protect the brain, but this is the first major phase II trial in humans. Maria C Carrillo, the chief science officer at the Alzheimers Association, said: We are in an era of unprecedented promise, with new treatments in various stages of development that slow or may possibly prevent cognitive decline due to Alzheimers disease. This research provides hope that more options for changing the course of the disease are on the horizon. Repurposing drugs already approved for other conditions has the advantage of providing data and experience from previous research and practical use so we already know a lot about real-world effectiveness in other diseases and side effects, she said. Alzheimers Society funded expansion of trial Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimers Society, said: Drugs licensed for other conditions now make up 32 per cent of the drugs in trials for Alzheimers disease around the world. This could save years and billions of pounds as repurposed drugs have already been shown to be safe and approved for use, so we only have to show the effect they have on Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers Society proudly funded the expansion of this trial from just 22 people to over 200 people with early-stage Alzheimers disease. Were encouraged by the positive indications from this study that liraglutide may impact memory and thinking skills and potentially protect against brain shrinkage. Larger clinical trials are currently testing other compounds from this family of drugs and we look forward to seeing the results. More people receiving an early and accurate diagnosis is going to be vital in the future for identifying people who are most likely to benefit from new Alzheimers treatments, which are now finally within reach. Drugs could be repurposed Experts hope that weight-loss drugs may now be repurposed to provide a new treatment option for preventing and treating dementia. If bigger trials confirm that liraglutide and the new class of other GLP drugs can slow the progress of dementia, or even prevent it, they could be the first new drugs approved for Alzheimers for 30 years. Two new drugs donanemab and lecanemab have recently been proven to slow the progress of Alzheimers in its early stages, but they have not yet been approved for use in the UK because there are concerns about side-effects. Last week the European Medicines Agency rejected lecanemab on these grounds. Saxenda is already available on the health service as a weight loss treatment, as well as a treatment for type two diabetes. But is only generally prescribed after a GP refers a patient to a specialist weight loss management service. It works in a similar way to semaglutide the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy by altering the bodys metabolism, making people feel fuller and less hungry. Until early last year, around 30,000 prescriptions for Saxenda were being issued in England monthly, in most cases for treatment of type two diabetes. But the drug is among those suffering global shortages, and some patients who were being prescribed it for weight loss have been moved onto other jabs which have to be administered less frequently, and have been found to be more effective. The drug was one of the first GLP agonists to be widely prescribed, with the daily jabs causing on average 6.4 per cent body weight loss over 68 weeks. Last year Wegovy which involves weekly injections was made available in the UK for weight loss, after trials found an average of 15 per cent weight loss over 68 weeks. Since then Mounjaro was licensed for weight loss, with trials showing an average of 22.5 per cent loss over 72 weeks. Rex reported a loss of $3.2m for the first half of the 2023-24 financial year. The ASX suspended trading in the airlines shares on Monday. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images There is uncertainty about the future of Rex Australias third-largest airline after it entered voluntary administration and grounded all of its flights between capital cities. The Albanese government held crisis talks with Rex on Tuesday and appeared willing to step in to save parts of the airlines operations. While Rex jet services between capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are grounded and ticket sales halted, its regional services are unaffected, administrators from EY previously known as Ernst & Young said in a statement on Tuesday night. The airline entered a trading halt on Monday. The news follows the recent collapse of budget carrier Bonza in a market dominated by the Qantas and Virgin duopoly. Rex is the only air link provider for many regional towns and its fares on capital city routes have been competitive with the major players. So, how serious is the situation at Rex? What has happened? Late on Tuesday evening, administrators from EY announced they had been appointed to determine the future of Rex. All flights that Rex operates using its fleet of Boeing 737 jets between capital cities have been grounded. Virgin Australia has stepped in to help affected Rex passengers, offering to rebook them on an equivalent Virgin service free of charge, provided they take up the offer before 14 August. Rexs core regional routes using its 36-seater Saab 340 turboprop planes will continue operating. News of Rex entering administration followed days of speculation about its future after the Australian stock exchange on Monday announced it had suspended trade in Rexs shares at the airlines request pending it releasing an announcement. Rex said the trading halt came ahead of an announcement in relation to a news article published on Saturday. Related: Labor ignored Bonzas plea for help, as questions linger over what transport officials knew and when The article is understood to be a report in the Australian newspaper that the airline had appointed consultants from Deloitte to advise how it could turn around its financial woes. How are regional leaders reacting? Rex was still selling tickets to its regional services on Tuesday. That did not prevent panic among regional communities, with rural mayors across Australia whose residents rely on Rex for connectivity warning of further isolation if the carrier went under. In Eurobodalla council in New South Wales, Moruya airport is only serviced by Rex. The mayor, Mathew Hatcher, said he was hoping the government would ensure Rexs future. For our community, it would be a terrible blow to lose Rex, he said. Birdsville airport, about 1,600km west of Brisbane, also relies on Rex for connectivity, with two weekly flights to Brisbane. If they were to close down, we would be devastated, its our only airline service we rely on it for boarding school, medical appointments, recreation, Francis Murray, the mayor of Diamantina, said. Meanwhile, leaders of larger regional centres feared airfare price hikes from Qantas if left without competition. Theyre not just important, theyre crucial. This is our highway, said the Devonport mayor, Alison Jarman, on the prospect of Qantas gaining a monopoly on connectivity to the Tasmanian town. Qantas certainly wont have a problem if they dont have any competition. Is Rex in financial trouble? Rex in February reported a loss of $3.2m for the first half of the 2023-24 financial year, compared with a $16.5m loss in the previous six months. It said escalating costs, particularly for fuel, made it hard to predict full-year profitability. Rex shares are worth about half of what they were a year ago and were trading at 56.5 cents before being halted. Rex was initially called Regional Express following its formation after the death of Ansett. For most of its existence, Rex has been a purely regional carrier, operating 36-seater Saab 340 turboprop aircraft. About a third of its ageing 57 Saab 340s are not in operation pending repairs. However, in 2020, Rex began vying for a share of the lucrative market between capital cities, seizing on the instability in Australias domestic aviation market which occurred when Virgin Australia entered administration and underwent a significant restructuring. Rex leased nine Boeing 737 jets, including several formerly flown by Virgin, and launched routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The airline boasted of these routes profitability and continued launching new routes including to Perth and Adelaide. Rex is now leasing nine 737s. Over the same period, Rex has outperformed Qantas and Virgin to be, at times, Australias most on-time airline, and it also acquired a 50% stake in fly-in fly-out operator National Jet Express. However, it has struggled with numerous issues, including allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by Qantas, and difficulty accessing strategically important Sydney airport slots at peak times a gripe echoed by failed budget operator Bonza. Rex has also confronted a shortage of parts to repair its ageing fleet of Saab 340 aircraft for its core regional operations, which have also been hampered by a shortage of pilots for the smaller planes. Related: Rex forced into trading halt amid questions about the airlines future Is Rex about to collapse? Or could something else be at play? Its too early to know. Virgin Australia entered administration at the height of the Covid pandemic and emerged following a restructure with new owners. It is now posting profits. Budget carrier Bonza did not survive administration earlier this year. However, a key issue influencing the prospect of a new buyer saving Bonza, was the fact it leased all of its aircraft. Once they were repossessed, little value remained with the company. Rex leases its fleet of nine Boeing 737s used on the capital city routes which have now been grounded. But it owns the Saab 340 turboprop aircraft used on regional corridors. The Albanese government has suggested it will step in to ensure Rex continues to operate, at least regionally, but it is unclear if this will lead to the government taking a stake in the carrier, which already receives subsidies from various governments to operate key regional routes. The federal transport minister, Catherine King, said on Tuesday afternoon: We will work with Rex, we want to make sure that they have a future as part of aviation in this country, and were very determined to make sure that happens. We obviously dont want to do that at any cost, we want to be involved very closely in what that future might look like. Rex has also been rocked by leadership tensions, with the major shareholder and former executive chair Lim Kim Hai ousted in June. Lim was replaced by John Sharp, who had been the deputy chair of the board. Sharp, a former Nationals federal transport minister, has in recent years made headlines with his colourful criticism of Qantas and aviation policy. Lim has since pushed to remove Sharp and three other directors from the board, with a special shareholder meeting to vote on Lims demands. It is unclear if there is any connection between the leadership tensions and Rexs financial woes. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he would consider proposals to save the company but added Rex already received substantial public funding with no conditions attached. One of the things I expressed concern about was having no conditions so Rex, for example, moved away from their traditional role of being a regional airline into flights, for example, from Sydney to Melbourne, Albanese said on Tuesday. Robert Jenrick I have argued repeatedly in these pages that this country needs, and wants, massive change to deal with our deep-seated economic and political problems. So it is a huge pity that we have just elected Labour to deliver more of the same. Now, for another five years, Britain will carry on sliding downhill. But thereafter we must be ready as a Conservative Party to put forward an alternative that carries confidence. The first step is to face our problems honestly. The second is to tell hard truths about what it will take to fix them. Thats my view. And its Robert Jenricks view, too, as set out in his Tory leadership launch video. Like me, he believes we face complex interlocking challenges, low growth, poor public services, high immigration. But he also sets out a way forward: a sovereign people and a sovereign country that can act decisively; more housebuilding; proper reliable cheap energy instead of the damage of the current net-zero model; a safety-net welfare state which doesnt discourage growth and enterprise; and as he puts it, a small state that works, not a big one that fails. Im not an MP. I dont have a vote at this point. But as the Conservative Party chair said this week, the leadership election is designed for candidates to make their pitch to you [party members] first before MPs. Many party members have already asked me who I will be supporting. Thats why Im writing to say now that I believe Robert Jenrick is the candidate who has best understood our countrys problems and the effort needed to fix them. Robert understands that our party must appeal to all of the 15 million British people who are open to voting Conservative, but equally that it can only do that if it is united around coherent, mainstream, genuinely conservative principles. We should aim to win over voters from Reform by being conservative, and from our Left by having properly serious plans to solve the countrys problems. He gets that this means striking the right tone. Rebuilding our nation requires respect for each other. That doesnt mean ignoring disagreements or brushing over serious problems in our society. It does mean talking about them honestly, clearly, respectfully, in a way that commands confidence that they can be dealt with. We agree on Brexit. As we wrote together here recently, we need a Conservative Party that definitively finishes the Brexit job, delivers our Brexit opportunities to enable reform and change in the interests of everyone in this country and allows the British people to govern ourselves once again as a free people. And finally, hes honest enough to admit that his own thinking has evolved. Some of my own friends in and beyond the party ask: Has Robert really changed his mind? Can we be sure we arent just choosing another managerial politician? Im sensitive to this myself: after all, I wrongly supported Rishi Sunak after Liz Trusss fall. My answer to that is that some ministers get beaten by the Blob, but others get radicalised. I was certainly radicalised as I saw the efforts to block Brexit. And Ive talked to Robert and I can see it in him, too. Theres nothing wrong in changing your mind through experience. Its looking the other way thats the problem. And thats why theres one last thing thats important. Anyone can talk. It takes courage to act. I know that. I gave up my ministerial career on principle in December 2021 by resigning in protest against yet another Covid lockdown. So, too, Robert resigned last year in protest at the governments migration policy, and was one of the small group who refused to back the Rwanda Bill unless it freed us from the European Convention on Human Rights. If we had taken a different course then, and the boats had slowed or even stopped who knows what the story of this election might have been? More firm stands on points of principle might have changed the outcome, at least in part. Instead, we continued full on to disaster. Only a few, like Robert, stood by their beliefs. To me, that makes a difference. That ability to see the big picture, and to stand on principle to deliver it, is why I support Robert Jenrick as leader of our party. I hope others will look at what he is saying and then do the same. The changes announced by the chancellor will take the payments away from about 10 million people. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA On Monday the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced a package of measures designed to close a 22bn hole in the public finances she said was covered up by the Conservative government. Among them was a surprise removal of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners and the abandoning of a long-delayed cap on what people pay for social care. What are winter fuel payments? Winter fuel payments are a state benefit for pensioners that are designed to help with their heating bills. They were introduced in 1997 by the last Labour government and have been available to everyone in the UK (and some countries beyond) who has reached state pension age. Payments are worth between 100 and 300 tax-free with the basic rate paid automatically to anyone claiming the state pension. The higher sums are available to those who get other benefits, such as pension credit. The payment is made annually each winter. In the winter of 2022-23 there were payments to 11.4 million pensioners in 8.4m households. That year and in the winter of 2023-24 there were extra cost of living payments made to the poorest pensioner households for some this increased the payment to 600. What is the chancellor doing? Reeves has announced that the payment will no longer be universal in England and Wales, and that only pensioners on means-tested benefits will qualify for it this winter. This will take it away from about 10 million people. The payments are devolved, so Scotland and Northern Ireland will make their own rules. Reeves said the government would continue to provide winter fuel payments worth 200 to households receiving pension credit or 300 to households in receipt of pension credit with someone over the age of 80. One criticism of the previous system was that the money went to people who did not need it at one stage it was being paid to expats in Spain, despite warmer temperatures, although that was scrapped 10 years ago. Some wealthy people have given theirs to charity each year, or opted to decline receiving them. However, charities say the cuts go too far: Age UK said that 2 million people who need the payments will no longer get them. Almost half qualify for pension credit but do not claim it and about half have weekly incomes that are less than 50 a week above the poverty line they do not qualify for extra benefits but do rely on the payments. Another group is made up of those who are unwell or live in badly insulated homes and need the heating on high. Who will qualify this winter? The payments will be targeted at households where there is someone who is over state pension age and receives one of the following benefits: Pension credit Universal credit Income support Income-based jobseekers allowance Income-related employment and support allowance The basic payment will be 200, and households with someone aged over 80 will get 300. How do I make sure I get the payment? The only way to get the winter fuel payment is by qualifying for one of the above, so check if you do. The website Entitledto.co.uk has a benefits calculator that will tell you if there is anything you should be claiming. The key is likely to be pension credit about 800,000 people are missing out on payments they are due. What is pension credit? Pension credit is for people on low incomes and already unlocks a whole number of other benefits, including cold weather payments (these are worth 25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between the start of November and end of March). The credit ensures that single people have an income of at least 218.15 a week, and that pensioner couples have at least 332. Those who have caring responsibilities or a disability may qualify for more. How do I get pension credit? If you are on a low income (less than the 218.15 a week it guarantees) then you should check if you qualify the government has an online calculator or you can phone 0800 99 1234. Reeves says the government will bring together the administration of pension credit and housing benefit as soon as operationally possible so that pensioners receiving the housing payment will get any pension credit they are entitled to. What are the social care changes? A package of reforms was supposed to put a cap on the sums paid by people in England for their social care the support they need either at home or in a care home. The cap was to be set at 86,000. After that, local authorities would cover the costs. People were also going to get more access to support through changes to the threshold at which they were eligible. Currently anyone with savings worth over 23,500 could not claim council support, but that was set to go up to 100,000. The changes were due to be introduced in October 2025 but have been scrapped. The chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has vowed it will undertake its work rigorously and fearlessly. Scottish judge Lord Turnbull was speaking during the first public hearing of the probe into the 1998 atrocity which claimed 29 lives, including a woman pregnant with twins. Bereaved families and survivors gathered at the Strule Arts Centre in the Co Tyrone town for the hearing in the inquiry which will examine whether the atrocity could reasonably have been prevented by UK authorities. Ruairi de Burca (centre), senior official with Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs, arriving at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Liam McBurney/PA) It comes after a High Court judgment recommended a public inquiry into alleged security failings in the lead-up to the atrocity, and also urged the Irish authorities to establish their own probe. The Irish government, earlier this month, formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry. Ruairi de Burca, director general at the Department of Foreign Affairs, reiterated his governments commitment to assist the inquiry. Addressing the hearing, he said the Irish government is committed to additional new legislation if required to support its assistance. We will work to ensure that our deeds match our words in respect of this inquiry, he added. The names of all those killed were read out during proceedings and those in the hearing room stood for a minutes silence in their memory. In his opening statement, Lord Turnbull said the pain of bereavement and trauma caused by the dissident republican bomb attack spread beyond Omagh, Northern Ireland and Ireland to families from England and Spain. He also said the attack, which came just months after the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, caused outrage and consternation across national boundaries and across continents. Police officers and firefighters inspecting the damage caused by a bomb explosion in Market Street, Omagh (Paul McErlane/PA) Condemnation was expressed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, other world leaders, community leaders, religious leaders and political leaders all joined with them in expressing the unforgivable nature of what had occurred, he said. Lord Turnbull said the inquiry will undertake its task rigorously and fearlessly, and emphasised the defining character of the inquiry must be its independence. He said the value which the inquiry attaches to its independence means that it will not be amenable to influence from any government or from any state agency. It will not allow itself to be deflected from its purpose by the difficulties which may lie in its way on account of the passage of time or the volume and complexity of materials, he said. Lord Turnbull also told the hearing that he will approach the task with an open mind, and will assess the evidence which is heard both fairly and reasonably. I will do so without any preformed view or impression as to whether the atrocity could or could not have been prevented, he added. There were also opening statements on behalf of those granted core participant status, including those bereaved and injured in the atrocity, as well as former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Police Ombudsman and the UK Government. Bereaved families expressed hope after decades of campaigning for a public inquiry into the atrocity. Omagh bomb campaigners Stanley McCombe, left, who lost his wife, Ann; and Michael Gallagher, right, who lost his son, Aiden, arriving at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Liam McBurney/PA) Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed, welcomed progress, adding it had taken the families a long time to get here. I think it was hugely respectful that their (victims) names were read out and their details, that there was a minute of silence, I think that was hugely important and we were very grateful for that, he said. As the core participants names were being read out, and the families, when you listen to the ages (of those killed), it is quite difficult. It is not easy listening, especially when youre affected by it. Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife, Ann, in the bombing, said he had great faith in Lord Turnbull and his legal team. After years of hard labour were hopeful, were very, very hopeful, he added. Commemorative and personal statements are set to be made during inquiry hearings next January. Merseyside Police have issued a warning after an incorrect name for the alleged Southport attacker was widely circulated online. Inaccurate posts by social media sleuths about the identity of the perpetrator have received millions of views and engagements. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder following the incident. Sunder Katwala, director of the thinktank British Future, said a fake news channel seemed to have invented a fake name and run a false story. Some of those sharing that false information include actor Laurence Fox and former kickboxer Andrew Tate, Mr Katwala said, posting on X. Mr Katwala said the pace with which misinformation was spreading after the incident presents important challenges to social media platforms and ultimately for policymakers as regulators and lawmakers if platforms cannot respond. A scam/fake news channel (which now has 3000 followers, having had almost none) seems to have invented a fake Arab name and run a false story about Southport, generating 1.4 m impressions. Widely shared by users (some naively, others perhaps knowingly). X doing nothing about it pic.twitter.com/vKf79oOVI9 Sunder Katwala (@sundersays) July 29, 2024 He told the PA news agency: There are different types of bad faith actor spreading misinformation at pace in heightened circumstances. There may be low quality feeds masquerading as news sites, even scraping social media rumours to produce AI-generated content. There can be more deliberate networks of extreme actors, including far right groups and foreign intelligence actors. Police officers overlook the village of Masca, Tenerife, during the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater, 19, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire (James Manning/PA) The platforms will struggle to get everything right in real time. But it matters as to whether they have the will and capacity to respond to the most serious threats, such as those breaching legal constraints and injunctions and those using heightened moments with the intent of socialising people towards extremism and violence. There are strong signs of a significant deterioration in both the intent and capacity of X under Elon Musks ownership. It will be important to have parliamentary scrutiny, for example in select Committee hearings, of the consequences of that laxity in cases like the Southport murders, particularly where the online misinformation can generate real world consequences by encouraging and inciting disorder, hatred and violence. A Merseyside Police statement said: A name has been shared on social media in connection with the suspect in the incident in Southport. This name is incorrect and we would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing. The force added: This incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it. Nicola Bulley (Family Handout/PA) Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned against speculating or commenting on the criminal investigation into the stabbing. When asked whether she could provide more information, including whether the suspect was known to authorities, she said: Merseyside Police are leading this extremely important and serious criminal investigation. This was a horrific attack and they need to be able to get on with that work, and they will provide us with updates. Youll understand that others should not be speculating or commenting in advance of those updates and we really welcome the work of Merseyside Police, but its also important that they pursue every single angle of inquiry. We can confirm the names of the three girls who were tragically killed in Southport on Monday (29 July). They are Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine Please visit here for more: https://t.co/CZ3hIM7ycn pic.twitter.com/Xz8ea1LglU Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) July 30, 2024 Earlier this month, Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, who died after disappearing on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife, criticised awful comments and conspiracy theories posted on social media, which she branded vile and said were hindering the people who were trying to help locate the teenager. Last year, Nicola Bulleys family hit out at wildly inaccurate speculation about her death. Ms Bulley, 45, vanished after dropping off her daughters, six and nine, at school, and taking her usual dog walk along the River Wyre in St Michaels, Lancashire, on January 27. A solicitor for the family said: We encourage people to look at the facts, the evidence which has been heard during the inquest, and the conclusion reached by the Coroner, to ignore any amateur views and opinions, and be mindful of the impact words bring. Political leaders across the island of Ireland have hailed history-maker Daniel Wiffen after his gold medal victory in the Olympic swimming pool. Wiffen, from the village of Magheralin in Northern Ireland, triumphed in the mens 800 metres freestyle final in Paris on Tuesday evening, setting a new Olympic record in the process. The 23-year-old has become the first gold medallist from Northern Ireland for 36 years and Irelands first male swimming gold medallist. The last athletes from Northern Ireland to win Olympic gold were Stephen Martin and Jimmy Kirkwood, who were part of the winning Team GB hockey team at Seoul in 1988. Wiffen is the first individual gold medallist from Northern Ireland since Mary Peters triumphed for GB in the pentathlon at Munich in 1972. Only an hour after Wiffens success another Northern Ireland swimmer secured a gold medal. While Jack McMillan did not participate in the Olympic 4x200m freestyle final that was won by Team GB swimmers Matt Richards, James Guy, Tom Dean and Duncan Scott, the 24-year-old from Co Down still secured a medal having swum for the team in the qualifying heats. Stormont First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly congratulated both swimmers. This is truly a momentous occasion for Daniel and for local sport, they said in a joint statement. Not only has he secured NIs first Olympic gold medal in 36 years, it is also the first medal of the Games for our athletes and he set a new Olympic record. It was a fantastic performance by the @TeamIreland swimmer. On McMillans gold medal, they added: Well done to Jack and his @TeamGB teammates who have secured gold medals following the 4x200m freestyle relay. What an incredible Olympics for our local swimmers so far. Taoiseach Simon Harris described Wiffens performance as masterful. On behalf of the entire country, hoarse from screaming at their televisions and computer screens, I would like to send our absolute admiration and congratulations to Daniel Wiffen, he said. Daniel, you did it Olympic gold and an Olympic record. The 800-metre freestyle final in Paris was one for the ages and Daniels technique, power and grit under pressure confirms him as a once-in-a-generation athlete. Hes a world champion and now an Olympic champion, and it was our privilege to witness it. This is a family affair and I can only imagine the joy of Rachel, Jonathan and Nathan this evening. This is your victory too. Irelands Daniel Wiffen stands for the national anthem after winning the mens 800m freestyle final (John Walton/PA) Congratulations Daniel, we cant wait to see what you do next. Deputy premier Micheal Martin described Wiffens win as an outstanding performance. A breathtaking race and a new Olympic record, he said. What an achievement for Daniel and his family. Richard Archibald, interim chief executive officer of Sport NI, said: After a 36-year wait Daniel Wiffen is bringing an Olympic gold medal home to Northern Ireland. At Sport NI we are immensely proud of Daniel and his achievements. We are proud to have supported Daniel at the start of his career through our National Lottery funded athlete award. His progress over the last few years has been incredible, with European and World titles as well as a coveted world record and now an Olympic record. He is an inspiration to us all and I am sure his win will encourage many young people across Northern Ireland to try their hand at swimming. With two more events to come the sky is the limit for Daniel and we wish him all the very best. On McMillans achievement, he added: Jack played an integral role in the team securing their spot in tonights final with the fastest qualifying time. At Sport NI we are proud to have supported Jacks journey to success through our Sport NI Sports Institute and National Lottery-funded Athlete Award. Wiffens victory came a day after Sligos Mona McSharry clinched a dramatic Olympic bronze medal for Ireland in the final of the womens 100m breaststroke. Angela Rayner has announced an overhaul of the planning system to pave the way for 1.5 million new homes over the next five years to tackle Englands acute housing crisis. Mandatory housing targets, scrapped by the previous Conservative government, will be restored and some low-quality green belt land will be freed up for construction under the plans. The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary will reverse changes made to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by Rishi Sunaks administration she said had tanked housing supply. (PA Graphics) She unveiled forecasts that fewer than 200,000 new homes would be built in 2024-25 under Tory policies far below their annual 300,000 target. In a statement to MPs on Tuesday before they depart for the summer recess, Ms Rayner said: In a bid to appease their anti-housing backbenchers, they made housing targets only advisable. They knew that this would tank housing supply, but they still did it. (PA Graphics) The Labour frontbencher said her radical plan will help get the homes we desperately need, as well as drive the growth, create jobs and breathe life back into towns and cities. Her reforms make explicit that the default answer to brownfield development should be yes and promote housebuilding at greater densities in urban centres, like towns and cities. However, because there is not enough brownfield land in the country to meet housing needs, the Government will allow the targeted release of so-called grey belt land, which includes disused petrol stations and car parks on parts of protected land known as the green belt. Any green belt land released will be subject to golden rules to ensure the development delivers 50% affordable homes with a focus on social rent, and has access to green spaces and infrastructure such as schools and GP surgeries. The method for local authorities to calculate how much land they must allocate for new housing, which relied on data from 2014, will be updated to ensure stock is boosted in every part of the country. The Labour Government wants to build 1.5 million homes in five years (James Manning/PA) Ms Rayner said: Rather than relying on outdated data, this new method will require local authorities to plan for homes proportionate to the size of existing communities, and it will incorporate an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes. The collective total of these local targets will therefore rise from some 300,000 a year to just over 370,000 a year. Ministers are also laying the groundwork for universal local plan coverage across England. With only a third of councils currently having a plan that is under five years old, ministers will be ready to intervene to ensure they all have one in place by a specified point next year, taking over a local plan if insufficient progress is made. Ms Rayner also unveiled immediate measures to counter the decline in the number of social and affordable housing through new flexibilities for councils, including allowing them to use their right-to-buy receipts to build and buy more social homes. Today Im calling on local authorities, housing associations and industry to work with me to deliver a council house revolution, Ms Rayner told the Commons, promising the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation. Details of Government investment in the form of direct grant funding for social and affordable housing, as well as on rent stability, will be brought forward at the autumn Spending Review. Labour also intends to drop the requirement for new homes to be beautiful, introduced by the Conservatives, arguing it is subjective, difficult to define and leads to inconsistent decision-making on applications. The ruling partys manifesto used different language, outlining instead its aim for exemplary development to be the norm not the exception. Labours manifesto outlined its aim for exemplary housing development to be the norm not the exception (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA) Ms Rayner defended the cut to Londons annual homes target from 100,000 to 80,000, saying the previous ambition based on an arbitrary uplift was absolute nonsense and that the Mayor of London is determined to rise to the new target. But Sam Richards, chief executive of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said: It is a mistake to cut Londons 100,000 homes per year target by 20,000. London has Britains most acute housing shortage, and cities across the world show that 100,000 homes per year can be done. He added that the revised NPPF contains a number of necessary changes and that it is right that housing targets are now based on affordability and that they are tougher, while breaking the taboo on the green belt is brave and necessary. Victoria Hills, chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said the proposed changes have the potential to rebuild trust in our planning system. It is particularly encouraging to see the Government placing a much-needed emphasis on strategic planning, which can help deliver more coherent not piecemeal urban expansions by integrating new housing with transportation, energy, and public services. The new draft NPPF will go out to consultation for eight weeks from Tuesday. Earlier this year, the San Diego Zoo announced that giant pandas were returning to the zoo, and people were ecstatic about the news. Now, the time for their first public appearance is almost here! San Diego Zoo announced the giant pandas' public debut date, and people are ready to line up to see them. In mid-July, the zoo shared a video giving us all a glimpse of the pandas who have been living in quarantine there since June 27th. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao have been hanging out and getting used to their new digs for the last month, and will start accepting visitors on Thursday, August 8th. I wish I lived closer so I could go see them! People are so excited to see the giant pandas in person! Fans of San Diego Zoo had a lot to say about the announcement, and many are already making plans to go and see them, and letting the zoo know when to expect them. Commenter @Alexa! made me laugh when she said, "I wonder if they think our bamboo is trash." Another commenter asked the question that we all have, "Are you going to have a panda cam?" and while the zoo didn't confirm it, but said simply, "Stay tuned!" Related: Giant Pandas Are Returning to San Diego Zoo and People Are Ecstatic More About San Diego Zoo's Pandas If you're interested in seeing the pandas in person, the zoo shared the different options guests will have to visit them, "Guests will have 3 ways to see these celebrities! On the day of your visit, you can (1) obtain a free Giant Panda Timed Ticket or (2) join the standby line. Or, (3) you can reserve in advance an exclusive 60-minute Early Morning with Pandas Walking Tour." In a previous video, San Diego Zoo introduced the pandas and gave us all a little insight into their personalities. "Yun Chuan is a nearly five-year-old male giant panda described as mild-mannered, gentle, and lovable. His mother, Zhen Zhen (pronounced jen jen), was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun (pronounced bye yoon) and Gao Gao (pronounced gow gow)." "Xin Bao is a nearly four-year-old female giant panda described as a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears." They added, "Her name means a 'new treasure of prosperity and abundance." The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nearly 30-year partnership with institutions in China. Their goal is to preserve and take care of pandas who've been forced from their natural habitats. They also hope that by sharing the pandas with the public, people to understand and care about these gentle creatures. For more information about the zoo's newest celebrities, you can visit their website. 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. Now world's largest, China marks the third anniversary of its carbon market 10:23, July 30, 2024 By Shan Jie ( Global Times Photo taken on July 16, 2021, shows a screen displaying real-time information on national carbon emission trading in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. (Photo: Xinhua) This July marks the third anniversary of the launch of the national carbon emissions trading market in China, which, according to the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Monday, has made China the world's largest carbon market in terms of greenhouse gas coverage. The national carbon emissions trading market in China, which started with the power generation industry, currently includes 2,257 key emissions units in the sector. This market covers approximately 5.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, said Pei Xiaofei, spokesperson of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Monday at a monthly press conference. Pei said that the national carbon market is an important policy tool that uses market mechanisms to control greenhouse gas emissions and will achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. It consists of two parts: the mandatory carbon emissions trading market and the voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading market. These two markets operate independently yet complement each other through a quota clearance and offset mechanism. He said that over the past three years, the national mandatory carbon emissions trading market has successfully completed two compliance cycles, achieved its expected construction goals, and made significant progress. A comprehensive institutional framework has been established. The State Council issued the "Interim Regulations on Administration of Carbon Emissions Trading," and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the "Carbon Emissions Trading Management Measures (Trial)" along with three management rules for carbon emissions registration, trading, and settlement. An infrastructure support system known as "One Network, Two Institutions, Three Platforms" has been built, encompassing the national carbon market information network, national carbon emission registration and trading institutions, and the national carbon emissions registration, trading, and management platforms. Moreover, the capacity for carbon emissions accounting and management has significantly improved through enhanced data quality supervision, optimized methods, advanced technologies, and dynamic risk monitoring, leading to better corporate management and accounting capabilities. The vitality of the carbon market has steadily increased. By the end of June 2024, the cumulative trading volume of the national carbon emissions trading market reached 465 million tons, with a transaction value of approximately 27 billion yuan ($3.7 billion). The trading scale has gradually expanded, with the trading volume and value in the second compliance cycle increasing by 19 percent and 89 percent, respectively, compared to the first compliance cycle. Furthermore, corporate participation in trading has significantly increased, with 82 percent of companies participating, up nearly 50 percent from the first compliance cycle. The overall carbon price has shown a steady upward trend, rising from 48 yuan per ton at the start to 91.6 yuan per ton ($12.6) as of the closing price on July 26, an increase of 90.8 percent. Additionally, the national voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction trading market was officially launched in January 2024. Its institutional framework is now complete, and emissions reduction projects and voluntary reductions are about to enter the registration application window period, encouraging broader industry participation in carbon reduction efforts. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan) A teenager was arrested and charged with murder in connection to the July 20 stabbing death of a 62-year-old woman, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Houston Chronicle A teenager was arrested Monday and charged with murder in connection to the July 20 stabbing death of a 62-year-old woman in northwest Harris County, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. The teenager was arrested more than a week after Dana Magnuson was found stabbed multiple times in a shed behind her home in Hockley, a small unincorporated community on U.S. 290, according to authorities. MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Man accused of selling counterfeit cancer drugs indicted in Houston Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gonzalez announced the arrest in a post on X, the social media website. The teen boy's name wasn't released. He was being held at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center, Gonzalez said. Teenagers charged with serious crimes, including murder, can be tried as adults in Texas. To do so, the district attorney's office must go through a process known as certification, in which prosecutors present probable cause to a juvenile court judge and argue that the case is deserving of being heard in adult court. It was unclear Monday night if prosecutors would seek certification in the teen's case. Gonzalez described Magnuson as "an active community member and beloved by everyone who knew her." She worked as a bus dispatcher for Katy ISD, according to ABC 13. Securing the future of the Grangemouth refinery is one of the greatest tests the just transition process will ever face, a union has said ahead of a march calling for its lifespan to be extended. Unite said it is fighting hard for the 500 workers at the oil refinery, which under plans previously announced by owner Petroineos is due to transition into an import facility for finished fuels from 2025. The union said it has had constructive, high-level talks with the new UK Government, and it welcomed the joint government funding of 1.6 million for Project Willow, which will explore low-carbon projects at Grangemouth. It also welcomed the inclusion in the recent Kings Speech of a plan to support sustainable aviation fuel, and says it has campaigned for exploration of how this could be developed at the refinery for Scotlands aviation sector. Sharon Graham hailed the grit and determination of Grangemouth workers to fight for their futures (PA) However union officials warned that without action, oil and gas workers risk becoming the coal miners of our generation. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Unite is fighting hard for the futures of workers in Grangemouth, to extend the life of the refinery and to secure commensurate jobs for them in new low-carbon projects at the plant. I have had some constructive, high-level talks with the Government in Westminster and we are also continuing to engage positively with Holyrood and (refinery owner) Petroineos. The Keep Grangemouth Working campaign has put the fight to save Scotlands only oil refinery centre stage. The march in Grangemouth is testament to the grit and determination of the workers to keep fighting for their futures. We cannot allow oil and gas workers to become the coal miners of our generation. Keep Grangemouth Working Join us and march for jobs Saturday 3rd August11amAssemble at Grangemouth Stadium Click this link to book your seat on the bus https://t.co/wQnjCRHs4t Like and Share pic.twitter.com/n0942E6ToJ Unite Scotland (@UniteScotland) July 17, 2024 Grangemouth is Scotlands last remaining oil refinery, and one of only six in the UK. Derek Thompson, Unite Scottish secretary, said: There has been a sea-change in Government attitude, both at Holyrood and Westminster, over the refinerys future. Now a solution with Government support must be found to extend the lifespan of the oil refinery. Unite will work morning, noon and night in the fight to save jobs at Grangemouth. Grangemouth is one of the greatest tests the just transition process will ever face in Scotland. We need to get this right for the workers based at the refinery, and the thousands more dependent upon it in the wider supply chain and Grangemouth community. According to the union, the Grangemouth complex contributes 4% of Scottish GDP (gross domestic product) and makes up about 8% of Scotlands manufacturing base. The union called on workers, community members and other unions to join the march in the town on Saturday in support of the facilitys workers and the thousands of people dependent on it in the supply chain. A number of people are feared dead after a helicopter crashed into a farm building in Co Westmeath in Ireland. The incident happened near the village of Killucan at approximately 3.30pm on Tuesday. Two hearses were seen leaving the farm site on Tuesday evening. The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit has deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the single-engine helicopter crash. Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his concern. Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash, he posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added: My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time. The piggery building that the helicopter crashed into is close to pitches used by Raharney GAA club. Killucan is approximately 15 kilometres from Mullingar. Ken Glynn, Mayor of the Mullingar-Kinnegad municipal district, expressed his shock. My thoughts and prayers are with those involved and their families, he said. I also want to commend the emergency services for their rapid response. Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash. This is a live operation and I am being kept briefed. My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 30, 2024 Councillor Denis Leonard represents the area where the crash occurred. Unfortunately it seems there are casualties on board, he told the PA news agency. Locally, people are shocked and stunned, but also their hearts just go out to the families of all those involved at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. I want to thank the emergency services in Westmeath because they were very quickly on the scene and a huge operation took place straight away. They responded extremely quickly and I want to thank them for their service today. Mr Leonard noted the incident had come after a horrific weekend of tragedy on the roads in Ireland, particularly in the Midlands, with three men killed in two separate collisions in Co Meath. You dont expect to hear of a helicopter crash, he added. Sir Paul McCartney has honoured theatre director Jamie Lloyd with a companionship at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Lloyd, who won seven Olivier Awards for his West End revival of Sunset Boulevard, received the accolade from Sir Paul, 82, who is a co-founder of the LIPA and its founding patron, in a ceremony on Tuesday. The university is located on the site of the former Liverpool Institute, which was attended by Sir Paul and late fellow Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon. Sir Paul is a co-founder of the LIPA and also its founding patron (Owen Humphreys/PA) Lloyd, 43, became the first LIPA graduate to be made a companion, and was honoured alongside music equality campaigner Vick Bain, Olivier Award-winning actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, and Tony Award-winning theatre designer Rae Smith. Lloyd is one of the UKs most acclaimed theatre directors, having worked in the industry since 2006 on dozens of performances, including Macbeth, Evita and Cyrano de Bergerac. He won the Sir Peter Hall award for best director for his work on Sunset Boulevard. The ceremony, held at ACC Liverpool, was attended by 320 students from 31 different countries. LIPA principal Sean McNamara said of the awards: The dedication, resilience and determination our students have displayed is an inspiration. We are immensely proud of them and today we celebrate their achievements and the transformative power that resides within them. In the realm of the performing arts, creativity knows no bounds, whether it be through music, dance, theatre, or any other form of expression. The performing arts provide us with a unique and vital platform to communicate, and to serve as a mirror to society, reflecting our collective joys, sorrows, hopes, and struggles. As artists, creatives, change makers, and cultural entrepreneurs, the graduating class of 2024 possess all these qualities. Dr Andreas Sennheiser and Daniel Sennheiser, the chief executives of audio manufacturer Sennheiser, were also made honoured friends of the LIPA. John Swinney is facing calls to urgently intervene in a bid to prevent strikes by council workers which unions have warned could result in a stinking summer for Scotland. Waste and recycling workers across a majority of councils in Scotland are threatening industrial action, after unions Unite, the GMB and Unison all rejected the latest 3.2% pay offer. With cash from the Scottish Government having ended previous disputes, where protests by local government workers saw rubbish pile up in cities including Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Tories called on the First Minister to intervene. With over 95% support, UNISON members are ready to strike for fair wages in 14 councils. Lets stand with them! #UNISONStrikes https://t.co/201x9Hqjui pic.twitter.com/EXn0fhZHcJ UNISON Scotland (@unisonscot) July 18, 2024 Liz Smith, the Scottish Conservative finance and local government spokesperson, said: John Swinney must now urgently intervene to prevent these strikes going ahead or there will be a public health risk as well as our streets looking like a tip during the Edinburgh Festival. Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison met union leaders and senior figures from the local government body Cosla on Wednesday. While the discussions ended without a deal being reached, Ms Robison said her officials would now work at pace with local government officers to understand what an improved negotiating envelope may look like. Tories are calling on First Minister John Swinney to intervene in a bid to end the dispute over local government pay (Jane Barlow/PA) However, Ms Smith claimed the failure to reach a deal was both concerning and disappointing adding that this raises the spectre of rubbish piling up on streets across Scotland. The Conservative MSP said: The buck stops firmly with the SNP government for this dispute. Their systematic underfunding of local government, year after year, has left our councils so hamstrung that they have been unable to reach a pay agreement with the unions. Its taken too long for the SNP to get involved and still they have failed to resolve it. Ms Robison insisted her meeting with union leaders and Cosla chiefs had been productive although she stressed afterwards it wasnt a negotiating forum. The Finance Secretary said while the Scottish Government has no formal role in local pay negotiations she added that ministers absolutely recognise the importance of supporting meaningful dialogue to reach a fair pay deal and avoid industrial action. However, Ms Robison continued: We are navigating turbulent financial waters. This weeks statement from the Chancellor revealed the extent of the challenges facing the public sector across the UK. What is particularly worrying is that in her statement the Chancellor announced she is not fully funding the public sector pay deals she has accepted. Instead, cuts are being demanded across most of Whitehall. That means that we will not receive full Barnett consequentials from these pay deals. It is amid this extremely challenging landscape then, that I have asked my officials to work at pace with local government officers to understand what an improved negotiating envelope may look like. I welcomed the willingness of Cosla and trade union leaders to engage constructively with that process. Taylor Swift has said she is at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families affected by a knife attack at a dance class themed on the pop star. The 34-year-old singer, who is currently performing on her mammoth Eras tour, said she is completely in shock at the horror of the attack in Southport. On Tuesday, Swift wrote on her Instagram story: The horror of yesterdays attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and Im just completely in shock. The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families. A group of Swift fans have raised more than 37,000 to help the families affected by the attack. The JustGiving page, set up by a group called Taylor Swift UK & EU Facebook Group, is raising the funds for Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, where many of the victims are being treated. A statement on the page says: We are working with Alder Hey Childrens Hospital to help raise money for the families affected by the tragedy in Southport, and raising funeral funds for the two young swifties who have tragically passed. Floral tributes near the scene of the incident in Hart Street, Southport (James Speakman/PA) Every donation through this link goes directly to the verified charity below, which will in turn help make a difference to those impacted in a time of great sadness. Forever and always, thank you. Swift has just finished a string of dates across the UK and Ireland and is due to return to Londons Wembley Stadium to perform five more dates. She has a large following of youngsters who are attracted to her host of pop hits, uplifting messages and feelgood energy. Swift has previously addressed violence against children in her song Only The Young, which discusses the prominence of school shootings in America. She sings: You go to class, scared / Wondering where the best hiding spot would be. In the chorus, Swift sings about how she feels only one thing can save us / only the young. Woman refueling her car at a gas station. Image source: Getty Images I shop at Costco on a weekly basis. This is necessary for my household, since we're constantly running out of products like milk, produce, and snacks (especially, ahem, the snacks). But I like to time my Costco runs strategically to when my minivan's gas tank is getting low. Buying gas at Costco commonly saves me money compared to the cost of filling up elsewhere. So it makes sense for me to buy gas when I'm already there to do other shopping. But buying gas at Costco isn't always your best move. Here are three reasons not to do it. 1. Costco fill-ups could lead to overspending It's true that you stand to save money on gas at Costco compared to a typical station. But that assumes your gas purchases don't lead to impulse buys. When you go to a regular gas station, the most you might be tempted to do is run in for a cup of coffee or snack. But if you go to Costco for the express purpose of filling your tank, you may decide to pop into the store and see what's in stock. Given Costco's vast inventory, you could easily walk out with a $100 credit card tab 30 minutes later, thereby negating your gas-related savings. For this reason, I suggest doing what I do -- fill up your car at Costco when you're already going there with a specific shopping list. If you fill up at a time when you're not supposed to be shopping, you might seriously bust your budget. 2. There may be a better deal on gas somewhere else Costco definitely has the cheapest gas in my area -- at least in the context of paying for gas with a credit card, which I pretty much always do since I rarely carry cash. But some gas stations offer deep discounts for paying cash instead of tapping or swiping a card. And if there's a station in your neck of the woods that has this practice, you may find that it's less expensive to fill up there in cash than to buy your gas from Costco. You can use apps like GasBuddy to research prices in your area and see what makes the most sense. Also, even if Costco's gas really is your absolute cheapest offer in town, remember that filling up at a much closer station might constitute a better deal. So make sure to take driving distance into account. 3. You won't get cash back on your Executive membership The main draw of Costco's Executive membership is getting to earn 2% cash back on your purchases. But certain purchases aren't eligible for that cash back, and gas fill-ups are one of them. That said, if you use a credit card with great gas rewards, you might manage to snag some bonus cash at Costco's stations. So that softens the blow a little. I'm all for buying gas at Costco under the right circumstances. But if doing so will mean paying more for one reason or another, or spending extra on unplanned purchases, then it's probably not a good idea. And if you do decide to fill up at Costco, be strategic about the credit card you use in light of the fact that there's no Executive membership cash back to be had. 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. Protests broke out in several Venezuelan cities on Monday after authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro was formally declared a winner by the countys electoral authority in a presidential race marred by accusations of electoral fraud. In the capital Caracas, security forces deployed tear gas to disperse a large crowd of protesters, while crowds of people were seen walking down a main road banging pots and pans as anger rose over Maduros victory on Sunday. PROVEA, a Venezuelan human rights organization, said pro-Maduro armed groups shot at peaceful demonstrators in Avenue Urdaneta. Protests were also reported in other cities, including Maracay, where opposition activist Esthefania Natera told CNN that people were on the streets to yell and demand to tell the truth because we know the real results. In the coastal state of Falcon, demonstrators toppled a statue of Maduro, video on social media showed. Venezuelan authorities have announced that flights from Panama and the Dominican Republic will be suspended from Wednesday 8 p.m. Analysts say there could be a new wave of unrest in the country if there are widespread protests against the regime. Street demonstrations in previous years were crushed by the countrys military, which has long supported Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. On Monday night, Maduro said his government knows how to confront this situation and defeat those who are violent, claiming without evidence that the majority of the protestors were hate-filled criminals and that their plan was hatched in the United States. Earlier that day, Maduro was formally declared winner at a ceremony by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which is stacked with Maduro allies, and which hasnt yet issued final vote tallies from Sundays election. Police hurl a gas canister at protesters demonstrating against the official election results declaring President Nicolas Maduro's reelection, the day after the vote, in Caracas on July 29. - Matias Delacroix/AP Venezuela has the best electoral system in the world! CNE president Elvis Amoroso announced before proceeding with the formal announcement. But the vote was riddled with claims of irregularities. The opposition said its witnesses were denied access to the National Electoral Council (CNE) headquarters as votes were being counted, and alleged that the electoral authority had prevented more votes from being processed. The government has also been accused of rigging votes in the past, which it denied. Maduros government controls almost all state institutions, including the CNE, which was accused in 2017 of manipulating turnout figures by a software company that provided the voting technology. The CNE previously denied the assertion. The opposition coalition, headed by Maria Corina Machado, rejected Maduros win, with Machado and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez claiming their campaign had gathered enough vote tallies to prove Gonzalez had won. On Monday, they said they had obtained more than 73% of the tally sheets showing more than 6 million votes for Gonzalez and only 2.7 million for Maduro. I speak to you from a place of tranquility and truth. I want to tell you, responsibly, that we will respect the will expressed yesterday, Gonzalez said on Monday from his campaign headquarters in Caracas. Machado said all the tallies were verified, totalized, scanned, digitalized, and then uploaded into a strong web portal, adding that several global leaders are checking the portal. Both called for more nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday. In response, Jorge Rodriguez, the deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela (a body loyal to Maduro), said the latest CNE results, with 80% of the tallies already counted, showed Maduro in the lead with 51.2% of the votes, followed by Edmundo with 44.2%. Machado and Gonzalez are part of a unified opposition movement that overcame their divisions to form a coalition known as the Democratic Unitary Platform. Its energized campaign, which enjoyed strong polling figures prior to Sundays vote, was seen as the biggest challenge to Maduros rule. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives with his wife Cilia Flores for a ceremony where the National Electoral Council (CNE) certified he won the presidential election. - Matias Delacroix/AP Calls for transparency The United States is among regional leaders, including Peru and Chile, that have raised questions about the validity of the result. The US on Monday joined Venezuelan civil society groups and the opposition by calling on Venezuelas government to immediately release specific data on the presidential election, citing concerns about the credibility of Maduros victory. Brazil, an important regional player, was softer in tone but said it was awaiting the publication by the National Electoral Council of data broken down by polling station, an essential step for the transparency, credibility, and legitimacy of the election results, according to a statement by the foreign ministry. Venezuelas government, in turn, said it was expelling diplomatic staff from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay, calling them right-wing Washington-subordinate governments who were committed to the most sordid fascist ideological positions. Only a very limited number of election observers were allowed to monitor the vote. These included The Carter Center and the United Nations, which also called on the countrys election commission (CNE) to publish polling station-level results. The Carter Center has a big responsibility on their shoulders, Laura Cristina Dib, the Venezuela Program director at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), told CNN, explaining that it is the only international technical observation mission that can issue a public report on the results. A preliminary report from the Carter Center was scheduled to release on Tuesday morning, however the organization canceled its publication and is pulling all its staff from the country, according to a person with knowledge of the centers plans. It is unclear when the report will be issued. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, right, and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez hold a press conference after electoral authorities declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner of the presidential election, in Caracas on July 29. - Matias Delacroix/AP Senior Biden administration officials said Venezuelan election authorities must release the detailed precinct-level results from the election. One senior administration official noted that this data is required under Venezuela law and should be immediately available. Another said that if the election results are credible, then this should be a very simple act and one that they would be able to fulfill quite easily. The officials declined to give specifics on the actions the US or international community would be prepared to take if the Venezuelan authorities do not release the data or if the results are determined to be fraudulent, but they did not rule out sanctions. US sanctions against Venezuela were first imposed in 2017 and gradually increased as the South American countrys political crisis deepened in the following years. The oppositions accusations cast doubt on Venezuelas return to the international stage after Maduro pledged last year to hold free and fair elections in US-brokered talks, in exchange for sanctions relief. The votes outcome is expected to be felt across the Americas including the US in the form of migration. Under Maduros watch, up to 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country amid unprecedented levels of poverty and economic mismanagement thousands of whom have trekked north to the USs southern border. If Maduro remains in power, one poll conducted in June estimates up to a third of the population is considering leaving the country after the election. According to Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, such a situation could be a really bad October surprise for the Democrats in the upcoming US presidential election. Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government protest in Caracas on July 29, 2024. - Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images High stakes If Maduro is inaugurated next January, it would be his third consecutive six-year term and the continuation of Chavismo, the left-wing populist ideology named after Chavez. Chavez ruled Venezuela for 14 years until his death in 2013. His policies were dominated by nationalization and the redistribution of the nations huge oil wealth to the marginalized and poorest communities, as well as a constant push to protect Venezuelan sovereignty against imperialist powers. But the oil-rich nation has in the past few years experienced the worlds worst peacetime economic crash in recent history. Maduro has blamed foreign sanctions against his regime on the downturn, saying Venezuela is victim of an economic war. A loss in the election could have devastating consequences for Maduro, who is facing drug trafficking and corruption charges in the US and is under investigation for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. If he was to relinquish control, he could end up in prison. On Monday, the Venezuelan Attorney Generals Office said it will investigate alleged attempts to sabotage the presidential election held on Sunday without providing evidence. There was an attack on the electrical system and a cyber attack against the data transmission system of the National Electoral Council, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said, echoing claims made by Maduro. The strongman has allies on the global stage, including Russia, China, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Honduras, whose officials congratulated Maduro on his win. I am confident that your activities as the head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all directions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in social media post. Remember that you are always a welcome guest on Russian soil. Journalist Mary Triny Mena contributed reporting as did CNNs Michael Rios, Ivana Kottasova, and Jessie Yeung. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com American model Bella Hadid at Cannes Film Festival 2024 on May 20, 2024. Credit - Rocco SpazianiMondadori Portfolio/Getty Images American model Bella Hadid has spoken out for the first time after she starred in a controversial Adidas campaign earlier this month that was criticized by Israel, saying she would never have participated had she done more research into it. Hadid had appeared in ads for the rerelease of the brands classic SL 72 sneaker, which debuted with the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the Palestinian militant group Black September killed 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer. The SL72 campaign was promoted widely, and even appeared on a billboard in New York Citys Times Square. In a statement posted to an Instagram story on Monday, Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, said she would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind. Hadid said she was unaware of the association until after the campaign was live. I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign. Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated, Hadid wrote. I do not believe in hate in any form, including anti-semitism. Adidas swiftly dropped the Hadid advertisement and pulled the sneaker campaign. They also apologized for their unintentional mistake after reports that she was considering legal action against the sportswear brand. Hadid, a longtime pro-Palestinian advocate, has been criticized by Israel at various points. In June, both she and her sister Gigi Hadid donated $1 million toward Palestinian humanitarian relief charities. Hadid was also photographed at the Cannes film festival in May wearing a red Keffiyeh dress by Michael & Hushi, a nod to the Palestinian scarf that is worn as a national symbol. Hadid posted the image on Instagram, calling on her millions of followers to educate themselves on Gazas plight. At least 39,000 Palestinians have been killed amid Israels ongoing military operations in Gaza, according to the Strips Hamas-run health ministry, figures the U.S. and U.N. deem credible. Around 1,200 people in Israel were killed during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. In her statement on Monday, Hadid said that she will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of anti-semitism. I am a proud Palestinian woman and there is so much more to our culture than the things that have been equated over the past week, she added. Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com. A senior adviser to President Biden is departing the White House to take on a top role advising a major Democratic super PAC ahead of Novembers election. Anita Dunn, who has been a member of Bidens inner circle of aides since he took office, is leaving to work with Future Forward, a group that has committed to spending at least $300 million in support of Vice President Harris, the likely Democratic nominee after Biden ended his candidacy, a source familiar with her plans told The Hill. Four years ago, when I launched my campaign for the battle for the soul of our nation, I was grateful Anita Dunn was right there with me, Biden said in a statement. Ive known Anita throughout my career. Shes served our nation through three Administrations and countless campaigns for candidates at every level. Shes not only a key senior member of our team that helped us win a historic election in 2020 shes also been an invaluable part of our White House, he added. Shes tough and tested, and her experience and intellect have helped us deliver historic results for the American people. Dunn in a statement called it an honor and privilege to serve in the White House. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients praised Dunns insightful counsel, decisiveness, and unparalleled experience every single day. She has been critical to making this one of the most successful presidencies in modern American history. The Washington Post first reported on Dunns impending departure. Dunn and her husband, attorney Bob Bauer, have long been influential figures in Democratic politics. Dunn worked on the Obama campaign in 2008 and 2012, and she did a stint as White House communications director in the Obama administration. Dunn joined the Biden White House in 2021 after working on his campaign. She briefly departed the administration to return to her consulting firm, only to come back to the White House as a senior adviser to the president. Bauer, her husband, has been the presidents personal attorney. He represented Biden amid a special counsel investigation into Bidens handling of classified documents. Bauer also played the role of former President Trump in preparation for Bidens June 27 debate with his GOP rival. Dunn also assisted with debate prep. Bidens performance in that debate set off calls from Democrats for him to step aside as the nominee, which he did earlier this month. Harris has quickly consolidated support among Democrats ahead of the partys convention in Chicago beginning Aug. 19. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden will speak on Tuesday in a phone call that Brazilian sources said will focus on the contested Venezuelan presidential election. The call will be held at 2:30 p.m. ET (1830 GMT), according to both the White House and the Brazilian government, which did not provide the topics to be discussed. According to the Brazilian sources, the call was scheduled at the request of the U.S. government as it seeks Brazil's assessment of the election results in neighboring Venezuela. Venezuela's national electoral authority proclaimed incumbent President Nicolas Maduro winner of the weekend vote, giving him a third term in office, but the opposition has also claimed victory. Independent pollsters called Maduro's win implausible, as opposition leaders and foreign observers urged vote tallies to be released. Brazil's government on Monday hailed what it called a "peaceful" election day in Venezuela and said it was closely monitoring the vote count, waiting for electoral authorities to release vote tallies to ensure the legitimacy of results. The Biden administration, meanwhile, said that electoral manipulation had stripped Maduro's claim of reelection victory of "any credibility," and Washington left the door open to fresh sanctions on the OPEC nation. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; writing by Luana Maria Benedito; editing by Gabriel Araujo) Vice President Kamala Harris addresses 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 Artificial Intelligence voice-cloning technology recently used to mimic Vice President Kamala Harris's voice in a parody campaign video raised questions about how AI can be used to spread election disinformation, a problem politicians have aimed to tackle for years. The video, originally created by Youtuber Mr Reagan, gained widespread attention Friday when it was shared on X by tech billionare Elon Musk, the Associated Press reports. Musk did not clarify that the video was a parody until Sunday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad AI-altered photos or videos, also known as deepfakes, are a rising concern in the upcoming election. The AI-generated voice is very good, Hany Farid, digital forensics expert at the University of California, Berkeley, told the AP in an email. Even though most people wont believe it is VP Harris voice, the video is that much more powerful when the words are in her voice. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan was the victim of a similar situation earlier this year when a deepfake photo depicting him hugging former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was printed on a campaign mailer. The doctored image was based on a photo of Pelosi hugging House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Texas was one of the first states to file legislation addressing the use of AI in elections. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas Senate Bill 751, signed into law in 2019, makes fabricating a deceptive video with the intent to influence an election outcome a Class A misdemeanor. However, the law only prohibits the use deepfake videos within 30 days of an election and does not apply to photos or audio recordings. Several members of congress have expressed a need for the law to be updated to keep up with the ever-evolving use of AI. Harris was among the high-profile politician voices replicated by leading generative AI audio tools in a recent experiment by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. In a report, the CCDH said that "popular AI voice cloning tools failed to prevent the generation of election disinformation in politicians voices 80% of the time." As a result of their findings, the CCDH recommends that existing election laws be leveraged and updated to prevent AI-generated harm. The organization also suggests that social media platforms introduce emergency measures to prevent the creation and spread of election-related disinformation. Following a more than 24-hour intense search, police in Maryland said they recovered the body of a 6-year-old autistic boy who vanished at a park over the weekend. Fawzan Hassan, who was nonverbal, disappeared from a Montgomery County park while on an outing with his family. The boy was reported missing from Bohrer Park around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to Montgomery County Department of Police . The park is in Gaithersburg, just over 20 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. The body of Fawzan Hassan, who was autistic and non verbal was found in a pond in Bohrer Park in Montgomery County park on July 28, 2024. The 6-year-old's cause of death is pending an autopsy. Montgomery County Department of Police "An extensive search" for the boy continued through Sunday, when his body surfaced in the pond at Bohrer Park at 5:25 p.m., police posted on the agency's website. Police were alerted to the pond after they reported members of the community spotted it earlier on Sunday. Autism and water: This Minnesota mother wants to save autistic children from drowning, one city at a time A body in the water near the playground Officials said Montgomery County Police Managed Search Operations Team personnel, the group coordinating the search, responded to the pond, recovered the body. and positively identified it as the missing boy. Maryland National Capital Park Police, Gaithersburg Police, Maryland State Police, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and Midatlantic Dog Search and Rescue assisted in the case. An autopsy conducted by the Maryland Medical Examiners Office will determine the boy's cause and manner of death. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fawzan Hassan, missing autistic boy, found dead in Bohrer Park pond By Akash Sriram (Reuters) - California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has digitized 42 million car titles using blockchain technology in a bid to detect fraud and smoothen the title transfer process, the agency's technology partners exclusively told Reuters on Tuesday. The project, in collaboration with tech company Oxhead Alpha on Avalanche blockchain, will allow California's more than 39 million residents to claim their vehicle titles through a mobile app, the first such move in the United States. Digitizing car titles will reduce the need for in-person DMV visits and the blockchain technology will also function as a deterrent against lien fraud. Blockchain technology can help detect lien fraud by creating a transparent and unalterable record of property ownership, making it difficult for fraudulent activity to go unnoticed. "So the first step was creating the 42 million titles associated as a token on the Avalanche blockchain, that's what the State of California DMV has already done and now what they're doing is they're creating a wallet where you download on your phone," said John Wu, president of Ava Labs. California residents will be able to access their digital car titles starting early next year as the DMV builds out the app and infrastructure for consumer access. Deloitte tied up with Ava Labs, the company behind the Avalanche blockchain, to enable a new disaster recovery platform to help the U.S. government streamline disaster reimbursement applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Given the rapid advancements in technology and the shift towards digitization, it is likely that more government sectors will explore the benefits of blockchain technology. (This story has been officially corrected to rectify the source of the press release to the California DMV's technology partner, in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath) DETROIT A Michigan mother who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after her 3-year-old son was found decomposing in a freezer in 2022 was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison on Monday. Azuradee France, 33 of Detroit, pleaded guilty on July 12 to second-degree murder in the death of Chayce Allen, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Police discovered the boy's body in a freezer in a Detroit home in June 2022 and later determined that the child had died of blunt force head trauma. France was initially charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, torture and concealing the death of an individual. As part of her plea agreement, those charges were dismissed. At her court hearing Monday, Wayne County Circuit Judge Tracy Green said France was a victim of childhood abuse, a lack of mental health treatment and of the failings of a government system that should have removed her children from her custody before she killed Chayce in 2022. Green ultimately sentenced France to 35 to 60 years in prison. "It doesn't excuse her conduct, but it does explain a lot," Green said. "I wish that intervention could have happened sooner." France's case is the second high-profile case in Detroit involving a mother who killed her children and placed them in a freezer. In 2015, Mitchelle Blair pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of two of her children whose bodies were discovered in a home freezer. 'Hurt him to point where he can't come back' In the courtroom, France's eyes were closed as she wept, her face covered by her cuffed hands. On the court benches behind France was her sister, Azuant Sauls, wearing a shirt donned with numerous pictures of Chayce, arms crossed, and ready to tell France just how much the child's death has impacted their family. "Where do I begin?" were Sauls' first words to the courtroom when given the opportunity to speak. "You were supposed to protect Chayce, instead you hurt him to point where he can't come back." France's attorney, Lillian Diallo, attempted to persuade Green to give her client a lighter sentence. She described the tragedy as "monumental," but argued every adult in Chayce's life who didn't intervene also failed the slain child. But Assistant Prosecutor Erin Wilmoth said the person who failed Chayce the most was France, his mother: "Chayce is going to be forever three because of Ms. France's actions," she said. "Chayce was not a disposable child and deserved more." History of domestic violence in home, court records show Chayce died of blunt force head trauma and authorities believe he was placed in an inoperable freezer in a Detroit basement in March 2022, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. In June 2022, Detroit police found Chayce's decomposing body in the freezer while conducting a welfare check at the home. Prosecutors had sought to include a history of domestic violence in the home, citing admissions of whipping her 2-year-old nephew and investigations by Child Protective Services into her treatment of Chayce, who was blind, before his death, court records show. France also had four other children. Wilmoth said there were at least seven complaints to Child Protective Services that were rejected and at least six investigations. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at asahouri@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan mom gets 35+ years for death of 3-year-old found in freezer The video is as triumphant as it is gruesome. Rebel fighters, rifles slung over their shoulders, step among more than a dozen bodies strewn across the sand and rocks. Off camera, the pop of gunshots can be heard. The scene is from another battle in the vast deserts of northern Mali except that this time the victims were Russians. At the end of the video, the camera pans to a bearded white man on the ground, apparently begging for mercy. A different video shows several white men, still alive, kneeling amid the wreckage of a vehicle, as guerrilla fighters encircle them. A pickup truck with militants approaches the men, as others kick them in the head. The Russian mercenaries appear to have been attacked as they were accompanying Malian government troops on patrol last week near the Algerian border, a vast, forbidding region where jihadi and Tuareg groups have long been active. The attack was claimed by a Tuareg rebels group along with the al Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel, JNIM (Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin). Known for ad hoc cooperation, they appear to have collaborated to trap the Russian convoy. JNIM claimed Sunday that a complex ambush had wiped out the convoy, killing 50 Russians and a number of Malian soldiers, and published videos showing several vehicles ablaze as well as dozens of bodies in the area. A Tuareg militant group spokesman said some Malian troops and Russian fighters had also been captured during the battle. According to some unofficial Russian Telegram channels, as many as 80 Russians were killed. That would make it by far the worst loss for Russian paramilitaries in several years of operating in Africa, as the Kremlin has sought to use proxy forces to challenge Western influence across the Sahel and central Africa and prop up unstable regimes. In an extraordinary twist Monday, a Ukrainian official claimed Kyiv had provided the militants with intelligence. Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraines Security Service (SBU), said on Ukrainian television that the rebels received necessary information, which enabled a successful military operation against Russian war criminals. We wont discuss the details at the moment, but there will be more to come, Yusov added. Channels associated with the Wagner group, a private military contractor active in Africa which is now part of what the Russian Defense Ministry calls the African Corps, said that at first its fighters had inflicted heavy losses on the militants. But the militants had regrouped and the command of Wagner decided to transfer additional forces to the combat area. In a battle lasting from Thursday through Saturday, the jihadis increased the number of massive attacks, using heavy weapons, UAVs [drones] and suicide vehicles, according to one Telegram account associated with Wagner. The Russian contingents last radio message late Saturday said: There are three of us left, we continue to fight, according to the channel. The commander, Sergei Shevchenko, was among those killed in battle, according to a second Wagner channel. Also among the dead, according to several Russian Telegram channels, was one of Russias most popular military bloggers, Nikita Fedyanin, whose Grey Zone channel has more than half-a-million subscribers. Fedyanins death cannot be independently verified, but a photograph from the scene closely resembled him. Long-time Wagner analyst Denis Korotkov told CNN that the Grey Zone channel has stopped being updated. I think the story is true; he probably did die. A former commander of the ambushed contingent said on Telegram that more than 80 men were killed and more than 15 had been captured. The commander call-sign Rusich said on Telegram he was trying to convey a message to the Russian Defense Ministry. I am ready to provide myself and all those people who are ready to follow me absolutely free of charge, in order to save the guys. Another Wagner-linked social media account spoke of a heavy unequal battle, as a result of which both our fighters and the Malian military heroically died. It pledged that whoever the enemy, world terrorism, the henchmen of Western countries or the enraged Ukrainian heresy we know that the Russian warrior will definitely continue his journey. There is no way to verify the exact number of Russian casualties (some Russian channels say the death toll was not as high as 80), nor how many Malian troops were killed. The Malian armed forces said Friday that only two soldiers had died but that clashes were taking place in a region that remains a bastion of concentration of terrorists and smugglers of all stripes. CNN is reaching out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment. Denis Korotkov, who works with the London-based Dossier Center, noted that not a single official body of the Russian Federation has spoken on this issue. Neither the Ministry of Defense, nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nor the Kremlin commented on the deaths of dozens of Russian citizens in clashes on the African continent outside the special military operation zone. A big blow in Africa Wagner and other Russian mercenary groups are accustomed to losses in Syria, the Central African Republic, Mozambique and Mali over recent years. The Wagner PMC lost hundreds and probably thousands of men in taking the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut two years ago. And in Syria five years ago, a disastrous attack by Russian mercenaries on an oil refinery led to dozens of casualties. But beyond eastern Ukraine, Russian mercenaries have rarely suffered a setback on this scale. Amid upheavals in Mali, the Central African Republic, Niger and Burkina Faso, Russian elements with the backing of the Kremlin have stepped in to usurp traditional French influence, beginning in CAR in 2018. The military regime in Mali turned to Wagner soon after seizing power in 2021. After the death of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in a mysterious plane crash near Moscow last year, many of his fighters were subsumed into a Russian African Corps directed by Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. Yevkurov has been an occasional visitor to Mali and on its Telegram channel the African Corps said in January it planned to increase its strength in Mali from 100 to 300 men. The latest clashes also indicate that a coalition of militant groups is growing in strength, in Mali and beyond. There are constantly shifting alliances among rebel groups in the Sahel, but Tuareg groups have sometimes made common cause with al Qaedas affiliate in the region, JNIM. JNIM has claimed to have attacked Wagner contingents in Mali in the past. It has been especially active recently in both northern Mali and several parts of west Africa. In the last week alone, JNIM claimed five attacks in different regions of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist groups. One of them was an IED attack on a Russian vehicle in the same region of Mali as the latest devastating assault. In addition it carried out a rare attack on a military base in northern Togo last week, expanding its range of operations. But its the ambitious attack on the Russian-Malian convoy near the Algerian border that will catapult JNIMs operations to a much broader audience. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In a case crammed with intrigue, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of the former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to narcotics, money laundering and firearms charges, with his attorney saying his client has made no deal with US officials. Guzman Lopez made a brief appearance in federal court in Chicago. Afterward, attorney Jeffrey Lichtman told reporters, There is no agreement between Joaquin Guzman and the government. Period. Ever since the stunning news that a plane carrying Guzman Lopez and Ismael El Mayo Zambada, the cartels alleged co-founder, flew last Thursday from Mexico to El Paso, Texas, theres been rampant speculation about what happened and why. Lichtmans statement Tuesday raises new questions about why Guzman Lopez flew here if he has no cooperation agreement with American authorities. Did Guzman Lopez intend to surrender, as the Mexican government said Monday, citing information from US authorities? If so, did he take Zambada along as a bonus for the US? Did Guzman Lopez and his henchmen serve up the ultimate betrayal by ambushing Zambada and tossing him into the aircraft, as an attorney for the latter said? US authorities were notified on several occasions Guzman Lopez was considering surrendering, but it was not until that same day his intention was confirmed without prior notice, according to information from US officials shared with the Mexican government. The federal government has made no official comment on the circumstances of the flight. While Guzman Lopez known as one of the Chapitos, or sons of El Chapo is charged with several offenses, including one that could provide for the possibility of the death penalty, there is no formal allegation of abduction. Hes not being accused of kidnapping, said Lichtman. When the government accuses him, then Ill take notice. Joaquin Guzman Lopez, wearing an orange jumpsuit, appears in court on July 30. - Lou Chukman Lichtman has been cleared to represent both Guzman Lopez and his brother, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, who also is facing federal charges. The brothers both have status hearings set for September 30. Guzman Lopez, wearing an orange jumpsuit and ankle chains, informed the court he is receiving care for thyroid and high blood pressure problems. He was indicted on the charges by a federal grand jury in Illinois, according to a statement last year from the US Justice Department. The court appearance comes after Guzman Lopez, 38, and Zambada were arrested Thursday by US authorities in El Paso. They face several charges for allegedly leading the criminal operations of what is considered to be one of the worlds most powerful and deadly drug trafficking operations. Zambada, 76, pleaded not guilty to all charges at his first federal court appearance Friday morning in El Paso and is being held without bond on seven federal criminal counts, including continuing criminal enterprise and money laundering. He is scheduled to appear in person in the same court for a status conference Thursday, according to court documents. US law enforcement officials told CNN the arrest came after Guzman Lopez duped Zambada and orchestrated their arrest. Zambada thought the two were flying to northern Mexico to look at real estate, but instead, their small private plane landed north of the border, where US authorities were waiting on the tarmac, officials said. However, Zambadas attorney, in a phone conversation and a statement sent to CNN on Sunday, described the incident not as trickery but as a violent 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. 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. Mexicos president has called on the United States to explain what exactly happened. The government of the United States has to give a complete report. It cant be just general statements, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said last Friday. There has to be transparency. In a news conference Monday, he said Mexico should be trusted. We are not going to hide anything. Nothing. There should be confidence in us that we do not establish complicit relationships with anyone in Mexico or abroad. And people should know that, he said. The cartel, one of the worlds most powerful narcotics trafficking organizations, is thought to be responsible for the trafficking of vast amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. US Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram said the arrests strike at the heart of the cartel that is responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast. A law enforcement source familiar with the situation told CNN US officials were hesitant to brief Mexican counterparts in advance due to fears the operation could have been compromised. Details on the operation were also highly restricted within the US government until Zambada and Guzman Lopez were taken into custody, the source said. Ismael El Mayo Zambada, left, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, right, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas. - US Department of State/AP A look at the cartel and its leadership The Sinaloa cartel was founded in the late 1980s and led by El Chapo, who twice escaped from Mexican prisons before being detained by Mexican authorities in 2016. The cartel has been blamed for having a key role in the drug war that plagued Mexico for years, leaving tens of thousands of people dead, as well as contributing to the ongoing high levels of violence across the country. In the early 2010s, estimates indicated the cartel controlled roughly 40% to 60% of Mexicos drug trade, earning as much as $3 billion annually, according to a Congressional Research Service report. El Chapo was extradited to the US in 2017 and convicted of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder. He is serving a life sentence in US federal prison. Since then, experts believe the cartel has faced several challenges after breaking into factions including some led by Zambada and Guzmans sons and with the rise of rival cartels. FBI Director Christopher Wray said both Zambada and Guzman Lopez had eluded law enforcement for decades. Zambada was indicted by a northern Illinois grand jury in 2009, according to the US State Department, and faces various criminal charges. In 2021, the US raised the reward for information leading to his arrest to $15 million. Ismael Mario Zambada Garcia is the long-time leader of the Zambada Garcia faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, according to the US State Department. Zambada Garcia is unique in that he has spent his entire adult life as a major international drug trafficker, yet he has never spent a day in jail. Meanwhile, El Chapos sons are accused of having repeatedly and consistently transported lethal amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, the Justice Department said last year. Zambadas son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, admitted during testimony at Guzmans 2018 trial to passing along orders for murders and kidnappings. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2019 by a federal judge in Chicago. He began cooperating with the US government in 2011, prosecutors said in a May 2019 filing. CNNs Nicole Chavez, Rafael Romo, Emma Tucker, Ivon Valdes, Catherine E. Shoichet, Josh Campbell and Phil Gast contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The creator of the young adult series died on Sunday, July 28 Alamy Francine Pascal on January 19, 2014 in New York. Francine Pascal, the creator ofthe Sweet Valley High book series, has died. She was 92. Her daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal said she died of lymphoma at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan on Sunday, July 28, The New York Times reports. PEOPLE reached out to Pascal's publisher. Born in Manhattan on May 13, 1932, Pascal grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and found success with the young adult series in 1983. Pascal created Sweet Valley High, which consisted of 181 books, and wrote the first 12 books. Soon, a team of writers would maintain the stories of identical twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield in the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Sweet Valley. "Sweet Valley is the essence of high school. It's that moment before reality hits, when you really do believe in the romantic values sacrifice, love, loyalty, friendship before you get jaded and slip off into adulthood," she said of the series in an interview with PEOPLE in 1988. Francine Pascal/Facebook Francine Pascal Before Sweet Valley High hit shelves, Pascal studied journalism at New York University. She then worked as a freelance writer for True Confessions,Modern Screen,Cosmopolitan and Ladies Home Journal. She married her first husband Jerome Offenberg, and the two divorced in 1963. The former couple shared three daughters. Their daughter Jamie Stewart died in 2008. Pascal later married John Pascal a year after her and Offenberg's divorce. The two had been working together on the 1960s soap opera The Young Marrieds, which jumpstarted Francine's writing career, and were together when he died in 1981. Speaking with PEOPLE in 1988, Francine remembered her late husband as "a lovely man, a wonderful father, a beautiful writer." Related: Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2024 In addition to writing for the small screen, Pascal wrote several books for adults, including one nonfiction book about the Patty Hearst trial, The Strange Case of Patty Hearst, in 1974. She also penned adult novels Save Johanna! in 1981 and If Wishes Were Horses in 1994,a fictionalized memoir about her life with her late husband, John. By the late 1970s, she ventured into the world of young-adult novels with Hangin Out With Cici in 1977 which later received a sequel and was developed into an afternoon TV special. Then, in 1979, she released My First Love and Other Disasters and the following year, The Hand-Me-Down Kid. Random House 'Sweet Valley High: Taking Sides' Then, after one conversation with another editor, Pascal was inspired to write a teenage version of the hit CBS series Dallas and quickly learned she had a hit on her hands with Sweet Valley High. The hit book series followed Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, whom she described to PEOPLE as "the most adorable, dazzling 16-year-old girls imaginable. After she wrote the first 12 books, several spinoffs followed, including Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley Kids and Sweet Valley Junior High. The book series, which would go on to sell 200 million copies, focused on a specific demographic of readers: teenage girls. During her 1988 conversation with PEOPLE, Pascal said, "These books have uncovered a whole population of young girls who were never reading. I don't know that they're all going to go on to War and Peace, but we have created readers out of non-readers. If they go on to Harlequin romances, what? They're going to read." After she stopped writing the books herself, she would draft outlines for other writers to follow and rely on her "bible," which described the characters and their inner webs throughout the hundreds of books. The Sweet Valley series first ended in 2003 20 years after its debut. But in 2011, it restarted with Sweet Valley Confidential, set 10 years after Sweet Valley High. 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. Pascal is also survived by her two daughters, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The 'Magnolia Table' star grew up eating almond cookies at her family's favorite Asian restaurant Jennifer Causey; Courtesy of Magnolia Network Joanna Gaines' Almond Butter Cake recipe Leave it to Joanna Gaines to turn a simple cookie from her childhood into a "more elevated dessert." The Fixer Upper star was born to her American father Jerry and Korean mother Nan, who met when Jerry was stationed in South Korea with the U.S. military. Gaines grew up in Rose Hill, Kansas with her two sisters, Teresa and Mary Kay a.k.a. "Mikey" and their family often ate at an Asian restaurant where they would serve almond cookies. "They usually came out at the end of the meal, so of course my sisters and I would always inhale our food as quickly as possible, then watch closely for the waitress and her platter of cookies," Gaines tells PEOPLE. Related: Khushbu Shah's Hack for Making Homemade Pizza Gets Dinner on the Table in 30 Minutes She has successfully recreated the cookies in their original form, but more recently, "I thought it would be a fun challenge to translate that taste into a more elevated dessert," she says. Gaines makes her almond butter cake with honey glaze (shared below) on the new season of Magnolia Table (now streaming on Max). Health and wellness expert Emma Lovewell joins her for the episode, where they also whip up japchae, egg drop soup and yaki gyoza before digging into the almond cake. Joanna Gaines/ Instagram Joanna Gaines with her parents, Jerry and Nan Stevens, and her sisters Mikey and Teresa. Related: Joanna Gaines' Son Crew, 6, Proves That 'Practice Makes Perfect' as She Shares Video of Him Fishing in a Pond "This is one of those cakes that gives you more than you think. Its sweet and smooth with a hint of crunch all at once," says Gaines. "Ill happily cut into a cake anytime, but I especially enjoy a slice of this cake with a cup of coffee. Decaf if its late! It complements the almond flavor in the most comforting way!" If "toasted almonds arent your thing, she suggests serving it plain with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Honestly, theres no wrong way to dress up this cake, adds Gaines. Jennifer Causey Joanna Gaines' Almond Butter Cake recipe Joanna Gaines' Almond Butter Cake with Honey Glaze Baking spray with flour 1 cup granulated sugar cup (4 oz.) unsalted butter, softened, plus 6 Tbsp. (3 oz.) unsalted butter, melted, divided 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tsp. vanilla extract tsp. almond extract 1 cups (about 6 oz.) all-purpose flour tsp. baking soda tsp. plus a pinch of kosher salt, divided cup whole buttermilk 6 Tbsp. honey cup plus 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar, sifted 1 Tbsp. whole milk 1 cup toasted sliced almonds 1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 9-inch round baking pan with baking spray. 2. Beat together granulated sugar and cup softened butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until lightened and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add in eggs, one at a time, allowing each to fully incorporate before adding the next; add vanilla and almond extracts, beating until light and fluffy, about 1 minute total. Turn off the mixer, and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with a spatula. 3. Whisk together flour, baking soda and teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. With mixer on low speed, add half of the flour mixture to the egg mixture, beating until fully combined. Slowly pour in buttermilk, beating until just combined; add remaining half of flour mixture, beating until no dry streaks remain, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. 4. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs and the cake begins to pull away from edges of the pan, about 40 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack 30 minutes. 5. Whisk together honey and 6 tablespoons melted butter in a small bowl until smooth; whisk in powdered sugar, milk and remaining pinch of salt. 6. Invert cake onto a wire rack. Pour honey glaze over cake and spread evenly, letting excess run down the sides. Press toasted almonds onto the sides and top of cake. Serves: 8 Active time: 20 minutes Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A federal judge directed the University of California-Los Angeles to devise a plan to protect Jewish students' equal access to campus facilities in case of disruptive events such as the protests against the Israel-Hamas war that erupted in the spring. U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi gave UCLA and three Jewish students who sued the school a week to agree to a plan. Meet and confer to see if you can come up with some agreeable stipulated injunction or some other court order that would give both UCLA the flexibility it needs ... but also provide Jewish students on campus some reassurance that their free exercise rights are not going to play second fiddle to anything else, Scarsi said Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The three Jewish students filed a lawsuit in June alleging their civil rights were violated when they were not allowed access to parts of campus, including the site of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was blocked off by barriers and guarded by private security. UCLA lawyers responded that access was denied by the protesters, not the school or security agents, the Times reported. UCLA rally: How pro-Palestinian camp and an extremist attack roiled the protest at UCLA A student waves a flag at a sit-in outside of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the campus of UCLA on May 1, 2024. Violence broke out overnight at the encampment, hours after the university declared that the camp is unlawful and violates university policy. The encampment at UCLA was one of the largest and most contentious among the numerous protest sites that emerged in college campuses across the nation as thousands of students expressed their support for Palestinians in Gaza, where nearly 40,000 have been killed by Israeli forces during the war. Late on the night of April 30, what UCLA officials later called a group of instigators many of them wearing masks attacked the encampment in an hours-long clash, wielding metal poles and shooting fireworks into the site as law enforcement agents declined to intervene for more than three hours. Dozens were injured in what was arguably the most violent incident among all the campus protests. Some participants in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations expressed antisemitic views and support for Hamas, the militant group that incited the war with its brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israeli border communities, where about 1,200 were killed and another 250 taken hostage into Gaza. The three plaintiffs suing UCLA said the school had sanctioned a Jew Exclusion Zone, which university lawyers denied, pointing to a crackdown on encampments that was also implemented by many other universities, often with police intervention. No diploma: Colleges withhold degrees from students after pro-Palestinian protests UCLA spokesperson Mary Osako issued a statement saying the university is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive campus, holding those who engaged in violence accountable, and combating antisemitism in all forms. We have applied lessons learned from this springs protests and continue to work to foster a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and free from intimidation, discrimination and harassment. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA must protect Jewish students' equal access, judge says LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Friends of the Longview Public Library is hosting their summer book sale from Wednesday to Friday to support the Longview Public Library. LIST: How to get or donate back-to-school supplies in East Texas According to a release, The Friends of the Longview Public Library is a nonprofit organization that hosts events and activities that support the Longview Public Library. The organization said that the book sale will be at 222 W. Cotton St., and every book will be $1, excluding marked items, and there will be special sales on certain days. The hours of the sale and days of the specials are: Wednesday, July 31, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., buy one get one free sale Friday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., fill a bag for $1 or a box for $2 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com. Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content. Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University. Federal health authorities are once again urging people to check their spice racks and cabinets for certain cinnamon products after testing found lead in multiple additional brands. Colonna Brothers is recalling 1.5-ounce Marcum Ground Cinnamon and 2.25-ounce Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon distributed to retailers nationwide and through mail order due to the potential health risk of elevated lead levels, the North Bergen, New Jersey-based company stated Wednesday in a notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration. The recall expands on an earlier one announced by the company in March, and adds to a growing tally of spice makers pulling their products from the market. The FDA the prior day separately said it was recommending recalls of nine brands of ground cinnamon products with elevated lead levels, ranging from 2.03 to 7.01 parts per million (ppm). "These levels are significantly lower than the levels of lead associated with the WanaBana cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products recalled in the fall of 2023, which had between 2,270 ppm to 5,110 ppm lead in the cinnamon," the agency noted. Still, the FDA is advising people to throw out and not buy the ground cinnamon products on its list, saying that "prolonged exposure may be unsafe and could contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood." Short-term exposure to very low levels of lead may not result in symptoms, but longer-term exposure to the metal can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system, resulting in learning disorders and other developmental defects in children, according to the FDA. Chronic lead exposure is associated with kidney dysfunction, hypertension and neurocognitive effects in adults, the agency noted. Lead-contaminated paint, water, dust and soil are the most recognized lead hazards, but other products have been found to contain the metal as well, including candies, spices, ceremonial powders and alternative medicines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Awareness of other sources, such as spices adulterated with lead chromate, is important," the CDC stated in a weekly report published earlier this month. American Spices of Ozone Park, New York, is recalling Spice Class brand ground cinnamon packed in 7-ounce and 12-ounce plastic jars with a Dec. 12, 2026, expiration date. / Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Lead chromate, also known as chrome yellow, is an inorganic compound used as a pigment. The highly toxic chemical is no longer used in house paint, but is still used in marine and industrial paints as well as to add color to plastics, according to the American Chemical Society. American Spices of Ozone Park, New York, is recalling Spice Class brand ground cinnamon distributed to retailers in the New York City area between Dec.1, 2023, and May 15, 2024, according to a recall notice posted on Monday by the FDA. Packed in 7-ounce and 12-ounce plastic jars with a Dec. 12, 2026, expiration date, the recall follows an analysis by New York state officials that found elevated levels of lead in the product. Consumers should stop using the cinnamon immediately and return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Those with questions can call: 1-917-532-6768. Separately, Advance Food International of Maspeth, New York, is recalling Shahzada brand cinnamon powder in 7-ounce packing because it also has the potential to be contaminated with elevated levels of lead. The recalled cinnamon powder was distributed to retailers in four states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York between Jan. 1, 2024, and May 24, 2024, according to a notice posted Monday by the FDA. Those with questions can call the company at: 1-718-482-0123. The recalls follow another on Friday by ALB-USA Enterprises of Bronx, New York, involving ALB Flavor brand cinnamon powder for the same reason, stated a notice posted by the FDA. Packaging image of recalled ALB-USA Enterprises cinnamon powder. / Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Packaing image (other side) of recalled ALB-USA Enterprises cinnamon powder. / Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Distributed to retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York between Dec. 15, 2022, and May 13, 2024, the recalled cinnamon powder is packaged in a plastic bag with a net weight of 100 grams. The product contained a best-before-date of Aug. 30, 2025. Those with questions can call: 1-917-922-5627 or 1-929-431-8505. The FDA on Thursday issued a public health alert for Elmhurst, New York-based El Servidor brand ground cinnamon sold by Mannan Supermarket because the product was also found to contain elevated levels of lead. Ground cinnamon product found to contain elevated levels of lead. / Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration The agency has recommended the distributor voluntarily recall the product, the FDA stated. The FDA in March issued a public health alert urging consumers against buying half a dozen ground cinnamon products because they were found to contain elevated levels of lead. That warning came after nationwide recalls of lead-tainted applesauce linked to 519 reported poisonings, mostly involving young children. Eye Opener: President Biden, VP Harris welcome three Americans released in prisoner swap New video shows moments before Trump rally shooting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle open up about online bullying In the fridge or on the kitchen counter? The experts weigh in. Simply Recipes / Getty Images It's no secret that sriracha can make almost anything food better, from scrambled eggs and fried rice to Bloody Marys and noodles. (Sriracha as I know and lovethe Huy Fong Foods brand, green-lidded squirt bottle with a rooster on the side in its original form is a Thai sauce from Si Racha, traditionally used for seafood.) I have it around always, and I tend to store it in the fridge. So when someone told me I don't need to worry about keeping it unrefrigerated, I had to learn more. Here's what I found out. What Experts Say About How To Store Sriracha You shouldn't worry about bottles of sriracha sitting at room temperature on restaurant tables or at home, for who knows how long. That's because sriracha doesn't' have to be refrigerated, even after the bottles have been opened. "No, they do not have to be refrigerated," explain the folks at Huy Fong Foods Inc., the company that manufactures sriracha in Irwindale, California. The best way to store bottles of Sriracha, according to the manufacturer? "Just make sure they are stored in a cool, dry place." You don't need to keep it in the fridge. How is it that sriracha doesn't need to be refrigerated? While it's true that its main ingredients (chili peppers and vinegar) are naturally resistant to bacterial growth, the inclusion of potassium sorbate and sodium bisulfite as preservatives in Huy Fong's formula are what truly make it safe to store at room temperature. Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn Refrigerated Sriracha Tastes and Looks Better Even if you don't have to worry about getting sick from the sriracha that's been sitting out at room temperature, that doesn't mean it will tasteor lookexactly the same as it when you first opened the bottle. Though sriracha won't spoil, the flavor will change and since chili peppers change color over time as they are exposed to air, older sriracha sometimes looks brown. Every bottle comes with a best-before date, "lasered on towards the neck of the bottle. You can feel it with your fingers," says a rep from Huy Fong Foods. If you want to make sure your Sriracha stays as vibrant red and as delicious as possible, you can keep it in the fridge. But it won't keep your sriracha from going bad. The vinegar and chilis are already doing that for you. A version of this article originally appeared on MyRecipes.com. Read the original article on Simply Recipes. By Michael Erman and Bhanvi Satija (Reuters) - Pfizer raised its annual profit forecast on Tuesday, helped by cancer treatments acquired through a $43 billion deal for Seagen and strong sales of its heart disease drug as the company deals with a sharp revenue drop from COVID products. The market for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and treatment has shrunk by billions of dollars a year. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla responded with several acquisitions, including the Seagen deal and cost-cutting measures. The New York-based drugmaker also has sharpened its focus on cancer treatments. Investors fled from Pfizer as COVID worries declined and the company's shares are trading at around half their pandemic-era highs. "The market is waiting to see if this company can execute," Bourla said in an interview. "We will continue executing this year, on our cost containment, on our pipeline, on all our new product launches ... and that's what I think should be able to turn around our stock price." J.P. Morgan analyst Chris Schott said he expects Pfizer's stock to continue to trade in the current range due to limited revenue growth and stronger expectations for many of its rivals. "We believe stronger new launch performance and/or further progress on the pipeline will be necessary to significantly change the narrative," he wrote in a research note. Pfizer shares were basically flat at $30.67. Sales of Eliquis, the blood thinner it shares with Bristol Myers Squibb, are expected to be curtailed starting in 2026, when the U.S. begins using negotiated prices for some drugs for its Medicare health plan for people age 65 and over. Bourla said negotiations over Eliquis with U.S. regulators were tough. Still, Pfizer executives echoed comments from other drugmakers earlier this month, saying it expects to be able to navigate the impact of the new price on Eliquis, which it sees as an important drug for the company for the foreseeable future. Overall, the impact of the law allowing U.S. price negotiations on Pfizer "is somewhat muted as you think about it economically," Chief Financial Officer David Denton said. He said many products that could be selected for negotiation in the coming years will be nearing the end of their patent protection. Quarterly sales grew 3% operationally to $13.3 billion, marking its first quarter of sales growth since COVID revenue peaked in late 2022. The quarter was helped by sales of its heart disease drug, sold under brand names Vyndaqel or Vyndamax and cancer therapy Padcev. Pfizer now expects annual profit to be in the range of $2.45 to $2.65 per share, compared with its prior forecast of $2.15 to $2.35. BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said given the company's previous conservative forecast, the increase was somewhat expected. "Still, we are encouraged to see Pfizer executing where it matters," he wrote in a research note. Pfizer also raised its full-year sales forecast for its antiviral treatment Paxlovid for high-risk COVID cases by $500 million to $3.5 billion. Vyndaqel sales came in $200 million ahead of analyst estimates at $1.32 billion for the quarter, according to LSEG data. Sales Padcev, used to treat bladder and urinary tract cancers, were $394 million in the quarter, beating estimates of $362 million. Quarterly sales of the COVID vaccine Pfizer makes with German partner BioNTech were $195 million, while Paxlovid sales were $251 million. Analysts were expecting sales of $176 million for Comirnaty and $247.7 million for Paxlovid. Pfizer was disappointed with its 2023 launch of RSV shot Abrysvo, but the company expressed optimism about the vaccine in the U.S. this year. "We've significantly strengthened our contracting position," said Pfizer's Chief U.S. Commercial Officer Aamir Malik, noting that those decisions are set to take effect in August. Last year, rival GSK won two-thirds of the RSV vaccine market, mostly due to its contracts with retail pharmacies. (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija and Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Bill Berkrot) Scientists say they have found more evidence of gas molecules on Venus that could, among other things, point to the possibility of life on the planet. Venus, the closest planet to Earth, has an atmosphere similar to ours, but much more hot and full of corrosive sulfuric acid. Researchers in England announced last week that powerful space telescopes revealed new signs of phosphine gas in Venus' atmosphere, a finding that has been fiercely debated in recent years. There's a chance any phosphine gas on Venus could be a sign of life because on Earth, the gas comes from decaying organic material. Scientists are also confident there is no other natural chemical process on Venus that could otherwise produce the gas, said Dave Clements, the lead researcher on the project. "We are not saying we have found signs of life on Venus," Clements told USA TODAY. "We are on the first step of a staircase at the top of which, if all the steps are passed, something might lead to that." The recent announcement at an astrophysics meetings in England comes after Clements and other scientists in 2020 first said they discovered phosphine on Venus. Since then, their discovery has faced pushback after other researchers weren't able to replicate the results, or said phosphine identified by the team was something else, Clements said. Weve confirmed that phosphine is there, showing what we found back in 2020 is still a solid result," Clements said Tuesday. This illustration created by Akihiko Ikeshita received from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on December 7, 2010 shows an artists impression of The Planet-C Venus Climate Orbiter, nicknamed "Akatsuki," orbitting Venus. What does phosphine, ammonia on Venus mean? In addition to phosphine, researchers also shared news they found signs of ammonia on Venus, Clements said. Both substances are "biomarkers" because on Earth, they are found in the guts and feces of some animals, Clements said. However, there are still many possibilities to rule out, he said, and scientists will next try to see if any other chemical processes on Venus could be creating the gas molecules. There may be something really exotic going on but none of the normal chemical processes that we are aware of can produce the amounts of phosphine and ammonia," Clements said, explaining that his team's recent findings point to even greater amounts of the molecules in Venus' clouds compared to the findings from 2020, and lower in the planet's atmosphere. "Something is going on that we cant understand," he said. Is there life on Venus? Venus' atmosphere specifically its clouds are the main area where there could possibly be a "habitable region," Clements said. That's because Venus has an "oxidizing" atmosphere, like Earth's, Clements said, explaining how it has a lot of hydrogen which can create water, which has also been found on Venus. But Clements stressed that his team's recent discovery is a preliminary one, and that it will need further review. In the future, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Morning Star Missions examining Venus' clouds, as well as other space exploration projects will further test scientists' hypothesis, Clements said. The chances that what were seeing are actually signs of life are probably between 10-20 percent at this point," he said. "Even if theres a one-in-ten chance, then thats something that really reserves a lot of extra careful study." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Life on Venus? Phosphine found on planet could be evidence. NEW YORK (AP) The director of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 vision for a complete overhaul of the federal government stepped down Tuesday after blowback from Donald Trump's campaign, which has tried to disavow the program created by many of the former president's allies and former aides. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said Paul Dans exit comes after the project completed exactly what it set out to do." Roberts, who has emerged as a chief spokesman for the effort, plans to lead Project 2025 going forward. "Our collective efforts to build a personnel apparatus for policymakers of all levels federal, state, and local will continue, Roberts said. What started as an obscure far-right wish list is now a focal point in the 2024 campaign. Democrats for the past several months have made Project 2025 a key election-year cudgel, pointing to the ultraconservative policy blueprint as a glimpse into how extreme another Trump administration could be. The nearly 1,000-page handbook lays out sweeping changes in the federal government, including altering personnel rules to ensure government workers are more loyal to the president. Heritage is building a database of potential new hires to staff a second Trump White House. Yet Trump has repeatedly disavowed the document, saying on social media he hasnt read it and doesnt know anything about it. At a rally in Michigan earlier this month, he said Project 2025 was written by people on the severe right and some of the things in it are seriously extreme. President Trumps campaign has been very clear for over a year that Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way, Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita said in a statement. They said, Reports of Project 2025s demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign it will not end well for you. But Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trumps running mate, wrote a foreword to a forthcoming book by Roberts in which he lauds the Heritage Foundations work. A copy of the foreword was obtained by The Associated Press. The Heritage Foundation isnt some random outpost on Capitol Hill; it is and has been the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, wrote Vance. Quoting Roberts elsewhere in the book, Vance writes: We are now all realizing that its time to circle the wagons and load the muskets. In the fights that lay ahead, these ideas are an essential weapon. Trump campaign representatives did not respond to messages inquiring about whether the campaign asked or pushed for Dans to step down from the project. The Heritage Foundation said Dans left voluntarily and it was not under pressure from the Trump campaign. Dans didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Project 2025 has many ties to Trump's orbit In many ways, Project 2025 served as a potential far-right White House in waiting, a constellation of outside groups that would be ready for action if Trump wins a second term. The project included not only the detailed policy proposals that Trump could put into place on day one at the White House. Project 2025 was also building a personnel database of resumes for potential hires, drawing Americans to Washington to staff a new Trump administration. Many Trump allies and former top aides contributed to the project. Dans formerly worked as a personnel official for the Trump administration. And Trump regularly campaigns on many of the same proposals in the Project 2025 book from mass deportations to upending the Justice Department though some of its other proposals, including further taxes on tips, conflict with some of what Trump has pledged on the campaign trail. It was clear that Project 2025 was becoming a liability for Trump and the Republican Party. Vice President Kamala Harris campaign and top Democrats have repeatedly tied Trump to Project 2025 as they argue against a second term for the former president. The Harris campaign said Project 2025 remains linked to Trumps agenda, written by his allies for him to inflict on the country. Hiding the 920-page blueprint from the American people doesnt make it less real in fact, it should make voters more concerned about what else Trump and his allies are hiding, said Harris for President Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez. For months Trumps campaign had warned outside groups, and Heritage in particular, that they did not speak for the former president. In an interview from the Republican convention first published by Politico, LaCivita said Project 2025 was a problem because the issues that are going to win us this campaign are not the issues that they want to talk about. It was almost certain than Trumps campaign forced the shakeup, said one former Heritage aide. Trumps team was well aware it couldnt risk any missteps from Heritage in this final stretch ahead of the election. By announcing the departure, Roberts appeared to be sending a signal to the Trump campaign that changes were being made at Heritage to tamp down any concerns over Project 2025, said another conservative familiar with the situation. If Trump wins the White House, he almost certainly will need to rely on Heritage and other outside entities to help quickly staff a new administration, the person said. That person and the former aide would only talk on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Heritage says Project 2025 is not going away Project 2025s website will remain live and the group will continue vetting resumes for its nearly 20,000-person database of potential officials eager to execute its vision for government, the Heritage Foundation said Tuesday. The group said Dans, who had started the project from scratch more than two years ago, will leave the Heritage Foundation in August. Roberts will now run Project 2025 operations. Roberts has faced criticism in recent weeks after he said on an episode of former Trump aide Steve Bannon's War Room podcast that the country is in the midst of a second American Revolution that will be bloodless if the left allows it to be. Earlier this month, in an interview before beginning a prison sentence for defying a congressional subpoena, Bannon mentioned Roberts as the type of leader who could land a top job in a Trump White House. ___ Mascaro reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. While inflation in the US has been cooling since hitting a four-decade high, the temperature outside continues to climb. Its been one of the hottest summers on record for much of the country and the planet, which last week experienced the hottest day in recorded history. But US consumers arent only taking a financial hit from this summers extreme heat by way of their electricity bills. Shoppers could soon have to pay much higher prices for fruit and vegetables as farmers shoulder higher growing costs from the heat, a reversal of a trend seen over the past year with the cost of fruits and vegetables dropping by 1%, according to June Consumer Price Index data. Tom Avinelis, who owns organic farms that grow blueberries and citrus fruits around Fresno, California, and the Willamette Valley in Oregon, said near-record-breaking heat waves this month with temperatures upwards of 100 degrees in both areas has caused more fruit than usual to shrivel, resulting in less harvestable produce. It decreases a lot of our revenue potential, said Avinelis, whose produce is managed by Homegrown Organic Farms, which sells nationwide in stores such as Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Costco and Safeway. For the rest of this summer, consumers arent likely to see markedly higher prices for seasonal fruits like blueberries because contracts with distributors and retailers tend to be worked out in advance, he said. Tom Avinelis has been growing blueberries and citrus fruits in California and Oregon for over 40 years. Climate change, he said, is causing his business to suffer financially with reduced crop yields. - Courtesy Tom Avinelis But, as we see more and more of these heat events, it will challenge production and change the supply and demand dynamics, Avinelis, who has been in the agriculture business for over 40 years, told CNN. Thats why in the next few years, he said, the prices consumers pay will be higher to be more reflective of the expenses farmers like him are incurring to adapt to more extreme heat, such as installing upgraded irrigation systems. Yet despite those upgrades, he says he is still at a disadvantage compared to nonorganic farmers who can use the plant equivalent of sunscreen on citrus trees to shield them from some heat. Measuring the effect of heat on production Even corn, one of the top-produced crops in the US with most states growing it, is suffering steep losses from heat. A 2021 study published by the Atlantic Council found that corn growers in the US are losing $720 million in revenue annually due to heats effect on crop yields, which will increase to a projected $1.7 billion annually by 2030. The consequences of this could include farm closures and higher prices for food and livestock feed, the study notes. Researchers from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi estimated that temperatures three degrees above historic averages have a significant chance of reducing strawberry yields by as much as 40%. Their recently published analysis drew from publicly available data on strawberry yields in Santa Maria, California, from 2011 to 2019 and monthly temperature averages there from 1991 to 2021. One of the researchers, Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam, who teaches systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo, told CNN the project launched because a supermarket chain in Canada reached out to his team in search of software to help them better predict the prices theyll pay for the produce they sell to customers. Ponnambalam said his team chose to focus on strawberries because the supermarket told him they are the most challenging type of produce to forecast pricing for, especially as an importer. As Ponnambalam and his team helped design software for them, they suspected there was a correlation between temperature and crop yields, prompting their separate, more in-depth analysis. Ponnambalam and his coauthors said their findings can be used to help guide farmers and policymakers in implementing effective climate change adaptation strategies in strawberry production and potentially in other high-value agricultural crops. Moving inside Henry Gordon-Smith, the CEO and founder of Agritecture, an agriculture consulting and advisory firm that specializes in climate change planning, said many growers he works with have maintained the same output as past years, but its come at a significantly higher cost. Increased water usage, additional labor for monitoring and managing heat stress, and investments in protective measures like shade cloths all contribute to higher production costs, he told CNN. Despite these efforts, in some cases, the output is still lower, and the quality of the produce can be compromised. Ultimately, the effects of climate change have caused an increasing number of farmers to shift their operations entirely indoors, said Gordon-Smith, who recently taught a course titled Smart Agriculture for a Changing Climate at Columbia University. Having an environment where farmers can control environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, and other environmental factors helps to mitigate the adverse effects of heat waves, he said. However, the steep costs to make that switch could also contribute to higher prices consumers pay for produce. For farmers who arent able to or may not be willing to shift to indoor growing, Gordon-Smiths strategy to help them survive heat waves involves using sensors and artificial intelligence tools to track weather and make predictions that guide their decisions. The challenges posed by extreme heat underscore the urgent need for adaptive strategies in agriculture, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com PHOENIX (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, San Diego added All-Star closer Tanner Scott, and Arizona, Baltimore and Pittsburgh made significant deals for the stretch run ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Many top stars mentioned as trade targets stayed with their teams, including Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., San Francisco pitcher Blake Snell and Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet. Still, there were 30 trades finalized Tuesday, according to Major League Baseball. San Diego got Scott from Miami, Cleveland acquired right-hander Alex Cobb from San Francisco, and Minnesota obtained reliever Trevor Richards from payroll-cutting Toronto, which also sent outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to the Dodgers and utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Pittsburgh. The Pirates, in the middle of the NL wild-card race, also added outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from Miami for two prospects. De La Cruz led the Marlins with 18 homers. The Orioles acquired left-handed starter Trevor Rogers, sending prospect Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Marlins. The 26-year-old Rogers has been a dependable option for Miami most of the season and has a 4.53 ERA over 21 starts. Baltimore also added outfielder Eloy Jimenez from the White Sox, reliever Gregory Soto from the Phillies, and outfielder Austin Slater and infielder Livan Soto from the Reds. Arizona plugged a hole in its lineup by adding first baseman Josh Bell, who was hitting .239 with 14 homers for the Marlins. Miami will receive cash in return. Arizona was in need of a power hitter after first baseman Christian Walker left Monday's game with left oblique tightness and was put on the 10-day injured list. Arizona also acquired right-handed reliever Dylan Floro from Washington for Triple-A infielder Andres Chaparro. Floro has a 2.06 ERA over 51 appearances this season. The Dodgers added Flaherty from Detroit for minor league catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Trey Sweeney. Flaherty is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 106 1/3 innings in 18 starts. Scott gives the Padres one of the best closers in baseball. He has a 1.18 ERA and 18 saves with 53 strikeouts over 44 appearances. The Padres also added left-hander Martin Perez from the Pirates for a prospect. The Guardians hope the 36-year-old Cobb, an All-Star in 2023, can provide a lift over the next two months. He hasn't pitched in the major leagues this season because of left hip surgery last October. On the verge of returning to San Francisco, he developed a blister on his right index finger last week. The Giants received left-handed pitching prospect Jacob Bresnahan and a player to be named. The New York Mets acquired starter Paul Blackburn from Oakland for minor league right-hander Kade Morris. Blackburn was an All-Star in 2022 but missed more than two months this season with a stress reaction in his right foot before coming off the 60-day injured list last Friday. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA in nine starts and figures to slot into a rotation missing injured ace Kodai Senga and rookie Christian Scott. The Mets also added reliever Huascar Brazoban from the Marlins and righty Tyler Zuber in a deal with the Rays. Pittsburgh got Kiner-Falefa for minor leaguer Charles McAdoo. Kiner-Falefa is hitting .292 with eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 82 games. The 29-year-old is related to Pirates Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. The Pirates also added left-hander Josh Walker from the Mets for minor league lefty Nicolas Carreno. Walker was at Triple-A but made 24 appearances for New York the past two seasons. Kansas City received right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg from Oakland for right-hander Will Klein and a pair of minor leaguers. The 29-year-old Erceg is 2-3 with three saves and a 3.68 ERA in 38 appearances. Veteran infielder Paul DeJong was traded to Kansas City from the White Sox for right-hander Jarold Rosado and could walk across the ballpark to his new team, which was in Chicago. Philadelphia added lefty Tanner Banks, sending a minor leaguer to the White Sox. Seattle, in a tight race with Houston for the AL West lead, reacquired right-hander JT Chargois from Miami for minor league right-hander Will Schomberg. Chargois pitched for Seattle during the first half of the 2021 season. Chargois missed a big chunk of this season due to neck spasms, but had a 1.62 ERA in 15 games since his season debut June 12. The Boston Red Sox added right-hander Lucas Sims from the Reds, while the New York Yankees acquired righty Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs. The 30-year-old Sims has a 3.57 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings over 43 appearances. Hes made 210 appearances for the Reds, posting a 3.94 ERA since 2018. The Reds received a 19-year-old prospect, right-handed pitcher Ovis Portes. The Red Sox also added veteran righty Luis Garcia, sending a package of prospects to the Los Angeles Angels. Leiter, 33, has a 4.21 ERA in 39 appearances this season. The Cubs received minor leaguers Ben Cowles and Jack Neely. The Yankees also added right-hander Enyel De Los Santos from the Padres and dealt lefty Caleb Ferguson to Houston. Reigning World Series champion Texas, in third place in the AL West, got left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin from Detroit for minor league right-handers Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo. Chafin, in his 11th big league season, is 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 41 appearances and had allowed only one earned run in his last 18 games since June 8. Minnesota acquired Richards, sending minor league infielder Jay Harry to Toronto. Richards has appeared in 45 games for the Blue Jays this season, going 2-1 with a 4.64 ERA. St. Louis added right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong, sending outfielder Dylan Carlson and cash to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Angels acquired right-hander Mike Baumann from San Francisco for cash. The 28-year-old Baumann has already pitched for the Orioles, Mariners and Giants this season, compiling a 4.84 ERA over 36 games. The Giants added veteran outfielder Mark Canha in a deal that sent right-handed pitcher Eric Silva to the Tigers. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb The most common time to sign a lease is between May and September, and we're smack dab in the middle of that period. Many renters may currently be looking at new rental agreements, or if they have stayed at the same spot for a few years, they may be deciding if a likely price jump for repeating the lease is worth it to stay put. Currently, the national average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,536, according to Apartments.com. That's 0.8% higher than it was this time last year. But depending on your landlord or building owner, some renters might see larger price bumps than others. So what are your rights as a renter, and what are the landlord's rights in terms of raising that price? Michelle Gilbert is the legal and policy director for the Law Center for Better Housing, a nonprofit in Chicago that advocates for renters' rights. She told Scripps News that, unfortunately, the tenant doesn't have much say. Though there are some laws in place to make it harder for a landlord to change rent prices, they vary by state and municipality. As of February 2022, there are 31 states that prevent local governments from enacting rent control measures, but in large cities, rent control laws are more likely to be in place. RELATED STORY | When home prices make renting the smarter choice If you happen to find yourself in one of those cities or states without these protective laws, Gilbert said there are a few things that can help reduce the likelihood of those large rent increases. One of those is to rent from a smaller landlord. Gilbert said the corporate landlords or buildings will typically have larger rent increases comparatively. Hopeful tenants or those signing new leases this year should also ask potential landlords about additional fees that can add to your monthly rent. "Recently, we are just seeing a shocking increase in fees that get attached onto the agreement, so you might go in thinking, 'Oh this is a property that I can afford,' and then you find out that there are substantial fees," Gilbert said. Gilbert also recommends signing leases that state how much notice the landlord will give a tenant before raising the rent. This could help the renter plan ahead in order to meet the new cost, or have time to move elsewhere. From the opposite perspective, Gilbert said it's not always in the best interest for a landlord to raise the rent. She said it's important that they look at the "big picture" before doing so and decide whether it's more important to get extra funds, or if it's better to prioritize keeping good tenants. "That gain you might see in the short term by having a big rent increase, you have to think about how that will pan out over time," Gilbert told Scripps News. "It's much better to have a tenant who has a commitment to the property and to the neighborhood, who's gonna stay there, and you're not going to have a period of having an empty apartment." AUSTIN A 12-person jury in San Antonio in 2022 took just five hours to end one of the most nefarious chapters in Laredos history. Four years earlier, a serial killer had brutally murdered four women in the outskirts of Laredo. All of them were marginalized sex workers with substance abuse disorders. All of them were also women with siblings and parents and friends who loved them. Over the span of 12 days, a man picked them up, one by one, drove them to remote rural roads and shot them in the head with a .40-caliber handgun. Throughout that same time, a U.S. Border Patrol supervisory agent named Juan David Ortiz went to his job each day at the Joint Intelligence Center at Border Patrol Laredo Sectors headquarters. Ortiz, an Iraq War veteran and longtime agent, was married, with three children. From the intelligence center, he could keep tabs on regional police operations and the unfolding investigation of the serial killings. After the serial killer pulled his gun on a would-be fifth victim, who escaped his clutches and notified police, investigators drew closer to the killer. Soon, they made an astonishing discovery: The man they were chasing was Ortiz. He was committing the shootings with his agency-issued .40-caliber. When police took him into custody, he confessed that he had planned to keep killing. After the verdict was read in December 2022, a judge sentenced Ortiz to life in prison without parole. In May, an Appeals Court in El Paso upheld the ruling, sealing Ortizs fate. He would spend the rest of his days in a Texas prison. It would seem the story ends there. But tales like these dont leave quietly. I spent five years interviewing more than 300 people, poring over 1,000 documents and driving more than 9,000 miles around Texas to try to better understand the events of September 2018 in Laredo. I spent hours, day after day, year after year, with victims families, in their homes and in courtrooms, learning about the women Melissa Ramirez, Claudine Luera, Chelly Cantu and Janelle Ortiz about their struggles and dreams. I interviewed investigators who pursued the killer and prosecutors who tried him in court. The book that ensued The Devil Behind the Badge, published by Dey Street/HarperCollins comes out Aug. 6. Exclusive: How borderland detectives first discovered Juan David Ortiz's serial killings USA TODAY correspondent Rick Jervis spent five years researching and writing 'The Devil Behind the Badge,' a detailed account of the 2018 serial killings by U.S. Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz. It publishes Aug. 6 through Dey Street/HarperCollins. I wasnt alone. NBCs "Dateline," ABCs "20/20" and Maxs "Homicide Hunter: American Detective" all produced features on the case, interviewing family members and detectives. The podcast "Gone South" made a six-episode series on it. In a world full of tragic killings, why all the national attention and why a book now? The answer is both simple and infinitely complex. This case was by far the most intriguing, surprising and challenging story of my 20-plus-year career as a journalist. Families of victims still hurt, but try to heal In the four years between Ortizs arrest and his verdict, the victims relatives moved, grew families of their own and tried to reconcile lives without their mothers, sisters and daughters. Ciara Munguia, 26, Lueras daughter, had a baby, Londyn, in that timespan. In one of the more ironic twists of the saga, Munguia now works as an intel analyst with the Webb County Sheriffs Office the agency that pursued and captured her mothers murderer. For the first few years after the murders, Munguia struggled with the hate and anger that consumed her over her moms killing. Slowly especially after having Londyn those jagged feelings began to recede. The trial and verdict were, in many ways, a huge step toward closure, she said. At the trial, Munguia met and chatted with Ortizs mom. The two hugged. Munguia cried. Now, Munguia celebrates her mother twice a year: with a cake in December for her birthday; and with balloon releases each September on the anniversary of her death. Luera, who struggled with heroin addiction for years before she was killed, is in a better place now, she said. I wouldnt be who I am if it wasnt for her, Mungia said. I feel like shes still all around. Women embrace at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Laredo, at the funeral service for Nikki Enriquez on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. How did Juan David Ortiz murders affect Border Patrol? One aspect that remains a mystery is what lessons, if any, Border Patrol learned as an agency from the Ortiz murders. Internal documents I obtained showed there was very little in his official file that would have alerted the agency to his actions. But colleagues and friends noticed a steep decline beginning around February 2018. Ortiz, a Navy corpsman or medic and Iraq War veteran, suffered from PTSD and was prescribed a cocktail of psychotropic medications. He mixed those meds with copious amounts of booze. He complained to a therapist about nightmares, paranoia and suicidal thoughts. He bragged to colleagues that he knew where the sex workers dwelled along Laredos San Bernardo Avenue. None of his spiraling behavior appears to have made it into Ortizs official Border Patrol record. Juan David Ortiz, the U.S. Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women in the Laredo area, was approached by police at this Stripes convenience store. He ran and was arrested two blocks away. In the wake of Ortizs arrest, Border Patrol officials were quick to point out that his actions were not representative of the nearly 20,000 agents employed at the federal law enforcement agency. Yet that same year 2018 Border Patrols Laredo Sector alone saw two of its agents (including Ortiz) investigated for murder while off-duty and one for the shooting death of an unarmed migrant while on-duty. In recent years, the agency has made important strides toward improving transparency and shaking a historic culture of impunity, including rolling out body cams on agents and publishing Discipline Overview reports on its website, which shows disciplinary actions taken on agents (albeit without any identifying details). Still, immigrant advocates complain the agency is not doing enough and agents continue to get away with wrongdoing. As we near a presidential election, border security will become an increasingly important topic and how the agency polices its own agents will be equally scrutinized. What effect, if any, did the Ortiz shootings have on the agency? Unclear. Border Patrol officials declined to talk to me for the book or answer various Freedom of Information Act requests I filed over the years, claiming the issue was still under internal investigation even long after their own agent had been arrested and charged. A mysterious message Most glaringly, Ortizs motive remains elusive. One of the few clues Ortiz offered was during a nine-hour videotaped interview he had with investigators after his arrest, where he at first denied knowing any of the slain women then slowly admitted to the crimes in startling detail. As Webb County Sheriff Deputy Federico Calderon and Texas Ranger E.J. Salinas leaned in from across a table in the interview room, Ortiz described how after killing his first victim, Melissa Ramirez he was gripped by an urge to continue targeting sex workers. This is going to sound stupid, he says in the video, looking down at his hands, but I wanted to clean up the streets. Ortizs targeting of marginalized sex workers is not outside the norm for serial killings. As of 2018, FBI data showed women accounted for three-fourths of the 1,398 known serial homicides in the U.S., according to a study by sociologists Jooyoung Lee and Sasha Reid. And female sex workers are 18 times more likely to be targeted. But what, specifically, made Ortiz turn from family man and Border Patrol rising star to serial murderer, seemingly overnight? And why did he target these women specifically? Calderon, who spent 12 days hunting Laredos serial killer and was Ortizs lead interrogator during the confession, knows more about the case than arguably anybody else. Why Ortiz did what he did remains a mystery even to him. The only person who really knows is Juan David Ortiz, he told me later. After his arrest, I mailed several letters to Ortiz requesting an interview as he awaited trial at the Webb County Jail. He didnt answer any of them. Six months after the trial, in May 2023, after Ortiz was transferred to the Ramsey Unit, a Texas prison located in Rosharon, Texas, messages from him suddenly emerged in my inbox of an online network used to communicate with inmates. After an initial inquiry, he followed up, alleging a string of wrongdoing at the Webb County Sheriffs Office. Then, earlier this month, another message popped in from him. If you are willing promptly schedule an interview, Ortiz wrote, saying he preferred no cameras or recorders. He added, Please understand that there is stuff that I'm simply not going to talk about. I agreed to no camera but told him I would need a recorder to accurately capture our conversation. He has not yet replied. Jervis is an Austin-based national correspondent for USA TODAY. Follow him on X: @MrRJervis. His book, "The Devil Behind the Badge," which details the 2018 Laredo serial killings, will be released Aug. 6. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Border Patrol serial killer Juan David Ortiz: One mystery remains By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. bank regulator is considering a stricter framework for how large asset managers like Blackrock and Vanguard can prove they are not influencing banks where they hold large stakes. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation voted on Tuesday to advance a proposal for the agency to exert more influence over whether asset managers or other firms building large stakes in banks should receive stricter regulation and oversight. Agency officials also indicated they may launch a review of existing so-called "passivity agreements" with large asset managers, with a focus on boosting FDIC oversight of their commitments to not play an active role in bank management. Under law, third parties that obtain a greater than 10% stake in a bank can be considered a controlling interest in the bank and subjected to stricter regulation and oversight. But firms can avoid those restrictions under "passivity agreements," in which the investor commits to regulators they will not exert influence on the bank. Specifically, the FDIC under the proposal would remove an existing exemption in which it does not review new large investments in banks as long as the Federal Reserve signed off on that approach. "It is highly inappropriate for the FDIC to abdicate the responsibility Congress entrusted to us to safeguard the ownership and control of the banks we supervise," said Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and an FDIC board member. FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg also backed the proposal, which would also seek broader feedback about the role of asset managers obtaining large stakes in banks. Separately, FDIC Commissioner Jonathan McKernan offered a proposal that would have directed FDIC staff to order a review of existing passivity agreements for some large asset managers, and ensure the FDIC has the capacity for monitoring the commitments those firms make. Under his plan, the FDIC would look to strike new agreements with those firms that would do away with the current practice of self-certification by the firms and require FDIC monitoring. However, McKernan did not bring that proposal up for a vote after Gruenberg indicated such action would not require formal board action. Gruenberg added that he is open to reviewing existing agreements, with a focus on ending the practice of self-certification. When asked, Gruenberg said he expected notifications to begin review existing agreements could happen soon. The FDIC action comes amid growing concern among some policymakers over large asset managers' expanding footprint in the banking sector, driven by the growth of index investing, and what it could mean for bank management. In his remarks, Chopra noted that BlackRock and Vanguard collectively control more than $17 trillion in assets, with stakes large enough to trigger stricter oversight. Some FDIC officials expressed concern. FDIC Vice Chairman Travis Hill noted that such a push could reduce investments in banks to the detriment of those firms. A spokesperson for Blackrock declined to comment. Vanguard said in a statement it wants to continue a "constructive dialogue" with regulators over passive investments. Spokespeople for those firms did not immediately provide comment on the FDIC's actions. The industry has been quick to critique this scrutiny, calling it unjustified and burdensome. "It is alarming to see that the FDIC is proposing to revise the current framework in the absence of a clearly identified problem," said Eric Pan, CEO of the Investment Company Institute, which represents asset managers. "We fear that the FDIC is asking the investment funds industry to prove a negative, setting up a flawed foundation on which to impose harmful limits and red tape on investment funds and increase costs on American investors." (Reporting by Pete Schroeder and Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Will Dunham) Patricia Andrade went through a pot of coffee before switching to Coca-Cola as she anxiously watched the Venezuelan election results from her home in Miami. Not that she needed the caffeine. Her anxiety was keeping her awake and fearful that President Nicolas Maduro, who has presided over the collapse of her native Venezuela's once-flourishing economy, would win again and stoke a fresh exodus of her people. Maduro declared victory on Monday, claiming 51% of the vote. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez also declared victory. "The last Venezuelan migrants to arrive told me, if (the opposition) doesn't win, then I'm bringing my family here," said Andrade, who runs a Miami-based nonprofit called Venezuela Awareness, which works on democracy, human rights and migrant aid. "I'm worried about the people who will be coming. Many are planning to leave." More than 7.7 million Venezuelans have abandoned their country in recent years, according to the United Nations UNHCR refugee agency, amid corruption and runaway inflation that has made it impossible for many to make ends meet. Hundreds of migrants arrived on a train in northern Mexico headed for the U.S. border on April 24, 2024. The majority have sought refuge in neighboring countries including Colombia and Peru, but hundreds of thousands have fled to the U.S. southern border, too, provoking repeated humanitarian crises and political problems for the administration of President Joe Biden. The outcome of the election in Venezuela could influence this fall's U.S. presidential contest, analysts say. Should large numbers of Venezuelan migrants beginning arriving again at the U.S.-Mexico border, Vice President Kamala Harris will have to answer for the administration's handling of border security as she pursues the presidency against Donald Trump. Maduro's United Socialist party controls all governmental institutions including the electoral commission responsible for counting votes. He rejected independent monitoring of polling places, despite agreeing to outside observation last year. Biden administration officials, briefing reporters Monday on condition of anonymity, accused the Venezuelan government of "electoral manipulation," according to Reuters. The administration didn't announce any new punitive measures but left the door open for additional sanctions, Reuters reported. Electoral fraud appeared to be "massive, given the turnout, exit polls and polls before the election," Cynthia Arnson, distinguished fellow at the Wilson Center Latin America Program, told USA TODAY. That could stoke a new wave of migration to the U.S., she said. "If Maduro succeeds in stealing the election, its probable that many Venezuelans will see little hope for the future, for them or their families," Arnson said. "The incentive to migrate will be huge." Supporters of Venezuelan opposition protest following the announcement by the National Electoral Council that Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro won the presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela July 29, 2024. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini Thirst for democratic change The thirst for democratic change in Venezuela appeared nearly as powerful as the Maduro's regime's desire to remain in the country's presidential palace, Miraflores. Voters shared videos on social media Sunday night of packed voting stations. In one, a woman wearing a Venezuelan flag as a cape silences the crowd outside a polling site. She read off results from the site allegedly showing Gonzalez with the lead. Someone in the crowd yells, "And the other bastard?" She yells, "Zero!" And the crowd erupts in cheers. By Monday, social media livestreams showed thousands of people taking to the streets of the capital city Caracas chanting, "The people united will never be divided." Venezuelans have been living under the Maduro regime for 13 years. His mentor, Hugo Chavez, won election in 1998 on a populist platform before moving further and further to the left. He remained in power until his death in 2013, when Maduro, his chosen successor, narrowly won office. Maduro's official account on the social media site X uploaded a video Monday of supporters waving small Venezuelan flags as the 61-year-old former bus driver walked by. The account shared messages of official recognition of the results and congratulations from Iran, Russia, China and Nicaragua countries whose own election integrity has been called into question by democratic nations. Venezuelan migration to the US In the past four years alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection logged more than 720,000 encounters with Venezuelan nationals at the Southwest border. The rapid arrival of large numbers of Venezuelans provoked repeated humanitarian crises in border cities, as desperate people arrived without cash or family connections in the United States and overwhelmed the ability of aid organizations to shelter them. El Paso, Texas, was one of the border cities that saw large numbers of Venezuelans cross the U.S.-Mexico border, sometimes by the hundreds. The Biden administrations attempts to clamp down on illegal crossings between ports of entry led families to camp on the Mexican side of the river, waiting for an opportunity, while others sneaked into the country and ended up on the streets of downtown El Paso. Andrade was so alarmed from her perch in Miami that she traveled to El Paso more than once to meet with the newcomers, learn more about what was happening and to see how she could help. The migrants circumstances were more desperate than her own when she left her country for the U.S. more than three decades ago. But she and they shared something in common. We all have scars of what theyve done to us in Venezuela, she said, referring to the Chavez and Maduro regimes. Ive been here 35 years, but my heart is there just the same. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Venezuela election unrest could drive migrants to US border By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -Wells Fargo & Co was accused in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday of mismanaging its employee health insurance plan and forcing tens of thousands of U.S. employees to overpay for prescription drugs. The proposed class action filed in Minnesota federal court by four ex-employees of Wells Fargo claims the bank violated a federal law requiring companies to prudently manage employee health and retirement plans. The former employees say that Wells Fargo's health plan pays inflated prices to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who negotiate with drugmakers, health insurance plans and pharmacies to set prescription drug prices and decide which drugs will be included on their so-called formularies lists of drugs covered by insurance. The plan, for example, paid more than $69,000 for a tube of cancer medication bexarotene that cost as little as $3,750 at other pharmacies, and a markup of nearly 400% on generic "specialty drugs" used to treat certain conditions, according to Tuesday's lawsuit. PBMs are facing increased government scrutiny over their role in escalating costs of prescription drug. Wells Fargo in a statement said it was reviewing the lawsuit. "Wells Fargo provides an array of benefits to our employees, which are provided to support the health of our employees and their families," the company said. The lawsuit is the latest to accuse employer-sponsored health plans of failing to negotiate lower prices for drugs on behalf of participants, as prescription drug costs continue to rise sharply in the United States. Johnson & Johnson is facing a proposed class action filed in New Jersey federal court in February claiming the company's mismanagement of a health plan cost workers millions of dollars in overpayments on drugs. The company has moved to dismiss the case, arguing that its plan has actually saved participants money and that the named plaintiff lacks legal standing to sue. Tuesday's lawsuit proposes a nationwide class of Wells Fargo health plan participants and beneficiaries that could include tens of thousands of people, and seeks unspecified damages and statutory penalties. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Matthew Lewis) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's first ever newsroom meteorologist. He can be reached at justin.ballard@houstonchronicle.com. He brings five years of experience forecasting tropical systems, severe weather outbreaks, and blizzards to the Houston Chronicle. His unique experience in forecasting will serve him well in his role at the Chronicle, as Houston has experienced a number of impactful weather events in recent years. Justin looks forward to his work with the Houston Chronicle, where he'll be responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he is excited to tackle more in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas. A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2017. At the Guangzhou headquarters of the e-commerce giant for made-in-China products, hundreds of shopkeepers staged a protest that led the company to request police intervention. At the root of the discontent are trade policies that impose heavy penalties for products criticised by consumers and the policy of refunds without returns that passes the entire cost on to suppliers. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Hundreds of local suppliers of Temu, the overseas shopping app run by Chinese multinational PDD Holdings, staged a protest at the e-commerce giant's headquarters in Guangzhou, denouncing the platform's unreasonable policies. Dozens of protesters stormed PDD's office on Monday afternoon, according to videos posted on social media and confirmed as authentic by the traders. Chinese media outlet Yi Magazine reported on Tuesday that about 80 traders entered the PDD office, but left after the police intervened. This is not the first time traders have protested against Temu. They were unhappy with how Temu handled after-sales issues related to the quality and compliance of their products, disputing an amount of several million yuan, reads a company statement that does not directly refer to the 29 July protest. The situation is stable and the company is actively working with the traders to find a solution, the note continues. The actions of Chinese suppliers could increase the uncertainty around Temu, which today also has to deal with import duties imposed by the US and the European Union. Temu competes with Shein and TikTok Shop, as well as Alibaba Group's AliExpress, in selling made-in-China products directly to foreign buyers. With massive online advertising campaigns, Temu is expanding its sales to consumers in the US and other foreign markets at bargain prices. But many Chinese suppliers complain about the heavy fines imposed on them if customers complain or ask for refunds. Temu allows consumers to keep items refunded because of the high cost of returning goods, but some merchants have stated that they have not received any refunds in such cases. A Guangzhou-based trader told the South China Morning Post that he had made 40 million yuan (US.5 million) in sales on the platform last year, but had been fined 3 million yuan by Temu due to refunds and customer complaints, thus wiping out almost all of his profits. A mobile phone seller based in Shenzhen claimed to have suffered losses of about USD 80,000 through Temu, including fines and unpaid funds for products sold. To which should be added a loss equivalent to about 200 units of smartphones due to the no-return refund policy. The trader pointed out that Temu can fine traders up to five times the sales value of the product. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly has a strong record on immigration and Kamala Harris could use that in a running mate. (Harris: AP Photo/Alex Brandon. Mark Kelly: Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images.) Houston Chronicle Staff Donald Trump will make this election about the border. Kamala Harris can turn a vulnerability into a strength by selecting Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly as her vice president. Swapping a worse-for-wear 81-year-old white man for an energetic and (relatively) young Black woman at the top of the Democratic ticket has dramatically shifted the dynamics of the race in the Democrats favor. Harris does well with her fresh visage and soaring vision of freedom, but there is a down-to-earth issue she must confront: Trump will, as he did successfully in 2016, pound his drum on immigration, that thorniest of U.S. domestic issues. The best way for Harris to fight back is to put Kelly at her side. Democrats are vulnerable on immigration and its festering sub-issue, the border. In multiple polls, Republicans regularly score better on immigration than Democrats, and according to a recent Gallup poll, for the first time in two decades a majority of Americans want less immigration 55%, up from 41% a year ago. And Harris is especially vulnerable on the issue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Within an hour of President Joe Biden dropping out of the race, the Republican National Committee posted to X a clip of Harris saying, Weve got to critically re-examine ICE. And we need to probably think about starting from scratch. The RNC asserted the comment placed Harris squarely in the Abolish ICE Movement. Whats more, Harris greatest responsibility as Bidens vice president was addressing the root causes of migration from the Northern Triangle countries of Central America. The role saw Harris urging U.S. corporations to make financial investments in the Northern Triangle, which would, in theory, create jobs and stanch the push factors driving migration from those troubled countries to our southern border. By February 2023, Harris secured investment pledges of $4.2 billion from the likes of Mastercard, Visa, Nestle and Target. But Republicans used this limited assignment to dub Harris Bidens border czar and tar her with responsibility for a record surge of migration to the southern border. Putting Kelly on the Democratic ticket would serve as a bulwark against Republican attacks that Harris is weak on the border. Though Kelly is unequivocally committed to a humanitarian approach to immigration he supports making DACA protections permanent and passing the DREAM Act, and was appalled by Trumps family separation policy he has distinguished himself from most elected Democrats by his intense and anguished efforts to improve border security. Indeed, what Kelly has been able to do so forcefully is to bring border security and its reverberations forward as separate and distinct from other equally complex immigration issues. He argues, for instance, that migrant surges along the southern border are not just overwhelming the federal immigration system, but straining border municipalities that must reckon with a steady influx of new arrivals. In 2021, he joined a coalition of border-state senators, including Republican John Cornyn of Texas, in co-sponsoring a bill aimed at reimbursing border communities for the cost of rendering humanitarian services to migrants. After Bidens first address to Congress, in which he pledged to address the root causes of immigration from Central America, Kelly criticized Biden for not giving more focus to the immediate situation on the border, which the senator has repeatedly described as chaos, a mess and crisis after crisis. And in a debate with his Republican opponent in the 2022 senatorial election, Kelly called Bidens attempt to end Title 42 dumb, saying such an action would create a bigger crisis at the border. But far from just lending Harris a bit of daylight between herself and Bidens border record, Kelly has proven an effective critic of Republicans when it comes to border issues. Earlier this year, after Senate Republicans walked away from a bipartisan bill that would have dramatically strengthened border security, Kelly tore into his Republican colleagues on the Senate floor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My Republican colleagues have stood on this floor, giving speeches pointing fingers at President Biden, said Kelly. President Biden supported the bipartisan border bill, they did not. In fact, one of my Republican colleagues said in his floor speech the other day that he hasnt seen the two Arizona senators on this floor giving speeches about the border. To that senator, I say this: Thats because were not here to just talk about the problem, were here to do something about it. Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts called the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate carmakers that sell user data. The senators emphasized that several automakers conduct a controversial practice of selling user data without any consent from their customers. Read Also : Tesla Warns Users Against Wet Towel Charging Hack Senators Seek Probe on Alleged Selling of User Data The senators sent a letter to the FTC, addressing several concerns about the selling of Americans' driving data to data brokers. It also mentioned a recent public awareness of the situation after the New York Times report. Three big auto manufacturers, GM, Honda, and Hyundai, were classified in the letter. The office of Wyden conducted a follow-up oversight on the companies and discovered that they share data with data broker Verisk Analytics. Once the drivers' data is sold to Verisk, the broker company will then sell the reports to auto insurance companies. Some of the information includes the customer's location data, driving score, and driving suggestions. Senators Accuse Automakers of Using 'Dark Patterns' FTC defined dark patterns as the usage of manipulative designs to push services to its customers and obtain consent to share data. The commission previously revealed that the practice is commonly used by big companies, including Amazon and Adobe, which are both under investigation. The senators detailed that customers are lured to enroll in the optional Driver Feedback Program or Smart Driver Program. The lengthy terms and conditions have buried the statement that Verisk would receive their data once they agree. "It is particularly insulting for automakers that are selling cars for tens of thousands of dollars to then squeeze out a few additional pennies of profit with consumers' private data," the senators wrote. 30 July 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more President Ilham Aliyevs adept management of Azerbaijans oil strategy has propelled the country onto a prominent trajectory, establishing it as a significant global gas exporter. At the heart of this achievement is the Southern Gas Corridor, a landmark project spearheaded by Azerbaijan under President Aliyevs guidance, demonstrating the nations capacity to undertake and deliver on major international energy initiatives. Strategically located as a critical link between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is endowed with extensive natural, geographical, and cultural resources. The countrys rich history of natural resource extraction is underscored by its substantial oil and gas reserves, with its territory being among the oldest oil-producing regions globally. Through the Southern Gas Corridor, Azerbaijan supplies gas to Europe, with the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) representing the European segment of this corridor. TAP's transmission capacity has now reached 12 billion cubic meters per year. From January to June of this year, Azerbaijan exported 6.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe, marking a 12.3% increase from the same period in 2023. Overall, Azerbaijan's gas exports totaled 12.7 billion cubic meters in the first half of this year, reflecting a 6% increase compared to the previous year. Specifically, 5 billion cubic meters of gas were sold to Turkiye, and 1.3 billion cubic meters to Georgia, with both figures remaining steady compared to the previous year. During this period, approximately 2.8 billion cubic meters were transported to Turkiye via the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP), maintaining the same level as last year. The completion of TAP in October 2020, stretching 878 kilometers550 km through northern Greece, 215 km through Albania, 105 km across the Adriatic Sea, and 8 km into Italyhas been a major milestone. Azerbaijani gas began reaching consumers in Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria on December 31, 2020. Natural gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field is transported to Turkiye through the South Caucasus Pipeline (Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum) and TANAP, with commercial gas transportation via TANAP commencing on June 30, 2018. The first gas entered the Turkish market through the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline in 2007. Looking ahead, Azerbaijan plans to significantly boost its gas exports to Europe. As a pivotal player in the European energy market, the country aims to enhance its role in Europes energy security by expanding natural gas exports while also focusing on renewable energy sources like solar and wind. The Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy signed last year between Azerbaijan and the European Union underscores a robust cooperative framework. This agreement not only strengthens energy ties between Azerbaijan and the EU but also addresses the EUs energy demands and security needs, laying the groundwork for long-term economic relations between Azerbaijan and European nations. The "Shah Deniz" field in Azerbaijans Caspian Sea sector holds confirmed reserves estimated at approximately 1.2 trillion cubic meters. This substantial reserve base, alongside the discoveries of the "Umid" and "Babek" fields, significantly boosts Azerbaijans gas potential. Currently, the field produces an average of 3.1 million cubic meters of gas and 470 tons of condensate daily from four operational wells. Since production began in 2012, approximately 6.7 billion cubic meters of gas and 1 million tons of condensate have been extracted. Plans are underway to drill and operationalize two additional wells from the "Umid-1" platform. These new gas fields enable Azerbaijan to expand its gas exports while integrating renewable energy sources into its production. As the principal partner of the European Union in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan plays a critical role in transporting Caspian Sea gas to the EU market via the Southern Gas Corridor. This corridor, comprising the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), is the largest infrastructure project designed to meet the EUs gas demand and bolster its energy security. The SCP, which runs through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Turkish border, has been expanded. TANAP, stretching 1,850 kilometers across Turkiye, connects the Caspian region to European markets. TAP, extending approximately 878 kilometers, connects to TANAP with an initial capacity of 10 billion cubic meters and a potential capacity of 20 billion cubic meters. TAP represents the final segment of the Southern Gas Corridor, delivering Azerbaijani gas to European consumers. Azerbaijan aims to increase its gas exports to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027 through the 3,500-kilometer-long Southern Gas Corridor pipeline. This expansion will enhance Europe's energy diversification and reduce its reliance on other gas suppliers, mitigating geopolitical risks. With confirmed gas reserves of 2.6 trillion cubic meters and predicted reserves of about 3 trillion cubic meters, Azerbaijan is positioned as a reliable and crucial energy supplier for Europe. President Ilham Aliyev has highlighted the pressing need for additional gas in Europe, noting that despite Azerbaijan's efforts to expand its gas infrastructure, European financial institutions have not provided the necessary funding. Azerbaijan recently signed an agreement with a Slovenian company, making it the ninth partner to purchase Azerbaijani gas. However, President Aliyev pointed out that while Europe demands an expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor from 16 billion to 32 billion cubic metersnecessitating significant investments in TANAP and TAPEuropean financiers have yet to support these projects. He expressed frustration that despite Azerbaijans substantial investments, the benefits are not fully realized, and the revenue generated is largely directed toward repaying these investments. Aliyev questioned the rationale behind investing billions in gas that Europe might not need in the future, emphasizing the critical role of fossil fuels in the present energy landscape. The recent increase in natural gas prices on the European market, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, underscores the urgency for additional energy sources. With the current gas export agreement between Russia and the EU set to expire next year, Europes need for alternative energy supplies becomes even more pressing. Azerbaijan, with its vast oil and gas reserves, has been a focal point in the global energy landscape. Two major fields, "Shah Deniz" and "Umid," have recently been discovered, further enhancing Azerbaijan's gas potential. The countrys oil and gas fields are predominantly located in the Absheron Peninsula, the Caspian Sea shelf zone, and the Baku and Absheron archipelagos, with additional deposits found in southeastern Shirvan, Central Aran, Gobustan, Jeyranchol, Acinohur, and Siyazan regions. Azerbaijan's oil and gas resources, including shale and peat, are crucial, with hydrocarbons being the primary product. Over the past few decades, numerous gas-condensate deposits have been identified and developed. Currently, Azerbaijan has eight active oil and gas regions and two promising areas, with the largest deposits located in Absheron, Baku archipelagos, and Ashaghi Kuryan regions. Expanding gas exports will not only boost Azerbaijan's economy but also positively impact regional development. The Southern Gas Corridor has already created jobs and spurred economic growth in Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and transit countries. Increased gas exports will further contribute to Azerbaijans socio-economic development, support infrastructure projects, and improve public services. Thus, enhancing gas exports through the Southern Gas Corridor is crucial for regional energy security and economic stability. Currently, Europe's underground gas reserves are at 84.12 percent capacity, and Russia supplies 41.9 million cubic meters of gas per day. With the agreement between Russia and the EU on gas exports set to expire in 2025, Europe will need alternative sources to secure its energy needs. One potential alternative is Azerbaijan, which is a key player in the Southern Gas Corridor, including the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The gas fields in Azerbaijans Caspian Sea, such as Shah Deniz, Umid, and Absheron, could play a crucial role in diversifying Europes energy supply away from Russian gas. President Ilham Aliyev has mentioned that Azerbaijan's gas production is expected to increase to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027. However, he has also pointed out that despite Europes desire to expand the Southern Gas Corridor, Europe has not provided financing for this expansion. Azerbaijan has yet to fully benefit from its investments in this infrastructure, and its oil and gas revenue is primarily focused on paying off these investments. This highlights a significant challenge: while Azerbaijan can potentially enhance Europes energy security by providing an alternative source of gas, the financial and strategic challenges related to infrastructure investment and the lack of European support might constrain its ability to fully assume this role. In summary, Azerbaijan has the potential to bolster Europe's energy security by offering a reliable alternative to Russian gas. However, the extent of its impact will depend on overcoming investment challenges, securing European financing, and effectively managing the economic pressures of developing and expanding the Southern Gas Corridor. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 11:33 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The inauguration of a 100 kW solar power plant on Lake Boyukshor marked a significant milestone in the "Knowledge Exchange and Technical Assistance for Floating Solar Panel Systems" project, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Energy and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Azernews reports. During the ceremony, Javid Abdullayev, Director of the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources under the Ministry of Energy, highlighted Azerbaijans ongoing commitment to reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. He emphasised the countrys ambitious renewable energy initiatives under President Ilham Aliyevs leadership. Notably, the commissioning of the Garadag Solar Power Station has led to a remarkable eightfold increase in solar energy production over the past six months. The newly launched floating solar power plant is projected to generate over 160,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, with 95 kW of capacity installed on water and 5 kW on land. This pioneering project not only demonstrates the potential of integrating solar technology with water bodies but also serves as a catalyst for attracting private investment. Discussions are already underway regarding its expansion. Candice McDeigan, Head of the ADBs Permanent Representation in Azerbaijan, underscored the importance of the project. "ADB's technical support for floating solar energy projects in Azerbaijan is a key component of our regional initiative. The launch of this innovative facility, just ahead of COP29, highlights its role in increasing green energy sources in Azerbaijan, optimising the dual use of water and solar resources, diversifying the energy sector, and reducing emissions." Additionally, the project includes plans for training programs focused on the operation and maintenance of the solar power plant, further enhancing local expertise and sustainability. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 12:35 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more A meeting took place between Luca Di Gianfrancesco, the Italian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan, and Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijans Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azernews reports. During their discussion, they focused on the preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which Azerbaijan is set to host later this year. The meeting provided a platform for exchanging views on the ongoing preparation process, addressing logistical considerations, and aligning on key environmental goals and strategies for the conference. The dialogue underscored the importance of international collaboration in ensuring the success of COP29, which aims to tackle critical global climate issues and advance international climate agreements. The meeting highlighted the active role of Azerbaijan and its international partners in advancing climate action and fostering meaningful discussions during the conference. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 13:19 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The construction sector contributes 21% of environmental emissions in Azerbaijan. This was highlighted by Mukhtar Babayev, President of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, during a round table discussion on "Green Construction in Azerbaijan" held in Baku, Azernews reports. Minister Babayev noted that emissions from the aviation and shipping sectors are around 2%. He emphasized that buildings account for 40% of energy consumption, and construction activities generate significant dust, which can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory issues. The minister also praised the progress of various construction projects in Azerbaijan, citing the "White City" as a notable example of successful development. Additionally, Babayev highlighted the Baku Master Plan, which outlines the citys development strategy through 2040, noting that this forward-looking approach also influences regional development across Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 13:54 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The "Sustainable Green Building Declaration of Azerbaijan" has been officially signed at the "Green Construction in Azerbaijan" event, held in preparation for COP29, Azernews reports. The declaration was endorsed by several members of the COP29 Organizing Committee and leaders from prominent construction companies operating in Azerbaijan. In conjunction with this, the Azerbaijan Sustainable Green Building Leaders Roundtable is taking place. This high-level meeting features top industry figures, including CEOs, ministers, representatives from UAE construction companies, the COP29 President, and the UN COP29 Senior Champion. This significant event aims to foster cooperation and drive sustainable development within Azerbaijans construction sector. It provides a platform to discuss challenges, explore opportunities, and develop favorable policies. The roundtable underscores the critical role of green construction in meeting global climate goals and represents a key milestone leading up to COP29. It sets the stage for impactful business transactions and collaborations that will benefit Azerbaijan and have far-reaching implications beyond its borders. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 12:16 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Gastronomy Day of Western Azerbaijan has been held in Baku with the organization of the State Tourism Agency, the National Culinary Center and the Western Azerbaijan Community, Azernews reports. The main purpose of the event is to demonstrate a part of the ancient and rich examples of gastronomic culture, unique dishes, regional traditions and folklore examples of Western Azerbaijan. The National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played at the event, which was attended by representatives of international organizations and embassies operating in Azerbaijan, as well as well-known public figures. The Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Nagiyev stressed the importance of the development of gastrotourism. He underlined that the work in this direction includes the holding of gastronomic tours and the reviving of forgotten recipes, thus protecting biodiversity and achieving recognition of local gastronomy. Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community Aziz Alakbarli hailed the attention paid to the Western Azerbaijani cuisine. He noted that Western Azerbaijanis have created a very rich material, cultural and spiritual heritage in their historical lands where they have lived for centuries, adding that this heritage is not only a part of the Azerbaijani people, but also a part of human culture and world heritage. Chairman of the Board of the Western Azerbaijan Community said that in the 20th century, West Azerbaijanis were repeatedly deported from their homeland - current Armenia, and as a result, their material and non-material heritage was damaged. Aziz Alakbarli said that it is everyone's duty to investigate, study, study, protect, restore and transfer this heritage to future generations as an urgent problem of the day. He also expressed the readiness of the Western Azerbaijan Community to cooperate with the relevant international organizations that are directly responsible in this matter. During the event, the guests tried the dishes of Western Azerbaijani cuisine, including Basus dolma, Alayazli Khan pilaf, sucuq, etc. The history of the presented dishes and the special ingredients used were reported in Azerbaijani and English languages. Also, "Tnzr", "Qaladan-qalaya", "Agbaba" varieties of Yalli dance. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Culture Minister Adil Karimli has paid a visit to Gadabay district, Azernews reports. As part of his visit, the minister met with Gadabay citizens at Heydar Aliyev Center, operating in the district. After the reception, Adil Karimli visited a number of cultural institutions in the city, including Ashiq School, Children's Art School, the Cultural Center, the Museum of History and Local History. He also got acquainted with the activities of the children's department of Gadabay Central Library System. Furthermore, Adil Karimli inspected folklore club, musical school and library of Gadabay's Slavyanka village. Relevant tasks and recommendations were given regarding the elimination of existing problems in the enterprises and the efficient organization of activities. Gadabay is home to a plethora of astounding natural attractions, historical monuments that are sprinkled all over the region. Diverse and often unique flora and fauna create an unforgettable experience for the visitors. Gadabay is home to four majestic forests: Govdu, Godekdere, Gamish, and Shamlig. Namerd Gala, also known as the Maiden Tower, is a must-visit place for history buffs. Gadabay is also home to the ancient Albanian Mahrasa Temple. This ancient temple was one of the central temples in the Albanian province of Girdiman. Next to the temple, there is a building that resembles a caravanserai. Some historical sources say that Mahrasa functioned as one of the great temples of fire worship. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 11:00 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more Under President Ilham Aliyevs instructions, Azerbaijan initiated another phase of relocating residents to the city of Shusha, resettling 21 families (79 people), Azernews reports. With this latest relocation, the total number of families resettled in the city reaches 147, comprising 570 individuals. Azerbaijan has launched ambitious initiatives for the rehabilitation and repopulation of its recently liberated territories, emerging from devastation. The country's comprehensive efforts are aimed not just at rebuilding infrastructure and homes but also at revitalising communities and encouraging the return of displaced populations. Through these extensive programs, Azerbaijan seeks to restore not only physical structures but also to foster hope and resilience among its people as they reclaim their ancestral lands and embark on a journey of renewal and growth. The "Great Return Program," dedicated to facilitating the relocation of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their permanent homes in the liberated territories, is in full swing. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 11:27 (UTC+04:00) President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "Your Highness, Dear Brother, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, it is my pleasure to extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you, and through you, to your brotherly people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Morocco. We attach great importance to the development of ties of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Morocco, which are based on good traditions. I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to further strengthen our interstate relations and expand our cooperation in areas of mutual interest in line with the interests of our peoples. On such a remarkable day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your activities, and your brotherly people everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 27 July 2024" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 14:44 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more A new consul general of Georgia has been appointed to Azerbaijan's city of Ganja, Azernews reports. The head of the Ganja city executive authority, Niyazi Bayramov, held a courtesy meeting with the newly appointed consul general of Georgia to Ganja, Kakha Abdaladze. Before the meeting, they visited the monument of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and laid flowers at its base. Niyazi Bayramov congratulated the consul and wished him success in his future endeavours. During the conversation with the consul, the city leader spoke about the history of ancient Ganja and its industrial and economic potential. He mentioned that currently, the city is home to large industrial enterprises such as the "Ganja Automobile Plant" Production Union, "AzerAluminum" JSC, "Ganja Wine - 2," and others. Additionally, it was highlighted that, as of yesterday, the first industrial explosives production plant, launched by "AzerBlast" LLC, a subsidiary of "AzerGold" CJSC, has started operating at full capacity. The executive head also spoke about the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia. He noted that last year, a memorial plaque was installed on the facade of the Javadkhan Office Museum building, where the prominent Georgian writer Nikolos Baratashvili once worked. Kakha Abdaladze expressed his gratitude for the warm meeting. He noted that the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples have historically maintained friendly relations. The cooperation established between the regions of both countries also contributes to the development of these relations. During the conversation, steps that could be taken to expand these connections were discussed. At the end of the meeting, mutual commemorative gifts were presented, and photographs were taken. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 15:02 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The fifth round of meetings between the special representatives for the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkiye, Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Klc, is taking place at the Armenia-Turkiye border, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. It should be noted that earlier, it was reported that the negotiations would take place in the morning on the Armenian side and in the afternoon in the territory of Turkiye. Additionally, it had been announced that the meeting of the special representatives would be held on July 3. It should be recalled that the initiative to open the borders between Turkiye and Armenia was first proposed by the Armenian authorities. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioned this during the discussion of the report on the implementation of the government's 5-year (2021-2026) program for 2023 in the country's Parliament. According to him, appropriate efforts should be made in this direction. "I can't help but touch on a socio-psychological nuance here. It is very important to note that I am not talking about the Armenia-Turkiye disputes, but about the relations between Armenia and Turkiye. These two formulas have common features." The prime minister especially noted that relations between Armenia and Turkiye are currently on hold. "Armenia is waiting for the implementation of the agreements reached and officially registered. In particular, we are talking about opening the land border between Armenia and Turkiye for citizens of third countries and persons with diplomatic passports. In addition, it should be noted that with this initiative, Armenia is trying to restore relations with Turkey outside of Azerbaijan. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his speech that the restoration of relations between Turkiye and Armenia is possible after the signing of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan. Recall that the borders between Turkiye and Armenia have been closed since April 3, 1993. After Armenia's occupation of Garabagkh, Turkiye closed its borders, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were suspended. However, in July 2022, the Turkish Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced that the two countries, in the context of a general thaw of their relationship, plan to reopen the border "at the earliest possible date," albeit only for third-party nationals. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 20:11 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The volatility in decisions made by Armenia's leadership over the past four years regarding the issue of peace reflects the country's unstable position in the South Caucasus. In February of this year, Yerevan handed over mine maps planted in Garabagh to Baku, but later, these maps turned out to be inaccurate. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took steps towards peace by returning four villages in Gazakh to Azerbaijan, but later rejected the UK's peace proposal and avoided a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, which reflects Yerevan's inconsistency in politics. Interestingly, when they fail to get support from the West, Nikol Pashinyan and other Armenian politicians talk about the importance of peace in the South Caucasus, expressing readiness to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. However, a small amount, like 10 million euros from Europe, is enough to divert Yerevan from peace. The pro-Armenian political trend in the West, particularly in France, is spreading to other countries. Greece and Southern Cyprus, which have historically supported Armenia's provocations, also follow this trend, considering themselves among the "great powers." If we look closely, the history of institutions supporting Armenia's genocides, separatist acts in Garabagh, and provocations at the border after the war is as dark and dirty as that of Armenia's prospects for peace. For example, France, a country that built its wealth on the slave trade for centuries and conducted colonial policies in Africa, committing genocides, now defends Armenia more than Armenians themselves. Greece, for many years, has made territorial claims against Turkiye and commemorates the so-called Armenian genocide annually while also supporting the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Southern Cyprus is known internationally as a criminal offshore zone and was the area where the leaders of the illegal regime in Garabagh laundered their dirty money. Interestingly, it is one of the most ardent defenders of Armenia's territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. Why are all of Armenia's supporters so biased? Yesterday, Armenia's Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, met with his counterpart from so-called Southern Cyprus, Konstantinos Kobos. The meeting also discussed the normalisation process of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Kobos talked about the importance of protecting Armenia's territorial integrity and mentioned that peace starts with respecting a territorial integrity of a country. He also subtly suggested that Azerbaijan is implementing "coercion tactics" against Armenia. It's curious why the Cypriot Foreign Minister, with such reverence for Armenia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, has never commented on the genocides and provocations carried out by Armenia on Azerbaijani lands for nearly 30 years. However, it is unrealistic to expect a fair stance regarding the stalled peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia from a country blended with provocations and genocides, and particularly hatred towards the Turkic nation. It is no secret that the states that now advise Armenia once caused great uproar and committed genocides themselves. It should be remembered that the division of Cyprus in 1974 was caused by the attempts of radical members of the Greek community to annul Cyprus's independence and deport Turks to unite the island with Greece. Note that since 1955, Turkish areas in major cities, villages, and sacred and religious sites have been attacked by EOKA. Defenceless citizens were brutally murdered simply because they were Turkish. These attempts were the same as Armenia's expulsion of more than 1 million Azerbaijanis from Garabagh. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Armenia's supporters are like-minded. The main issue here is not with whom Armenia collaborates or the baseless claims and provocative statements made against Azerbaijan within these collaborations. As Yerevan gains support from these institutions, it casts a shadow over the peace negotiations achieved with Baku so far. This directly reignites the smouldering conflict in the South Caucasus. When Armenian leadership receives orders from outside, they provoke at the border with Azerbaijan, and the institutions controlling Pashinyan's administration support these provocations. Now, no country that encourages and emboldens Yerevan to go to war with Azerbaijan will protect Armenia against Azerbaijan in a potential war in the South Caucasus. It is worth noting that the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, which began during the Tsarist Russian period, is closer to peace than ever for the first time. Armenia's return to a policy of provocation after this development could lead the region's fate to disaster. Because a third war in the region which Armenia desires could result in the defeat and even disintegration of Armenia, which is already in an economic and social plight. Currently, the most logical path for Yerevan is not to test Azerbaijan's patience by relying on the nominal support of its foreign patrons, but to continue peace negotiations as soon as possible. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 20:17 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The decision to deploy American missiles on German territory in 2026 requires the consent of the majority of the country's population. This opinion was expressed by the former Minister of Economy and Energy of Germany (2013-2017) and former Foreign Minister (2017-2018) Sigmar Gabriel, Azernews reports. "What worries me is not the very intention [of the United States] to deploy [missiles on German territory], but the fact that there is no public debate in Germany on this issue. Increasing defense capability with the help of such weapons systems always requires one thing: understanding by our population the reasons for their deployment and at least the consent of the majority", - he said in an interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper. The politician also expressed confidence that not only in the Social Democratic Party of Germany, to which he belongs, but also among the population of the country, many have a negative attitude towards the plans of Berlin and Washington to deploy American missiles in Germany. Gabriel stated that, despite this, the decision on missiles "was simply made." On July 10, the White House press service announced that the United States will begin deploying new longer-range fire weapons in Germany from 2026 than currently deployed in Europe. Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said these plans increase the likelihood of a missile arms race and could lead to an uncontrolled escalation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 21:22 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Non-governmental organizations funded from abroad in Georgia will start registering in the register on August 1, Azernews reports. According to him, the Ministry of Justice of the country has established this register in accordance with the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence", which was adopted by Parliament on May 14 in the third reading. The law applies to NGOs and the media, more than 20% of whose funding comes from abroad. They will be required to submit a declaration of income and expenses to the Ministry of Justice in January of each year. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the law on May 18, but Parliament overcame it on May 28. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 July 2024 23:35 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin announced the allocation of $500 million to strengthen the defense of the Philippines, Azernews reports. Blinken and Austin made the announcement after talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila. It is noted that the allocated amount will be used to modernize the Philippine army, the border guard service, as well as to strengthen cooperation with the United States in the field of security. "Our countries and many other countries in the region share concerns about some of the actions that China is taking. We are talking about actions in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, which are aimed at escalation," Blinken said at a press conference. He also said that the United States would provide assistance to the Philippines if the forces of this Asian country were attacked in the Pacific Ocean. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Nearly 1,000 surgeries have been allegedly canceled after Modesto, Calif.-based Doctors Medical Center was cited in June for immediate jeopardy by CMS, according to a July 26 letter from California Assemblymen Heath Flora and Juan Alanis obtained by Becker's. In June, Doctors Medical Center was cited for immediate jeopardy by CMS, allegedly for using certified registered nurse anesthetists to sedate and monitor surgical patients. On July 2, the California Department of Public Health alerted the hospital that it misunderstood the guidance regarding CRNA credentialing, according to the letter. The misunderstanding led to a requirement for hospitals to wait for certain documentation before onboarding or hiring CRNAs, according to the letter. According to the letter, addressed to California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly, MD, the "impacts of this 'misunderstanding' and the misplaced actions of the CDPH Fresno survey team requiring supervision of CRNAs are still being felt in the region," adding that facilities have enacted CRNA supervision out of concern for being negatively impacted like the DMC Modesto. "Given there has been conflicting messaging from agencies, leaders and facilities in the region need affirmation of the applicable state and federal laws and the Nursing Practice Act that CDPH and the survey teams should be relying on," the letter said. "This will ensure patients access to vital services will not be unnecessarily interrupted in the future." The actions have "created a domino effect in the region," the letter added, as 1,000 surgeries were canceled with 80% of those affecting Californians with Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology issued a statement July 25 saying that the move created "havoc for both the facilities and impacted patients." "The impact of politics on patients access to necessary surgeries is intolerable and must stop," the statement said, and the AANA is "Calling for an immediate investigation into the nature of these surveys and statements made by the surveyor Numerous peer-reviewed studies have shown that CRNAs are safe, high-quality, and cost-effective anesthesia professionals who should practice to the full extent of their education and abilities." "The American Society of Anesthesiologists commends the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for their work to identify certified registered nurse anesthetist patient safety deficiencies in two California hospitals," ASA President Ronald Harter, MD, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "...ASAs concerns about the safety of anesthesia delivered by a CRNA without the involvement of a physician are informed by extensive independent literature and are underscored by this recent unfortunate situation." The ASA statement added that the formal CDPH report said that the patients at the hospital did not have an anesthesiologist providing care, "requiring transfer of nine patients to a higher level of care." "As with CRNAs and many of the other valuable healthcare professionals across the state, our responsibility is to ensure the facilities in which they provide care are in compliance with applicable state and federal requirements," the CDPH said in a statement shared with Becker's. "We have an obligation to respond to complaints or allegations of noncompliance to ensure all services are delivered safely to patients, and that they receive the safe, high-quality care they expect and deserve. This can include, but is not limited to, potential incidents involving CRNAs and the care they deliver." Modesto, Calif.-based Stanislaus Surgical Hospital was also found to be out of compliance with certain Medicare conditions of participation following a survey from the California Public Health Department after reports of patient harm. According to The Modesto Bee, dozens of CRNAs have been laid off at the hospital and hundreds of surgeries have been canceled or rescheduled. Becker's has reached out to the Doctor's Medical Center Modesto and will update the story if more information becomes available. Cardiology is one of the fastest-growing specialties for ASCs, and many leaders feel this growth will only accelerate as payers, investors and physicians realize the opportunities. Tracy Helmer, administrator of Mesa, Ariz.-based Tri-City Surgical Centers, a cardiology ASC run by Tri-City Cardiology, told Becker's the migration is "occurring quickly" despite facing payer obstacles. Private equity recently has taken an interest in the specialty due to a low concentration of private equity in cardiology, the nation's aging population, and changes to Medicare and Medicaid rules. Additionally, cardiovascular procedures are less expensive in ASCs than in the hospital outpatient department. For example, catheter placement in the coronary artery for coronary angiography one of the most common procedures costs $382 at an ASC, versus $919 at an HOPD. An obstacle in the migration is staffing. While staffing these facilities is attractive for hospital-based catheterization lab teams, because they can offer a five-day workweek without late evenings or weekends, ASC rates are lower making it harder to pay hospital salaries. "New ASCs developing these specialties need to understand the finite resource level for staff members in their communities compared to regular surgical techs and nurses," Mr. Helmer said. "They need to assess their community's resources to staff these facilities properly." It also requires a different type of staff than ASCs are used to. "It requires critically trained techs, nurses and practitioners who are familiar with the risks, technology and treatments involved," he said. "These may not be present in the standard ASC patient. Things like screening patients differently and having well-trained cardiac rad techs and heart techs are key. You can't put a surgery tech in a catheterization lab or a cardiology case and expect them not to feel uncomfortable." ASC chains are taking note. Optum's ASC arm, Deerfiled, Ill.-based SCA Health, quietly purchased at least two cardiovascular providers in 2023, National Cardiovascular Partners and Pivotal Healthcare. Earlier this year, Marriottsville, Md.-based Bon Secours and Compass Surgical Partners partnered to build a cardiovascular surgery center in Short Pump, Va. Technology is developing quickly as well, bolstering this migration. Mr. Helmer said that he expects cardiology to "develop efficient technologies that handle a variety of cases safely in the outpatient setting," such as ablations, as well as new technology for procedures like valves, which are currently only allowed for inpatient facilities. "We've seen technology and surgical instrumentation develop as a result of moving cases to ambulatory surgery centers," he said. Vendor companies are critical to developing technology that would allow procedures to be performed safely in the ASC setting, he added. ASC leaders are optimistic about the opportunities for cardiology to further migrate cases to the outpatient setting. Alfonso del Granado, administrator and CEO of Covenant High Plains Surgery Center in Lubbock, Texas, told Becker's that cardiology "represents the single largest driver of new cases and new revenues on the horizon nothing else comes close to being able to move the needle as quickly as cardiovascular." Here are seven stories involving colonoscopy or colorectal cancer treatment that Becker's as reported on since July 1: 1. The FDA approved a screening test for colorectal cancer on July 29 that only requires a sample of blood, which can find cancers when they are early stage and usually curable. The blood test, created by Palo Alto, Calif.-based Guardant Health, was able to detect 83% of colorectal cancers in studies, but only 13% of dangerous polyps. Colonoscopies find approximately 95% of these polyps. 2. In the last year, three celebrities have publicly shared their colonoscopy journeys in an effort to encourage people to get checked for colorectal cancer. 3. Along with a 2.8% physician pay cut, CMS is floating several changes to colorectal cancer screening policy in its proposed payment system for 2025. 4. Molecular genetics diagnostic company Mainz (Germany) Biomed submitted an application for breakthrough device designation from the FDA for a colorectal cancer screening test. 5. Medtech company Insign Medical Technology and artificial intelligence company AAEON partnered to develop an AI-assisted endoscopy system. 6. The rate of colonoscopies performed by family physicians decreased between 2016 and 2021, according to a 2024 study published in the Journal of Rural Health. 7. Many patients are still paying out of pocket for colonoscopy bowel prep despite a federal law stating it should be covered by insurance, according to a study led by Eric Shah, MD, at Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan. Hari Mallidi, MD, was drawn to Miami Transplant Institute after hearing about the voluntary pause of its adult heart transplant program. In March 2023, the Miami Transplant Institute's heart transplant program abruptly halted its adult heart transplant program to undergo review by the United Network for Organ Sharing. Investigators visited the transplant center which is jointly run by Jackson Health System, a public safety-net system based in Miami, and the University of Miami's UHealth in April after complaints about poor patient outcomes, including infection and death, following heart transplants, as well as a complaint about poor patient selection for the hospital's left ventricular assist device procedure. In July, the program was cleared of deficiencies and was reactivated . In September 2023, MTI named Hari Mallidi, MD, a thoracic surgeon who heads cardiac surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, as chief of cardiac surgery and program director of heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at MTI, and director of the Jackson Heart Institute in Miami. Dr. Millidi replaced Matthias Loebe, MD, who was released from his duties in February 2024 after the United Network for Organ Sharing said it would investigate at least one patient death. Dr. Mallidi said he talked to senior leadership at MTI to get more insight into the program and the system after hearing about the halt. He became intrigued by MTI, which runs one of the largest transplant programs in the country by volume and the opportunity to work at a public safety net hospital system. "This opportunity offered the chance to manage not just a single program or division within one hospital, but broadly manage cardiovascular care across a large safety net system in Miami," he told Becker's. "This piqued my interest, and the more I explored it, the more interesting it became. The Jackson system is capable of running multiple full trauma operating rooms and transplanting multiple organs simultaneously within a county-based hospital system. This capacity is rare within a safety net system, and I found it remarkable that they could care for the most complex patients, not just one at a time, but multiple patients simultaneously." Dr. Mallidi officially joined the system in November 2023. Since then, he has worked to improve the heart transplant program, but it has not been easy. "I think the experience of going through a pause in the heart transplant program left many people hesitant to embrace change and move forward," he said. "They weren't sure what that was going to look like. That was the most striking aspect of me joining the system concerning heart failure and transplant. It was a program in dire need of attention, but I don't think it was ready for rapid change." Some leadership left the program during the pause, and by the time Dr. Mallidi stepped into his role, the program had only one surgeon left. "This situation required stabilizing, ensuring that patients with emergencies and in need of heart failure care received it while we tried to rebuild the team," he said. "Part of the reason for the issues with adult cardiac heart failure transplant surgery was the distinct silos within the program. Surgeons specializing in transplant, VAD, and ECMO didn't collaborate much with those in adult cardiac surgery. This lack of cross-communication did not serve the patients' best interests." He started by restructuring the cardiology team and eliminating the "siloed care." The work is still ongoing, but Dr. Mallidi said his new priorities for the next few years are to increase capacity across the system, recruit additional surgeons with niche focus in aortic surgery, structural heart disease and end-stage heart failure, and revamp the heart failure program on the surgical and medical sides. EHR vendor Oracle Health, formerly known as Cerner, had a busy July, with a plan to eliminate clicks and the continuation of a big health system partnership. Here are eight updates from the month. 1. Oracle Health plans to go beyond just reducing the number of clicks in the EHR, General Manager Seema Verma wrote July 16 on LinkedIn. "Our prescription has been far bolder and the directive to the Oracle engineers was: 'get rid of the clicks,'" she said. 2. Atlantic City, N.J.-based AtlantiCare and Oracle Health are teaming up for a six-year initiative dubbed "Vision 2030," which includes embedding 20 new solutions and more than 60 capabilities across its organization, the health system's CIO told Becker's for a July 16 story. 3. Lawmakers are concerned that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Oracle Health EHR rollout could require the government to hire many additional staffers, Military.com reported July 25. 4. Oracle Health added 66 new hospitals and 9,279 new beds outside of the U.S. last year, according to a July 8 KLAS Report. 5. Forbes named Oracle co-founder and chair Larry Ellison the fifth-richest person in the world July 1 with a net worth of $173 billion. 6. EHR consulting firm Nordic informed the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services of a workforce reduction that will include reassigning or parting ways with 197 employees, Becker's reported July 8. The company's experts specialize in EHR installations involving Epic, Oracle Health, Meditech and more. 7. In 10 years, EHRs will be more streamlined as companies such as Epic, Oracle and Meditech refine current technology to provider needs and patient demands, predicted Ebrahim Barkoudah, MD, system chief of hospital medicine at Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health, in a July 3 Becker's story. 8. U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, said July 22 that VA pharmacy staff are struggling with Oracle Health's EHR pharmacy software functions. From teaming up with Mayo Clinic to committing to the Biden administration's cancer efforts, here is a look at where EHR giant Epic is extending its partnerships in 2024: Mayo Clinic Epic is collaborating with Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and healthcare artificial intelligence company Abridge to develop a generative AI tool for nurses. Mayo Clinic is in the process of securing patient consent to record their visits with nurses. This data will aid Abridge in developing an AI tool that will be integrated into the health system's Epic EHR. Mayo Clinic aims to begin piloting the platform in clinical settings in early 2025. Press Ganey Epic partnered with Press Ganey to integrate its nurse-sensitive indicators and outcomes into Press Ganey's National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators. Press Ganey's National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators collects and analyzes nursing data from more than 2,000 organizations. The White House Epic was among several EHR vendors to commit to the Biden administration's "Enhancing Oncology Model," which is a part of the larger Cancer Moonshot initiative. The cancer care model, created by CMS, aims to reduce expenses, provide impactful patient-centered treatment and enhance outcomes for individuals confronting a cancer diagnosis. As part of the commitment, Epic voluntarily pledges to incorporate and expedite a specific set of cancer data elements essential for the Enhancing Oncology Model, encompassing crucial details about an individual's treatment history, test results and disease status. Apple Epic Systems is launching an app for Apple's new Vision Pro headset. Epic's app on the Apple Vision Pro will be called the Epic Spatial Computing Concept app. The application description of the app asserts that it enables users to engage with charting, secure chat and In Basket workflows through gestures, voice commands and eye tracking. Sharp HealthCare San Diego-based Sharp HealthCare and Epic have teamed up to investigate healthcare applications for Apple's Vision Pro headset. A recent JAMA network study found that hospital assets decreased 24% after being acquired by private equity. The study comes after a recent Becker's LinkedIn poll found that 50% of respondents feel that PE ownership has a "mostly negative" effect on hospitals. The study used Medicare cost reports from 2006 to 2021 to assess hospitals' total capital assets, region number of beds, year acquired last, rurality, teaching status and Medicaid inpatient discharge shares. It then matched acquired hospitals to 10 non-acquired control hospitals, using exact matching on region, bed-size category, year and nearest neighbor matching on total capital assets for the year acquired. "We analyzed assets of acquired and control hospitals in two years before and after acquisition, using a difference-in-differences event-study specification," the study said. "We used a linear mixed-effects model with year fixed effects and a random intercept term for each matched group to adjust for within-group correlation." Hospitals with total assets outside the 95th and fifth percentiles during acquisition year and those that were acquired after 2019 were excluded from the study. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare-owned hospitals were also excluded from the study due to prior studies that suggested they are "atypical of private equity acquisitions." Here are four findings from the study: 1. Of the 197 hospitals that were acquired, 156 met the criteria to be included and were matched with 1,560 controls. 2. The most acquired hospitals were mainly located in the South with anywhere from 50 to 149 beds. 3. Acquired hospital assets were $91,316,399 during acquisition year, with control assets at $96,450,259. Assets decreased by a mean of 15% for acquired hospitals and 9.2% for controls in the two years after being acquired. 4. Sixty-one-percent of acquired hospitals had reduced capital assets versus controls at 15.5% after two years. Downers Grove, Ill.-based Duly Health and Care has named Chase Hammon CFO. Mr. Hammon joins Duly from Springfield (Ill.) Clinic, where he served as CFO, according to a July 29 news release from the medical group with more than 1,000 physicians in the Chicago area. In his new role, Mr. Hammon will "serve an integral role in bringing continued scalability to the business while driving significant growth," according to the release. Mr. Hammon also previously served as CFO of seven hospitals in the Richmond, Va., area for Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, according to the release. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has reimagined its curriculum to focus on early research involvement, long-lasting mentorship and on topics such as leadership and social justice. The New York City-based medical school will debut the ASCEND curriculum this academic year. The curriculum kicks off with an introductory week for students known as BaseCamp. Students then participate in a foundational module to learn key scientific and clinical skills. During this module, students are paired with a faculty member who will serve as mentors throughout their four years of medical education. "Reflecting on my experience, relationships with my teachers were transient. ASCEND changes that by assigning a dedicated mentor to each student right from the start, fostering a lasting and meaningful clinical mentor-mentee relationship that enhances the learning experience in which our faculty mentors can actually grow with their students. And in this way the partnership becomes that much more powerful," Rainier Soriano, MD, senior associate dean for curricular affairs at Icahn Mount Sinai, said in a July 29 news release. After completing the foundational module, students take classes organized by each organ system, helping them understand how the systems work together and the health consequences if they do not. The program also offers concentrations designed to complement the core curriculum, including scientific and scholarly discovery; advocacy and social justice work; healthcare delivery science; and leadership and professional identity development, according to a July 29 news release. "ASCEND is designed to navigate the abundance of information available, teaching students to discern and absorb what's crucial at the moment it's needed most," Dr. Soriano said. "Students become active partners in their education journey and are encouraged to dive deep in their learning experiences." From a California hospital fighting for bankruptcy eligibility, to a Wisconsin system suing a city over property taxes, here are 10 lawsuits, settlements and legal developments involving hospitals and health systems that Becker's has reported since July 2: 1. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is being investigated by state and federal officials for allegedly illegally billing Medicaid for transgender care. 2. The board overseeing Hollister, Calif.-based Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is seeking to reenter Chapter 9 bankruptcy, arguing that a judge improperly tossed its case based on an "unduly narrow" view of insolvency tests while excluding its pension obligations from the analysis. 3. Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic filed a lawsuit against the city of Eau Claire claiming the city's 2023 property tax assessments on its properties are unlawful. 4. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez launched an investigation into Las Cruces, N.M.-based Memorial Medical Center over alleged essential medical care denial. 5. The Washington State Hospital Association is challenging a newly issued administrative policy from the state Department of Labor and Industries related to meal break compensation. 6. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha filed a motion in Providence County Superior Court to hold Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings in contempt for a refusal to comply with a court order to pay $17 million in unpaid bills to hospital vendors. 7. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago was hit with a federal class action lawsuit over a data breach that affected 792,000 patients. 8. Reading Hospital in West Reading, Pa., filed a class action lawsuit against Hill-Rom, a hospital bed maker, alleging anticompetitive behavior. 9. Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall in Newburgh, N.Y., is facing a $21 million lawsuit filed by an anesthesiologist group that claims the hospital breached an exclusive contract to use the group's physicians for its anesthesia services. 10. In the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning of Chevron deference, Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health filed a lawsuit against HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra challenging what the system calls the secretary's "irrational and unlawful interpretation of the statutes he is entrusted to administer." The American Hospital Association is intensifying its efforts to challenge the Federal Trade Commission's non-compete ban from taking effect. On July 26, the AHA and the Federation of American Hospitals filed an amicus brief in a Texas federal court, urging the court to vacate the final rule. In the brief, the AHA argues that the FTC failed to adequately address the concerns of stakeholders, including the potential for "significant, unintended, and anticompetitive distortions" in the healthcare labor market, and that the agency did not consider more narrowly tailored alternatives. The AHA has previously argued that any noncompete rule should exempt highly skilled, highly paid employees, including physicians and senior executives. If implemented, the FTC's rule would prohibit employers from including contractual terms that prevent them from taking new jobs with certain companies after their current contract ends. The ban was set to take effect Sept. 4, but on July 3, the Texas court approved a preliminary injunction, preventing the rule from being enforced while the court reviews whether the agency has the authority to issue the ban. The court is expected to issue a final ruling on the merits of the challenge by the end of August. "The FTC stands by our clear authority, supported by statute and precedent, to issue this rule," Douglas Farrar, director of the FTC's office of public affairs, previously said in a statement to Becker's. "We will keep fighting to free hardworking Americans from unlawful noncompetes, which reduce innovation, inhibit economic growth, trap workers, and undermine Americans' economic liberty." ChristianaCare has filed a lawsuit to address what it considers constitutional and corporate franchise issues in Delaware legislation that would establish a hospital cost review board. The system, which has headquarters in Wilmington and its principal place of business in Newark, Del., announced the lawsuit July 29. At issue is House Bill 350, which was signed into law June 13 and creates the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board. The board is tasked with reviewing hospital budgets and related financial information, according to the legislature website. Beginning in 2025, hospitals will be required to submit yearly budgets, audited financial statements and related financial information for calendar year 2026 to the board for review. If a hospital fails to meet the state's budget benchmark for increases in hospital costs, it must develop a performance improvement plan. In the lawsuit, which was shared with Becker's, ChristianaCare contends that the law is "antithetical to ChristianaCare's charitable and educational mission, threatens its ability to serve its constituents, violates Delaware law, and infringes on ChristianaCare's fundamental constitutional rights." ChristianaCare argues the law does so by authorizing the "unelected and unaccountable" review board to "override the strategic and budgetary decisions made by the hospitals' duly-elected directors." The health system also argues that the law is unconstitutional "through the take-over of private hospital governance and budgets, by forcing private hospitals to disclose confidential information about its future priorities and strategy, and by unfairly targeting only a few private hospitals." House Bill 350 has faced opposition from some of the state's largest health systems, including ChristianaCare, Dover-based Bayhealth and Lewes-based Beebe Healthcare. Hospital leaders and lawmakers negotiated several provisions of the original House Bill 350 to reduce the immediate harm to healthcare organizations, patients and communities, according to Brian Frazee, CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. "However, DHA and its members remained firmly opposed to some components of the legislation that were not addressed during the legislative process," Mr. Frazee told Delaware Live News.. "DHA supports our members, including ChristianaCare, as they seek a better path forward, and looks forward to continuing working with policymakers and all stakeholders to ensure access to high-quality, affordable care for Delawareans today and for generations to come." The Delaware House of Representatives Republican Caucus told Becker's that it fully supports ChristianaCare's lawsuit and that a revised version of House Bill 350 "was enacted about six weeks ago, giving a politically appointed board full authority over critical hospital spending decisions." Democrats backed by the governor argue that hospital charges are a large portion of state and resident healthcare costs and should be controlled, according to Delaware Live News. ChristianaCare filed the lawsuit in Delaware's Court of Chancery. The rapid proliferation of nurse practitioners programs in the U.S. is spurring concerns about the quality of training for these advanced practice providers and potential consequences for patient safety, Bloomberg Businessweek reported July 24. Nurse practitioners' presence in healthcare is rapidly growing as healthcare organizations look to increase patients' access to care and meet growing demands for healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas. At present, more than 300,000 NPs are practicing nationwide. By 2032, this figure is expected to climb 45.7%, making it the nation's fastest-growing profession and far outpacing the growth of physicians. Dozens of nursing students and professors told Bloomberg Businessweek that NP programs are rapidly sprouting up across the nation amid this increased demand, often graduating thousands of students who are not properly trained to care for patients. Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows more than 600 schools offered advanced nursing degrees in 2022 a figure three times higher than the number of medical schools nationwide. In total, 39,000 NPs graduated from programs in 2022, marking a 50% increase from 2017, according to data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. NP training programs are not standardized, and many students complete coursework entirely online, according to the report. Bloomberg Businessweek reviewed data from the Department of Education and found institutions offering classroom trainings primarily online gave out the most advanced nursing degrees in 2022. While NPs are required to log 500 hours in clinical training time, these hours are often unregulated and many online programs do not help students find appropriate clinical site opportunities, according to the report. Historically, registered nurses primarily sought advanced degrees as a career advancement opportunity. However, as demand for the NP role has increased, many programs now offer direct entry programs, designed to bring in students who have a bachelor's degree but no healthcare experience. At present, the most accelerated programs available prepare these students for licensure exams in just three years. Some professors voiced concerns that a lack of adequate training or extensive clinical hours could put new NPs at risk of making serious, potentially life-threatening medical errors, according to the report. In a letter to the editor published by Bloomberg, AANP President Stephen Ferrara, DNP, defended the quality of care provided by NPs and accused the publication of "cherry picking negative information" about the profession. "Millions of patients across the nation choose NPs as their health-care provider because of the exceptional care they deliver in more than 1 billion visits each year," he told Bloomberg Businessweek. Multiple studies have demonstrated NPs' ability to provide high-quality care in primary, acute and specialty settings, Dr. Ferrara said. He also noted that leading healthcare experts and healthcare policy organizations have assessed evidence on NP care and recommended increasing patient access to these providers, including the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and The Brookings Institution. Read Bloomberg Businessweek's full report here and AANP's full letter to the editor here. The Becker's Hospital Review website uses cookies to display relevant ads and to enhance your browsing experience. By continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you have read, that you understand, and that you accept our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy Providence, a 51-hospital health system with central offices in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif., recently set out to modernize its perioperative processes and support growth across its organization, which spans seven states. As part of those efforts, the health system is scaling a new AI platform for scheduling surgeries. Providence began rolling out iQueue for Operating Rooms by LeanTaas at its Washington and Montana hospitals in 2023 and has since expanded to other regions. The web-based application offers surgeons and staff real-time visibility, accessibility and scheduling of open time for elective surgeries. By digitizing workflows and streamlining the scheduling process, the system has experienced fewer delays, higher levels of patient, surgeon, clinics and staff satisfaction, and improved scheduling accuracy, according to health system leaders. Specifically, Providence has achieved a 30% reduction in unused and unreleased block time after the implementation of the AI scheduling tool. Susan Stacey, BSN, chief executive for the Providence Inland Northwest Washington service area, and Hoda Asmar, MD, executive vice president and system chief clinical officer for Providence, recently spoke with Becker's about this technology and this achievement. Ms. Stacey described block time as being like a standing reservation for a hotel room. Physicians and their clinic staff who need to schedule surgeries and procedures reserve the operating room for a set amount of time. If they don't use all the reserved time and they dont release it, it ends up sitting idle. "The ability to release it early so that someone else in there is crucial. Think of it like that hotel reservation; if you can put somebody else in that room who needs that access, it's better. It's all about serving more patients in the allotted time that we have during regular business hours," said Ms. Stacey. Two connected metrics to unused and unreleased block time are how early block time is released and the percentage of backfill for that time. Providence has increased the early release time frame from within a few days (less than seven days) to up to 28 days, said Dr. Asmar. The current rate of backfill for those released slots is 34%, and it continues to improve month over month. The launch Providence launched its perioperative initiative at the end of the pandemic, around the second half of 2022. Dr. Asmar said the goal was to address pent-up demand for elective surgeries, which had been delayed or canceled during the public health crisis. There were also workforce shortages, particularly of surgical technicians and caregivers who staff the operating rooms. "We brought to the table operational leaders, chief executives like Susan, clinical leaders, anesthesiologists, surgeons," said Dr. Asmar. "And we agreed to a longer-term vision, 'We don't want to just address the current problem. We want to build something to last. We want to achieve modernization and growth in the space, so we can serve our communities better and more timely.'" The group organized around all aspects of the surgical process: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. Then they set foundational work around best practices, key metrics to follow, and benchmarks to follow. During that process, Providence leaders realized the organization was still using traditional scheduling methods, such as phone calls and faxes, for its high-demand operating rooms, Dr. Asmar said. This meant no real-time visibility for stakeholders the surgeons, operating room teams and leaders as far as available schedule slots, and limited ability to make just-in-time changes without delays. They could not easily see available schedule slots or access timely data to make necessary adjustments. However, the application provided an automated and transparent system to do so. Dr. Asmar likened this to a favorite reservation app, such as an airline or OpenTable, where the user can immediately see availability and adjust to it. The effects Once this new system was in place, Providence was able to identify metrics such as the percentage change in unused and unreleased block time. "The new system we're using has created transparency, and I'm a huge believer that if people can see the information, they respond differently than if it's living in a hidden environment where only one person knows what's really going on. That's never good in any setting," Ms. Stacey said. "The level of transparency where everyone's looking at the same information at the same time really lends itself to better utilization just because of that." Still, she acknowledged there were challenges along the way, including the initial difficulty of ensuring that all physicians, especially those practicing at multiple hospitals and managing various block processes, understood how to leverage the system to their benefit. "It wasn't as much a barrier as it was a process that required intentionality and hand-holding early on," Ms. Stacey said. "So that they actually saw it as a good thing. Because, like anything else, you have to use it to understand it." She said there were also some initial challenges early on with the integration of iQueue for Operating Rooms by LeanTaas with the health system's EHR which was resolved timely and effectively. She credited project managers as well as local teams, "because you can't just put something in place and hope it works. It really does take everyone's intentional effort to implement, monitor, and sustain the change." Additionally, she noted the project had an inclusive approach of all stakeholders and involved strong executive leadership in Dr. Asmar. "I was the executive sponsor. And, more importantly, I had full support from the entire senior executive team, [including] our CEO," Dr. Asmar said. Dr. Asmar said she also had a nursing leader subject matter expert, with a background in the surgical space assigned to the initiative full time. And "our physicians, surgeons and anesthesiologists were on board. They were at the table before we even started the conversations with the vendors. This technology is what they wanted to ease their way and serve our patients." The goal was to implement the system in nine months across seven states in more than 420 operating rooms. Dr. Asmar said the vendor had not implemented the technology with that condensed timeline at another large health system, but they were willing to listen, understand the Providence culture, and provide on-site support that would make the project successful. "Everyone knew what's happening, when it's happening, and what we are trying to achieve. It's very rare to implement anything and have no one complainThere were no complaints, just teamwork leading to success," said Dr. Asmar. She described the process overall as a structured change management approach in focusing on a longer-term vision, building the foundational work before implementing a new technology and providing transparency on all aspects of the project. "The technology was a complement and accelerator to operational and clinical excellence versus the driver," she said. Washington and Montana hospitals have been live for more than eight months. Phase two included sites in California, which went live three months ago. The rest of the system went live about two months ago. Meanwhile, Providence tracks data from the project on a weekly and monthly basis, specifically block utilization, released block timing, and backfill percentage and timing. So far, the health system continues to see data track in an ascending trajectory as far as early release and backfill. However, a less obvious effect of the project is how it has shaped surgeons' approach, according to Ms. Stacey. "The perception that I frequently heard [from surgeons] was, 'I can never get OR time.' That was the most common thing I heard routinely," she said. "Now, with data, I can say, 'Here are days when you had the opportunity but didn't fill it. Is there something else we can do?' And that level of transparency has kind of stopped the hyperbole around the perception that [the individual] can never get the time [they] want. This really puts it back in the hands of surgeons and of teams to say, 'Oh, no, wait a minute, there actually is time. I need to work with my team to better utilize the time I have.' "And so that level of transparency has really changed the conversations. It's changed the conversations in our block committees, because we have one source of truth. And we didn't always have one source of truth. It depended what data you looked at as to what the story was. And now we don't argue about that anymore. Now we go, 'OK, this is our source of truth. Now we can make better decisions about block allocation. We can make better decisions about where we put our cases, mornings or nights, Tuesdays or Fridays.' Really looking at it much more strategically." Since 2020, orthopedic surgeon pay has climbed, but the CMS physician conversion factor has steadily decreased over the last four years. Here is how the average orthopedic surgeon pay compares to CMS' physician fee schedule over the last five years: Note: Compensation data was provided by Medscape. 2024 Compensation: $558,000 CMS conversion factor: $32.74 (-3.4%) 2023 Compensation: $573,000 CMS conversion factor: $33.06 (-4.48%) 2022 Compensation: $557,000 CMS conversion factor: $33.59 (-3.73%) 2021 Compensation: $511,000 CMS conversion factor: $32.41 (-10%) 2020 Compensation: $511,000 CMS conversion factor: $36.09 (+0.14%) China's Yangtze River sees third flood of 2024 Xinhua) 10:28, July 30, 2024 BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Affected by Typhoon Gaemi, China's Yangtze River is experiencing its third flood of 2024, the Ministry of Water Resources said on Monday. The flood came as the water level at Lianhuatang hydrological station, one of the major monitoring spots for the main stream's water level in the middle reaches of the Yangtze, reached the warning level of 32.5 meters at 6:50 p.m. Monday. The ministry has made flood-relief deployments, including treatment of dike breaches in central China's Hunan Province. In the meantime, the ministry activated a third-level emergency response to floods in Hunan, and a fourth-level emergency response to floods in the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi, while sending working teams and expert teams to Hunan to provide guidance on flood-prevention efforts. The ministry also urged efforts to strengthen monitoring and early warning for floods, enhance the patrolling of dikes and reservoirs, and guard against small and medium-sized river floods and mountain torrents. China has a four-tier emergency response system for flood control, with the first level being the most urgent response. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) After another inspiring Belfast Pride on Saturday, I have been reflecting on the importance of events like Pride and the role they play in bringing people from different parts of our community together. This weekend, I was delighted and moved to see a crowd of around 75,000 people. I was marching and dancing alongside 150 members of our LGBTQ+ network, Proud at Deloitte, and allies from our Deloitte community. You might have seen us in a sea of colour through the city centre, with banners celebrating identity and inclusion. Taking part in Pride each year is more than marching in solidarity its a reminder to the community about how far we have come together and how far we have yet to go. Ive been thinking back to Pride from 30 years ago, when it was a markedly different experience compared to today. But its incredible how it continues to grow in strength and love every year and it is undoubtedly the highlight of my calendar each year. As someone who has championed diversity and inclusion throughout my career and has watched the parade grow every year, I am encouraged by the way attitudes are changing and how companies are making community and inclusion a priority. One of my proudest moments in my career at Deloitte and in business was in 2018 when, together with other companies in Northern Ireland, we called for the introduction of the equality marriage act. When businesses prioritise creating inclusive environments that value diversity, they are also investing in their communities. And the benefit of building a greater connection with your people has a knock-on effect of attracting top-tier talent and delivering excellent work. I know from my professional experience that having a range of perspectives in a team helps everyone to challenge preconceptions and embrace new ideas. For Deloitte, this is really valuable to help us develop more innovative solutions for our clients. At its core, our business is about human interaction, and making sure everyone feels included and supported is central to everything we do. Employers across Northern Ireland are recognising the benefits that a diverse team brings to their business. They have realised that to attract top talent of a younger generation it has become increasingly important to demonstrate that you are walking the walk on diversity, equity and inclusion, and not just paying it lip service. This is going to be increasingly important as we welcome new generations into the workplace. This year, Deloittes GenZ and Millennial Survey found that 90% of young people in the UK said it is very important to them that their employer shares their values and ethics. And many would consider leaving if they dont measure up to their expectations, explaining that not being aligned would lower their workplace satisfaction and wellbeing. Its part of my remit to make sure were doing all we can so that everyone feels able to be their true authentic self at work and reaches their full potential. Our diversity networks play a huge part in helping to create this inclusive workplace environment. All of our staff receive training and have access to resources that help give them insights into the lived experiences of colleagues from under-represented groups. I have no doubt that our commitment to diversity and inclusion was a key contributor to Deloitte being listed in this years Sunday Times Best Places To Work list. Colleagues in our Proud network make it clear how important allyship is, and I am always incredibly proud myself to see people from all backgrounds supporting the rights and wellbeing of their LGBTQ+ colleagues at Pride marches across the UK and Ireland. Pride in Belfast is a joyful event. But for those employers who take part, it must be about more than just marching in solidarity its about making a real, tangible commitment to enhancing our community as a whole. Jackie Henry is UK managing partner for people and purpose and office senior partner for Belfast at Deloitte The lobby of Da Vinci's Hotel in Derry, which is now under new ownership Da Vinci's Hotel in Londonderry has changed hands, 23 years after it was founded by Garvan O'Doherty Da Vinci's Hotel on Culmore Road, Derry, is now under new ownership A Derry hotel has been transferred to a new company, with tributes being paid to its former owners. Da Vincis on the Culmore Road was opened by the Garvan ODoherty Group in 2001. It has been taken over by Edmund and Patrick Simpson, hoteliers from Co Donegal who own Belfasts Lansdowne and Benedicts hotels. On Facebook, Da Vincis said Monday was the opening of a new chapter as we officially say goodbye to our former owner, the Garvan ODoherty Group. The post said: The Garvan ODoherty Group have, over the years, been wonderful custodians of our amazing hotel, and we wish them every success with their future endeavours. Da Vinci's Hotel in Londonderry has changed hands, 23 years after it was founded by Garvan O'Doherty It added that while the hotel would continue to operate as normal, the kitchen would be running at reduced capacity and is only serving breakfast. Were all incredibly excited here at Da Vincis Hotel to work with our new owners and we look forward to welcoming you all to our wonderful hotel as we embark on our new journey of delivering unparalleled hospitality to the people of Derry and beyond. People posted messages of support, with one saying: End of an era, loved every minute working here. Another said: Had many good times under Garvans management. Look forward to many under new management. The venue has 64 hotel bedrooms and a number of self-contained apartments. Garvan ODoherty Group also owns five off-licences in the north west under the Chill brand, as well as other properties in Derry. The Simpson brothers own Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry, and last year were among a group of businesspeople who acquired Foyle Shopping Centre. They are directors of a number of limited companies, including hotels firm Elmoreton. The lobby of Da Vinci's Hotel in Derry, which is now under new ownership In accounts filed last September, the company reported revenues of 5.1m for 2022, down from 3.1m in 2021. Its pre-tax profits were just under 500,000, down from 1.8m, and it had 123 employees. Two years ago, Mr ODoherty announced plans for a new whiskey distillery and shop in Derry, along with bars, restaurants and shops, at Foyle Street and Shipquay Place. A planning application was submitted for the project by David A. Watt & Co. Ltd, a company within the Garvan ODoherty Group. Anna Doherty, chief executive of Derry Chamber, said the transfer of Da Vincis Hotel to the Simpsons was good news. We know that Patrick and Edmund Simpson are very experienced within the hospitality sector and will bring steady hands to the hotel, which is so important to our local offering, she said. The importance of retaining hotel rooms within Derry city cannot be overstated given how many events, festivals, and conferences the city plays host to throughout the year. Chamber would also like to wish the Garvan ODoherty Group well with their future endeavours, as we are sure that they will continue to play a significant role in our local economy for years to come. Commentator says planned takeover of NI firm may see it extend its range of products Lesley Hughes, who founded the business in 1977 Hughes Insurance has sold its headquarters in Newtownards, after the company moved to a fully remote working model in 2021. The sale of NI insurance firm Hughes to a larger UK company could potentially lead to lower costs and a greater range of products, according to a financial commentator. Hughes is set to be bought by Markerstudy Group, which manages insurance businesses including Carole Nash, Budget, Marmalade insurance and Purely Pets. Markerstudy said the purchase is proof of its commitment to Northern Ireland. Hughes Insurance was owned by US firm Liberty Insurance from 2016 to 2023, when it was sold to Generali Group along with the rest of Libertys personal and small commercial operations in western Europe. In response to the sale of Hughes to Markerstudy, which still has to be approved by the regulator, finance commentator Paul Gosling said: I would hope that becoming a member of a larger group would enable it to benefit from greater scale and economies, bringing down costs and possibly extending the range of products. Lesley Hughes, who founded the business in 1977 Markerstudy groups companies work across a range of different sectors of insurance, including motor, pet and business. The groups brands manage over eight million customers and around 7,000 people are employed by the company. Hughes Insurance was founded in 1977 by Lesley Hughes and is one of the largest insurance firms in the province, with 85,000 customers. Its most recent accounts, for the year ending December 31 2022, showed a pre-tax profit of 2.5m and a turnover of 13.7m. They also said that the company had 246 employees on average per month. Meanwhile, Hughes Insurances former headquarters in Newtownards has been sold after being put on the market in last December. Strangford House on the Jubilee Road is now listed as sold by agents Osborne King. The site includes two interconnected buildings of around 17,000 sq ft and 18,500 sq ft, with a total of 185 car park spaces. According to a selling brochure from Osborne King, the offices have an annual rates bill of around 158,500. It was initially listed at 3m, but just under three months later it was put back on the market for 2.5m. The company had moved to a fully remote working model in 2021 following the shift to homeworking triggered by Covid. Remote employees were to receive a 566 gross annual payment to cover any related remote working expenses. At the time, Hughes said a staff survey showed that 93% did not want to return to traditional working. In March of this year, a spokesperson said Hughes executive team was exploring alternative, more accessible commercial premises that better meet the needs of the business. A new TV show starring Derry Girls actress Louisa Harland will not be renewed for a second season on Disney+. Renegade Nell follows a quick-witted outlaw in 18th century England and launched earlier this year. However, it failed to meet the streaming giants threshold for a renewal which is based on a number of metrics. The cast and crew including Harland who played Orla McCool in Derry Girls have been informed. The series was first announced three years ago was one of the most anticipated projects to be commissioned out of Disney+s UK office. A Disney spokesman told Deadline: Disney+ Original series, Renegade Nell, will not be returning for a second season on the service. Were incredibly proud of the world created by Sally Wainwright and lead director Ben Taylor. "Wed like to thank them, our production partners at Lookout Point, the entire cast led by Louisa Harland and crew for their incredible work on this series, all of whom we hope to work with again in the future. Other cast members include Adrian Lester, Nick Mohammed and Joely Richardson. Harland attracted particular praise for her first lead performance playing a superpowered 18th-century highwaywoman. The Dublin-born actress previously said: Nell is different to Sallys other characters. There are magical elements, but its still quintessentially Sally. She writes real people so well flawed, funny and raw characters you can relate to. She didnt really have to pitch it to me. Sally Wainwright and Disney combined... its everything we never knew we needed. I love this world, with its magic, fantasy and epic fight sequences. I also love the idea that the whole family can watch it. Sally is so great at writing truthful characters and relationships, and shes great at writing for women. Happy Valley writer Wainwright is currently busy working on BBC drama Riot Women which is based on a punk band formed by five women going through menopause. Harland is best known for her role as the hapless Orla in Lisa McGees Derry Girls. Last year she stared in the play titled Ulster American alongside Oscar-nominee Woody Harrelson and The Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis. She portrayed Northern Irish playwright Ruth Davenport on stage opposite Serkis as English director Leigh Carver, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri star Harrelson playing Oscar-winning actor Jay Conway. William and Kate at a Six Nations rugby match at Twickenham in 2007, before they split for two months. Photo: PA Prince William partied with friends and shouted Im free! after calling off his relationship with Kate Middleton in a frank 30-minute phone call, a royal insider has revealed. The Prince of Wales, then aged 25, is said to have ended things with the Princess of Wales after deciding he was too young to settle down, Rob Jobson says in his new biography of Kate which details the couples brief 2007 split. It came about after William, who formed a romantic relationship with Kate as an undergraduate student at St Andrews University, cooled on future plans for the pair amid speculation he was preparing to propose. Im free! he shouted as he slipped into a drunken version of the robot dance, Jobson claimed of the celebration, which took place in Mayfairs Mahiki nightclub. He then told his friends that they should all drink the menu, which they more or less ended up doing. According to reports at the time, the Prince also had his eye on someone else, the socialite Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, but she is said to have rejected his advances because she did not want to be constrained by the inevitable demands of royal life. This did not cool Williams ardour, Jobson explained. He reportedly tried to woo Isabella, visiting her several times at her family home. Despite his evident crush, she apparently rebuffed his advances. Few could have predicted that hed return to Catherine or that shed ever agree to take him back. At the time of the split, they had been an item for five years, having seen their initial friendship blossom into romance when Kate wore a daring black sheer ensemble that showed off her figure at a student charity fashion show in 2002. By the time the pair graduated, rumours of an engagement were swirling, with some members of the press dubbing the future princess Waity Kate because of the length of their relationship without an engagement. After William had cancelled plans around the time of Kates 25th birthday in January 2007, she sensed something was wrong. Jobson wrote: [William] told her they both needed a bit of space to find our own way, and he was unable to promise her marriage. In an emotionally charged 30-minute conversation, they both acknowledged they were on different pages. It was a devastating blow to Catherine, who felt doubly let down at being dumped over the phone. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge But Kates actions after their break-up reportedly made it impossible for the prince to get his university girlfriend off his mind. She was helped by her mother, Carole, who took her on a trip to Dublin to distract her from the heartache. Carole Middleton acted swiftly, taking her heartbroken daughter for a break in Dublin a welcome respite from media scrutiny, Jobson added. On Catherines return, she decided she wasnt going to sit around moping; what was good for the goose was good for the gander. Now in the public eye, she was repeatedly photographed by paparazzi wearing more risque outfits than ever before when she went out with friends, and there was one, in particular, that sealed their eventual reunion. Jobson added: She turned to old friends for support, going on holiday with a girlfriend to Ibiza. They partied long into the night. Back in London, there were soon so many paparazzi shots of Catherine leaving nightclubs often with her sister Pippa that the media dubbed them the Sizzler Sisters. This outfit caught Williams eye at a fancy dress party when [Kate] arrived dressed as a nurse and William had made a beeline for her. However, because of their earlier split, their reunion was initially kept a secret, but William did promise to marry Kate. He finally proposed formally during a holiday in Kenya in 2010, by the side of the turquoise waters of Lake Alice, Jobson wrote. The question wasnt entirely unexpected, of course, but Catherines face lit up with a radiant smile as she said yes. Northern Ireland is set to miss out on the hot weather England has been experiencing Northern Ireland is set to miss out on a heatwave affecting other parts of the UK this week, although temperatures are still expected to reach the mid-20s. On the other hand, Northern Ireland is set to avoid thunderstorms on Thursday that are expected to sweep across England and Wales, where the mercury is set to soar above 30C. Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said: "Northern Ireland is not going to really see the effects of the heatwave, but we should see temperatures in the low-20s and might even squeak out a high of 24C on Thursday. Thats not quite reaching the threshold of 25C or higher for three consecutive days. But it is going to be a relatively pleasant week, so its not a write-off. The meteorologist said the hottest temperatures are expected in eastern areas, including counties Antrim, Down and Armagh. A mixture of sunshine and cloud is predicted on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing temperatures of 21C. Sunny intervals will continue on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures returning to around 20C by the end of the week. Meanwhile, a spectacular meteor shower named Delta Aquariids was expected to be visible in all six counties by 4am on Tuesday as skies cleared. Up to 25 meteors an hour were anticipated to whiz across the sky between midnight and dawn when the Delta Aquariids peaked. "Western counties have the best chance of seeing any meteors in the early hours, Mr Morgan said. "There will be more cloud in eastern parts. However, most places should have clear skies by 4am, so its worth having a look shortly before then no matter where you are. Yellow heat health warnings have been issued across most of England by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). All areas of England, except the North East and North West, have been included in the warning, which is in place until Wednesday. The UKHSA warned that expected hot weather may have significant impacts on the health and social care sector across the South East and London, with minor impact elsewhere. A yellow warning is also in place for for thunderstorms for England and Wales as surface water flooding and gusty conditions are expected on Thursday. Mr Morgan said it should be a lot brighter in Northern Ireland despite July being a very dull month with fairly typical temperatures. We are sitting at about 0.5C below the monthly average, the weather expert said. Its been slightly drier than usual, which people might find hard to believe. Rainfall is at 85% of what you would expect, but there are still [two] days left, with some showers possible at night, so we might get closer to 100%. Its been quite a dull month, with sunshine levels sitting at 68% of the long-term average. Looking ahead into next month, the forecaster said things will remain changeable, adding: That means there will still be cloud and showers around. But there will be some warm sunshine too, so its not all doom and gloom. Temperatures should be around average for the first week of August. Translink shared post of Armagh GAA fans heading to Croke Park for the All Ireland final on Sunday. Translink has admitted that it got it wrong on the Loyal Orders after the public transport provider was accused of of double standards for ignoring the Twelfth on its social media platforms. It comes after Translink shared a number of posts with celebratory pictures of passengers on their way to GAA games, including the All Ireland semi final on July 23 and the final in Dublin on Sunday. TUV secretary Ann McClure wrote to the companys chief executive to outline a grievance last week and questioned why the Orange Order celebrations were not acknowledged including the Sham Fight on July 13. My attention has been drawn to a couple of issues pertaining to your company in recent weeks, it read. Firstly, I note that on 13th July you posted on Twitter a number of photos showing happy passengers along with the message: That's the @Armagh_GAA fans on their way to Dublin on the rail special event train! Hoping for a good result for you all! A number of people have observed to me that there was no such post about the Twelfth of July celebrations the previous day, in spite of the fact that many thousands used Translink services to travel to and from parades with your buses in many cases parked in fleets at the end of parade routes. Why does Translink think its acceptable to acknowledge nationalist culture while ignoring Orangeism? The correspondence also outlined a grievance over Translinks public support of Belfast Pride festival. Secondly, please explain why in the Belfast area Translink buses are displaying the progress pride flag, it continued. I believe that Translink has a policy of refusing to carry political advertisements. "Yet it is hard to think of something which could be more political than an emblem which is, at its heart, about the mutilation of children for a political ideology. Translink posted pictures of fans wearing Orange GAA jerseys on Sunday as they headed to Croke Park to watch Armagh claim the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time in two decades. "All Aboard!!!! the caption read accompanied by party emojis. "We're heading for @crokepark on the @Armagh_GAA. The post attracted criticism online. "Translink I expect to see lots of photos for the upcoming Apprentice Boys parade in Londonderry and Last Saturday Royal Black parades in August, one user noted. "There will be many dozens of your buses in use both days! Lets see your equality! Now Ms McClure has welcomed a commitment from Translink to do better in the future. Last week I wrote to Translink challenging them on why they posted photos on their social media platforms wishing those travelling to the GAA semi-final well while ignoring the Loyal Order celebrations, she said. I welcome the fact that in their response Translink has acknowledged that given that there were two major events on the 13th July there was a case for having referenced both on our social media. We will ensure this is addressed in future. It is right to challenge publicly funded bodies like Translink when they get it wrong. "Its also only right to acknowledge when they admit they could have done and in future will do better. Translink are to be commended for acknowledging they got it wrong and I and my party are committed to holding them accountable in future. A spokesperson for Translink said: We operate special services to a broad range of events throughout the year, including sporting events and concerts. We frequently post photos of our event specials on our social media channels, which is common practice across the public transport sector. "We acknowledge that, given there were two major events on 13th July, namely the Sham Fight and the GAA semi-finals, there is a case for having referenced both in our social media. "We will ensure this is addressed in future. A man has settled his case of religious discrimination against Belfast bar owner John Bittles for 6,500, after he was allegedly told that they dont serve Protestants. Mr Bittles owns the popular city centre establishment. The case against him was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The Commission said the incident took place during a Friday afternoon and left the man feeling embarrassed and intimidated. They said as the man entered the bar, he met the landlord, John Bittles, who he knew and had spoken to before, but who then said to him: No seat, no drink, new rules in the bar. I look after my locals. He said that Mr Bittles then pointed to a group of men on his left and continued: You have not been in here for about three years and we dont serve Protestants, only joking, no Im not. Bittles bar in Belfast The man said that the comments were said very loudly and were greeted by cheering from other customers within the bar making him feel so uncomfortable that he then immediately left the bar. He then reported the incident to the PSNI, who recorded it as a hate crime. I just wanted to have a drink. Id been to Bittles Bar many times before over the years. The landlord knows me, and I was shocked by his comments and was really concerned by the reaction of the people in the bar, the man said. I honestly thought the days of this type of behaviour in Northern Ireland were behind us. I felt I had to challenge it, so I reported it to the police and contacted the Equality Commission. Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said that, while this type of incident is exceptionally rare it serves as a reminder to all businesses that they have responsibilities under the anti-discrimination laws. This type of case is exceptionally rare with regards to discrimination from service providers or service users, but it was important to note and also highlight as a reminder to businesses and service users that there is a time and place for banter like this and it is important that customers do not feel intimidated or degraded because of their religious beliefs. People are protected from religious belief and political opinion discrimination in the provision of a wide range of services. Everyone who walks through their doors should be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their religious background, she added. This is also a reminder for each of us that what someone might see as banter or a harmless joke could have the effect of being offensive or intimidating to someone else. And it is also important to highlight the protection and support that is there for people who have been subject to this kind of discrimination. Ms McGahey said that you can count on one hand the amount of cases similar to this the Equality Commission have dealt with since the law came into place in 1998. What we need to do is reinforce the message that this type of behaviour is unacceptable, she added. Belfast Telegraph has approached Bittles Bar for comment. In settling the case John Bittles apologised for any upset and distress caused to the man and affirmed commitment to the principles of equality in respect of the provision of services to the public. He has also agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission. News Catch Up: Tuesday 30th July 2024 A hearse arrives at the crash site in Killucan, Westmeath. Photo: Collins. Emergency services and a hearse at the crash site in Westmeath. Photo: Collins. The helicopter is believed to have struck a piggery between Raharney and Killucan Two men have died after a helicopter crashed into a farm building in Co Westmeath this afternoon. The victims, an Irish man in his 40s and a man from Eastern Europe, also in his 40s, were the only people on board the aircraft when it crashed into a piggery outside the village of Killucan. Gardai and emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred at around 3.30pm. Gardai said they are liaising with the family of the Irish man and are trying to establish contact with the next of kin of the second man, and may request the assistance of Interpol. Both bodies have been removed from the scene to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post mortems will take place The local coroner has been notified. Two hearses were seen leaving the farm site this evening. Locals said they believed the helicopter may have suffered engine trouble before it struck the building. Sean Power was working on a roof just over half a mile from the crash scene. I was working away and the next thing I just heard the engine cut out, he told the Irish Independent. I heard the airplane, I didnt see it and the next thing I heard was a big bang. The engine just cut out and the bang was very quick after it so I dont know if it was that high. Local shopkeeper, Tom Keyes, said the local community had been left stunned by the incident. It is a terrible thing, he said, revealing how a similar type incident occurred in the area around 20 years previously. It is a dark day for the village and all of a sudden it is on every paper and every news bulletin. What more do you say? Its unprecedented for the area. Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his concern. Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash, he posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added: My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit has deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the single-engine helicopter crash. Acting Chief Fire Officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service Pat Hunt confirmed there had been several casualties in the incident. Emergency services, including gardai, ambulance services, and Mullingar Fire Brigade are currently at the scene. Emergency services and a hearse at the crash site in Westmeath. Photo: Collins. Flight data shows that the helicopter, which is registered to a US company, had been flying for around 25 minutes prior to the crash. The same aircraft had also undertaken a short journey this morning lasting 27 minutes, departing from, and returning to, Weston Airport near Lucan. Pat Hunt, acting chief fire officer with Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service, told Midlands 103 FM earlier that there have been several casualties in the incident. He said all available resources were being sent to the scene of the incident. Omagh bomb inquiry first hearing begins at Strule Art Centre on Omagh town centre. Solicitor John McBurney, who is representing some of the victims and families, talks to the press outside the Strule Arts Centre. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh Liam McBurney/PA Wire Michael Gallagher(left), who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the bombing and Stanley McComb, whose wife Ann was killed, pictured outside the Strule Arts Centre (Credit: Jonathan Porter/PressEye) The weather on the morning of Saturday, August 15, 1998, was sunny and quite warm with a few clouds in the sky. Every little moment can bring back a memory. Almost 26 years later, there was little difference, except for the passage of time. That time has not been kind to the bereaved relatives of the Omagh bombing. They have lived every day with the trauma, the memories and the hope that one day, the truth will be heard. Around 9.30am, Michael Gallagher, accompanied by Stanley McCombe, walked up the path towards Strule Arts Centre in the Co Tyrone town. Once again he faced the media. File photo of the aftermath of the Omagh bomb (Credit: Paul McErlane/PA Wire) His first remark was on how that sunny weather mirrors so well the day 31 lives were lost in the single biggest atrocity of the Troubles. That it came so soon after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, made it all the more unexpected, sudden and difficult to bear for those who were affected. At the reception in Strule Arts Centre, a box of hankies was at the ready. Quiet, emotional, thoughtful as the hush descended. In his opening statement, Inquiry Chair Lord Turnbull said the pain of bereavement and trauma caused by the dissident republican bomb attack spread beyond Omagh and Northern Ireland to families from England and Spain. He also said the attack caused outrage and consternation across national boundaries and across continents. Those boxes duly ticked, and it was nothing that hadnt been heard before. It still had to be said. But over the course of the next year and a half, with proceedings not expected to conclude until the end of 2025, the independent inquiry into the bombing will examine whether there was a possibility the atrocity could and should have been prevented. Lord Turnbull said the inquiry will undertake its task rigorously and fearlessly. Words which could easily be used to describe the way Michael Gallagher who lost his son Aiden in the bombing, has approached the task of getting to this stage. Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh Liam McBurney/PA Wire He said todays hearing 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. It has taken us all of those 26 years to get here and were just delighted, he said. One of the sad ironies is that when I got up this morning and saw the sunshine, it was exactly the same on August 15 1998. It was one of the most beautiful days of that year. Its good to be here. Its a long time but we are where we want to be and we just have to wait and see where this inquiry takes us. Every morning I waken up and still pinch myself, I cant believe were there. Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife, Ann, in the bombing, said he had great faith in Lord Turnbull and his legal team. After years of hard labour were hopeful, were very very hopeful, he added. While the day was not filled with the drama normally associated with the auditorium at Strule Arts Centre, hearing the first words spoken will have been music to the ears of those who have campaigned for so long, seeing proceedings getting officially underway will have been a sight for sore eyes. After living in hope, there is not something tangible to feed on. Omagh bomb inquiry first hearing begins at Strule Art Centre on Omagh town centre. Solicitor John McBurney, who is representing some of the victims and families, talks to the press outside the Strule Arts Centre. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Much of it will not be easy to digest for those family members who will be involved. Within a few moments of opening the preliminary hearing, the names of all 29 victims, who died alongside two unborn twins, were read out to an otherwise silenced theatre. A minutes silence followed. Heads bowed, alone with their thoughts, the bereaved stood, as they have at some many gatherings over the last 25 years. It will be January 27 next year before they get to have their say when personal statements will be heard. What follows will be a forensic examination of what happened in the lead-up to the bombing. Ruairi de Burca, director-general at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, has said the Irish Government is committed to bringing forward new legislation if required to ensure it can assist the Omagh Bombing Inquiry (Liam McBurney/PA) That will mark the proper start of what they hope will be their final journey towards the truth. Inquiry lawyer Paul Greaney KC said the inquiry is grateful for the Irish Government committing to assist its work. Whether the bereaved are as grateful depends on the extent of involvement from the Republic of Ireland in the process. Ruairi de Burca, director-general at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, took up the invitation to attend the opening of the inquiry and delivered a commitment that the Irish Government want to meet the needs and expectations of the victims and relatives. He said assistance will be grounded in law to support concrete action. Mr de Burca added: The government is committed to put in place additional new legislation, if that is what is required, to support our assistance to the Inquiry. These important details are being worked through with the inquiry team, to ensure that our engagement proceeds on the strongest possible footing. Our commitment is to ensure that there is nothing left unanswered in our jurisdiction at the end of the inquiry. At the conclusion of the opening day, both Michael Gallagher and Stanley McCombe said they would hold the Irish Government to the words delivered. Acting as counsel for seven of the Omagh families, John McBurney said there remained work to be done to ensure that co-operation provided all the answers needed, and without legislation from the Republic of Ireland, we will only hear half the story When you take it from the point of view that the car was stolen in the Republic of Ireland, the bomb was manufactured in the Republic of Ireland, the bomb was delivered from the Republic of Ireland across the border, into Omagh and then we lost 29 lives and two unborn children murdered, perhaps 200 injured, what was known about the people involved in 20 previous bombing raids and attacks, if you dont start there how on earth do the UK authorities constrain, disrupt and dismantle whats happening in Omagh when you dont first know whats known in the Republic of Ireland? It seems so obvious, it seems the starting point and it remains to be seen how thats going to be resolved. The home of a prison officer has been the target of a firebomb attack late last night. Gardai are investigating the attack in Co Meath in which a window was broken in the house and a petrol bomb thrown into a downstairs room. The scene has been sealed off for a technical examination. The prison officer and his wife were believed to have been in the house at the time but there were no reports of injuries. The Prison Officers Association has condemned the attack. We wish to utterly condemn the cowardly arson attack on a prison officers home during the night. This attack was extremely sinister in nature and could have led to loss of life, said Gabriel Keaveny, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers Association. We have no doubt that this horrific attack related to the prison officers work. We now call on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that prison officers and their families are safe in their own homes. The government has a responsibility for the safety and security to its employees. The Prison Officers Association has also sought an urgent meeting with the director of the Prison Service to discuss this most recent attack. It said there have been similar instances of attacks on prison officers' homes in the past, which are a shocking ordeal for prison officers and their families. It is now important that the perpetrators of this cowardly and frightening attack are brought to justice, Mr Keaveny said. We will be offering continued support to the prison officer involved and his family as they deal with this shocking ordeal. The Irish Prison Service issued a statement that said any act of violence against a prison officer is unacceptable. Any criminal act carried out within our prisons, including assaults or threats on a staff member, are reported to An Gardai Siochana for investigation and prosecution, it said. Staff who are subject to an assault or threat in our prisons are given the necessary supports through the employee assistance programme. It also pointed out that specific laws exist in relation to assaults against prison officers which can lead to a maximum 12-year sentence. Laurence Rush lost his wife Libby in the Omagh bomb attack (PA) A tribute has been paid to a man whose wife was killed in the Omagh bomb who died before seeing the public inquiry he called for established. Laurence Rushs wife Elizabeth was among the 29 people killed in the dissident republican bomb attack in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998. He had been known as one of the most active campaigners for a public inquiry into the atrocity for which no-one has ever been criminally convicted, and had taken legal action against the government. Mr Rush died in 2012 at the age of 70. Michael Mansfield KC told the first public hearing in the Omagh Inquiry that the proceedings are Mr Rushs legacy. The first public hearing was held at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on Tuesday before Lord Turnbull (Liam McBurney/PA) A public inquiry was ordered last year by former Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris following a critical High Court judgment after more recent legal challenge taken by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the bomb. The first public hearing was held at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on Tuesday. Mr Mansfield described it as particularly special for the members of the Rush family in attendance. Mrs Rush had been serving customers in the family-run shop in Market Street in Omagh when the bomb exploded. Mr Mansfield said Mr Rush had been steadfast, undaunted, undeterred in his call for a public inquiry. He said the inquiry, which comes 26 years after the bomb attack, was Mr Rushs legacy and a vindication of his courage. People cool off at Peterborough Lido as the heatwave continues (Joe Giddens/PA) The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms across London and the South East as much of England and Wales is expected to see temperatures top 30C on Tuesday. The warning advises of the chances of isolated flooding and disruption for the South East between 12pm and 11.59pm on Wednesday. It states that spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, with a small chance that some communities could be cut off by flooded roads. It also warns of a slight chance of power cuts for homes and businesses. The advisory adds: There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds. A similar warning of thunderstorms and disruption has also been issued for an area stretching from the South East up to Manchester and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne for between 12pm and 11.59pm on Thursday. The threat of thunderstorms comes after the heat is expected to peak in southern England and Wales on Tuesday. (PA Graphics) Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: The warm or even hot weather is continuing for many, with some places in England and Wales likely to meet heatwave criteria in the coming days. Temperatures are likely to peak at around 32C in south-east England on Tuesday and Wednesday, with much of the UK experiencing dry, fine and warm conditions in the first half of the week. There is a chance of some thundery outbreaks for some in the South and East from later on Wednesday, which will be the first signs of the UKs transition to a more unsettled regime, with warnings issued to highlight potential impacts. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health warnings for all areas of England, except the North East and North West, until Friday. People sit in the shade beneath a tree during hot weather in St Jamess Park, central London (Lucy North/PA) It warned that expected hot weather may have significant impacts on the health and social care sector across the South East and London, with minor effects elsewhere. The Met Office said a warm snap is considered a heatwave if a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value of 25C for most of the UK, rising to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher. The hottest day of the year so far saw a temperature of 31.9C recorded at St Jamess Park in central London on July 19. The Government gave a social care update on the last day of Parliament before summer recess (Alamy/PA) The Governments decision not to go ahead with a fund dedicated to training the social care workforce is desperately shortsighted, according to a leading health charity. In a written statement on Tuesday, care minister Stephen Kinnock said the adult social care training and development fund, which was announced in provisional form by the previous government in April, will not be taken forward due to the need to manage down overall fiscal pressures in 2024-25. However, Mr Kinnock said the Government still intends to provide funding for adult social care learning and development, with the budget maintained at the level we spent last year. The Nuffield Trust criticised the decision, saying it looks like yet another troubling decision to deprioritise social care in order to plug gaps in health funding. It comes a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that adult social care charging reforms will not be taken forward. An 86,000 cap on the amount anyone in England has to spend on their personal care over their lifetime had already been delayed by the Conservative government from October 2023 to October 2025. On Monday, the Government said the decision not to proceed with charging reforms in 2025 would save a projected 1 billion by the end of that year. The decision to scrap the reforms means the risk of extremely high social care costs of potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds for people, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said, while Age UK described it as really bad news for all those older people who were hoping against hope for some relief from their sky-high care bills. The County Councils Network had warned the Government earlier this month it would be impossible to deliver the reforms from autumn 2025 as costs had risen and said going ahead could have risked serious consequences, including cuts to other council services. The previous government said the initial 50 million allocated to the workforce fund would support up to 37,000 people in direct care roles to study for a new Level 2 social care certificate qualification by March 2025. Planned arrangements would have seen social care providers reimbursed for the costs of training. The previous government also said it intended to make contributions to enable people to renew their registrations to work in care. Mr Kinnock said the administration of new arrangements would be shared in due course and committed to developing a care workforce pathway and a new qualification. He added: We are committed in our support for the adult social care workforce. Care minister Stephen Kinnock said the Government intends to support social care workforce development (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Our long-term plans will include a new deal for care workers through a fair pay agreement. We will also take steps to create a national care service underpinned by national standards, with the aim of delivering consistency of care across the country. Responding to the announcement, Nuffield Trust deputy director of policy Natasha Curry said: Taking away limited funding that had been set aside for upskilling and training much-needed social care staff looks desperately shortsighted and is a significant blow for the sector. This, taken on top of the indefinite delay to a cap on social care costs announced by the Chancellor, looks like yet another troubling decision to deprioritise social care in order to plug gaps in health funding. The new government states that it is committed to the workforce and long-term plans for social care reform. We now need to see concrete action to reassure that these promises are not simply rhetoric. Sadly, so far what we have seen is consistent with social care continuing to play poor relation to the NHS. More than half a million extra roles in social care will be needed in the next 15 years to keep up with demand, according to a major workforce strategy for the sector published earlier this month. The projection published earlier this month by Skills For Care, the strategic workforce development and planning body for adult social care in England, came as the latest data showed a vacancy rate in social care remains at around three times the national average of other economic sectors. Skills For Care recently published a workforce strategy which it says is sorely-needed and should be regularly reviewed in a similar way to the NHS long term workforce plan. It called on the Government to bring in legislation to mandate strategic workforce planning and to work on improving pay, terms and conditions for care workers. A push to get people discharged from hospital more quickly is partly contributing to a rise in those needing more complex care in the aftermath, according to a major survey of adult social care directors. A more-of-the-same approach will not work, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Serves said, as it warned investment must shift from a focus on freeing up hospital beds to better funding for social care. A destroyed statue of the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez lies next to its base in Valencia, Venezuela (Jacinto Oliveros/AP) Anti-government activists across Venezuela are toppling giant statues of Hugo Chavez to express their anger over the alleged stealing of an election by the late presidents handpicked successor, Nicolas Maduro. In the seaside city of La Guaira, outside the capital Caracas, twisted rebar and chunks of concrete lie below a pedestal where a group of protesters on Monday night ripped down one likeness of Chavez that was dedicated by Mr Maduro in 2017. A video provided to The Associated Press from one protester shows the moment when the 3.5 metre statue of the leader known as El Comandante was pulled down to raucous shouts of this government is going to fall. A statue of former President Hugo Chavez is missing from its base the day after opposition protests against the reelection of Chavezs protege, President Nicolas Maduro (Matias Delacroix/AP) Once removed, the statue was dragged by motorcycles across the plaza, doused in gasoline and set on fire, the protester said. This is a powerful symbol to them, said the protester, who asked not to be identified for fear she could be arrested. Every time we tackle one of their symbols, were taking away some of their strength. This isnt the first time monuments honouring the creator of the so-called Bolivarian Revolution have been attacked by angry mobs. The same phenomenon occurred during waves of anti-government unrest in 2017 and 2019. But the simultaneous nature and high number of attacks five in the last 24 hours underscores the depth of anger many Venezuelans feel after the National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner in Sundays presidential election. The opposition says its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, more than doubled the incumbents vote count. A plainclothes military intelligence officer stopped journalists trying to take photos of what remains of the destroyed statue in La Guaira. The officer, who did not identify himself, said the country is at war and that any effort to disrespect Chavez was offensive to millions of Venezuelans who revered the former army paratrooper and anti-imperialist icon. Mr Maduro said several people had been arrested in the attacks, which he likened to the images from revolutions pushed by the US in post-Soviet states including Ukraine and Georgia. What do these people have in their head? In the heart? Mr Maduro asked in a televised address Monday night in which he broadcast images of some of the attacks. Just imagine if they one day gain power here, what they would be capable of doing. Russian opposition activist and Ilya Yashin gestures, smiling, as he stands in a defendants cubicle in a courtroom, prior to a hearing in Moscow (Yury Kochetkov/AP) Ilya Yashin, a prominent Kremlin critic who is serving an eight and a half year jail sentence for criticising Russias war in Ukraine, has been moved from his prison to an unknown destination, his lawyer has said. The statement on the Telegram messaging app by Tatyana Solomina on Tuesday gave no further details. However, it noted that several other figures imprisoned for criticising the military or for alleged extremist activity because of their work with the organisation of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny also were moved. Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow (Gavriil Grigorov/AP) Among them are Oleg Orlov, chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, sentenced to two and a half years in February; musician Alexandra Skochilenko, serving seven years for replacing price tags in a supermarket with messages decrying civilian deaths in Ukraine; and former Navalny regional coordinators Lillia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeyeva, sentenced to nine and a half and nine years. Also on Tuesday, Memorial said Germany-born Russian citizen Kevin Liik, who was sentenced to four years for allegedly providing information to German special services, has been removed from his prison. The movements prompted speculation on social media about whether they were in preparation for some kind of a prisoner swap involving Russia, the US and its allies. Kremlin critics and rights advocates have previously called for exchanges that would release Russian political prisoners. The situation is unique in the sense that we hear several high-profile figures are being moved at the same time, Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer who founded Department One legal group, told The Associated Press. Given the number, we understand that a swap is expected. Mr Pavlov noted that the simultaneous disappearance of several high-profile political prisoners could mean that they are being moved to one place from where they could be flown abroad. Yashin is one of the few well-known Kremlin critics to stay in Russia after the start of the war. He was arrested in June 2022 in a Moscow park, convicted of spreading false information about Russian soldiers, and sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. The charge stemmed from a YouTube livestream in which he talked about civilians slain in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. After Russian forces withdrew from the area in March 2022, hundreds of corpses were found, some with their hands bound and shot at close range. His harsh sentence didnt silence Yashins sharp criticism of the Kremlin. Yashins associates regularly update his social media pages with messages he relays from prison. His YouTube channel has over 1.5 million subscribers. The convictions for extremism and war criticism are part of a Kremlin crackdown on dissent that has sharply intensified since the February 2022 start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities often transport prisoners without prior notice to their lawyers or families and some do not surface for several weeks. Navalny in December was moved without announcement from a prison in central Russia to one above the Arctic Circle, a trip he said took 20 days. He died of unexplained causes at the prison in February. Two Americans are imprisoned in Russia on espionage convictions: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, sentenced to 20 years in July, and corporate security executive Paul Whelan. Russian-American dual national Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, convicted in July of spreading false information about the military and sentenced to six and a half years. Opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, right, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado join hands during a press conference the day after the election in Caracas (Cristian Hernandez/AP) Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said his campaign has the proof it won Venezuelas disputed election whose victory electoral authorities handed to President Nicolas Maduro. Mr Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told reporters they have obtained more than 70% of tally sheets from Sundays election which show Mr Gonzalez with more than double Mr Maduros votes. Both called on people, some of whom protested in the hours after Mr Maduro was declared winner, to remain calm and invited them to gather peacefully at 11am on Tuesday to celebrate the results. Protesters demonstrate against the official election results in Valencia, Venezuela (Jacinto Oliveros/AP) I speak to you with the calmness of the truth, Mr Gonzalez said as dozens of supporters cheered outside campaign headquarters in the capital Caracas. We have in our hands the tally sheets that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory. Their announcement came after the National Electoral Council, which is loyal to Mr Maduros ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, officially declared him the winner, handing him his third six-year term. In the capital, the protests were mostly peaceful but when dozens of riot gear-clad national police officers blocked their path, a brawl broke out. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom threw stones and other objects at officers who had stationed themselves on a main avenue of an upper-class district. The demonstrations followed an election that was among the most peaceful in recent memory, reflecting hopes that Venezuela could avoid bloodshed and end 25 years of single-party rule. The winner was to take control of an economy recovering from collapse and a population desperate for change. We have never been moved by hatred. On the contrary, we have always been victims of the powerful, Mr Maduro said in a nationally televised ceremony. An attempt is being made to impose a coup detat in Venezuela again of a fascist and counter-revolutionary nature. Nicolas Maduro attends a ceremony at the National Electoral Council that certifies him as the winner of the presidential election (Matias Delacroix/AP) We already know this movie, and this time, there will be no kind of weakness, he added, saying Venezuelas law will be respected. Ms Machado told reporters tally sheets show Mr Maduro and Mr Gonzalez received more than 2.7 million and roughly 6.2 million votes respectively. A free people is one that is respected, and we are going to fight for our freedom, Mr Gonzalez said. Dear friends, I understand your indignation, but our response from the democratic sectors is of calmness and firmness. Venezuelans vote using electronic machines, which record votes and provide every voter with a paper receipt that shows the candidate of their choice. Voters are supposed to deposit their receipts at ballot boxes before exiting the polls. After polls close, each machine prints a tally sheet showing the candidates names and the votes they received. But the ruling party wields tight control over the voting system, both through a loyal five-member electoral council and a network of long-time local party coordinators who get near unrestricted access to voting centres. People protest the results in Caracas (Fernando Vergara/AP) Those coordinators, some of whom are responsible for handing out government benefits including subsidized food, have blocked representatives of opposition parties from entering voting centres as allowed by law to witness the voting process, vote counting and, crucially, to obtain a copy of the machines final tally sheet. Electoral authorities had not yet released the tally sheets for each of the 30,000 voting machines on Monday evening. The electoral bodys website was down and it remained unclear when the tallies would be available. The lack of tallies prompted an independent group of electoral observers and the European Union to publicly urge the entity to release them. Gabriel Boric, the leftist leader of Chile, called the results difficult to believe, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had serious concerns that the announced tally did not reflect the actual votes or the will of the people. In response to criticism from other governments, Mr Maduros foreign affairs ministry announced it would recall its diplomatic personnel from seven countries in the Americas, including Panama, Argentina and Chile. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil asked the governments of those countries to do the same with their personnel in Venezuela. He did not explain what would happen to the staff of Ms Machado, including her campaign manager, who has sheltered for months in the Argentinian embassy in Caracas after authorities issued arrest warrants against them. William L Calley, Jr during his court martial at Fort Benning, Georgia., in April 1971 (APPhoto/Joe Holloway, Jr., File) William L Calley Jr, who as an US Army lieutenant led the soldiers who killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre, the most notorious war crime in modern American military history, has died. He was 80. Calley died on April 28 at a hospice in Gainesville, Florida, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing his death certificate. The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County didnt immediately respond to Associated Press requests for confirmation. Calley had lived in obscurity in the decades since he was court-martialled and convicted in 1971, the only one of 25 men originally charged to be found guilty in the Vietnam War massacre. On March 16 1968, Calley led American soldiers of the Charlie Company, part of the 23rd Infantry Division, on a mission to confront a crack outfit of their Vietcong enemies. William Calley spoke publicly in 2009 for the first time in decades about the My Lai massacre in Vietnam (The Ledger-Enquirer via AP, File) Instead, over several hours, the soldiers killed 504 unresisting civilians, mostly women, children and elderly men, in My Lai and a neighbouring community. The men were angry because, two days earlier, a booby trap had killed a sergeant, blinded a GI and wounded several others while Charlie Company was on patrol. Soldiers eventually testified to the US Army investigating commission that the murders began soon after Calley led Charlie Companys first platoon into My Lai that morning. Some were bayoneted to death. Families were herded into bomb shelters and killed with hand grenades. Lt William L Calley Jr, centre, and his military counsel, arrive the Pentagon for testimony before an Army board of investigation in 1969 (AP Photo/File) Other civilians slaughtered in a drainage ditch. Women and girls were gang-raped. It was not until more than a year later that news of the massacre became public. And while the My Lai massacre was the most notorious massacre in modern US military history, it was not an aberration. Estimates of civilians killed during the US ground war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1973 range from 1-2 million. The US militarys own records, filed away for three decades, described 300 other cases of what could fairly be described as war crimes. My Lai stood out because of the shocking one-day death toll, stomach-churning photographs and the gruesome details exposed by a high-level US Army inquiry. Calley was convicted in 1971 for the murders of 22 people during the rampage. He was sentenced to life in prison but served only three days because President Richard Nixon ordered his sentence reduced. He served three years of house arrest. After his release, Calley stayed in Columbus and settled into a job at a jewellery store owned by his father-in-law before moving to Atlanta, where he avoided publicity and routinely turned down journalists requests for interviews. Calley broke his silence in 2009, at the urging of a friend, when he spoke to the Kiwanis Club in Columbus, Georgia, near Fort Benning, where he had been court-martialled. There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai, Calley said, according to an account of the meeting reported by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper. I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry. He said his mistake was following orders, which had been his defence when he was tried. His superior officer was acquitted. William George Eckhardt, the chief prosecutor in the My Lai cases, said he was unaware of Calley ever apologising before that appearance in 2009. Its hard to apologise for murdering so many people, said Mr Eckhardt. But at least theres an acknowledgment of responsibility. UK Deep and sincere affection for my parents in Malta, Duke of Edinburgh says An Advanced Air Mobility aircraft developed by Hyundai Motor Corp. and Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) as an air taxi is seen at a hangar in Samarinda Airport in Indonesias East Kalimantan province, July 29, 2024. Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodos grandiose project to build a new capital comes with an equally elevated transportation vision that includes flying taxis. And officials said they successfully showcased a test flight of one such air taxi on Monday, Jokowis first day of work from the under-construction capital city Nusantara on Borneo island. A prototype of a hybrid aircraft that can be operated both with or without a crew on board took a 10-minute flight from Samarinda Airport, near Nusantara in East Kalimantan province, the capital authority said. The so-called SkyTaxi, as the Nusantara Authority calls it, is designed to carry four passengers and a pilot. A joint effort between the Indonesian government and Hyundai Motor Group, the test craft flew at a speed of 50 kph (31 mph) and reached an altitude of 50 meters, Mohamed Ali Berawi, deputy for green and digital transformation at the Nusantara Capital Authority, told reporters. Our hope is that, together with Hyundai and Korea Aerospace Research Institute, we can develop the SkyTaxi technology for production and use in Indonesia, given the importance of environmentally friendly and effective transportation, Berawi said. The success of this test flight was proof of global companies interest and seriousness in participating in the development of Nusantara, he said. This advanced air mobility model is now being introduced in Nusantara. In the future, with related companies in Indonesia, we aim to further develop and utilize this urban air mobility technology, he added. Hyundai Motor Group plans to pursue research and development to commercialize the system by 2028 and expects the first air taxis to fly in the new capital by 2030, said Cheol-ung Kim, a business development officer at the Korean manufacturer. We will also forge strategic partnerships with the Indonesian government and institutions to lead the Advanced Air Mobility market in the future, he said in a statement. An Indonesian official watches as the Advanced Air Mobility vehicle descends after its test run at Samarinda Airport, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, July 29, 2024. [Via Instagram @ikn_id] Meanwhile, hybrid aircraft technology is still in the early stages of development, said Wahyu Andrianto, a researcher on technological innovation, at the University of Indonesia Center for the Study of Governance and Administrative Reform. The current limitations of battery technology restrict both the payload capacity and the range of these vehicles, he told BenarNews. Payload refers to passenger capacity and range to the distance the vehicle is able to travel. Besides, the global community is developing standardized regulations and safety protocols for flying taxis, according to Wahyu. The Indonesian government can play a crucial role in driving the development of these global standards, he said. Nusantara is a U.S. $32 billion endeavor that many consider Jokowis legacy project as he prepares to exit office in October after two terms. Built from the ground up in East Kalimantan, this planned city is envisioned as a model of sustainability as its plan boasts green spaces, smart infrastructure and a commitment to renewable energy. Officials said Nusantara, meaning archipelago, would represent a radical departure from the challenges plaguing Jakarta, the current capital, such as traffic congestion, flooding and pollution. Only electric vehicles are to be allowed in the new city, Jokowi has said. The project is however mired in problems. Construction delays, land acquisition obstacles and a struggle to attract investment are among some of the issues faced by what some analysts allege is a project driven by Jokowis political ambitions and legacy concerns. Trackless train In addition to flying cars, Nusantara is set to debut another transportation mode the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) system. This trackless train, guided by sensors and magnets embedded in the road, is scheduled to begin trial operations on Aug. 5. The trial period, running until December, will be free for passengers, with two Chinese companies providing the trains, also known as lidar (light detection and ranging) guided articulated buses, for the trial, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said. The president [Jokowi] has been very eager to make the ART a mode of transportation within Nusantara since I first reported it to him, he told reporters on Monday. I have informed the president that the rolling stock [railcars] is already in Balikpapan, he said, referring to the city across the bay. The ART, with a capacity of 324 passengers per two-car set, will operate at speeds of 40 to 70 kph (24.8 to 43.4 mph) along two routes in the city center, he said. A Pinisi wooden boat, which is recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage for Indonesia, is ready to sail in this image from 2015. [Herfan Rusando/Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia, 2015/via UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage] A little old world whimsy within the planned high-tech space in Nusantara will be in the form of tours on Pinisi boats starting Aug. 1. These iconic wooden vessels, which ply all over Sulawesi, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Lombok and Bali, are recognized by UNESCO as intangible Indonesian cultural heritage. They will offer scenic rides between Balikpapan and the new capital, showcasing the regions natural beauty and cultural attractions. To support this initiative, the transportation ministry said it would provide one Pinisi boat and urged more commercial operators to offer similar services in the future. The potential for tourism in the pristine waters is remarkable and should be maximized, said Budi, the transportation minister. Its essential to introduce Nusantara to a broader audience, especially given the stunning natural beauty of Balikpapan Bay. Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta contributed to this report. The cash boost sends a clear message of support for the Philippines from the Biden administration, American defense secretary says. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) greets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after their meeting at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, July 30, 2024. The United States on Tuesday announced an unprecedented $500 million infusion to help the Philippines defend its shores amid increasing territorial threats from China, as the American and Filipino defense and diplomatic chiefs met in Manila. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement after meeting with their Filipino counterparts, Gilbert Teodoro and Enrique Manalo, at a so-called 2+2 meeting in the Philippine capital. It was the first time the meeting was held in the Southeast Asian country, a key U.S. ally in the region that has opened nine military bases to American troops. [W]e are taking bold steps to strengthen our alliance, Austin told a press briefing after nearly four hours of closed-door talks. We are poised to deliver a once-in-a-generation investment to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard. We are working with the U.S. Congress to allocate 500 million dollars in foreign military financing into the Philippines, he said. The Pentagon chief described this level of funding as unprecedented, saying it sends a clear message of support for the Philippines from the Biden administration, the U.S. Congress and the American people. Separately, the U.S. was looking to double its investment in Philippine military sites where American troops have access to under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, Austin said. President Bidens budget request this year includes more than 128 million dollars to fund important EDCA infrastructure projects and U.S. government investment in these locations, he said. During our meeting we also reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty remains the bedrock of our alliance, Austin said. And let me be clear: the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels anywhere in the South China Sea. Signed in 1951, the treaty calls on the allies to come to each others aid in times of foreign aggression. The Philippines maintains an old, rusting World War II-era ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, in Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal, to serve as its military outpost in the disputed South China Sea reef. Marcos meets with Austin, Blinken President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set the tone for Tuesdays 2+2 meeting when he met Austin and Blinken at the Malacanang presidential palace earlier in the day. He said he was pleasantly surprised that both secretaries had taken time out to visit Manila despite the political transition in the U.S. And I am always happy that these communication lines remain very open all the things we are doing together in terms of alliance, in terms of the specific context of our situation here in the West Philippine Sea are constantly examined and re-examined so we are agile in terms of our responses, Marcos said, referring to South China Sea waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. (From left) U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro pose for the cameras after holding foreign and defense ministerial meetings at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila, July 30, 2024. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews] Blinken said the meeting was evidence of a steady drumbeat of very high-level engagements between the longtime allies. Austin underscored that both nations were more than allies and practically family. We have common interests, common values, he told Marcos, according to transcripts released by the presidential palace. And so I think weve done a lot over the last three and a half years to continue to strengthen our alliance, and we look forward to continuing to work with you and your team to move even further. Last week, the Philippines and China agreed on an arrangement on Filipino missions to Ayungin to de-escalate tensions in the sea region after an incident last month during which a Filipino serviceman lost a thumb during a violent encounter with Chinese coast guard and navy forces. Following the agreement, the Philippines last Saturday transported a fresh batch of Filipino forces to the BRP Sierra Madre. It went ahead without any incident, but the Chinese subsequently said it allowed the mission to go through after confirming on the scene that the Filipino vessel only carried humanitarian living necessities. The details of the arrangement have not been made public, but the Philippines disagreed with Chinas version of events. An activist holds up a placard during a protest at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to coincide with the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense L.loyd Austin, July 30, 2024. The protesters say the United States will intesify its military intervention in the Philippines and increase tension with China and the Asia Pacific region. [Gerard Carreon/BenarNews] Geopolitical analyst Julio Amador IIII said China was playing up to an international audience that the Philippines had acquiesced to its demand but that in truth, it was purely a diplomatic spin. Beijing cannot help itself in this regard because it has to show that it did not bend to a weaker competitor, Amador told BenarNews, stressing that Manila was right in responding quickly to any Chinese claims. He said the 2+2 meeting indicated how serious the U.S. was in addressing what it sees as a security threat posed by China. The 2+2 is the ministerial level alliance management mechanism that provides direction to both countries in working together as security and defense allies, he said, adding that the U.S. $500 million funding would likely go towards supporting the Philippine militarys modernization program. This is the single biggest support that the Philippines will receive from the U.S. in FMF [foreign military financing]. It will address previous comments from Manila that non-U.S. allies actually get more support than actual allies. The International Criminal Court is investigating the former leader for alleged crimes during his anti-drug campaign. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during a speech in Davao, his hometown in the southern Philippines, Jan. 28, 2024. The Philippines said Tuesday it would not block International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan from interviewing people allegedly involved in former President Rodrigo Dutertes deadly drug war. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said while the country would not assist, it does not plan to impede the ICC investigation. Gueverras pronouncement is a different approach from previous statements by the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration regarding the ICC probe against Duterte and other officials. Marcos had previously said the Philippines did not need outside investigators because the countrys justice system works. The Philippines, under Dutertes order, withdrew from the ICC in 2019 as the court sought to investigate alleged human rights abuses committed under his anti-illegal drug campaign. The Philippines disengaged completely from the ICC in 2019. It has no legal duty to lend any assistance to the ICC prosecutor in conducting his investigation, Guevarra said in a statement shared with reporters. But the Philippine government cannot stop him from proceeding any way he wants. He can directly interview persons of interest online, through the phone, by email or face to face, subject to the consent of these persons. But the ICC prosecutor cannot expect that the Philippine government will facilitate it for him, Guevarra said. Guevarra spoke out after former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a staunch Duterte critic, on July 25 posted on X (formerly Twitter) a document from the ICC prosecutors office naming five former and current police officials as suspects in the ongoing investigation. These included Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who as Dutertes Philippine National Police (PNP) chief implemented the drug war; Oscar Albayalde, dela Rosas successor as national police chief; Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., former chief of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and current acting area commander of Northern Luzon; Edilberto Leonardo, former National Police Commission chief; and Eleazar Mata, former PNP chief intelligence officer. The OTP [Office of the Prosecutor] has reasonable grounds to believe that the following retired and serving members of the PNP have committed crimes within the jurisdiction of the OTP, the order on Trillanes post read. On Tuesday, Guevarra confirmed the veracity of the confidential document and added that since it was already posted, he was forced to explain to the public. There really was a communication from the ICC prosecutor asking the Philippine government for assistance to facilitate his interview with the five people named in the document, Guevarra said in an interview with local TV station GMA. Explaining the ICC process, Guevarra said the prosecutor had to interview the five people before applying for arrest warrants with the ICC pre-trial chamber. He has to first show that all paths were investigated whether incriminating or exonerating. He has to show that all persons concerned will be given the chance to explain their positions. Dela Rosa did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment. In a statement last week after Trillanes posted the ICC document, dela Rosa said it was the same old issue hurled at him. What's new? My name [has] always [been] mentioned since 2016. Seems like a broken record that keeps on repeating the same lines, he told reporters at the time. Dela Rosa previously admitted that human rights abuses were committed during the drug war, but said Duterte did not order the abuses. The Philippine government said about 8,000 suspected dealers and addicts had been killed during the anti-drug campaign of the Duterte administration. Rights activists, meanwhile, have said the number could be much higher. While in office from 2016 to 2022, Duterte called on police to kill drug suspects and vowed to protect them if they did so. In 2021, he said he was taking full responsibility for his controversial anti-drug campaign. Sellout Harry Roque, a lawyer who served as Dutertes presidential spokesman, criticized the move of the Marcos administration. A sellout of Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, Roque told BenarNews on Tuesday. Asked if the Duterte camp is worried, Roque said, No. Were confident that unlike the [Marcos] administration, our courts will uphold the supremacy of the Constitution. He said the Philippines is a sovereign state and that judicial power rests in the Supreme Court and all inferior courts created by law. Ahead of the 2022 election, Marcos formed an alliance with Dutertes daughter, Sara Duterte. The two overwhelmingly won election as president and vice president. Analysts said hostilities between the two political dynasties began as the elder Duterte grew wary that Marcos would hand him over to the ICC even as Marcos repeatedly said that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines. But in May, the justice department said it was preparing a brief for Marcos in case the international court did issue an arrest warrant against his predecessor as president. Duterte in January accused Marcos of being a drug addict a claim Marcos has flatly denied. For his part, Marcos has claimed that Duterte was a long-time fentanyl user. The two are also at odds over the direction of Philippine-China relations with Marcos taking a firmer stance than his predecessor against Beijings actions in the South China Sea. Cracks between the two political dynasties have become more evident in recent weeks since Vice President Duterte left Marcos cabinet and did not attend his State of the Nation Address earlier this month. A few weeks ago, when we were all trying to beat the heat, I came home from my CSA with a conical-shaped Caraflex cabbage. Last year, I had made golumpki with it, but this year it was just too hot to spend a day in the kitchen blanching cabbage leaves that I would have to shape into tight cabbage rolls that I'd then have to cook in the oven. I was determined not to turn on the oven, so instead, I began looking for slow cooker recipes. There's an abundance of slow cooker recipes available on the internet: slow cooker cabbage and sausage; slow cooker cabbage with bacon; slow cooker kielbasa and cabbage; slow cooker corned beef and cabbage, slow cooker sausage and cabbage soup and so on. And then, I came upon this recipe for Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls, which is basically a lazy golabki or cabbage roll casserole made in a crock pot. It looked fabulously easy and didn't require the cabbage to be blanched before being put in the pot. It had all the flavors of a cabbage roll, without all of the work. Now remember, Im not of Polish descent, but, luckily, I grew up in (and still live in) Adams, a town with a large population of Polish descendants who arent afraid to share a recipe. I've eaten my fare share of golabki. In fact, I grew up eating golabki, kapusta, kielbasa and sauerkraut, and pierogi at the Polka Picnics at the Polanka Picnic Grounds on Mill Street (this years picnic takes place noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 8) and at the annual holiday bazaar hosted at St. Stanislaus School. So, as you can guess, I know what golabki should taste like. I've eaten my fare share golabki and lazy golabki. I can assure you, this recipe is spot on when it comes to flavor and texture. And the fact that I could throw it in my slow cooker and walk away was an added bonus. SLOW COOKER UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS (Recipe courtesy of thecountrycook.net) Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 6 hours Makes 6 servings INGREDIENTS 1 pound ground beef 2 cloves garlic minced 1 small onion chopped 1 small small head cabbage, chopped (about 6 cups) 2 1/2 cups water 1 cup uncooked Minute rice (see notes below) 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon sugar One 28-ounce can tomato sauce One 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes with juice DIRECTIONS In a large skillet brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic. Drain any excess grease. In the slow cooker add chopped cabbage, water, rice, pepper, garlic salt, sugar, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Add in the cooked ground beef mixture and stir it all until combined. Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Rice and cabbage should be tender. If the mixture is too thick for your tastes, just add a little more water (or beef or chicken broth) until the desired consistency is reached. Top each serving with some shredded cheese (if desired) and serve. NOTES LENOX A School Committee member has resigned in the wake of a verbal confrontation with another member during an informal workshop retreat. Meghan Kirby, a four-year member and former vice chair, submitted a strongly worded letter of resignation in the wake of the July 22 session, claiming she was the target of verbal bullying and personal attacks by another member. I have always believed in the importance of open dialogue and the free expression of ideas, even when those ideas may be controversial or unpopular, she wrote. However, I have found myself repeatedly subjected to condescension and verbal bullying for simply asking questions and expressing my views. Kirby cited a particular member of this committee consistently using our platform to further their own personal agenda, often at the expense of constructive conversation and collaborative decision-making. This behavior is unacceptable, and I cannot continue to serve in an environment where respectful discourse is not valued and where personal attacks are used to silence differing opinions. For a committee to function effectively and cohesively, there must be a foundation of mutual trust and respect among its members. How to apply ... The appointment of a new School Committee member who must be a registered voter in Lenox and a town resident, is for a term expiring in May 2025. Applicants are asked to provide an introductory letter as well as a current resume or summary of any relevant experience and qualifications. According to the online vacancy notice, The letter should describe reasons for interest in serving on the Committee, your knowledge of and interest in PK-12 educational issues, relevant skills and potential contributions to working groups and subcommittees, and any other information that will describe your ability to collaboratively fulfill the responsibilities above. Voter registration in Lenox is required. The deadline for applications, correspondence, and questions is 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5. Applications can be sent to Oren Cass, Chair, Lenox School Committee, 6 Walker St., Lenox, MA 01240 or by e-mail: ocass@lenoxps.org. Per state regulations, selection is by vote in a joint meeting of the Select Board and Lenox School Committee on a date to be determined, in the Select Boards Conference Room at Town Hall. In an interview with The Eagle, she said she was referring to Veronica Fenton, who served as chair of the School Committee for the 2023-24 year and was recently elected vice chair. This behavior undermines the integrity of the committee and makes it impossible for us to work together productively, she said. Fenton, an outspoken advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, is secretary of the Lee-based nonprofit Bridge (Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Groups and Education). She told The Eagle that since her election to the School Committee in 2021, I have been committed to creating an education environment that works to disrupt harmful words and behaviors and to create an inclusive community. As a committee, we have engaged in difficult conversations and worked toward better understanding of each others perspectives. In an email, she acknowledged that at times, these conversations have been hard and caused emotional reactions and defensiveness. I continue to focus my commitment to lend my voice for those without agency, with the goal of creating an inclusive environment where we can collaborate across differences to ensure that our schools are safe and brave spaces. The July 22 retreat was not covered by media nor was it recorded. The draft minutes provided to The Eagle list agenda topics and votes, if any. One topic under Strategic Planning Overview: Clarification on policies regarding transgender athletes participation in gender-specific school sports, in anticipation of potential issues. In a followup message to The Eagle on Monday, Kirby said the dustup at the retreat ensued after she inquired about whether our district has a policy on trans athletes participating in gendered sports. "My inquiry was simply that an inquiry," she said. "I prefaced my question by pointing out that, historically, our committee has not been proactive in establishing policies; instead, we often react and scramble to find answers. She also asserted that my question was entirely free of any personal beliefs, as personal beliefs should not influence policy discussions whatsoever. My goal was to ensure our district is prepared and well-informed, rather than reactive and uncertain. Kirby stated she was shocked when Veronica berated and verbally attacked me, insinuating that I was somehow hateful or in favor of violating the rights of our trans students. A long tangent ensued, leading to a rant about her own personal feelings and life experiences. At no point during the conversation did the chair intervene to stop the berating or call her out for her wildly inappropriate behavior. Its terribly unfortunate that it led to my resignation, but I cannot work within a committee with such poor leadership and blatant disrespect for each other as human beings. Committee Chair Oren Cass declined to get into the specifics of the verbal dispute. He told The Eagle in a phone interview that he greatly enjoyed working with Kirby and really admire the fierce commitment that she brought to her advocacy for students. Its a disappointment to see her go and a real loss to the committee. As chairman, I certainly feel responsibility for the quality of our deliberations, and the comfort of all the committee members. He said, This is something I will try to learn from and make sure we do as well as possible. We strive to conduct all our meetings in a way worthy of our responsibility to the community and the schools in particular. I think for the most part, we do a pretty good job of that. Schools Superintendent William Collins told The Eagle that he was sad to see Kirby step down. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of issues with Meghan during my first year here in Lenox, he stated. I particularly admire her policy work as chair of the Governance & Leadership Subcommittee," he said. "I thank her for her service to Lenox Public Schools and for all of the support she has shown me. The district has now posted a vacancy notice seeking a new member. "The School Committee will need to appoint a new member to fill Meghan's very large shoes for the remainder of this year," Collins said. "I admire those willing to roll up their sleeves and lend their time and talents toward creating the best possible preschool through grade 12 school experiences for students. Savannah Smith, 11, thought she was going to the North Adams Farmers Market on Saturday morning. But once she got into the car, her mother, Jeannette Smith, told her those plans had changed. Instead, Savannah and her older sister Cassidy were going to meet Vice President Kamala Harris. The Smith sisters are members of ROPE, a Pittsfield-based leadership program for Black girls and young women; their mom, vice president of student life at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, is a program mentor. They all experienced the thrill of a lifetime Saturday when they met Harris moments after her flight touched down at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield on her way to Pittsfield for a fundraiser at the Colonial Theatre. The girls from ROPE short for Rites of Passage and Empowerment gave Harris a bracelet they made. Harris, the first Black and Asian-American woman elected vice president, spent time with the girls, taking an interest in their stories, before her motorcade left for downtown Pittsfield. Both Savannah, 11, and older sister Cassidy, 15, were struck by how Harris took time to meet with numerous groups lined up to greet her at the edge of the runway, and how she connected with each member of ROPE as she shook hands and accepted their gift. "She was so genuinely excited to receive the gift and made a connection with everyone," said Savannah, who will attend Mount Greylock Regional School in Williamstown in the fall. "It's not what I was expecting." Cassidy, a rising sophomore at Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, also was impressed that Harris made eye contact as she shook hands with each person. "For me it's still, even now, 'Oh my gosh, that just happened,'" Cassidy said. "It's kind of hard to wrap your head around the fact we got to meet this important person. I think it's an amazing experience and I'm really grateful that we got to go." Days later, the girls are just beyond excited theyre ecstatic; theyre feeling thrilled, said ROPE founder Shirley Edgerton, a longtime Black community advocate in Pittsfield. It was such an opportunity to meet this incredible human being, who is such an international figure. She said state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, was instrumental in making it happen. The girls left Pittsfield at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with their adult mentors Smith and Akilah Edgerton, the dean of diversity and inclusion at Berkshire School in Sheffield and pastor at New Generation Global Ministry. Shirley Edgerton didn't make the trip, but experienced it vicariously through texts and photos sent from the edge of the Westfield runway. She stayed behind as she had a ticket to see Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, at the Colonial Theatre. Edgerton founded ROPE as way for adolescent girls to develop their voice and inner selves in a single-sex, mentorship-based setting, as the groups website describes. But part of that program is also connecting with other women of color in leadership roles. "We keep telling them the skys the limit. We're intentional in showing them people who look like them," she said. "The theory is for you to fully understand the possibility, you have to see folks in those positions." And here, on her phone, were texts with photos of her charges meeting the vice president of the United States. I was overwhelmed at the fact the vice president was coming to the Berkshires, and my girls will get the opportunity to see this woman who looks like them in this incredible international position. Edgerton said Monday. Other members of ROPE sold the bracelets they made for the occasion outside the security perimeter near the Colonial, where many Harris supporters had signs supporting the presumptive nominee. Smith, who joined ROPE as a way for her and her daughters to find community when she moved to the Berkshires, said the girls were eyes wide open the whole time, from leaving Pittsfield to arriving at Westfield. They stayed positive and didnt complain, despite the heat on the tarmac, she added. Seeing Air Force Two land ... you cant be prepared for that, Smith said of the vice president's plane. You could see she was really moved by the gesture, Smith added of the group's bracelet gift. This is something theyre going to remember forever. BACK IN PITTSFIELD As for Shirley Edgerton? She had her own opportunity to experience Harris in person, at the Colonial Theatre. When [Harris] walked on stage it was an experience Ive never had in terms of just the thrill and the opportunity, she said. I was feeling probably just like the girls felt. The reality of seeing her walk on that stage and hear her speak was just an incredible opportunity and moment in my life. She was inspiring. Her message was that of hope. And Im a big [President Joe] Biden fan but I was overwhelmed. ... I had so much regard for and respect at her presence and her words of hope. Victoria Edwards, of Pittsfield, was inside the theater as well. "[Harris] made it clear she worked for this," Edwards said. "This was not any accident. It wasn't happenstance. ... And she let us know, with all her history, and working in our justice system, that she is not going to stop until she sees herself in that seat. As she should be." Warren Dews Jr. co-owns the Firehouse Cafe in Adams and BiggDaddy's Philly Steak House in North Adams, and is publisher of Capital Region Independent Media in New York. He felt privileged to be in the theater and felt he was representing people of color who were standing outside. "A lot of times I'm at the table when people that look like me are not at the table, and I'm glad to represent us when I can," Dews said. "But at the same time, I want everybody to know that because I'm for Kamala doesn't mean I'm against something else. I just believe that what she's about, what she stands for, is more geared to what I believe in, but doesn't mean that I hate the other side." For Ornella Bamba of the Bronx, N.Y., Howard University Bison pride was among the reasons to be on South Street. Bamba is a junior at Howard, a private Historically Black College and University in Washington, D.C., from which Harris graduated in 1986. I came here today to see my fellow Bison, Bamba said. It's good to empower her. I like to see my fellow Bison win, and I bet shes our next president. Standing nearby, and later striking up a conversation with Bamba, was Bernice Elizabeth Green, the co-publisher of Our Time Press in Brooklyn, N.Y. She said she needed to be here not only for herself, but for her daughter, her granddaughter, and their ancestors. "There's an ancestral calling and a feel to this that supersedes everything," Green said. "I'm here for the people who don't have a voice who, in the colonial era or in slavery times, wanted us to move ahead, but did not ever, ever dream that it would be this far to the White House, which was built by slaves." PITTSFIELD As a photojournalist in the Berkshires since 1992, I have covered a lot of historical events. 'We have a fight ahead of us.' Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield Just hours before would-be rivals had to declare their candidacy, Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Pittsfield to raise funds for her own bid at the presidency. Here's what she had to say ... Over the decades, and since coming to the Eagle 10 years ago, I have volunteered to work on my scheduled days off when important news breaks or events warrant an all-hands-on-deck approach. Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Pittsfield on Saturday for a fundraiser was just such an opportunity to document history in the making. Just one week after President Joe Biden decided not to run for a second term and endorsed his vice president, Harris gained traction as the de facto nominee for the ticket. Back in 1998 and 2012, I was working at the North Adams Transcript when Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama came to Pittsfield, though I did not cover either event. As a member of the press, I am used to having some exclusive access to covering news events, but when it comes to events like Harris visit, entry is not guaranteed and in this case coveted to one journalist per media outlet. A press, media or news pool is an arrangement wherein a group of news gathering organizations combine resources in the collection of news. This occurs depending on the nature of the event and the lack of space for a full media presence. The pool feed or content is then distributed to members of this pool who are free to edit it or use as they see necessary. The Associated Press served as the pool photographer for inside the venue and was responsible for providing images to The Berkshire Eagle and other news organizations, including The New York Times. Fortunately, our reporter Claire OCallahan represented The Berkshire Eagle and was inside the venue while the rest of us were on the ground outside the theater with the masses covering the event with no special privileges. The crew included fellow photojournalist Stephanie Zollshan, veteran reporter and editor Greg Sukiennik, news interns Ellie Davis, John Skavlem, OCallahan and myself. Behind the scenes were editors Lindsey Hollenbaugh, Meggie Baker and Mitch Chapman. I found myself stationed on South Street in front of the Colonial Theatre from about 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Barricades and police provided a presence to limit access and protect those at the event. Fortunately, I found myself in a good location. While I was hoping to get some kind of photo of Harris as she entered and exited the venue, that opportunity never presented itself as she snuck into the side entrance, to the disappointment of myself and those around me who stood outside in the hot sun for hours hoping to see her. My position did give me the opportunity to photograph a lot of what was happening. I was in the thick of it mostly Harris supporters filled the crowd along with some Kennedy backers and Trump supporters who yelled his name and held up banners supporting his return to the White House. A pro-Palestine protest marched from Park Square to the intersection of South and Church streets as police held them at bay. I watched peaceful dialogue between different points of view, with some passion exchanged but no violence. A woman fainted and was transported away by ambulance. Spectators gathered around her and others who became weary from standing in the hot sun. As I moved around covering various aspects of the day, I was given access by fellow citizens to a small spot in the median on South Street where I could photograph the front of the theater and perhaps Harris. Shes with The Berkshire Eagle! a woman exclaimed as the crowd made way for me to pass by. Another woman, whose spot I had apparently claimed, chided me and said I should have gotten there sooner! Im sure I did get there before her, and people had raced to the median to claim a spot after the road was officially closed, so it mattered little especially since I moved around so much to cover the action. In the end, the access didnt end up doing me any favors. Maybe she found a better spot? I hope so. Not everyone appreciates the power of the press, and Ive had Little League parents yell at me to get out of their way as I was trying to photograph their kids game for the paper. Im humbled every day. While at Saturdays event, I asked a police officer if he could escort me through a fenced-off area to save me some time and energy. Even after showing him my press pass, he declined and told me to go back around the building to get to the other side. As an unbiased journalist, I did my best to photograph what I saw in front of my own eyes. My editor said that just as someone online posted that we werent being fair to the Trump supporters at the event, I uploaded a photo of them to our live blog feed. Fellow photojournalist Zollshan managed to get photos of Harris motorcade as she painstakingly tried to discern which route it would take to the Colonial Theatre and then later from it. A media soldier, tired and weary from the days events, Im glad to have been there to document history. If our democracy stays intact, I hope to continue to be able to do so for many years to come. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. A Kinahan cartel associate took part in a murder conspiracy while "haunted" by the belief that he was the intended target of a gunman in drag who shot down his innocent friend, the Special Criminal Court has heard. Jason Jay OConnor (46), of Whitestown Grove in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, had been accused of the attempted murder of Charlie Cooper at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, on December 5th, 2016, but pleaded guilty in May to the reduced charge of conspiracy to murder, which the State accepted. Advertisement Mr Cooper was seriously injured when he was shot multiple times at his home. However, he was treated in intensive care for his wounds and made a recovery. At the Special Criminal Court on Tuesday, Detective Garda Inspector Liam Donoghue named the organisation that O'Connor has admitted helping as the Kinahan crime group. At the non-jury court on Tuesday, Det Insp Donoghue told Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, that OConnor conspired with persons unknown in the plot to murder Mr Cooper and that 10 shots were fired in the attempt on Coopers life in the kitchen of his Parslickstown home in December 2016.During the course of the investigation, searches of addresses in December 2016 yielded electronic devices of interest to gardai, including an encrypted Blackberry phone located at OConnors home. Advertisement Det Insp Donoghue told Mr Gillane that in October 2016 OConnor messaged an associate saying that he just wanted to feel normal and that the Walker death broke me. Keith Walker was a friend of OConnors who was murdered at a pigeon-racing event in 2015 with OConnor believing that he was the intended target, as Mr Walker was driving OConnors car at the time. Christopher McDonald (then 34), from the East Wall area, was found guilty by unanimous verdict at the Central Criminal Court in 2017 and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Mr Walker (36), at the Blanchardstown Pigeon Racing Club car park on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla, on June 12th, 2015. That trial was shown CCTV footage of McDonald, dressed in drag, waiting to carry out the hit. Several witnesses said they saw a man dressed in women's gym clothes in the area, carrying a handbag and wearing a long black wig. One witness reported him to gardai after she saw him hanging around a creche beside the pigeon club. Advertisement Det Insp Donoghue said OConnor had messaged his associate in the aftermath of Mr Walkers death: I have a target. Need to show these junkies now. Anyone involved has to go. Eye for an eye. The court heard of exchanges between OConnor and his associate discussing the need for tracker devices and silencers for various operations concerning targets. One exchange records OConnor saying, Im up for it, regarding an operation described by his associate as a suicide mission. Gardai from Blanchardstown also recovered other messages from the encrypted device referring to other operations with ongoing conversations about gun silencers, trackers, named targets and their movements. One target was described as "duckin and divin" but messages revealed that OConnor and his associates were willing to wait for "as long as it takes", the court heard. Advertisement In another exchange, OConnors associate says that there were deffo more jobs with OConnor replying that he needed to show the lads Im good at what I do. Det Insp Donoghue said OConnor had 70 previous convictions that included assault, burglary and possession of a mobile phone in prison, with the majority of the remaining convictions relating to road traffic offences. Michael Bowman SC, for O'Connor, said the death of Mr Walker haunted his client into paranoia and psychosis and that in 2016 the defendant was mentally very unwell and suicidal". Mr Bowman said OConnor, a father of four and a grandfather of one, had required psychiatric treatment and was on antipsychotic medication after Mr Walkers shooting. Advertisement Counsel said OConnor had a drug difficulty but had successfully engaged with an in-patient treatment centre in 2022 and had since experienced an extended period of sobriety. Mr Bowman said his client had rekindled a relationship with his father, was in a supportive relationship and had entered an early guilty plea that showed there was no indication that he [OConnor] was ever going to trial. Mr Bowman said his client fully appreciated the harm he caused and said that OConnor, who grew up in a violent environment and sought retribution, had also written a letter of apology. Mr Bowman said OConnor was a realist, who accepted he was facing a lengthy sanction. Counsel said OConnors actions were directly related to the death of Mr Walker and that OConnor had since disassociated himself with individuals involved in criminality. Mr Bowman said OConnor had made "a significant turning of the page" and that his client was capable of making a positive contribution to his family and society. Mr Gillane said OConnor was facing a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, adjourned the matter for sentence finalisation to October 14. OConnor, represented by Mr Bowman and Keith Spencer BL, instructed by solicitor Wayne Kenny, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper under Section 4 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. OConnor also pleaded guilty to the charge that between August 2nd, 2016, and December 7, 2016, both dates inclusive, within the State and with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he did participate in, or contribute to, activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could, facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its member, to wit: murder. OConnor is also charged with the possession of a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition with intent to endanger life on December 5th, 2016. OConnor is further charged that he did between August 2nd, 2016, and December 7th, 2016, both dates inclusive and within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, participate in, or contribute to, activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation, or any of its members, to wit: the sale and supply of controlled drugs. A 38-year-old man who held down his then girlfriend telling her 'You are not leaving this house b**ch until you are dead during a vodka-fuelled assault has escaped jail. Judge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court imposed a suspended sentence of two-years and six-months - or 30 month prison term - on Colin Curtis of Horseshoe Grove, Crusheen, Co Clare. Advertisement Mr Curtis pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to kill the woman on May 26th 2023 at an apartment on Parnell Street, Ennis. In sentencing, Judge Comerford said that Mr Curtis had terrorised the woman during the one-hour ordeal on May 26th 2023 at her apartment in what was a horrendous assault. Judge Comerford said that it was a very bad assault where the woman suffered a series of injuries though none were grievous. The judge said that what occurred was an instance of domestic violence. He said that since initially hearing the facts of the case at Kilrush Circuit Court he has come around to a different way of thinking in the sentencing in the case. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that the mitigation features in the case touch the exceptional circumstances where the court can impose a wholly suspended sentence. The judge said since the offence, Mr Curtis has done everything that could be anticipated by someone who wanted to mend their ways. Judge Comerford said in reaching his decision he was not for a moment not conscious of the vulnerability of the victim. He commented that some people think getting a suspended sentence just means getting off completely". Advertisement The superior courts have recognised that a suspended sentence is a sentence because at any stage if he breaches that or if Mr Curtis gets drunk or got involved in any alterations, then he will be serving the prison sentence in full." After imposing the suspended prison term and Mr Curtis agreed to comply with all directions of the Probation Service for the next 12 months, Judge Comerford said: We will see where that brings him. Judge Comerford said that Mr Curtis pleaded guilty, was disgusted by what he did, had shown remorse, is addressing his alcohol addiction, has got work and was in the throes of addiction at the time of the assault. He said that no previous convictions of this type of offence. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that Mr Curtis has 4,500 in court for his victim. The victim in the case was not in court for either day of the sentencing hearing and did not provide a victim impact statement. On the night in question, she escaped the apartment by foot and ran down Abbey Street to the local Garda Station where she presented herself at 11.55pm on May 26th 2023 with bruises all over her body after the one-hour ordeal. In her statement to gardai, the woman said that during the assault, Mr Curtis held her to the floor and told her "You are not leaving this house bitch until you are dead". Advertisement Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly SC (instructed by State Solicitor, Aisling Casey) said that the woman described Mr Curtis punching her in the face and pulling her around the sitting room like a rag doll. Mr Connolly told the court that the woman presented at the Garda station with numerous injuries to her head including a lump on her forehead and swelling on both sides of her jaw. Counsel said that the womans chin was bleeding while she also had marks on her neck, arms and fresh bruises on both of her legs. In the court, counsel for Mr Curtis, Patrick Whyms BL (instructed by solicitor, Tara Godfrey) told the court that Mr Curtis wishes to apologise to the woman. Mr Whyms said that from his current partner, she describes their relationship as loving and caring and confirms that Mr Curtis has stopped drinking and using drugs. Counsel said that Mr Curtis was in a previous relationship with a woman from 2006 to 2018 and in her letter to court she said that there was never any violence within the relationship and the reason the relationship broke down was because of his drinking. He also provided a character reference from Mr Curtiss unnamed employer, a garage operator, in which he said the employer described Mr Curtis as friendly, polite "and always willing to go the extra mile". Mr Whyms said that Mr Curtis moved to Ireland from the UK in 1999 and had lived in Dublin and Galway before moving to Co Clare. Luxembourg landlord Marc Godart has to pay a 4,000 legal bill after he "dragged out" compensating two former Dublin tenants for a year and seven months, a judge has ruled. Earlier this month, Dublin District Court heard the businessman had to be brought "kicking and screaming" to finally pay two former Dublin tenants 13,563. Advertisement Diana Jere and Andre Buchanan went to court to force him to comply with a December 2022 Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling that they were entitled to compensation. However, they had to launch enforcement proceedings before Judge Marie Quirke when compensation went unpaid and remained outstanding for a year and seven months until July 18th, the end of a court-imposed deadline. When the matter resumed on Tuesday, Liam Bell BL, for Ms Jere and Mr Buchanan, said the domestic and EU-wide enforcement proceedings had been before the court on five occasions since April and Godart "did not pay until it was dragged out of him". Finalising the case, Judge Quirke further ruled on Tuesday that the former tenants were also entitled to legal costs of just over 3,900 plus VAT. Advertisement In February last year, the court had directed the businessman to comply with an earlier Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling that Ms Jere and Mr Buchanan were entitled to the damages. The RTB had given its findings in December 2022 over their "unlawful eviction" from a rented property on Emmet Street, Dublin 1. Mr Godart, who has significant property holdings in Ireland, was allegedly the landlord, and his former tenants launched enforcement proceedings to secure an order to compel him to pay. Mr Bell had told the court, "The court had to bring Mr Godart kicking and screaming in order to get him to pay". He said the delay was an element of the costs issue. Advertisement Judge Quirke noted he has now paid compensation and adjourned measuring of the amount of costs. She noted their lawyers were looking for just over 4,000 plus VAT and vouched outlays. In June, Judge Quirke had also granted an order, actionable in the rest of the EU, to force him to pay Ms Jere and Mr Buchanan. The two ex-tenants had successfully applied to Judge Quirke for a European Enforcement Order (EEO) against Mr Godart of Rue de Hesperange L-5830, Alzingen, Luxembourg. Advertisement It is a method of enforcing foreign judgments within the European Union without the need for intermediate proceedings, and it applies only to uncontested claims. Outlining the background, counsel said Mr Godart did not appear when the RTB initially granted the uncontested order for compensation under section 124 of the Residential Tenancies Act. Judge Quirke also heard Godart has not appealed the order. Last month, Ms Lizet Pena-Herrera, another former tenant, received compensation from Green Label Short Lets, a property company directed by Mr Godart. Advertisement The Bolivian psychologist, who has lived in Ireland since 2008, won an order in the District Court for payment of an RTB award, adjudicated in December 2022. The RTB had ordered Green Label Short Lets to pay 15,433 to her because of her illegal eviction from a house on Vintage Court, Cork Street, Dublin 8. However, the award went unpaid until she eventually took a case in the High Court. Also last month, in a Dublin City Council (DCC) prosecution before Dublin District Court, Green Label Short Lets avoided a criminal conviction over a former commercial building in Dublin that broke fire safety laws after being repurposed for residential lettings. The court heard that the Beaver Street property was converted but lacked a range of vital fire safety measures, including an alarm system and viable escape routes. The firm pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to the Fire Services Act. The case was struck out after it donated 500 to charity and paid 3,884 towards the council's legal costs. In February, Mr Godart had another prosecution dropped for "egregious" breaches of planning laws with unauthorised Airbnb lettings in Dublin. However, two firms he directs, including Green Label Short Lets Ltd, accepted responsibility; they were fined 7,500 and agreed to pay "substantial" legal costs. DCC also brought those proceedings before Dublin District Court. That case stemmed from complaints about unauthorised short-term lettings booked through the Airbnb website at three properties in Dublin 1: 11 Capel Street, Block G, The Foundry, Beaver St, and Unit 2A, The Forge, Railway Street. A council inspector detected the offences after surveying the building between June 4 and 6 last year. His work revealed that some bedrooms were windowless and others were in former shopfronts. Several tourists from Ireland, mainland Europe, and North America had used them for one to seven days. By the time that hearing concluded, work had already taken place or was about to start to bring the short-term lettings in line with regulations. The Omagh Bombing Inquiry is seeking clear written agreements with the Irish Government over co-operation. This would be to include access to materials held in the Republic and witnesses who live there. Advertisement The first public hearing of the inquiry took place on Tuesday at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. Paul Greaney KC, counsel to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, arriving at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Liam McBurney/PA) It is probing whether the dissident republican bombing which devastated the Co Tyrone town, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, could have been prevented. Advertisement It has been contended that the terrorists prepared the bomb in the Republic and also fled back across the Border after planting it in Omagh on August 15th, 1998. The inquiry into the atrocity was ordered last year by former northern secretary Chris Heaton-Harris following a legal challenge by a bereaved family. Belfast High Court judge Mr Justice Horner, in a judgment, directly recommended that the British 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. Advertisement Earlier this month, the Cabinet formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry. Two senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs attended the inquiry hearing on Tuesday. Ruairi de Burca (centre), senior official with the Department of Foreign Affairs, at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Liam McBurney/PA) Advertisement In his opening statement, Paul Greaney KC, counsel to inquiry chairman Alan Turnbull, said it is highly likely, if not inevitable, that the state authorities within the Republic of Ireland hold evidence and bearing upon the inquirys terms of reference, adding that access to materials and citizens requires Irish co-operation. He said inquiry staff have held a number of meetings with Irish government officials and the Irish police, and commended positive discussions. The discussions that have taken place have been positive, and during them, the government of Ireland has expressed a strong desire to co-operate fully with the inquiry, Mr Greaney said. The challenge is to see the engagement that has occurred to date translated to meaningful engagement with the inquirys processes, both leading up to and during the course of inquiries or evidence hearings. Advertisement We emphasise that the inquiry team does not doubt that the Government of Ireland has a strong commitment to achieving that vital aim. He added: The intention of the inquiry is to ensure that those discussions now move into a practical phase in which clear written agreements are put in place, to make certain that the inquiry has full access to any potentially relevant materials held by the state authorities in the Republic of Ireland, and that it has the ability to obtain statements and call witnesses to attend the inquiry, to give evidence in person. A woman has pocketed just under 59,000 in nine cases of personal injury damages from various insurance companies without ever having had to go to court, an outraged judge has been told. Judge Michael Walsh in the Circuit Civil Court threw out two claims by Anne Keenan, of Church Drive, Clarecastle, Ennis, Co Clare, and her friend, Catherine McCarthy, Shelly Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, which he described as fraudulent and outrageous. Advertisement The judge told barrister Robert OGeibheannaigh, counsel for a taxi driver and his insurer Allianz, which insisted on challenging the new 60,000 claims of both 66-year-old women, it was highly unlikely the accident they described had happened at all. Mr OGeibheannaigh, who appeared with Newmans Solicitors for the Motor Insurers Bureau, taximan Stephen Dolan and Allianz, told the court Keenan had failed to declare nine previous accidents in which she picked up 59,000 in out-of-court settlements. McCarthy, he said, failed to disclose one previous accident. Taxi driver Dolan, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, said the accident he was accused of had never taken place after both women swore he had been distracted by using his mobile phone and crashed into the back of a white van while taking them to Heuston Station in June 2016. Both complained they had injured their necks and shoulders and McCarthy claimed she had hurt her back. Mr Dolan was adamant there was no collision or accident and said his phone was attached to the dash at all times during the journey, Judge Walsh said. I am satisfied neither woman was involved in an accident. Advertisement Ireland Foxrock rugby club calls on Church to stop sale of... Read More Judge Walsh said there had been a huge conflict of evidence in both cases and a failure by both women to disclose previous accidents. I dont find them to be credible and I am satisfied it was highly unlikely that a collision occurred, he said. He said he found both claims to be outrageous and could only conclude they were cases of fraud and gross exaggeration against an innocent taximan. I have no hesitation in dismissing both claims and I will award one set of costs in favour of the defendants, he told Mr OGeibheannaigh. Ilya Yashin, a prominent Kremlin critic who is serving an eight and a half year jail sentence for criticising Russias war in Ukraine, has been moved from his prison to an unknown destination, his lawyer has said. The statement on the Telegram messaging app by Tatyana Solomina on Tuesday gave no further details. Advertisement However, it noted that several other figures imprisoned for criticising the military or for alleged extremist activity because of their work with the organisation of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny also were moved. Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow (Gavriil Grigorov/AP) Among them are Oleg Orlov, chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, sentenced to two and a half years in February; musician Alexandra Skochilenko, serving seven years for replacing price tags in a supermarket with messages decrying civilian deaths in Ukraine; and former Navalny regional coordinators Lillia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeyeva, sentenced to nine and a half and nine years. Advertisement Also on Tuesday, Memorial said Germany-born Russian citizen Kevin Liik, who was sentenced to four years for allegedly providing information to German special services, has been removed from his prison. The movements prompted speculation on social media about whether they were in preparation for some kind of a prisoner swap involving Russia, the US and its allies. Kremlin critics and rights advocates have previously called for exchanges that would release Russian political prisoners. The situation is unique in the sense that we hear several high-profile figures are being moved at the same time, Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer who founded Department One legal group, told The Associated Press. Advertisement Given the number, we understand that a swap is expected. Mr Pavlov noted that the simultaneous disappearance of several high-profile political prisoners could mean that they are being moved to one place from where they could be flown abroad. Yashin is one of the few well-known Kremlin critics to stay in Russia after the start of the war. He was arrested in June 2022 in a Moscow park, convicted of spreading false information about Russian soldiers, and sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. Advertisement The charge stemmed from a YouTube livestream in which he talked about civilians slain in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. After Russian forces withdrew from the area in March 2022, hundreds of corpses were found, some with their hands bound and shot at close range. His harsh sentence didnt silence Yashins sharp criticism of the Kremlin. Yashins associates regularly update his social media pages with messages he relays from prison. Advertisement His YouTube channel has over 1.5 million subscribers. The convictions for extremism and war criticism are part of a Kremlin crackdown on dissent that has sharply intensified since the February 2022 start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities often transport prisoners without prior notice to their lawyers or families and some do not surface for several weeks. Navalny in December was moved without announcement from a prison in central Russia to one above the Arctic Circle, a trip he said took 20 days. He died of unexplained causes at the prison in February. Two Americans are imprisoned in Russia on espionage convictions: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, sentenced to 20 years in July, and corporate security executive Paul Whelan. Russian-American dual national Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, convicted in July of spreading false information about the military and sentenced to six and a half years. At least 973 Native American children died in the US governments abusive boarding school system, according to the results of an investigation released Tuesday by officials who called on the government to apologise for the schools. The investigation commissioned by interior secretary Deb Haaland found marked and unmarked graves at 65 of the more than 400 US boarding schools that were established to forcibly assimilate Native American children into white society. Advertisement The findings dont specify how each child died, but the causes of death included sickness, accidents and abuse during a 150-year period that ended in 1969, officials said. Ruins of a building that was part of a Native American boarding school on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in Mission, South Dakota (Matthew Brown/AP) The findings follow a series of listening sessions across the US over the past two years in which dozens of former students recounted the harsh and often degrading treatment they endured while separated from their families. Advertisement The federal government facilitated by the department I lead took deliberate and strategic actions through federal Indian boarding school policies to isolate children from their families, deny them their identities, and steal from them the languages, cultures and connections that are foundational to Native people, Ms Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe in New Mexico and the countrys first Native American Cabinet secretary, said in a news release on Tuesday. In an initial report released in 2022, officials estimated that more than 500 children died at the schools. The federal government passed laws and policies in 1819 to support the schools, the last of which were still operating in the 1960s. The schools gave Native American children English names, put them through military drills and forced them to perform manual labour, such as farming, brick-making and working on the railroad, officials said. Advertisement Former students shared tearful recollections of their experience during listening sessions in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Michigan, Arizona, Alaska and other states. Russell Eagle Bear, with the Rosebud Sioux Reservation Tribal Council, speaks to Deb Haaland during a meeting about Native American boarding schools at Sinte Gleska University (Matthew Brown/AP) They talked about being punished for speaking their native language, getting locked in basements, and having their hair cut to stamp out their identities. Advertisement They were sometimes subjected to solitary confinement, beatings and the withholding of food. Many left the schools with only basic vocational skills that gave them few job prospects. The new report does not specify who should issue the apology on behalf of the federal government, saying only that it should be issued through appropriate means and officials to demonstrate that it is made on behalf of the people of the United States and be accompanied by bold and actionable policies. Interior department officials also recommended that the government invest in programs that could help Native American communities heal from the traumas caused by boarding schools. Advertisement That includes money for education, violence prevention and the revitalisation of indigenous languages. An Israeli military court has opened an initial hearing for nine soldiers detained over what a defence lawyer said were allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian at a shadowy facility where Israel has held prisoners from Gaza during the war. The investigation has stoked tensions between the military command and hard-line nationalists in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government who advocate an even harsher hand in Israels conduct of the 10-month-old war in Gaza. Advertisement The soldiers detention on Monday triggered angry protests by supporters demanding their release, including members of parliament and at least two government ministers. Right-wing Israelis protest outside of the initial hearing in military court for nine Israeli soldiers over allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) On Monday, several hundred protesters broke into the facility in southern Israel, known as Sde Teiman, and then later into the military base where the soldiers were being held. Advertisement A video showed them scuffling with troops before being forced out. Defence lawyer Nati Rom, who is representing three of the soldiers, said they were innocent and described the alleged abuse they are accused of committing as acts of sodomy. The military has given no details on the investigation, saying only it was looking into allegations of substantial abuse. An investigation by The Associated Press and reports by rights groups have exposed abysmal conditions and abuses at Sde Teiman, the military base where most of the thousands detained in Gaza during the war have been held. Advertisement In a report issued in April, the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Palestinians released from detention and sent back to Gaza reported instances of prisoners being forced to strip naked, of photos taken of them naked and of beatings on the genitals. Israeli police stand guard during the right-wing protest (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The report did not specify the facility where the detainees were held. Advertisement One detainee said he was forced to sit on an electrical probe that burned his anus. They also reported beatings with iron bars, gun butts and boots, UNRWA said, adding that many of the returned prisoners had to be hospitalised due to injuries or illness. Beyond the alleged abuse now being investigated, Israeli authorities have generally denied abuses in detention facilities for Palestinians. The military court hearing on Tuesday afternoon at the Beit Lid base in central Israel was expected to rule on whether to extend the soldiers detention. Advertisement By late Tuesday, the court did not appear to have reached a decision. Mr Rom said the incident under investigation took place at Sde Teiman a month ago. Right-wing Israelis, one stomping on a Palestinian scarf, protest outside of the hearing (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) He said the detainee attacked officers during a search, and the soldiers used force but didnt do anything sexual. He said the detainee was a Hamas militant. His account of the incident or the detainees identity could not be independently confirmed. Mr Rom works for Honenu, a nationalist legal group that specialises in defending Israeli soldiers and civilians facing prosecution over incidents of violence with Palestinians. Israel has detained thousands of Palestinians since the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza, according to official figures, though hundreds were released after the military determined they were not affiliated with Hamas. Israeli human rights groups say the majority of detainees from Gaza have at some point passed through Sde Teiman. Israel has long been accused of failing to hold its soldiers accountable for crimes committed against Palestinians. The allegations have intensified during the war in Gaza. Israel says its forces act within military and international law and says it independently investigates any alleged abuses. Six children and two adults remain in critical condition as police continue to question a 17-year-old boy over a deadly knife attack in Southport. Two children were killed after a suspected teenage knifeman attacked a Taylor Swift-themed holiday dance class on Monday morning. Advertisement The boy, born in Cardiff, is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder following the attack in Hart Street, Southport, Merseyside Police said. Advertisement Further details of the victims, including age and gender, have not been given by police, who said they are not treating the incident as terror-related but added the motive remains unclear. Three other children were injured in the stabbing while the two adults were hurt trying to protect the youngsters, the force said. All the casualties are now being treated in hospitals, including childrens hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester. Britain's King Charles said on Monday evening that he and Queen Camilla had been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today. Advertisement (left to right) Merseyside Head of Service Dave Kitchin, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, MFRS Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and NWAS Cheshire, speaking to the media (James Speakman/PA) Charles added: We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack. And the Prince and Princess of Wales said: As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through. Advertisement We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack. Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most. Following a police press conference on Monday evening, the UK prime minister offered his condolences to the victims of the attack in Southport, and their families and friends, saying the whole country is deeply shocked. The suspect is from Banks, a village outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by police on Monday afternoon. Advertisement Merseyside Police had declared a major incident at the scene in Southport, after receiving emergency calls at 11.50am on Monday, with armed response vehicles, 13 ambulances and the fire service descending on the scene, a school holiday club for children aged six to 11. The children were attending a Taylor Swift event at the dance school when the attacker walked into the premises with a knife and began stabbing. Emergency services near the scene in Hart Street, Southport (James Speakman/PA) One local said one of the two adults injured in the attack locked herself in a room with children to protect them as eyewitnesses reported hearing screaming and seeing children covered in blood, suffering stab wounds. Colin Parry, the owner of the Masters Vehicle Body Repairs 50 metres or so from the scene of the attack, told The Guardian he had a heated exchange with a young man he believed to be the attacker moments before the attack. He said: He came down our driveway in a taxi and didnt pay for the taxi, so I confronted him at that point. He was quite aggressive he said: What are you gonna do about it?. Mr Parry said the man he now believes was the attacker then turned and walked out of the driveway of his business. Locals watch on as ambulances and police attend the scene after two children were killed and six others were left critical after a knife attack in Southport. (James Speakman/PA) Moments later, Mr Parry said he received a phone call from a colleague who had run to the dance studio after he heard screaming that wasnt normal, he added. Mr Parry said a member of staff saw about 10 kids go running past him, all bleeding, and one of them collapsed on the floor outside the neighbour next door. I went out and theres two or three kids just lying on the floor. I mean, its a frenzied attack, he said. Its not one stab. Hes gone crazy, the lads gone crazy. The class was fully booked and was attended by 25 youngsters and included a dance and yoga workshop plus bracelet making. Social media posts advertising the event, which said the class was open to children in Year 2 Year 6, have been inundated with comments in tribute to those who died and were injured. One comment under the Swiftie event read: Shocking, overwhelmed with grief. Deepest condolences to all effected by this senseless cruel act of violence against the innocent children and familys. Prayers of strength to endure. Another said: Cant stop thinking about the tragic event that has happened today. Sending love to all affected . A third directed a comment at the teachers of the class, adding: If you managed to get just one of those children out unharmed then you are a hero! Praying for your recovery and praying for all the children and families affected by this awful nightmare. Donald Trump said he will probably debate Vice President Kamala Harris, but said he can also make a case for not doing it. In an interview with Fox News Channel, the former president was pressed several times about committing to debating Ms Harris before giving a less committed answer than he had in recent days. Advertisement The Republican candidate had been eager to debate President Joe Biden when he was the Democratic nominee after months of suggesting his rival was not mentally up for the meeting or the presidency. But after Mr Biden dropped out of the race and Ms Harris became poised to be the Democratic presidential candidate, Mr Trump has been questioning the terms of the original debate he agreed to, suggesting the September 10 debate on ABC News should be moved to a different network, calling ABC fake news. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in St Cloud, Minnesota (AP) Advertisement Last week, in a phone call with reporters, Mr Trump said there was an obligation to debate when asked if he would commit to debating the vice president at least once. In the interview on Monday, Fox host Laura Ingraham repeatedly pressed Mr Trump on whether he would commit to a debate. I want to do a debate. But I also can say this. Everybody knows who I am. And now people know who she is, Mr Trump said, eventually adding: The answer is yes, Ill probably end up debating. The answer is yes, but I can also make a case for not doing it. Advertisement Mr Trump has skipped debates before, including all of the 2024 Republican presidential primary debates. Advertisement Ms Harris campaign spokesperson, Ammar Moussa, accused Mr Trump of continuing to dodge a face-off with his likely opponent. Its clear from tonights question-dodging. Hes scared hell have to defend his running mates weird attacks on women or his own calls to end elections in America in a debate against the vice president, Ms Moussa said. Mr Trump also sought to clarify comments he made last week at a conservative event in which he told an audience of Christians that they wont have to vote anymore after he is elected. The comments drew alarm from Democrats and others who noted Mr Trumps pattern of using authoritarian language, his earlier comments that he would only be a dictator on day one and his behaviour after losing the 2020 presidential election, in which he refused to accept the results and sought to overturn them. Advertisement His campaign and supporters offered various explanations for Mr Trumps comments, and Ms Ingraham prodded him to explain what he meant. They dont vote and Im explaining that to them. This time, vote. Ill straighten out the country. You wont have to vote anymore. I wont need your vote, Mr Trump said. Dont worry about the future. Vote, on, you have to vote on November 5. After that, you dont have to worry about voting anymore. I dont care because were going to fix up, the country will be fixed and we wont even need your vote anymore because, frankly, we will have such love. If you dont want to vote anymore, thats ok. Washingtons top diplomat and defence chief announced 500 million US dollars (389 million) in new military funding on Tuesday to boost the Philippines external defence and progress on a proposed military intelligence-sharing pact as both allies renewed their concerns over Chinas continuing aggressive actions in the region. US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has fortified Manilas decades-old treaty alliance with Washington as hostilities between Philippine and Chinese forces flared since last year in the disputed South China Sea. Advertisement Mr Marcos hailed very open communication lines between Washington and Manila, adding that the two countries treaty alliance and key issues in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region are continuously examined and re-examined so we are agile in terms of our responses. Mr Marcos has underscored the need for a US military presence for Asian stability and peace. Advertisement After meeting their Philippine counterparts later, Mr Blinken and Mr Austin announced the military funding to help modernise the Philippine military and coastguard and boost security collaboration amid shared concerns over Chinas assertive actions. Both of us share concerns and many other countries in the region share concerns, as well, about some of the actions that the Peoples Republic of China has taken, escalatory actions in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and elsewhere, including coercive methods, Mr Blinken said in a joint news conference. He and Mr Austin renewed a warning that the US would help defend the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under attack in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea. Advertisement Every peso or dollar spent on hardening Philippine capabilities to defend itself and to deter unlawful aggression will be a plus against any threat actor, whether it be China or anyone, Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro said. The visit came the week after the Philippines and China reached a temporary arrangement to prevent clashes around the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal like the violent face-off between their forces on June 17. The US, along with Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore, have welcomed the arrangement to de-escalate tensions, Philippine foreign secretary Enrique Manalo said. The 500 million US dollars (389 million) in military financing would include funding for reinforcing the Philippine navys capability. Advertisement About a quarter would be used for constructions and other improvements in parts of Philippine military bases to be occupied by US forces under the 2014 enhanced defence co-operation agreement, Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, said. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez said his campaign has the proof it won Venezuelas disputed election whose victory electoral authorities handed to president Nicolas Maduro. Mr Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told reporters they have obtained more than 70 per cent of tally sheets from Sundays election which show Mr Gonzalez with more than double Mr Maduros votes. Advertisement Both called on people, some of whom protested in the hours after Mr Maduro was declared winner, to remain calm and invited them to gather peacefully at 11am on Tuesday to celebrate the results. Protesters demonstrate against the official election results in Valencia, Venezuela (Jacinto Oliveros/AP) I speak to you with the calmness of the truth, Mr Gonzalez said as dozens of supporters cheered outside campaign headquarters in the capital Caracas. Advertisement We have in our hands the tally sheets that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory. Their announcement came after the National Electoral Council, which is loyal to Mr Maduros ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, officially declared him the winner, handing him his third six-year term. In the capital, the protests were mostly peaceful but when dozens of riot gear-clad national police officers blocked their path, a brawl broke out. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom threw stones and other objects at officers who had stationed themselves on a main avenue of an upper-class district. Advertisement The demonstrations followed an election that was among the most peaceful in recent memory, reflecting hopes that Venezuela could avoid bloodshed and end 25 years of single-party rule. The winner was to take control of an economy recovering from collapse and a population desperate for change. We have never been moved by hatred. On the contrary, we have always been victims of the powerful, Mr Maduro said in a nationally televised ceremony. An attempt is being made to impose a coup detat in Venezuela again of a fascist and counter-revolutionary nature. Advertisement Nicolas Maduro attends a ceremony at the National Electoral Council that certifies him as the winner of the presidential election (Matias Delacroix/AP) We already know this movie, and this time, there will be no kind of weakness, he added, saying Venezuelas law will be respected. Ms Machado told reporters tally sheets show Mr Maduro and Mr Gonzalez received more than 2.7 million and roughly 6.2 million votes respectively. Advertisement A free people is one that is respected, and we are going to fight for our freedom, Mr Gonzalez said. Dear friends, I understand your indignation, but our response from the democratic sectors is of calmness and firmness. Venezuelans vote using electronic machines, which record votes and provide every voter with a paper receipt that shows the candidate of their choice. Voters are supposed to deposit their receipts at ballot boxes before exiting the polls. After polls close, each machine prints a tally sheet showing the candidates names and the votes they received. But the ruling party wields tight control over the voting system, both through a loyal five-member electoral council and a network of long-time local party coordinators who get near unrestricted access to voting centres. People protest the results in Caracas (Fernando Vergara/AP) Those coordinators, some of whom are responsible for handing out government benefits including subsidised food, have blocked representatives of opposition parties from entering voting centres as allowed by law to witness the voting process, vote counting and, crucially, to obtain a copy of the machines final tally sheet. Electoral authorities had not yet released the tally sheets for each of the 30,000 voting machines on Monday evening. The electoral bodys website was down and it remained unclear when the tallies would be available. The lack of tallies prompted an independent group of electoral observers and the European Union to publicly urge the entity to release them. Gabriel Boric, the leftist leader of Chile, called the results difficult to believe, while US secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington had serious concerns that the announced tally did not reflect the actual votes or the will of the people. In response to criticism from other governments, Mr Maduros foreign affairs ministry announced it would recall its diplomatic personnel from seven countries in the Americas, including Panama, Argentina and Chile. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil asked the governments of those countries to do the same with their personnel in Venezuela. He did not explain what would happen to the staff of Ms Machado, including her campaign manager, who has sheltered for months in the Argentinian embassy in Caracas after authorities issued arrest warrants against them. William L Calley Jr, who as an US Army lieutenant led the soldiers who killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre, the most notorious war crime in modern American military history, has died. He was 80. Calley died on April 28 at a hospice in Gainesville, Florida, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing his death certificate. The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County didnt immediately respond to Associated Press requests for confirmation. Advertisement Calley had lived in obscurity in the decades since he was court-martialled and convicted in 1971, the only one of 25 men originally charged to be found guilty in the Vietnam War massacre. On March 16 1968, Calley led American soldiers of the Charlie Company, part of the 23rd Infantry Division, on a mission to confront a crack outfit of their Vietcong enemies. William Calley spoke publicly in 2009 for the first time in decades about the My Lai massacre in Vietnam (The Ledger-Enquirer via AP, File) Advertisement Instead, over several hours, the soldiers killed 504 unresisting civilians, mostly women, children and elderly men, in My Lai and a neighbouring community. The men were angry because, two days earlier, a booby trap had killed a sergeant, blinded a GI and wounded several others while Charlie Company was on patrol. Soldiers eventually testified to the US Army investigating commission that the murders began soon after Calley led Charlie Companys first platoon into My Lai that morning. Some were bayoneted to death. Families were herded into bomb shelters and killed with hand grenades. Advertisement Lt William L Calley Jr, centre, and his military counsel, arrive the Pentagon for testimony before an Army board of investigation in 1969 (AP Photo/File) Other civilians slaughtered in a drainage ditch. Women and girls were gang-raped. It was not until more than a year later that news of the massacre became public. Advertisement And while the My Lai massacre was the most notorious massacre in modern US military history, it was not an aberration. Estimates of civilians killed during the US ground war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1973 range from 1-2 million. The US militarys own records, filed away for three decades, described 300 other cases of what could fairly be described as war crimes. My Lai stood out because of the shocking one-day death toll, stomach-churning photographs and the gruesome details exposed by a high-level US Army inquiry. Calley was convicted in 1971 for the murders of 22 people during the rampage. He was sentenced to life in prison but served only three days because President Richard Nixon ordered his sentence reduced. He served three years of house arrest. Advertisement After his release, Calley stayed in Columbus and settled into a job at a jewellery store owned by his father-in-law before moving to Atlanta, where he avoided publicity and routinely turned down journalists requests for interviews. Calley broke his silence in 2009, at the urging of a friend, when he spoke to the Kiwanis Club in Columbus, Georgia, near Fort Benning, where he had been court-martialled. There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai, Calley said, according to an account of the meeting reported by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper. I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry. He said his mistake was following orders, which had been his defence when he was tried. His superior officer was acquitted. William George Eckhardt, the chief prosecutor in the My Lai cases, said he was unaware of Calley ever apologising before that appearance in 2009. Its hard to apologise for murdering so many people, said Mr Eckhardt. But at least theres an acknowledgment of responsibility. Rex flies to 56 destinations, including between the highly competitive markets of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In June, it began offering one-way fares as low as $99 between Melbourne and Perth in an effort to steal market share from its bigger rivals Qantas and Virgin. Ian Myles, a veteran transport analyst with Macquarie said a number of airlines over several decades have tried to compete on the larger routes between major capital cities and have failed, such as Compass Airlines. We are concerned about Rex, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Its really difficult to break into that market. You have got to have lots of money to go into those big routes, Myles said. However, he noted that it might be more cost-effective for a regional airline in the future to potentially fly into the Western Sydney Airport when it opens in 2026, where it could secure better slots. A slot is an agreement between an airport operator and an airline that allows the airline to operate take-offs and landings at a specific time and date. Smaller airlines have struggled to compete against Qantas and Virgin for slots at Sydney Airport, and more broadly in the market. The challenges in the aviation market were evident earlier this year, when budget carrier Bonza airlines, collapsed. On Tuesday, Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the government was in touch with Rex Airlines. She said she didnt want to see Rex fold, but it was important for the airline to keep its customers informed as to whats happening. Were keeping a pretty close eye on the announcement tomorrow and stand ready. You know, we think Rex is a pretty important part of the Australian aviation industry and stand ready to work with them to see whether theres any assistance or anything the Government needs to do, she told the ABC. We dont want to see Rex fold. Rex also owns air freight, aero medical and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation, the Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat and also a propeller maintenance organisation. Additionally, it has a 50 per cent stake in National Jet Express, which is a fly-in-fly-out charter and freight operator. The Transport Workers Union on Tuesday said the federal government must ensure that Rex is not allowed to go the way of Bonza, with around 2000 jobs potentially at risk. We are of the view that we cannot let Rex fail, the unions national secretary Michael Kaine told ABC Radio National on Tuesday Rex has carved out an existence despite the massive commercial and competitive dominance of Qantas, and we might be seeing here once again the pressure of that dominance is squeezing Rex out, and we hope that is not the case. The federal government is due to release its Aviation White Paper shortly, which examines issues in the sector, including its competitiveness and financial health. It will be used to shape future federal government policy for the industry. Rexs shares have fallen by more than one third this year. The airline has narrowed its losses since the pandemic hit, which roiled airlines globally. In its first yearly half results, released in February this year, Rex increased its total revenue by 4.6 per cent. It reported a half-year loss of $3.2 million, which shrank from a loss of $16.5 million in the previous corresponding period. Lim Kim Hai stepped down as the chairman of Rex last month but has now called for other directors to go. Credit: Louie Douvis The airline has also recently had to contend with a boardroom brawl. In early June, the company revealed that Lim Kim Hai, who owns almost 17 per cent of Rex, was removed as its executive chairman, a role that he had held for 21 years. He remained on the board as a director. Neville Howell, who was the companys chief operating officer, was appointed as chief executive for two years, and John Sharp was elevated to chairman from deputy chairman. The company did not explain the reason for Lims removal. Australia has become the first country in the world to implement a national program to treat babies with peanut allergies by giving them a daily dose of peanut powder in the hope of overcoming the potentially life-threatening condition. The new treatment, which will be offered for free to children under 12 months old through 10 public paediatric hospitals in Victoria, NSW, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, will involve eligible babies eating carefully planned doses of the powder at home to build up a tolerance to the allergen. Hunter Chatwin, 10 months, and his mum Kirsten are involved in a new oral immunotherapy program at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne. Credit: Justin McManus It represents a radical shift in the way the condition is managed in the allergy capital of the world, with families previously told to strictly avoid peanut in their diets. Professor Kirsten Perrett, the director of the National Allergy Centre of Excellence, said the ADAPT Oral Immunotherapy program aimed to help hundreds of babies around the country build tolerance to the allergen and potentially achieve remission. One of the men convicted of abducting and raping Sydney bank teller Janine Balding before her murder in the late 1980s has been returned to jail, where a magistrate says he best belongs. Wayne Wilmot, 51, was placed under strict conditions when he left jail in 2024, including requirements he be subject to electronic monitoring and not access pornographic material. But the violent sexual offender was locked up again 11 days later after breaching conditions of the court order. Janine Baldings abduction, rape and murder shocked Sydney in 1988. Credit: Channel 7 Wilmot pleaded guilty on July 5 to breaching an interim supervision order after seeking to access online pornography, much of which was of an extreme nature. Melburnians are being urged to monitor for symptoms after a significant outbreak of legionnaires disease left several people critically unwell in intensive care. At least 22 cases of the bacterial disease have been confirmed and six suspected since Friday stemming from areas across metropolitan Melbourne, especially in the north and west, Victorian Chief Health Officer Clare Looker said. Most of the cases have occurred in adults aged over 40 and have required hospitalisation resulting from severe community-acquired pneumonia. Victorias Chief Health Officer Clare Looker. Credit: AAP This is a nasty type of pneumonia ... so people can become quite sick, quite quickly, Looker told ABC Radio Melbourne on Tuesday. The decision by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to transfer responsibility for Australias domestic intelligence agency ASIO from the Department of Home Affairs to the Attorney-Generals Department, announced on Sunday with the changes to the ministry, may not be something that gets political commentators excited. Yet it was an important recalibration of our security architecture that will be greatly welcomed by national security professionals. To see why it is important, it is necessary to understand the history. ASIO was a creation of the Chifley Labor government. It was the early days of the Cold War; the threat of Soviet espionage was real. Australia was seen as a weak link by Western allies, in part because of the absence of a domestic intelligence agency like Britains MI5. ASIO is returning to the Attorney-Generals Department. Credit: Matt Davidson The original document constituting ASIO not an act of parliament or even an order in council, merely a letter from Chifley to ASIOs first director-general Sir Geoffrey Reed described it as part of the Defence Forces of the Commonwealth. The powerful mandarin who was secretary of the Defence Department, Sir Frederick Shedden, wanted it to be a Defence agency; others thought it should be in the prime ministers portfolio. While Chifley saw the need for such an agency, many in Labor were suspicious of creating what they saw as a domestic spy force. So it was decided that the new agency should be placed within the Attorney-Generals portfolio, then held by H V Evatt. The rationale was that, as the attorney-general was the minister responsible for protecting the rule of law, such a sensitive function was safest under his jurisdiction. In his official history of ASIO, Professor David Horner highlights the role of the then Commonwealth Crown Solicitor Harry Whitlam in securing that outcome. There is also added strain in the private rental market and on emergency housing resources, due to a social housing average wait time of almost two and a half years, while homelessness remains prevalent in our streets and parks, she said. India is one of the biggest and fastest-growing markets for Samsung globally, said Samsung Electronics CEO and Vice-Chairman Jong-Hee (JH) Han on Tuesday, during his visit to the companys Noida factory, where it produces smartphones, tablets, and refrigerators. In his second visit to India this year, Han emphasised the increasing significance of the Indian market for the South Korean company, the company said in a press statement. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp India is the fastest-growing markets globally and offers a huge opportunity for Samsung. We were among the first companies to invest in India, and I am happy that the Noida factory has emerged as one of our biggest facilities, manufacturing not only for India, but for the world, Han said. Earlier this year, Samsung introduced its AI for All vision, aiming to enhance consumer lives by integrating artificial intelligence and hyper-connectivity through open collaboration. In 2024, Samsungs Galaxy AI-powered premium smartphones and Bespoke AI home appliances, including refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines, have established a distinctive ecosystem of connected devices. This ecosystem not only offers convenience, connectivity, and comfort but also helps consumers save energy, the press release said. The companys One Samsung experience, powered by advanced technology, has set its products apart and generated significant consumer interest, particularly in the premium refrigerator segment. This market has seen rapid growth in India as consumers increasingly opt for larger capacity refrigerators with enhanced features, the press release stated. Complimenting the India-based R&D teams for their contributions to the development of new products and services, Han said, India has a large population of tech-savvy young consumers that inspire us to innovate. I am proud that many young, enterprising engineers who are playing an important role in the development of AI are working at our R&D centres in India. The company further said that it is committed to the "Make in India" initiative of the government, which is demonstrated by its two cutting-edge manufacturing plants in Noida and Sriperumbudur. Additionally, the company has established a design centre in Noida and operates three Research and Development (R&D) facilities. These R&D centers are crucial for driving innovation in both local and global products, two of which are located in Noida and one in Bengaluru, the company said. In the first quarter of FY25 (April-June), state-run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) saw its consolidated net profit steeply fall 75 per cent to Rs 3,528 crore, down from the Rs 14,436 crore net profit registered in Q1 FY24. On a sequential basis, the net profit exhibited a per cent decrease from Rs 5,148.8 crore recorded in Q4 FY24. The sharp reduction in net profit in Q1 came due to lower average gross refining margins (GRMs) the revenue refiners accrue from transforming each barrel of crude oil into refined fuel products. IOCL reported that the average GRM stood at $6.39 per barrel in Q1. This was 23.3 per cent lower than the $8.34 per barrel recovered in the same period of the previous financial year. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The company's revenue from operations did not shrink much in the latest quarter, reducing by 2.4 per cent to Rs 2.19 trillion, compared to Rs 2.25 trillion in Q1 FY24. However, IOCL's expenses rose by Rs 9,196.37 crore in Q1 to Rs 2.16 trillion. The cost of materials consumed, up by 10.5 per cent, and purchases of stock in trade, higher by 7.5 per cent, were the two biggest expenses. This drop in revenue is primarily attributed to lower earnings from the largest segment of petroleum products, which dipped 3.6 per cent to Rs 2.03 trillion, down from Rs 2.11 trillion in the same quarter of the previous year. With its 10 refineries accounting for a cumulative 80 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) capacity, IOCL controls nearly 33 per cent of India's refining capacity. Sales from the petrochemicals business, however, rose nearly 0.9 per cent to Rs 6,789.4 crore, up from Rs 6,728.3 crore in Q1 FY24. The quarter under review also saw nearly 36.4 per cent growth in revenue from other business activities to Rs 10,690 crore, from Rs 7,839.1 crore during the same quarter of the previous year. On the marketing front, IOCL achieved domestic product sales of 24.06 million metric tonnes (MMT) during Q1, while export sales stood at 1.18 MMT in Q1. The company's shares rose 1.6 per cent to Rs 183.4 on Tuesday, part of a wider rally in oil stocks. Lower refining margins "The core GRM or the current price GRM for FY24 after offsetting inventory loss or gain comes to $2.84 per barrel," it said. Lower GRMs have become a fixture for OMCs over the past few quarters. In 2022, disruptions in the supply of Russian oil coupled with a decrease in petroleum product exports from China led to a reduction in the supply of refined products, prompting GRMs to skyrocket to record highs. Consequently, earnings for Indian refiners had seen an upswing. However, while Moscow has kept a check on supplies to the international market in 2023, GRMs for Indian refiners have remained at lower levels. Indian OMCs continued to secure oil from Russia at a discounted price. But as average levels of discounts on Russian crude have reduced to less than $4 per barrel in FY24, GRMs have slid. In a statement, Jindal Stainless managing director, Abhyuday Jindal, said that it was an enabling resolution to prepare for, among other things, organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Bloomberg Photo Jindal Stainless on Tuesday reported a 13.11 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) drop in net profit to ~648.06 crore in the April-to-June quarter (Q1FY25). In the year-ago period, the companys net profit had stood at ~745.81 crore. Revenue from operations on a consolidated basis was at ~9,429.76 crore in Q1FY25, down by 7.4 per cent Y-o-Y. Sequentially, revenue from operations was down 0.3 per cent while net profit was up by 29.4 per cent. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The board of Jindal Stainless in-principle approved raising ~5,000 crore through equity and/or debt instruments. In a statement, Jindal Stainless managing director Abhyuday Jindal said that it was an enabling resolution to prepare for, among other things, organic and inorganic growth opportunities. The domestic market is expected to expand, with newer sectors anticipated to grow even faster, driving increased demand in the stainless steel industry, he said. The ongoing Red Sea issue had extended transit times and freight cost from India to the US and Europe, the companys two major markets. The bigger impact in this quarter was availability and cost of containers, Jindal said in a post-results media interaction. He added that the company was trying to move away from containers and increase supplies in break-bulk. To counter the Red Sea issue, Jindal Stainless had also increased sales in other markets like Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Jindal said that the company was looking to break into the Japanese market. Even as exports were impacted, the domestic market saw steady growth. We are extremely positive on the domestic demand, especially after the Budget outlay on infrastructure, railways and defence. That is why despite the dip in exports, we delivered high volumes, Jindal said. Sales volume of the company was up by 5.4 per cent Y-o-Y. However, Jindal sees exports picking up. There has been some recovery in Europe compared to last year, he said. The overall guidance on exports, however, remained at 10-15 per cent. On the government focus on skill development, Jindal said the company would like to partner with the government in upskilling the stainless steel community. On the internship scheme, he said: We are studying to see how we can utilize it. The programme will build urban local bodies' capacity for waste management and sanitation. Asian Development Bank and the Government of India recently signed a $ 200 million (about Rs 1,700 crore) loan to improve solid waste management and sanitation in 100 cities across eight states in the country. The signatories to the loan agreement for the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 -Comprehensive Municipal Waste Management in Indian Cities Program were Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Finance Ministry, and Mio Oka, Country Director for Asian Development Bank (ADB) - India Resident Mission, the Manila-based multilateral funding agency said in a statement on Tuesday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp After signing the loan agreement, Mukherjee said that the programme supports the objectives of the government's Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission - Urban 2.0 by enhancing sanitation and solid waste management infrastructure, including waste segregation, collection and disposal. "This programme is guided by lessons derived from ADB's experience in urban infrastructure development across several states and will incorporate international best practices, new digital technologies, and mainstream climate- and disaster-resilient approaches in municipal solid waste management to promote a clean environment free from garbage and pollution," Oka said. ADB's support will upgrade and establish solid waste processing and management facilities such as bio-methanation plants, composting plants, managed landfills, material recovery facilities, and plastic waste processing facilities, it said. It will also support the construction of community toilets and urinals and the purchase of sweeping equipment, it said, adding that these facilities and delivery of urban services will include climate- and disaster-resilient, gender equality and social inclusion-responsive features. The programme will build urban local bodies' capacity for waste management and sanitation, encourage peer-to-peer learning, and proactively engage with the private sector, it said. It will help conduct annual reviews and progress updates of city-wide solid waste and sanitation action plans, it added. China-Africa digital cooperation continues advancing, highlighted in infrastructure construction 10:34, July 30, 2024 By Xiong Xinyi ( Global Times The Forum on China-Africa Digital Cooperation held by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on July 29, 2024. (Photo: Xiong Xinyi/GT) China-Africa cooperation has been continuously advancing in the digital sector covering a wide range of industries from infrastructure to e-commerce, bolstered by swiftly developing technologies, African officials and business representatives told the Global Times on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Digital Cooperation held by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Monday. Digital cooperation between China and South Africa has brought a lot of benefits, with many Chinese technology companies investing in South Africa and helping the country to expand in various sectors ranging from infrastructure to e-commerce, South African Ambassador to China Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele told the Global Times. For instance, more than 70 percent of the telecommunication infrastructure in South Africa is supplied by Chinese enterprises, and the country is building several cloud centers with some of them being operated by Chinese firms, according to Cwele. Cwele said that South Africa is looking forward to deepening industrial applications between South Africa and China, as the country is trying to transform its industries to the new economy and new production lines. The fast-growing e-commerce sector is important in further exploring potential cooperation. Sales of South African products to China are growing every day thanks to e-commerce platforms, and the products are mostly specialties, he said. Chinese consumers can purchase South African flowers on Chinese e-commerce platforms, which are transported to Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province and distributed nationwide, Cwele noted. Since 2007, Uganda has been building a strong partnership with China in information and communications technology. For instance, Uganda has secured resources from China to construct and lay the national backbone infrastructure, while working with Huawei to build technical capacity within the country, Uganda's Minister of ICT and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsitold the Global Times. Baryomunsi noted that fiber [optic lines] have been able to be extended to more than 50 percent of the country, and are expected to reach all corners of the country within the next two to three years. In addition, Baryomunsi said the two countries have constructed data centers in Uganda, while digital cooperation in the education system has been able to offer education for residents in rural areas to learn the basics of how to conduct transactions through digital platforms. Mamadou Safa Tounkara, deputy general director of SOGEB, a national backbone in Guinea, told the Global Times that the trip to China is to make sure that cooperation efforts with China will be going on in the long term. The company has many projects in infrastructure and natural resources where it is working with China, according to Tounkara. He noted that cooperation with many companies in China is opening a "new horizon" to help Guinea make the transition to digitalization. China and 26 African countries jointly issued an Action Plan for China-Africa Digital Cooperation and Development, which was unveiled at the forum on Monday, aiming to promote cooperation and development in the digital sector. Under the plan, actions will target digital cooperation in six aspects - policy, infrastructure, innovation, transformation, security, and digital capability. For instance, the countries will work together to implement 10 digital transformation demonstration projects and train at least 1,000 personnel to improve digital capabilities and literacy. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday cautioned about a conspiracy to send a message that India is not safe for foreign investors and that Indian institutions cannot guarantee security to foreign investments. There is a conspiracy to send a message to the entire world that India is not safe for investors. This is not good. Rumours are being spread that Indian institutions cannot guarantee security to foreign investments, which is really a sad situation, Sitharaman said while replying to the general discussion on the FY25 Budget in the Lok Sabha. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Sitharaman said entrepreneurship itself was being made a villain. Hardworking entrepreneurs are building this country. The conspiracy is to end Indias entrepreneurship culture even before it fully blooms, thereby hitting at Indias core backbone, which is Indias entrepreneurship of small and medium units and enterprises that are building India. Negativity is being spread in society towards all those who do business, and this hatred for business and wealth creators is spilling everywhere, she added. To make India developed, Sitharaman said it was necessary to be a big economic and strategic power. But if there will be instability and anarchy in the country, the journey towards Viksit Bharat will become more difficult. This is a huge challenge for us and as a nation, we have to understand where the problem is. Indias social fabric, parliamentary traditions, economy, and armed forces all four are severely attacked, she said. Questioning the credibility of the Global Hunger Index, which ranked India at 111th position out of a total of 125 countries in 2023, Sitharaman termed it a flawed indicator. How come conflict-ridden countries, such as Pakistan and Sudan, are ranked ahead of India? African countries still have lower per capita income than India. In Pakistan, they are not able to obtain basic food, though I dont want them to suffer. But thats the reality. And here in India, we provide free food grains to 80 crore people, and still we are high in the hunger index! How will they establish credibility, she asked. Answering questions on household savings dipping to a 50-year low while household debt has increased, Sitharaman said net financial savings of the household sector have risen 70 per cent from Rs 8.32 trillion in FY14 to Rs 14.16 trillion in FY23. Under household savings in the form of physical assets, construction of houses or other immovable properties increased from Rs 14 trillion in FY14 to Rs 35 trillion in FY23. It clearly indicates a shift of savings in the form of physical assets rather than in the form of financial assets. The base of registered investors at the National Stock Exchange has tripled to 92 million between March 2020 and March 2024. Now, potentially 20 per cent of Indias households are channeling their household savings into financial markets, she added. Sitharaman said the Budget FY25 tries to bring a balance among several objectives because growth is important, and through better growth and higher growth, inequality can be addressed. So growth, employment, welfare spending, capital investment, and fiscal consolidationthese are the factors which we tried balancing in the Budget, she added. Wayanad: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel conduct rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Photo: PTI) A major rain-induced landslide wreaked havoc in Keralas Wayanad district on Tuesday, killing at least 45 people, including a Nepali national, while hundreds were feared trapped. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp A one-year-old child of a Nepali family was among those killed in the landslide in Wayanad that cut off at least four villages: Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said two Air Force helicopters had departed for the landslide-hit hilly district to airlift the affected families.The NDRF recovered several bodies and rescued one person alive during the search operation in the debris. The Indian Army has been deployed at the site to ramp up the rescue efforts. The total strength of the Army deployed is about 225, including medical personnel. Wayanad landslide: What happened in early hours 1) The deaths were reported in Chooralmala and Thondernad areas of Wayanad, situated some 460 kilometres north of the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. 2) The authorities have launched a search and rescue operation and are making efforts to move the affected people to a safe shelter. UDF Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) T Siddique said the authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from the Mundakkai area. 3) "Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places," he said. Rahul Gandhi speaks with Kerala CM over Wayanad landslide 4) Former Wayanad Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi expressed grief at the crisis and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi said he had spoken to the Chief Minister and would hold talks with the Centre to ensure all possible assistance to Wayanad. I am deeply anguished by the massive landslides near Meppadi in Wayanad. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon. I have spoken to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 30, 2024 I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon, he said. 5) The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said that the Fireforce and NDRF teams were already at the spot while additional NDRF teams were being mobilised to speed up the rescue efforts. 6) The officials said that the ongoing heavy rainfall in the region has hampered the rescue efforts, and the operation is likely to take a while. 7) Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue in the state's northern hilly areas. 8) Initial reports suggest that as many as 29 houses have been partially damaged in Wayanad, and 700 people have been moved to shelter camps. Heavy rainfall prediction in Wayanad on July 30 9) The rainfall has further contributed to the rise in water levels of rivers flowing through the region, posing an additional challenge. 10) The districts of Wayanad and Kannur are on a red alert for today, the weather body said, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in the region. A red alert indicates the possibility of over 20 cm of rainfall in a region during a period of 24 hours. (With inputs from agencies) Amid reports that Teslas investment plans in India have been put on the backburner, sources close to the development indicate that three states Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are frontrunners for the global major's manufacturing unit in India. A decision in this regard is likely to depend on the product portfolio of the electric carmaker, say industry sources. The company is also in talks to rope in local partners. If the company is setting its sights on a low-cost model targeting the Indian domestic market, it may establish a unit in Maharashtra. On the other hand, Modi said that he believes industry and wealth creators are the Terming Indian industry and wealth creators the "primary driving force" in the countrys growth story, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said domestic industry must compete with the central government and leave it behind in the work to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat (developed nation). He was speaking at a post-Budget conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here. Investors worldwide are keen on coming to India and domestic industry should not let go of this golden chance, Modi said. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "My expectation from the industry is that it should go shoulder-to-shoulder and compete with the Centre to fulfil India's dream towards Viksit Bharat," he said, adding: "I expect them to leave the government behind and emerge victorious in this." Asserting that there is "no dearth of political willpower" in the government, Modi said: "For us, the country and the aspirations of countrymen are the topmost priorities." The PM said that he had asked Niti Aayog, the governments top policy think tank, to make an "Investor-friendly Charter" for all states. "There should be healthy competition between states to attract investment. I don't want any state in my country to be left behind," he said, calling for policies to attract investment. "Good governance should be felt at every step, so that an investor can go to every state," he added. Modi said the Budgets Rs 2-trillion mega PMs Package is expected to benefit 41 million youths and the industry must work together with the Centre on this. The allocation will be spent over the next five years, and under this, five different schemes have been announced to promote job creation and strengthen the skilling infrastructure. "PM Package is holistic and comprehensive. It is interlinked with end-to-end solutions," he said, adding: "Its vision is clear. India's manpower should be globally competitive, its product should be globally competitive not only in quality, but from the point of view of value as well." Modi highlighted that the size of the Budget has jumped threefold from Rs 16 trillion in 2013-14 to Rs 48 trillion now. Capital expenditure has gone up from Rs 90,000 crore in 2004 to Rs 11.11 trillion in 2024. The PM also said that in his third term, India would become the third-largest economy in the world. He added that the government is focused on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they generate crores of jobs. In 2014, MSMEs earning Rs 1 crore had to pay presumptive tax, now MSMEs with income up to Rs 3 crore can also take advantage of this. In 2014, MSMEs earning up to Rs 50 crore had to pay 30 per cent tax, today this rate is 22 per cent," he said. Mid-cap, small-cap stocks: Higher rates of long-term and short-term capital gains tax (LTCG, STCG) introduced in Budget 2024 and valuation concerns in a lot of stocks that comprise mid, small-cap stocks have not been a deterrent for the bulls in these two segments. From the July 23 Budget 2024-day low, the midcap and the smallcap indices on the BSE have seen a surge of over 6 per cent and 7 per cent respectively, shows ACE Equity data. The up move has been higher than the 2.5 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex during this period. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp On its part, the Budget 2024 has hiked LTCG and STCG taxes on sale of shares from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent, and from 15 per cent to 20 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, analysts have been cautious on these two segments a favourite of retail investors citing valuation concerns since quite some time now. Investors, it seems, have not heeded to their word of caution yet. Why are the mid, smallcap stocks rallying? The disconnect between earnings and market prices in the broader market, according to V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services, has been driven by the sustained fund flows into these segments and irrationally enthusiastic retail buying. ALSO READ: Nifty MidCap, SmallCap indices break 20-DMA support; can fall another 9% "Market history tells us that irrational exuberance can last longer than seasoned experts think. But it is always better to err on the side of caution. Buy on dips strategy has been working throughout this bull-run. Investors can utilise the dips to buy fairly valued large-caps," he suggests. At the bourses, meanwhile, stocks of MTNL, Antony Waste Handling, MMTC, IFCI, PG Electroplast, Hindustan Construction Company, Ashoka Buildcon, Nuvama Wealth Management, Arvind Smartspaces and Protean e-Gov Technologies have surged up to 39 per cent from their respective Budget 2024-day lows. While the Sensex still trades at a reasonable trailing price-to-earnings (PE) at 24.3, the BSE Small-cap and BSE Mid-cap indices trade at stretched valuations of around 36.4x and 33x, respectively. Overall market-cap build up, extremely stretched valuation of many individual stocks in the small-and mid-cap (SMC) space and drying up of liquidity from the secondary markets due to the ongoing and upcoming initial public offers (IPOs) are the top risks to the markets, according to market experts. "History proves the point that SMC segment invariably falls very badly without giving any ample time to rejig equity asset class - once in 3 or maximum 4 years and brings in some balance between large-cap versus SMC valuations. That time is approaching fast," said G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research. Earnings growth of India Inc Earnings growth of India Inc, especially in the mid-and small-cap universe, according to analysts at Bernstein, has not kept pace with the sharp rise in the stock prices. Sectors with decent earnings upgrades, they said, show a disproportionately high movement in their stock prices - suggesting an optimistic overpricing. "A stark difference is seen in the top 100 and bottom 100 of our NSE200 stocks, with FY25 earnings of the top 100 almost flat at around 1 per cent, while the bottom 100 declined by 2.6 per cent over April & May. This has led to nearly half the midcap 150 stocks trading at a one-year forward PE of 40x or more. For large caps, this number is at 41 per cent," wrote Venugopal Garre, managing director at Bernstein in a recent coauthored note with Nikhil Arela in a recent note. VBL in focus: Shares of Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) fell as much as 6.40 per cent to hit an intraday low of Rs 1,575.95 per share. The fall in the stock price came after investors jumped to book profit after stellar numbers in the second quarter and half year ended June 30, 2024 (H1CY24), which met street estimates. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The companys profit rose 26 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 1,252.6 crore in Q2CY24, as opposed to Rs 994 crore in the same quarter last year (Q2CY23). Varun Beverages revenue jumped 28.3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7,197 crore in the second quarter of calendar year 2024, as against Rs 5,611 crore in the second quarter of CY23. The companys consolidated sales volume grew 28.1 per cent to 401.6 million cases in Q2CY24 from 313.5 million cases in Q2CY23. This includes approximately 28 million cases from BevCo during the quarter. Ravi Jaipuria, chairman of Varun Beverages Limited said, We are pleased to report robust performance for the second quarter of CY2024, achieving a consolidated sales volume growth of 28.1 per cent, which includes volumes from BevCo. The impressive volume growth of 22.9 per cent in India primarily contributed to this outstanding performance, supported by our expanded capacities, enhanced distribution network, and a strong summer season. Meanwhile, our international markets remained relatively flat, moreover it was a seasonally weak quarter for the African market. At the operating level, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) climbed 31.8 per cent to Rs 1,991 crore in Q2CY24, from Rs 1,511 crore in Q2CY23. Consequently, Ebitda margin rose 70 basis points (bps) to 27.7 per cent in the quarter under review, as opposed to 27 per cent in the same quarter last calendar year. The company has declared an interim dividend of Rs. 1.25 per share. Additionally, the Board has considered and recommended the subdivision/split of existing equity shares of the Company from 1 equity share with a face value of Rs. 5 each fully paid-up into such number of equity shares having face value of Rs 2 each fully paid-up. This is subject to the approval of equity shareholders of the Company. This is intended for wider retail participation, Varun Beverages said. On the outlook, Jaipuri added, With strong performance in a key quarter, we are on track to deliver healthy double-digit growth in this calendar year. India remains a high-demand market with massive growth potential, driven by a growing consuming class and a young population. To capitalise on this demand, we are focused on further strengthening our infrastructure, distribution network, and product portfolio. With a focus on strategic growth and leveraging new opportunities in both India and international markets, we are confident in our ability to deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders. Varun Beverages Limited is a key player in the beverage industry and one of the largest franchisee of PepsiCo in the world (outside USA). The company produces and distributes a wide range of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), as well as a large selection of non-carbonated beverages (NCBs), including packaged drinking water sold under trademarks owned by PepsiCo. PepsiCo CSD brands produced and sold by VBL include Pepsi, Pepsi Black, Mountain Dew, Sting, Seven-Up, Mirinda, Seven-Up Nimbooz Masala Soda and Evervess. PepsiCo NCB brands produced and sold by the company include Slice, Tropicana Juices (100 per cent and Delight), Seven-Up Nimbooz, Gatorade as well as packaged drinking water under the brand Aquafina. At 12:41 PM, shares of VBL were trading 4.15 per cent lower at Rs 1,613.85 per share. In comparison, BSE Sensex was trading 0.46 per cent higher at 81,726.43 levels. Reliance Jio has launched the JioBharat J1 4G, its new feature phone packed with Jio apps such as JioTV, JioCinema, JioSaavn, JioPay (UPI), JioChat, and JioPhotos. The budget 4G feature phone has a physical keypad with support for 23 languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bangla. The JioBharat J1 4G is backed by JioBharat recharge plans, which are available from Rs 123 (28 days) to Rs 1234 (336 days). In all recharge plans, Jio offers 0.5GB data per day, unlimited voice calls, and 300 messages per 28 days. Alongside, all plans are offered with subscription to JioSaavn, JioCinema, and JioTV services. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp JioBharat J1 4G: Price and availability The JioBharat J1 4G is available on Amazon India at Rs 1,799. The feature phone is offered in sole dark grey colour. JioBharat J1 4G: Specifications The feature phone has a 2.8-inch non-touch display. Powered by a 2,500 mAh battery, the feature phone is based on the ThreadX RTOS operating system. Locked for Jio SIM, the phone has a single nano SIM slot beside a microSD card slot for external storage (up to 128GB). The phone has a camera on the rear, though exact camera specifications are not detailed by Jio. It is through this camera that the phone enables online payments through UPI. The handset measures 135 x 56 x 16mm in size and weighs 122g. What is JioBharat Announced in July last year, JioBharat is a platform targeted to original equipment manufacturers to offer internet-enabled services on entry-level phones. At tha launch. the company said that apart from Reliance Retail, other phone brands (starting with Karbonn) will adopt the "Jio Bharat platform" to build Jio Bharat phones. The beta trial for the first one million Jio Bharat phones started from July 7 in 2023 across 6,500 tehsils in India. The suspected shooter was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service (Photo: Reuters) The US House of Representatives has announced the creation of a 13-member bipartisan congressional task force on the attempted assassination of former president and Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump, 78, survived the attempt on his life on July 13 when a 20-year-old shooter fired multiple shots at him at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, injuring his right ear. The shooting left one person attending the rally dead and two others in serious condition. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The suspected shooter was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service. We have the utmost confidence in this bipartisan group of steady, highly qualified and capable Members of Congress to move quickly to find the facts, ensure accountability, and help make certain such failures never happen again, said House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday. The task force has been formed to understand what went wrong on the day of the attempted assassination, to ensure accountability and to prevent such an agency failure from happening again. It will make recommendations for reform to the relevant government agencies and recommend any necessary legislation to implement the reforms. Congressman Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania's 16th District, who resides in his hometown of Butler, the location of the assassination attempt, is the chairman of the task force. Kelly has longstanding ties to the local law enforcement community and is the author of the resolution creating the task force. House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green said establishing this task force is a critical step in addressing this failure and ensuring that the American people get the answers they deserve. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and the Secret Service's utter failure to safeguard a former president and current candidate for our nation's highest office was unacceptable from the start, and it grows more troubling with each new report and effort by the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration to stonewall congressional oversight, he said. The task force comprises of Republican members Mark Green, David Joyce, Laurel Lee, Michael Waltz, Clay Higgins and Pat Fallon. The Democratic members are Jason Crow, Lou Correa, Madeleine Dean, Chrissy Houlahan, Glenn Ivey, and Jared Moskowitz. In a speech on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the assassination attempt has exposed more than just the continued threat of gun violence in America. It has also revealed unacceptable security failures in the operations of the United States Secret Service, he said. Despite the implementation of a security plan to secure the rally site on July 13, the shooter involved was able to fly a drone outside of the security perimeter for 11 minutes," Durbin said. "His suspicious activity was reported twice, and he was spotted on the roof of a building prior to taking his first shot yet his violent plan continued unimpeded, and he was able to fire eight shots before a Secret Service countersniper killed him, he said. Durbin also posed many questions which, he said, the American public deserves answers to. "What organisational and on-the-ground changes has the Secret Service implemented since this occurred to ensure better security in the future?" he asked. He also questioned which of those changes were in place in time for the Republican National Convention and are still in the process of being implemented for future events, such as the Democratic National Convention next month. Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the FBI as part of an investigation into his attempted assassination, a special agent said on Monday in disclosing how the gunman prior to the shooting had researched mass attacks and explosive devices. The expected interview is part of the FBI's standard protocol to speak with victims during the course of their criminal investigations. Presented by Starbucks and Powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation Lottery Opens July 29 The Empire State Building (ESB) announced today the return of the annual Empire State Building Run-Up (ESBRU) on Oct. 9, 2024 presented by Starbucks and powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation with lottery registration open online from today, July 29, 2024, until Aug. 9, 2024, at 4 p.m. EDT. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240729379325/en/ The 2024 Empire State Building Run-Up Returns Oct. 9 Presented by Starbucks and Powered by the Challenged Athletes Foundation Lottery Opens July 29 (Photo: Business Wire) Approximately 500 runners will race up the buildings 1,576 stairs to the iconic 86th Floor Observatory in the 46th annual Run-Up. This years designated heats will include elite runners, athletes with disabilities, celebrities, media, building tenants, and the public, among others. Registered runners will be notified of their race status on Aug. 12, with participation costs of $175 per runner to be charged only upon acceptance from the lottery. The worlds most famous tower race the Empire State Building Run-Up challenges athletes from across the globe, and we cant wait to welcome them back to the Empire State Building for this bucket-list experience, said Tony Malkin, chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. We congratulate in advance our amazing participants for this astonishing achievement the race to the top of the Worlds Most Famous Building and Tripadvisors number one-rated attraction in the world. The Empire State Building is home to a Starbucks Reserve flagship store. Covering three floors and 23,000 square feet, this location offers premium coffee and cocktail experiences like Signature Espresso Martinis, Whiskey Barrel-Aged Coffee, and interactive workshops showcasing the craft and innovation behind Starbucks coffee. Visitors can also enjoy elevated food, desserts, and exclusive Starbucks Reserve merchandise. Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) serves as the official charity partner of the ESBRU once again with a designated division for athletes with permanent physical disabilities and CAF supporters who raise funds to empower lives through sports. Runners can bypass the lottery and run with #TeamCAF with a guaranteed charity fundraising entry found online. The 2024 Empire State Building Run-Up is produced by Super Race Systems. More information about the Empire State Building Run-Up and the official lottery entry can be found online. Hi-res imagery and video from previous years can be downloaded here. About the Empire State Building The Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the #1 Attraction in the World and #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third consecutive year in Tripadvisors Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planets Ultimate Travel List. Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok. Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. Category: Observatory View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240729379325/en/ Some veterans of the US Armed Forces may have been exposed to substances, chemicals, and hazards during their military service that can lead to health problems. Some health problems show up quickly after an exposure, but many dont cause problems or symptoms for months to years after exposure. Some exposures can cause cancer to develop later in life. This means veterans could be at a higher risk for certain types of cancer depending on what they may have been exposed to during their service. In fact, the Veterans Administration (VA) estimates more than 50,000 cancer cases are diagnosed every year in VA health systems. If you are a US veteran, talk with your doctor or health care team about your possible exposures. They can help you figure out your cancer risk and create a care plan that includes actions you can take to help prevent cancer or lower your risk. They may recommend genetic testing for cancer risk. They can also work with you to understand what cancer screening tests you need, when they should start, and how often you should be tested. 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 If theres one car that can be considered as the king of reinvention, its the Hyundai Santa Fe. In the five generations its been around, e... FARMERS suffered an extensive drop in their incomes last year, a state authority has revealed. Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, said findings in its National Farm Survey 2023 confirmed a very difficult year for income levels across farms in 2023. Dairy and Tillage farms, in particular, experienced steep reductions in farm income, which was largely due to a sharp decline in milk and cereal prices, and lower production volumes, in a period of stubbornly high input prices, exacerbated by the bad weather. Lowest average incomes Drystock farms also experienced a notable decline in income, while all farm systems recorded their lowest average incomes in several years. The decline in dairy and tillage farm incomes follows on from a year of record incomes in 2022, illustrating yet again the highly volatile nature of farm income in both of these farm systems in Ireland, according to Teagasc. Cattle and sheep farms saw the value of output decrease, and with production costs remaining high, incomes on drystock farms in 2023 were notably lower than in 2022. Collectively, lower prices and production volume had a substantial negative influence on the average farm income in Ireland. 85,000 farms in Ireland The results published in the Teagasc National Farm Survey 2023 are representative of almost 85,000 farms in Ireland. Internationally, there was a sharp downturn in dairy commodity prices last year, which in turn affected Irish farm milk prices. In 2023, there were some challenging weather conditions in Ireland over the second half of the year, with high levels of rainfall having an adverse impact on tillage yields, grazing conditions and silage production. As a result, tillage yields were below normal and milk production fell, as cows were dried-off early in the face of low milk margins. Across the key farm output categories here, milk and cereal prices performed worst. Milk prices were down 28% in 2023 compared with 2022, while cereal prices decreased by 30% to 35%. Finished cattle prices increased by 4% last year, by 7% for weanlings and 5% for store cattle. By contrast, lamb prices decreased by about 3%. Production costs rising Dairy system production costs, which rose by over 30% to their highest level in 2022, remained at that record level in 2023. While the dairy cow population continued to increase, milk output volume fell by 4% in the face of low profitability and challenging production conditions at the back end of last year. It resulted in an average dairy farm income of just under 49,500, a decrease of 69%, or in excess of 105,000, compared with the 2022 level. Suckler beef production In the cattle-rearing area, comprising farms that are mainly specialised in suckler beef production, the value of output increased by 6% in 2023, mainly due to higher cattle prices. Production costs on these farms increased by 11% on average, which was influenced by the difficult weather conditions in the second half of the year and consequent rise in feed costs. The average value of support payments for cattle-rearing farms was up 10% on the 2022 level. The introduction of the suckler carbon efficiency programme, national beef welfare scheme and the agri-climate rural environment scheme provides important support to incomes for farms in this system. However, the average cattle-rearing income was just over 7,400 in 2023, down 15%, or close to 1,350, compared with the 2022 level. The average sheep farm income was down 22%, at 12,600 in 2023, a decrease of almost 3,500 on the previous year. Cereal farmers benefited from a range of support measures in 2023, leading to an increase in support payments of 9% on average. However, given the decline in output and the rise in production costs, the average tillage farm income was down 71%, taking the average income down to just 21,400, a decrease of over 52,000. Taking account of the income developments across the various farm systems, the average family farm income in Ireland dropped by 57% in 2023 to just under 20,000. This decrease in the average farm income is strongly associated with the sharp decline in dairy and tillage farm incomes. Collectively, these two sectors accounted for 53% of farm income in Ireland last year. THE reintroduction of a national safety measure aims to protect farmers from serious or fatal injuries. The National Farm Safety Measure 2024 will provide a financial contribution to participating farmers, covering 60% of the eligible cost of power take-off (PTO) shaft covers. From 2014 to 2023, farm vehicles and machinery accounted for more than half of all fatalities on farms due to entanglement in such shafts. Minister of state Martin Heydon said he was reopening the measure to help protect farmers and everyone involved in operating PTO-powered equipment from serious and fatal injuries. The minister continued: This measure will support farmers in the purchase of new PTO shaft covers. "Unsafe practices must be addressed and through this measure I am raising awareness of the risks posed by operating PTO-powered machinery that has defective or missing PTO shaft covers. ALMOST 70 bikers roared out of the Circle K garage in Rathcrogue recently, when they took part in a run for a great cause. Organisers Patrick Brennan and Megan Manning with Mick Clarke and Jayden Brennan The bike run was organised by Patrick Brennan and Megan Manning in aid of a little three-year-old girl called India Kelly. India is being treated for cancer since she was first diagnosed in December 2022 with a stage four neuroblastoma. The brave little toddler has been treated in Ireland with good results, but theres a chance that the cancer could return. Her parents Kate Kelly and Aonghus Smyth decided to look for more treatment for her in the world-famous Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, where she is undergoing clinical trials. The treatment will cost in the region of 500,000, so various fundraising events have been set up. Barbara Moore and Jason McCann India is a niece of Sergeant Hud Kelly, who is stationed at Carlow Garda Station, so when Patrick and Megan saw an article about her in The Nationalist, they decided to organise an event. The couple are members of a group of bikers called Bikes and Banter Carlow, which meets once a week on an informal basis at the Circle K garage in Rathcrogue and once a month on a Sunday. This is the second annual run the group has organised after they raised funds for another sick child last year. Brian Walsh gets ready to set off! The group used the ring roads around Carlow town to travel out to Castlecomer before returning back to Rathcrogue, where they had tea and refreshments in the Tinryland GAA clubhouse. We see how people raise money for big charities, but we wanted to help someone by giving them the money directly. We were delighted with how it went, with close to 70 bikers taking part, including a group called The Outkasts, who came all the way from Newry. Weve raised more than 2,000 so were delighted with that, said Patrick. A VOTE for Jennifer is a vote for Carlow. Thats the view of the chair of Carlow Fianna Fail, speaking at Thursday evenings general election selection convention in the Lord Bagenal Hotel, Leighlinbridge. Members cast their votes before a welcome address by the partys Co Carlow chairman Hugh Conaghan, who said Fianna Fail is ready to go out and fight. The gathering was the first since the local elections and the chairman took the opportunity to pay tribute to former cllr Arthur McDonald for the lifetime of service that he has given to the people of Carlow. He also acknowledged the work of former cllr John McDonald and extended congratulations to newly-elected cllr Daniel Pender. About 130 of Carlows 220 party members were in attendance, including former TD MJ Nolan and entertainer Richie Kavanagh, a lifelong party supporter. It was a resounding yes for deputy Jennifer Murnane OConnor, with chair for the evening senator Fiona OLoughlin describing her as a terrific colleague. She also acknowledged and thanked local councillors for their work and commitment to the party and offered her thoughts to Arthur McDonald and John McDonald, saying she was genuinely sorry that both fine men didnt have the opportunity to carry on their work. Senator OLoughlin outlined that three candidates were nominated Keith McDonald, Jennifer Murnane OConnor and Fintan Phelan. Cllr Phelan withdrew his nomination. He thanked members for nominating him, saying he was thrilled to have topped the poll in Carlow and that it was a huge honour to be elected mayor for a third term. He went on to say that Fianna Fail received 42.2% of the vote in Carlow in the local elections and local councillors had driven change in the county. He said Carlow is very fortunate to have a TD in Jennifer Murnane OConnor, who works night and day for the people of Carlow. Speaking on his decision to accept the party nomination, Keith McDonald, son of former Bagenalstown councillor Arthur, said it wasnt my night. He paid tribute to his fathers 39 years in local politics, expressing his bitter disappointment. He added that when one door closes, another one opens, and I threw my hat in the ring tonight. I want to get that seat back for Bagenalstown. The 34-year-old said he had been a party member all his life and offered his congratulations to deputy Murnane OConnor, telling her well all row in behind you. Taking to the floor, a jubilant Jennifer first thanked Keith and Fintan, before also mentioning Arthur and John McDonald and paying tribute to newly-elected MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, as a voice for the south. Jennifer told those gathered that she had been honoured to have been elected to represent the people of Carlow over the last four-and-a-half years. With your support, I can repeat my success and go on to deliver on the initiatives I have worked on to date. She referenced her role as Oireachtas ambassador for women, a new womens refuge for Carlow, her work with the Holy Angels and Kelvin Grove, SETU and Carlow College. Jennifer said politics had been her lifes work and pledged to continue to work hard and deliver. I know the needs of my constituents. She thanked her team of great staff, working for the good of Carlow and acknowledged the help, support and sacrifices made by the families of public representatives. Ellen O'Donoghue The ISPCA is calling on the Government to abolish the issuing of hare coursing licences and to put an end to what it calls a cruel, outdated and barbaric practice, which is currently permitted to satisfy just a small minority of Irish people. The ISPCA said they are strongly opposed to Irish hares being captured from their natural habitat, handled, transported, and kept in captivity until they are released to be chased by dogs, muzzled or not, before being returned to the wild if they survive. It said it believes allowing the practice to continue is not in line with Irelands Animal Welfare Strategy published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) in 2021. The charitys chief executive, Dr Cyril Sullivan, said that Ireland remains one of three countries in all of Europe that continues to allow legal hare coursing and called it shameful. It is well known that the capture and handling of wild animals causes distress, and inflicting unnecessary suffering on innocent Irish hares is totally unacceptable in modern society, he said. During the 2023/24 season, over 3,000 hares were captured from the wild and subjected to being coursed. Over 100 of those were hit or tossed by dogs, more than 130 were pinned, and over 120 hares needed veterinary attention, with some dying or being euthanised because of injuries sustained, Dr Sullivan said. Under the Wildlife Act 1976, the Irish hare is a protected species, making it illegal to hunt, kill, trap or sell them. There should be no hesitation in ending this appalling activity by putting a stop to issuing these licences. Ending hare coursing would be a progressive move and one that shows Ireland taking animal welfare seriously, he added. The ISPCA said it is also concerned about illegal hare coursing. In 2016, the ISPCA and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together on issues where wildlife offences and animal welfare offences overlap and to take a multi-agency approach to combatting such illegal activities. The MOU is currently being reviewed with a view to strengthening the working relationship between the two agencies. The ISPCA are asking for more funding for the NPWS to tackle illegal hunting rather than funding legal hare coursing. They added that they feel hare coursing is not acceptable in a progressive Ireland in the 21st century and it is time the welfare of all animals was prioritised instead of an outdated practice. Gordon Deegan Music sales by Kylie, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay last year contributed to pre-tax profits increasing by 62pc to 2.69m at the Irish arm of music giant, Warner Music. New accounts filed by Warner Music Ireland Ltd show the revenues from music streaming and physical sales increased during the year. Overall, revenues at the firm increased by 8pc from 14.92m to 16.14m in the 12 months to the end of September last. The directors state that they believe that the company will continue to increase revenues. Kylies 'Padam Padam' global hit was released in May of last year and spent eight weeks in the Irish Top 40 while Dua Lipas earning power was underlined by her UK-based Radical22 Live LLP generating revenues of 51.59m (61.22m) in the 12 months to the end of March 2023. Revenues at Warner Music Ireland Ltd last year were made up of direct sales of 14.92m and royalty and licence fee income of 1.2m. On the firms future developments, the directors state that the firm is embracing the spectrum of opportunities presented by digital technology to deepen the connection between fans and artists. They state that creating and developing new business models to accelerate its business transformation remains a top strategic imperative . The firm last year recorded a post-tax profit of 2.28m after incurring a corporation tax charge of 410,693. The numbers employed remained at 12 last year, made up of five in promotion, advertising and publicity, four in selling and distribution and three in administration. Staff costs last year dipped from 953,559 to 881,379. Pay to directors increased from 305,170 to 344,374 made up of 310,307 in emoluments and 34,067 in pension contributions. The firms cost of sales last year increased from 11.11m to 11.7m as distribution and promotion costs reduced from 726,297 to 674,486. The firms administrative expenses reduced from 1.47m to 1.39m. Other Irish artists signed up to Warner Music include The Corrs and Enya. Shareholder funds at the firm totalled 9.5m at the end of September last. The directors state that net sales, operating income and profitability, like those of other companies in the music business, are largely affected by the number and quality of music that the company releases, the release schedule and more importantly, the consumer demands for these releases. By Rebecca Black, PA The first public hearing in a long called for public inquiry into the Omagh bomb will start later. The probe, led by chairman Lord Turnbull, is examining whether the atrocity could reasonably have been prevented by UK authorities. Some 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed in the dissident republican bomb attack which devastated the Co Tyrone town on August 15th, 1998. Some of the bereaved families have called for decades for a public inquiry into alleged security failings. Omagh bomb campaigner Michael Gallagher (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the atrocity, said todays hearing 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. Survivors are also expected to gather at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh for the hearing which will include opening remarks from the chair and counsel to the chair Paul Greaney KC. Commemorative and personal statements are set to be made during inquiry hearings next January. The Irish Government earlier this month formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry. Anni OHerlihy and Ray Managh A woman has pocketed just under 59,000 in nine cases of personal injury damages from various insurance companies without ever having had to go to court, an outraged judge has been told. Judge Michael Walsh in the Circuit Civil Court threw out two claims by Anne Keenan, of Church Drive, Clarecastle, Ennis, Co Clare, and her friend, Catherine McCarthy, Shelly Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, which he described as fraudulent and outrageous. The judge told barrister Robert OGeibheannaigh, counsel for a taxi driver and his insurer Allianz, which insisted on challenging the new 60,000 claims of both 66-year-old women, it was highly unlikely the accident they described had happened at all. Mr OGeibheannaigh, who appeared with Newmans Solicitors for the Motor Insurers Bureau, taximan Stephen Dolan and Allianz, told the court Keenan had failed to declare nine previous accidents in which she picked up 59,000 in out-of-court settlements. McCarthy, he said, failed to disclose one previous accident. Taxi driver Dolan, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, said the accident he was accused of had never taken place after both women swore he had been distracted by using his mobile phone and crashed into the back of a white van while taking them to Heuston Station in June 2016. Both complained they had injured their necks and shoulders and McCarthy claimed she had hurt her back. Mr Dolan was adamant there was no collision or accident and said his phone was attached to the dash at all times during the journey, Judge Walsh said. I am satisfied neither woman was involved in an accident. Judge Walsh said there had been a huge conflict of evidence in both cases and a failure by both women to disclose previous accidents. I dont find them to be credible and I am satisfied it was highly unlikely that a collision occurred, he said. He said he found both claims to be outrageous and could only conclude they were cases of fraud and gross exaggeration against an innocent taximan. I have no hesitation in dismissing both claims and I will award one set of costs in favour of the defendants, he told Mr OGeibheannaigh. Carthage Cement reports positive 1H24 results ICR Newsroom By 30 July 2024 The Tunisia-based Carthage Cement accelerated its growth rate in the second quarter of this year compared to the first, said the company in a statement. This positive growth dynamic led to a turnover of TND212m (US$68.19m) as of 30 June 2024, up two per cent from the same period in 2023. At the end of 1H24, Carthage Cements total revenue from cement operations reached TND196m, compared to TND190m on 30 June 2023, marking an increase of 3.5 per cent. This is the result of a 10 per cent increase in local turnover, despite a 30 per cent drop in export revenues, which was a result of the companys decision to suspend clinker exports. Therefore, the company was able to sustain a market share of 26 per cent in this difficult environment. Carthage Cements aggregates business raised its revenue to TND11.6m as of 30 June 2024, showing a three per cent increase from TND11.227m in the same period of 2023. The companys ready-mix operations saw a revenue decline of 36 per cent to TND4.6m in the 1H24, compared to TND7.2m for the 1H23. Published under Chinese tourists excited at Chinese-Croatian joint patrol in Zagreb Xinhua) 10:47, July 30, 2024 ZAGREB, July 29 (Xinhua) -- For Chinese tourists in Zagreb, Croatia, meeting Chinese police officers patrolling in a European city thousands of kilometers away from Beijing is a delightful surprise. Liu Hongyi, a Chinese tourist, said she was thrilled to see officers in Chinese uniforms and hear them speaking Chinese, which heightened her sense of security. "I feel very happy to meet police officers from the motherland in a foreign country doing the joint patrols. Just like meeting relatives," she added. Zhang Yuan and Song Ruofang, from Guangdong Province in southern China, also expressed enthusiasm. Planning to visit the Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik, they voiced their excitement when they learned that Chinese police are conducting joint patrols in top tourist areas in Croatia, including their destinations. "We feel that our country will escort us throughout the journey in Croatia, making us feel very proud," they said. Xu Yonggang and Jiang Lilin, a couple from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, found the joint patrols reassuring, dispelling their concerns about the security in Europe. "Now we recommend our compatriots to visit Croatia as it is a very safe place," Xu said. The Safe Tourist Destination project, launched by Croatia, invites police officers from other countries to patrol major tourist areas along with Croatian police officers. China joined the initiative in 2018. Starting on July 22, eight Chinese officers will conduct a one-month joint patrol mission in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Plitvice Lakes National Park to assist Chinese tourists, prevent crimes, and enhance police cooperation between the two nations. Han Zhuoqi, captain of the China-Croatia Joint Patrol Team, emphasized the role of the patrols in improving cooperation and providing better security for Chinese tourists. He hopes the initiative will continue strengthening relations between Chinese and Croatian police. "The joint patrols have greatly improved police cooperation between China and Croatia," Han added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) An accurate timeline of last week's candidate forum: In late May the Jack Allen campaign received an invitation from the Tellico Village Property Owners Association- Governmental Affairs Committee to attend a candidate forum. We accepted the invitation in mid June. On July 8 the Allen campaign received a digital flyer listing the date, time, location, and list of attendees. That list included the previously mentioned candidates (Congressman Fleischmann, Mr. Allen, Ms. George, and Dr. Howard-Hill). We received permission from the organizers on July 11 to advise the press of the event. At no point from the time that we were notified of the attendees were we informed that the congressman would not be coming. In fact, we were only informed at 3:30 p.m. the day of the forum, after arriving at the venue, that he would not be there or sending a surrogate or representative. Matt Adams Campaign Manager Jack Allen for Congress The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. (Psalm 16:6) This verse has both intrigued and fascinated me through the years. Extended family seems to be both a type of anchor and a hope for something beyond the horizon.My mothers family had a professional genealogist in it, one Penelope Johnson Allen. We grew up with an ingrained sense of family history going back generations. But she wasnt the only one. My grandfather, Harry M. Daugherty, Sr.traced his family to its Irish roots, the ODochartaigh clan. My brother, Stephen N. Daugherty, has continued the research and has driven to cemeteries around the southeast looking for clues of distant cousins.It is a bit of a surprise then that the whole notion of clans seem to be fading. When I grew up, every Sunday we ate lunch with one of the pairs of grandparents. Malone and Ozier Belle Everett lived in Chattanooga Valley in a big white house near the railroad tracks. The other grandparents, Harry and Rene Daugherty, lived in a beautiful house on seven acres on Lake Chickamauga.Cousins (eight) aunts and uncles (six) often joined us, as well as a very special woman, Great Aunt Thankful Everett. You always had a playmate. My Aunt Margaret was a bit of a scamp. Once on an Easter Egg hunt she buried the Golden Egg under a water spigot in the yard. My dad followed her lead years later, hiding eggs in walls and under heavy rocks.The same aunt, later, would take me and my two cousins, Ellen and Emily Tucker to Lake Winnepesaukah on Nickel Night on Tuesdays. I had another Aunt Marguerite Daugherty. When I would visit her son, my cousin Jerry Daugherty, on Lookout Mountain, we would spend time bouldering near Fairyland Club.My other cousins are Doug and David Everett. They lived in Woodmore then. I can remember spending the night and David introduced me to the most delightful Tom Swift adventure novels. Aunt Virginia gave us a shoe box full of firecrackers one Christmas. I thought my parents head would explode!Probably the most memorable relative was the elderly matron Great Aunt Thankful Everett. In my mind she always wore a blue suit and could be seen sipping a sherry that my Dad kept specially for her. I was really in awe of her. She played the organ and had for years at Thankful Episcopal Church in St. Elmo, where she had grown up. She had a lively career and lived in a hotel downtown on Georgia Avenue, The Key Hotel. She was a cultured lady, though she did love Harry Thornton and the characters who wrestled every Saturday afternoon on WDEF- TV. She was the lady who began to give me wonderful books when I was about nine years old; exciting histories of the Pony Express, Marco Pole, Captain Hook, General Pershing and Buffalo Bill and Teddy Roosevelt (I still have them).Every Christmas and Easter everyone would come together. It was great. Tables spread with ham, turkey, dressing, mash potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans andJell-o salad. Summers would have my dad making homemade peach ice cream, and all the families would come for a sweet taste. We would also roast marshmallows on straightened coat hangers every fall as my dad burned leaves in Brainerd.We had a ping-pong table on Wiley Avenue and my Uncle Emery Tucker would take on all comers. His slams were like missiles that no one could stop! Uncles would throw ball. Tag and Red Rover were ubiquitous.Extended family was so important then. Younger adults took care of the elderly. Aunts babysat and took you on adventures. Cousins were best friends. Reading J.D. Vances Hillbilly Elegy recently, I was reminded of the whole idea of a clan.All my aunts and uncles have passed away but the memory of the love they had and shared is alive. Love seems to be the sap of the family tree. May this not pass away. It is good, indeed very good, to have roots. May they continue to nourish yours and my family through every generation.* * *Doug Daugherty can be emailed at dedsr1952@gmail.com Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp today announced the county has been awarded $245,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to revive a 250-foot segment of Stringers Branch at Redding Road Park. This will enable substantial restoration efforts, transforming the compromised stream flowing through the heart of Red Bank into a public amenity for residents to enjoy.Hamilton Countys natural beauty is known throughout the South, but its our responsibility to be good stewards and protect our natural resources.This grant will enhance Redding Road Park into a community asset that we hope the Red Bank community will take great pride in, said Mayor Wamp. Our aggressive pursuit of grant dollars has once again paid dividends, enhancing a community asset in one of Tennessees most unique small cities.This Stream and Wetland Restoration Grant will enable the county to restore approximately 250 linear feet of concrete channel on Stringers Branch while adding approximately 50 feet to the stream. The restored stream will be placed into a conservation easement for permanent stream protection. Since the stream is entirely concrete with little to no resource value, the naturalization and habitat creation should result in water quality improvements.I am proud of my department for seeking and securing the funding to fast-track the revitalization of an underutilized park that has the potential to create a gathering space for the community, said Nathan Janeway, director of development services. I look forward to working with leadership in Red Bank to improve water quality in the natural environment.Tennessee is committed to preserving our natural beauty, and one of our key efforts is ensuring the cleanliness of the water flowing into the Tennessee River, said State Senator Bo Watson. I am thankful to TDEC for investing in Hamilton County enabling us to breathe new life into a community asset.The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners approved the application, acceptance and required match for this grant at their meeting Dec. 20, 2023. The grant requires a 20 percent match from Hamilton County. I have seen firsthand the importance of strong, principled leadership in our community. For too long, we've been represented by Patsy Hazlewood, an incumbent whose voting record increasingly deviates from the conservative values she once claimed to champion. It is time for a change, and that change comes in the form of Michele Reneau. Michele Reneau is the conservative choice we need to represent us in Nashville. Unlike Hazlewood, Reneau has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the core values that define our district: limited government, fiscal responsibility, personal liberty, and strong family values. Her candidacy offers a refreshing and much-needed alternative to the status quo. One of the most concerning aspects of Hazlewood's tenure has been her voting record, which too often aligns with big-government policies and fails to uphold conservative principles. From supporting increased government spending to her lukewarm stance on defending our Second Amendment rights, Hazlewood has shown that she is out of touch with the priorities of her constituents. Michele Reneau's platform is built on conservative principles. She understands that our government must live within its means and that every tax dollar taken from hardworking Tennesseans is a dollar that can't be used to support their families or grow their businesses. Reneau's pledge to cut wasteful spending is a promise to respect and protect our hard-earned money. Michele Reneau recognizes the importance of strong family values. She supports policies that empower parents to make the best decisions for their children's education, rather than bowing to the demands of teachers' unions and bureaucratic overreach. Reneau's advocacy for local control over education ensures that our children receive the quality education they deserve. Parental choice is one of Micheles biggest priorities. On a more personal note, I met Michele about two years ago through a local Republican Women's group. She has become a mentor, friend, and prayer partner in my life. Long before she decided to run for state representative, and before I became chapter chair for Moms for Liberty in March of 2023 she and I both knew where each other stood on the conservative issues that are in the forefront of every conservatives mind right now. I had to step down as chapter chair for health reasons in March 2024. Although I have not been involved in going to meetings for School Board, City Counsel, or County Commission, she has remained a true friend. She has dropped off homemade broth at my door when I could not eat anything. Every time we have talked she has prayed with me before letting me get off the phone. She is the kind of person I look for to be in my close circle. Michele is the kind of person I want representing our area. Her values are the same as mine, and inasmuch the same values of most conservatives I know in the city of Chattanooga. Please give her a chance to represent us at the state level. I have trust in her to listen to the people she represents and vote accordingly. We, the voters, see that those who have been representing us, have not represented us well. It is time to let someone else represent us, and Michelle is the person to do that. As we approach the election, the choice before us is clear. We can continue down the path of diluted conservative values, or we can embrace a candidate who truly represents our ideals and will fight for our interests. Michele Reneau is that candidate. She brings a fresh perspective, unwavering principles, and a passionate commitment to serving the people of District 27. Michele has my vote Aug. 1. Tonya Dodd A Nashville woman said her luggage was stolen from the baggage area at the Nashville Airport and wound up in Chattanooga with the items taken from it, Nashville TV station WSMV reported. Shannon DeLao told the station that, when she could not find her luggage, she tracked the American Airlines tag to Chattanooga. She said the airport showed her a photo of her luggage on the Nashville Airport baggage carousel. However, she said a man took a shuttle to and from Nashville-Chattanooga using an assumed name, and he got her luggage. The station said Chattanooga Police confirmed that the woman's bag was found in a Chattanooga parking lot. It was torn up and nothing was left inside. Ms. DeLao told WSMV she was advised by Nashville Airport police this is the second time this same person has stolen luggage from the airport in the last two months. The Nashville Airport released this statement: Our Department of Public Safety (DPS) works daily to execute our comprehensive security program. While the responsibility for checked baggage resides with individual airlines, Nashville International Airport (BNA) collaborates closely with its airline partners to ensure a secure travel experience for all its passengers. Additionally, BNA prioritizes passenger security with the presence of our DPS officers within baggage claim areas, throughout the terminal, and throughout all BNA property. We remain committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for today and generations to come. Walker County will receive $20,000 from a federal grant program administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The funds will be used to begin a phased resurvey of historic resources in Walker County.The first phase will take place in the southeastern portion of the county and catalog the correct age of buildings and other structures, such as bridges, fortifications, and monuments, in the survey area. The Walker County Historic Preservation Commission will provide volunteer assistance for review and research.Officials said, "Walker County is rich in Native American, African American, European American, Pioneer, Civil War, railroad, mining, textile and agricultural history.The county just marked the 190th anniversary of its formation last December."Walker County's proximity to the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain make it an ideal candidate for heritage tourism, said John Culpepper, chair, Walker County HPC. Completing a new survey will allow the county to regain its status as a Certified Local Government and become eligible to receive funding to restore historic local properties so visitors can experience the people, lifestyles, and traditions of the past.The last historic resources survey of unincorporated Walker County was completed in 2009. Researchers plan to use data from that 15-year old survey as a starting point, before beginning fieldwork later this year.A final report will be produced by early 2026 and the data will be compiled online on Georgia's Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources GIS system.This federal subgrant is a product of the 2024 Historic Preservation Fund, a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of the Interiors National Park Service. Sean Patrick Cirillo has pleaded guilty to transmitting interstate threats to injure U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Threatening to kill a public official is reprehensible, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. Our office will not tolerate any form of violence, threats or intimidation against public officials. The prosecution of individuals who threaten the lives and welfare of public servants is a top priority for our office, as well as for our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. We will not normalize violent threats in America, whether targeting elected officials or average citizens, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. Our democracy depends on the ability of members of Congress to do their jobs without fearing for their safety. We will continue to prosecute threats against public servants made in any form. Authorities said on three occasions on Nov. 8, 2023, Cirillo called the Washington, D.C. office of Rep. Greene and spoke with her staffers. During the calls, Cirillo made multiple threats, including the following: I got a bead on her. Like a sniper rifle. A sniper rifle. And Im gonna kill her next week. Im gonna murder her; Ill kill you too if you want; and Youre gonna die. Your family is gonna die. Cirillo, 34, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are prosecuting the case. Sometimes, there are people you love so much that even after theyre gone, youll do anything you can to feel like theyre still part of your life. If you love fascinating love stories that help you believe in everlasting love, youll really enjoy the one of Jonathan and Mary Reed. Jonathan Reed was a merchant who lived in Brooklyn, New York, with his beloved wife, Mary, during the 19th century. When Mary died in 1893, she was originally buried in a vault her father had owned. Jonathan would visit her grave every day and spend a lot of time there, but Marys father eventually prevented him from doing so. So, when Marys father died, Jonathan had her body moved into a grand mausoleum located in Brooklyns famous Green-Wood cemetery and reserved a space beside her for his body when he passed. This was not the average mausoleum you can find in any cemetery. Jonathan loved Mary so much and always wanted to be near her, even though she had passed. So, he converted the mausoleum into a tiny, cozy living space. Inside the mausoleum were a stove, furniture, photographs, a clock, and some of Marys belongings. They even had a pet parrot that would be brought to the mausoleum with Jonathan. He even had a wood burner installed for the cold winters. Every day, Jonathan would bring his meals and belongings to the mausoleum to greet his late wife and sit near her until the cemetery closed each day. He would eat his food off their wedding china and read to Mary as if she were sitting right beside him until he had to leave. Even though the cemetery would close each night, hed return the next day. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro hold a prayer vigil in support of the candidate after he was stabbed. Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed a month before the 2018 election. Polarization and Christian nationalism has only grown since then. Suamy Beydoun / AP Images On September 6, 2018, the eve of Brazils Independence Day, a crowd of people was carrying Jair Bolsonaro through the streets of Juiz de Fora when a man approached and stabbed the then-presidential candidate in the abdomen. Bolsonaro was rushed to the hospital; the knife had damaged his small intestine and a nearby vein, causing heavy internal bleeding. The injuries kept him in the hospital for more than three weeks during the heat of the presidential campaign. God acted and deflected the knife, said Bolsonaros son Flavio within hours of the event. Sign up for The Daily Briefing Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. Though Bolsonaro didnt exit the attack on his life with a fist pump and look of defiance, his recovery from the assassination attempt nevertheless energized his base and grew his supporters, including among significant numbers of evangelical Christians, who would propel him to the presidency a couple months later. Just weeks before the attack, polls showed 26 percent of Brazilian evangelicals, which includes both mainstream Protestants as well as neo-Pentecostals, backing Bolsonaro. After the stabbing, that number rose to 36 percent. By the first round of elections on October 7, 48 percent of evangelicals voted for Bolsonaro, a number that increased to 69 percent during his winning November run-off. Prior to the incident, Bolsonaro had not been shy in his attempts to court the evangelical vote. Journalist Ricardo Alexandre notes in his book E a Verdade Vos Libertara: Reflexoes Sobre Religiao, Politica e Bolsonarismo: In August 2018, during an interview with GloboNews, the then-candidate declared, I am a Christian, and, suggesting the supernatural nature of his success, continued, Look at the popular support I am having. Isnt it unimaginable that this is happening? How did I achieve this? When I talk about Gods mission I think about the following: What will my motto be? What will my flag be? So I went to John 8:32: And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Up until the attack, evangelical support for the candidate had largely been expressed during campaign stops and ralliesthat is, outside the church. The separation of church and state is enshrined in the Brazilian constitution, and all forms of political advertising are banned from any place of common use, which includes churches. A churchs formal support of a candidate could result in a fine for the candidate and the religious leader, or possibly force a candidate to resign from a race. In the aftermath of the violence, however, Bolsonaros name began being invoked fearlessly from the front of the church. For the majority, the moment was about bringing a word of reconciliation between supporters of Bolsonaro and those who opposed him, said sociologist Igor Sabino, a specialist in international relations, who remembered hearing pastors teach on Scriptures relating to support of governmental authorities, such as Romans 13, 1 Timothy 2, and the Psalm 72. The General Convention of the Assemblies of God in Brazil (CGDAB), the largest Pentecostal church in the country, organized a prayer campaign shortly after the assassination attempt, asking God to direct us to vote for men and women who are committed not only to the good and the future of the nation, but, above all, committed to God and his Word. At Igreja Batista Atitude, the Rio de Janeiro church attended by Bolsonaros wife, Michelle, leaders paused to pray for the candidate during a conference that was being held on the same day as the stabbing, while those in the sanctuary knelt. Silas Malafaia, who leads the Pentecostal megachurch Assembly of God Vitoria em Cristo, addressed the issue of elections during the evening service on September 6, citing Pauls words in 1 Timothy 2:12 that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all peoplefor kings and all those in authority. As Bolsonaro recuperated in the hospital and made public appearances in the days that followed, many Christians praying for the injured candidate became more vocal about their support for him. These werent just prayers for Bolsonaros health in a time of crisisan obligation for every Christian, said Paulo Won, pastor of Igreja Presbiteriana Metropolitana of Campinas. They were prayers for his victory. From the Pentecostal spectrum to the more traditional churches, the leadership itself established a very clear direction in favor of his candidacy. Some of this manifested into action. Four days after the assassination attempt, a group of pastors that included Coalizao Pelo Evangelho (The Gospel Coalitions Brazil branch) published an open letter that appeared to reference Bolsonaros campaign talking points. One item, for example, asked God to frustrate all attempts at fraud in the electoral system. (At that time, only Bolsonaros campaign was making allegations of fraud in electronic voting machines.) The document also recommended rejecting candidates with interventionist emphases in the family, educational, ecclesiastical, and artistic spheres, reflecting the claims that Bolsonaro and his allies held against the opposing party, Partido dos Trabalhadores. The letter was widely republished on Reformed social media, church websites, and church bulletins. On the same day of the attack, Malafaia, who is known for his political prophecies, declared in a video posted on his YouTube channel that the assassination attempt was actually a sign that Bolsonaro should be the next president of Brazil, echoing the words of Bolsonaros supporters outside of the church. Street vendors sold T-shirts with Bolsonaros face and the words He bled for you, recalled Sabino. Brazilians shared memes of Jesus walking alongside Bolsonaro in the hospital and standing beside the surgeons who operated on him. His survival brought elements of spiritual warfare to the campaign, as if there was evidence of a supernatural plan for him, that he would be Gods anointed one, said Sabino. For Bolsonaros evangelical supporters, this plan was God raising up someone to save Brazil from the forces of a left-wing, atheistic government, said Victor Fontana, pastor of Comunidade da Vila, a Reformed church in Sao Paulo. Those looking for a messianic throughline latched onto anything that appeared to give greater meaning to the attack. That was foolish, said Fontana in retrospect. [The attack] wasnt a moral act. He didnt choose to be stabbed. The weeks between the attacks and the election became a union of Brazilian messianism with Christian nationalism, according to journalist Alexandre. Bolsonaro presented himself as someone that God sent, a carrier of truth and salvation to Brazil. And who will rise up against the Lords anointed? Voting against him, from this perspective, would have been the same as opposing Gods plans. This mentality kept many Brazilian Christians from critically examining Bolsonaro as a candidate, including reflecting on his seeming endorsements of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985 and statements that many found misogynistic and prejudiced. Instead, after he won the presidency in that 2018 election, evangelicals rarely criticized him during his term. Many joined in storming the Congresso Nacional, the Supremo Tribunal Federal, and the presidential palace on January 8 2023, appealing to the army for a military coup after Bolsonaro lost the previous year election and accused it of being stolen. A number of protesters carried Bibles, praying before they entered Congress and singing hymns while being arrested by federal police. At least four pastors were among those detained. It seems that many evangelicals in Brazil do not fully understand how democracy works, with the natural alternation of power, said Won. Its as if democracy doesnt matter, and what counts is the permanence of Gods anointed one. Six years after the stabbing incident, some pastors are now questioning what happened. We made the mistake of turning a blind eye to those who call themselves Christians but whose actions are far from Christ, said Ziel Machado, a Methodist pastor and vice-rector of Servo de Cristo Seminary in Sao Paulo. Brazilian evangelical leaders and churchgoers could have defended democratic ideals in 2018 and in the years that followed, says Daniel Guanaes, who pastors Igreja Presbiteriana do Recreio in Rio de Janeiro. He believes that incidents such as the stabbing of Bolsonaro and the recent shooting against former US president Donald Trump present an opportunity for the church to take a stand against political violence, emphasizing how such acts are antithetical to Christianity and democracy. Legally, they are crimes; theologically, they are sins, he said. But this was not the route the Brazilian church took. The stabbing became partisan. And we were wrong about it. The church of Jesus Christ should not be confused with the evangelical movement in Brazil (or in the United States or in any other country), nor with the social movement studied by political scientists, says Alexandre, and conflating the two will have significant negative repercussions for the growth of the church. This identification of the church with a political faction is the kiss of death for Brazilian evangelicalism, he said. This will become very clear in the religious affiliation statistics in the coming years. Home News Catholic bishops oppose Scotland's proposed sex ed rules: 'Disappointed and confused' Roman Catholic bishops in Scotland are criticizing the government for its new guidance on sex education, which they warn could threaten the ability of Catholic schools in the country to teach according to their faith. According to a statement released earlier this month, the Bishop's Conference of Scotland is taking issue with the draft of new government guidance titled "Guidance on Relationships, Sexual Health, and Parenthood (RSHP) Education, which deleted reference to Catholic schools. The deleted paragraphs noted the Scottish government's support for "the right of the Roman Catholic Church to give witness to its faith and to uphold the traditions of Catholic education," according to The National Catholic Register. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The bishops claim the deletion will hamper the historic ability of Catholic schools in Scotland to steer their own curriculum in accordance with Church teachings. The Bishops Conference of Scotland is both disappointed and confused at the decision by the Scottish Government to delete all reference to Catholic schools in its Guidance on the Delivery of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) Education in Scottish Schools 1/3 BCoS (@BishopsScotland) November 8, 2023 The Bishops Conference of Scotland is both disappointed and confused at the decision by the Scottish government to delete all reference to Catholic schools in its 'Guidance on the Delivery of Relationships, Sexual Health, and Parenthood (RSHP) Education in Scottish Schools' document, the bishops said in their statement. We strongly request the reinsertion of the paragraphs relating to denominational education from the previous iteration of the guidance, which would reflect both the legal protection for schools with a religious character and the previously supportive position of the Scottish government for Catholic schools. Sources within the Scottish Catholic Church maintained that the guidance had been influenced by LBGT ideologues, according to The Herald Scotland. "This would present a serious problem for our schools," a source within the church told the outlet. "Our teaching is rooted in traditional Catholic theology, which promotes loving relationships between men and women within the framework of the family." "Of course, our schools have always informed pupils about same-sex attraction and the rights of non-binary people, but we will only endorse what has always been the Churchs teaching in this area," the source continued, adding that the "removal of any explicit reference to Catholic parents protected rights to have their children educated according to their faith, is deeply concerning." A spokesperson for the Scottish government pushed back against the claims from the Church, telling The Herald Scotland that "the role of denominational schools is already recognized in the Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) guidance Catholic schools in Scotland play a crucial and valued role in the education system." The government spokesperson maintained that more than 30 stakeholders were consulted when drafting the guidance, including the Scottish Catholic Education Service. However, the church spokesperson reportedly said that any claim it had been consulted was "disingenuous." A proper consultation is where the views of a participant or stakeholder are taken on board," the church source said. "Ours were willfully ignored. It is striking that the term Catholic School is not used within this document and the phrase denominational schools only once." Parents at St. Ninians High School in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, have circulated a bulletin calling on parents to petition the government regarding the guidance, according to The Catholic News Agency. For many years now, the content of sex education in Catholic state schools has been determined by the Catholic Church," the bulletin said. "That system has worked well for our children. It teaches sex education within a Catholic moral context. Our children are not thereby exposed to the free-for-all, and more extreme and graphic content, that is available to children in nondenominational schools." The bulletin claimed that the draft of the government's new guidance removes the right of the Catholic Church to determine the content of sex education in its schools, which it notes has been in place for more than a century. The draft guidance also seeks to enforce the active promotion of an LGBT-inclusive education across the entire school curriculum (literacy, sciences, history, religious, and moral education, etc.) in order to determine the ethos of the school," the parents said. The deadline to submit public feedback on the draft guidance is Thursday. Rates of Christianity in Scotland have plummeted in recent years, with the Church of Scotland losing more than half of its members since 2000, according to a report released earlier this year. The average age of its attendees is 62. Home News Church of Scotland wants religious freedom protected in conversion therapy ban The Church of Scotland has expressed openness to a national ban on sexual orientation change efforts therapy, referred to by critics as conversion therapy, provided that such a ban can't be misused to prosecute the actions of churches and pastors. The Scottish government is set to introduce a bill in Parliament aimed at banning the therapy for people with unwanted same-sex attractions. A document prepared Monday on behalf of the national church's Public Life and Social Justice Programme at the request of the Scottish government outlined the denomination's stance. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The document asked if the church supports the lawmakers' approach to "defining conversion practices which focuses on behaviour motivated by the intention to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity?" In response, the denomination marked "don't know." Church of Scotland leadership stated, "We take a broadly supportive position with regard to the proposals outlined in the consultation to tackle coercive practices aimed at changing or suppressing a person's identity." However, the document stated that the church is "not in a position to offer unqualified support," noting that "there is a spectrum and diversity of views within the Church of Scotland on this issue." One example of concern mentioned in the document was whenever a counselor would encourage someone with same-sex attraction to practice celibacy instead of attempting to change them. "Whilst a prayer urging celibacy would come under the definition of suppression there is an additional factor at play within a Christian context whereby celibacy outside of a traditional marriage is a commonly held practice, and for some an important manifestation of their faith," stated the document. "It would be extremely helpful for the Church to have such examples considered in relation to the proposed legislation. This is not only for the sake of clarity but for our safeguarding services to design relevant guidelines to ensure expression of belief and fellowship within that belief does not become coercive." The document commended the "high bar" set for proving guilt in the proposed legislation, believing that it "helps to assuage the fear that" the proposed ban will "curtail freedom of speech or independent thought." "Our democratic society depends on and legal history celebrates the right to express controversial opinions; for there to be a diversity of free discussion; and for there not to be a 'state mandated' lines of acceptable speech and conduct, other than in the most extreme cases involving threats to life," continued the document. Emma Jackson of the Public Life and Social Justice Programme said in a statement on Monday that the denomination's stance was inspired by extensive internal conversations and speaking to "survivors of conversion practices." "We are all created in God's image, and we all have inherent dignity. We must do all we can in our public witness to respect and affirm this high principle," Jackson stated. In January, the Scottish government announced a consultation on the question of banning conversion therapy, with the belief being that preexisting laws against conversion practices needed to be strengthened. "Scots law already addresses a range of harmful behavior often associated with conversion practices, including situations involving physical violence or threatening conduct," stated Emma Roddick, minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees, as quoted in the consultation document. "There is, however, a significant gap in our law which can allow forms of conversion practices to fall through the cracks. From our knowledge of conversion practices through expert advice, data gathering, and analysis, it is clear that limiting legislative action to sexual orientation does not go far enough. Conversion practices relating to gender identity are equally damaging." Danny Webster, director of advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance of Scotland, expressed concern that the new proposal might criminalize "churches or organizations for teaching biblical sexual ethics and pastoring people as they seek to live by them." "There is a very real risk that parliament could vote in the coming weeks in support of a law which under the guise of banning abusive behaviour would criminalise the ordinary, everyday, activity of churches," wrote Webster in late February. "There is no need for the activity to have caused injury or distress for it to be deemed illegal. There is no defence if it is an activity or support a person desires or chooses. There is no need for someone to have even engaged in any activity in fact the provision of material, whether that's a book, an article or a video, which is judged to be encouraging someone to resist same-sex sexual activity, is likely to be enough for an offence to be committed." Webster believes that "church discipleship, pastoral care and prayer ministry is under threat of prosecution when matters of same-sex sexual attraction or gender identity are at hand." "Not only would these proposals severely limit the support available to Christians who seek support to live biblically faithful lives, or to anyone seeking to not engage in same-sex sexual activity, but they would also be a hammer blow to religious freedom in the UK," he continued. "Please pray for our politicians over the coming weeks as they consider these proposals. Pray that MPs will understand the risk that poorly designed laws could severely restrict the work of churches and Christian ministries." Scotland's Catholic Church has expressed concern. While the Church supports legislation which protects people from physical and verbal abuse, a fundamental pillar of any free society is that the state recognizes and respects the right of religious bodies and organizations to be free to teach the fulness of their beliefs and to support, through prayer, counsel and other pastoral means, their members who wish to live in accordance with those beliefs, a Catholic Church representative told Crux. Home News Church of the Nazarene expels theologian over LGBT advocacy The Church of the Nazarene has decided to expel a theologian and author from the denomination due to his advocacy to affirm same-sex marriage. The Rev. Thomas Jay Oord of Nampa, Idaho, was found guilty by a Church of the Nazarene court on Saturday for advancing teachings that go against the biblically-based stances of the denomination. Specifically, the church court took issue with a book that Oord co-authored with his bisexual daughter titled Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming. 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 Oord is guilty of conduct unbecoming a minister and of teaching doctrines out of harmony with the doctrinal statement of the Church of the Nazarene, read the decision, as quoted by the Roys Report. Oord has shown absolutely no repentance or willingness to submit to the authority of the church his behavior exhibits a pattern of disregard and disrespect for authority. Samuel Powell, a retired theology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University and former dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry, told the Roys Report that his sentence was unprecedented. Defrocking was not unexpected, but expelling him from membership is harsh and vindictive, Powell asserted. Were doing everything we can to keep people. There never has been an attempt to weed out members who dont believe everything. For his part, Oord posted a copy of the ruling on his blog, explaining in the post that Im now considered a heretic who has been defrocked and excommunicated. He also claimed that the summary of the trial proceedings and witness testimonies in this verdict is not accurate and that his witnesses were highly dissatisfied with how their testimonies are characterized here (and rightly so). The one very accurate statement is that I am not repenting for loving queer people, Oord added in his blog post. The Church of the Nazarene traces its origins to the 19th century Wesleyan Holiness Movement and is a member of the World Methodist Council. The denomination reports having more than 30,000 churches globally and approximately 2.6 million members. Oord is not the first Church of the Nazarene figure in the United States to face punishment for advancing progressive views on LGBT issues within the Methodist denomination. The Rev. Selden Dee Kelley III, senior pastor at San Diego First Church of the Nazarene in California, was found guilty last year of violating church teaching by a nine-member jury and lost his preaching credentials as a result. Kelley had also contributed an essay to the Oords' book, Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming, which was released in April 2023. Kelley has appealed the decision and reportedly has the support of his congregation, which voted to continue his salary during the appeals process. Home News Televangelist Benny Hinns wife files for divorce, again Now living in separate homes more than 60 miles apart, Suzanne Hinn, the wife of controversial prosperity preacher and televangelist Benny Hinn, filed for divorce from her estranged husband last Friday, court records show. The filing in the Hillsborough County Court in Tampa, Florida, and first reported by the Trinity Foundation, shows the televangelist having an address in Palm Coast, Florida, while his wife listed a home in Longwood, Florida, valued at more than $1 million. Matthew Wilson, Suzanne Hinns attorney, who works with Anton Garcia Law in Tampa, was not available for comment when his office was contacted by The Christian Post on Tuesday. It was unclear how long the couple have been living apart or why Suzanne Hinn has filed for divorce from the 71-year-old. This isnt her first time to split up with Hinn, however. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In February 2010, Suzanne Hinn served her husband with divorce papers in California's Orange County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences after 30 years of marriage. They were first married on Aug. 4, 1979, and have four children together. The summer of that year, the National Enquirer photographed Hinn leaving a hotel room with fellow televangelist Paula White, according to Charisma. Hinn would later reveal that he and White had a friendship which was over and not an affair, as alleged by the National Enquirer. The Enquirer report claimed that Hinn and White had spent three nights in a five-star hotel that the televangelist booked under an alias. No immorality whatsoever. These people out there are making it sound like we had an affair. Thats a lie, Hinn told followers at a crusade in California. Hinn said the Vatican had made him a Patron of the Arts, and he had taken White to Rome because he wanted her to become a donor to help maintain the Vaticans art collections. I let her come with me to Rome so she can donate money, Hinn said. That was stupid on my part. And for that, I do ask forgiveness. Hinn and his wife would eventually divorce, but in 2012, he announced their reconciliation. He also claimed that their divorce was triggered by Suzanne Hinns addiction to prescription drugs. "Suzanne started taking certain prescription medications to help her cope with some of her personal struggles. She became dependent on those for nearly 15 years, and those medications made her behave erratically at times," Hinn wrote in a message on his ministry's website. "As her husband, I did not know the extent of her reliance on these medications, nor did I fully understand just how much harm they were causing to her, physically and emotionally. The couple remarried in 2013 at the Holyland Experience in Orlando, Florida, before an audience of 1,000. Hinn, who claimed to have renounced the prosperity gospel some five years ago, declaring that the Holy Ghost is just fed up with it, recently warned that the world is on a collision course with its darkest days ever, and only those who give money to the Lords work, particularly to his ministry, will be protected financially. The prosperity gospel teaches, among other things, that believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth, and they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the "sowing of seeds" through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings. Many, like the Lausanne Movement, have said such teachings are "false and gravely distorting of the Bible" and "unethical and unChristlike." Home News 1 in 7 Americans plan to move if their preferred presidential candidate loses: poll A substantial share of Americans say they plan to move out of their state or even the country if the presidential candidate they oppose wins the election, according to a new poll. A survey released last week by StorageUnits.com sampled the opinions of 1,968 Americans who plan to support either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The poll was conducted on July 22, the day after President Joe Biden ended his bid for the Democrat nomination for president and endorsed Harris. Overall, 15% of respondents said they planned to leave their state and/or the U.S. if the candidate they oppose in the 2024 presidential election wins. Nineteen percent of Harris' supporters planned to relocate, as did 12% of Trump supporters. 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 Of Harris voters considering moving, 62% are thinking about moving to a state and 74% to a country that better aligns with their political views, the survey found. Of Trump voters considering moving, 67% are thinking about moving to a state and 60% to a country that better aligns with their political views. The most commonly cited concerns about a Trump presidency that would prompt Harris voters to relocate include increased social inequality (62%), a federal abortion ban (60%), the overturning of progressive rights (58%) and a lack of gun regulation (53%). Meanwhile, 62% of Trump voters thinking of relocating listed both the higher cost of living and taxes as their biggest concerns about a Harris presidency. As for states that Harris voters would like to move to if Trump wins the election, 13% said they wanted to relocate to New Jersey followed by 8% who preferred California and 7% who expressed an interest in moving to New York. Meanwhile, 38% of Harris voters who plan on leaving the country if Trump wins the election would make Canada their new home followed by 16% who picked the United Kingdom and 7% who favored moving to Mexico. Fifteen percent of Trump voters thinking of moving to a place that better reflects their values if Harris wins the election would choose Florida as their destination state. Thirteen percent said the same about California, while 9% would prefer to move to Texas. The countries Trump voters see as destinations if Harris wins are the exact same ones chosen by Harris voters. Twenty-four percent of Trump voters who want to move would go to Canada if Harris wins, while 13% would pick the United Kingdom and 11% would select Mexico. Commenting on the results of the survey, real estate expert James Heartquist asserted: The division within the United States has become increasingly pronounced in recent years. This polarization is evident in the way people are aligning themselves with political ideologies, often to the extent of considering relocation. The reasons for this division are multifaceted, including differing views on social issues, economic policies and governance styles. This polarization is not just a political phenomenon but also a social one, affecting how communities interact and how individuals perceive their place within the country, he added. The stakes of the 2024 election are incredibly high. The outcome will shape the countrys direction on critical issues such as climate change, healthcare, immigration, and economic inequality. The polarization is so intense that some Americans are willing to uproot their lives to live in a place that aligns more closely with their political beliefs. Heartquist also predicted that the real estate market is likely to be significantly impacted by this political migration, forecasting increased demand in certain areas and decreased demand in others that could end up driving up property prices in politically favorable regions. He further maintained that policy changes proposed by presidential candidates can influence market sentiment by proposing changes in tax laws or housing regulations. Even as Harris has replaced Biden as the Democrats presumptive nominee for president, polarization surrounding the major party candidates continues. Both candidates find themselves underwater when it comes to favorability ratings among the American public. The RealClearPolitics average of polls measuring the candidates favorability ratings finds that 50.9% of Americans have an unfavorable view of Harris compared to 41.7% who have a favorable view of her, indicating a net disapproval rating of 9.2 percentage points. Meanwhile, 43.8% of Americans view Trump favorably, while 52.5% have an unfavorable opinion of him. At 8.7 percentage points, Trumps net disapproval rating is slightly lower than Harris. Both Trump and Harris have much higher favorability ratings than Biden, who has a net disapproval rating of 16.1% percentage points. Just 39.8% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Biden compared to 55.9% who have the opposite view of the president. According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls taken over the past three weeks, 47.9% of Americans plan to back Trump in the election, while 46.2% prefer Harris, a difference of 1.7 percentage points. In a five-way race featuring Trump and Harris as well as independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, 44.5% of voters plan to back Trump, while 42.7% would back Harris. Kennedys support is measured at 5.8%, followed by Stein at 1.1% and West at 0.8%. The RealClearPolitics No Toss Ups Map, which predicts the outcome of the 2024 presidential election based on polling averages at the state level, shows Trump winning 312 electoral votes to Harris 226. This makes the former president a slight favorite to win the White House. Home News Franklin Graham says Christian nationalism is a coin the media came up with Evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, said in a recent interview that the term "Christian nationalism" is often used by the media as a tactic to polarize and divide the country. Graham, 72, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse, discussed his views on the political landscape and Evangelical support for former President Donald Trump during a recent interview with the British newspaper Financial Times. Addressing the media's role, Graham, a conservative Christian, expressed concern over what he sees as a loss of objective journalism in the U.S. 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 don't have journalism anymore in America," he said. "It's about picking a topic and spinning things for the candidate that you support." This criticism extends to the term "Christian nationalism," a buzzword that has gained popularity in recent years among progressives and is often broadly used to describe Christian conservatives even if they are not nationalists. "'Christian nationalism' that's a coin that the media has come up with. It is to divide our country; it's to polarise people," he said. "And then there's 'white supremacy.' There are people that are bent on destroying our country." "They are people that want to see a one-world system, a one-world government that see the United States as hindering that," Graham added. "And there are people that don't want the American dollar to be the standard of currency in the world ... There are people in America, in Europe and Russia, who want this. ... And having an open border is part of it." Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, noted in an op-ed earlier this year that Christian nationalism differs from conventional Christian conservatism. Christian nationalists, he said, are often post-liberals that seek a form of Christianity that is officially recognized and supported by the state. Meanwhile, Christian conservatives are classical liberals who support the traditional American principle of complete religious freedom for everyone. While both groups aspire to a "Christian America," Christian nationalists aim to achieve this through laws, whereas conservatives view it more as a demographic, historical and cultural characteristic of the nation, Tooley stated. Graham attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee earlier this month. There, he prayed for Trump, mentioning the recent assassination attempt on the former president. Despite not officially endorsing Trump, Graham has described Trump as a crucial figure for Evangelical Christians. Graham lauded Trump for appointing conservative justices who played a role in overturning the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade and ruling abortion is not a constitutional right. The evangelist cited Trump's unprecedented appearance at the March for Life rally in 2018. Graham expressed concerns about an encroachment on religious freedoms under the Joe Biden administration, which contrasted with what he believed were stronger protections under Trump. The current political climate is a threat to the Christians in America, he suggested. "We are losing that a little bit in this country. A little bit of our religious freedoms every year," he said. "I think they're under attack by people that would be secularist, people that don't believe in God ... and people that hate God. They don't believe God should have any say in daily life," he said. Home News Tom Lane, ex-Gateway Church executive pastor, says he didnt know Cindy Clemishire was abused at 12 Tom Lane, a former executive pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, who first responded to allegations from Cindy Clemishire, 54, that she was sexually abused by the megachurchs founder, Robert Morris, says he wasn't aware that the abuse began when she was 12. In a statement released in June, shortly after she went public with her allegations against Morris that forced his abrupt resignation, Clemishire pointed to her communication with Lane in 2005 to bolster her claim that Gateway Church officials were aware that Morris had abused her as a child beginning when she was 12, and lasting for four-and-a-half years after that. "The leadership at Gateway received actual notice of this crime in 2005 when I sent an email directly to Robert Morris' Gateway email address. Former Gateway elder, Tom Lane, received and responded to my email, acknowledging that the sexual abuse began on December 25, 1982, when I was 12 years old," Clemishire said in the statement released by her attorney Boz Tchividjian. 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 "Again in 2007, my then attorney Gentner Drummond (the current Attorney General of Oklahoma) sent a letter to Robert Morris with the hope that he would help reimburse me for the thousands of dollars I had expended in counseling as a result of this abuse. His attorney acknowledged the dates as well and then attempted to blame me for the abuse," she insisted. "At the very least, both the Gateway pastor and at least one elder had specific notice that I was sexually abused beginning when I was 12 years old. Gateway had the information but intentionally decided to embrace the false narrative Robert Morris wanted to believe." Richard Harmer, a spokesperson for Lane, told The Christian Post on Monday that the statement is a bit misleading, as at no time was it stated in any communication that Lane had with Clemishire that she was 12 when Morris began sexually abusing her. The statement in question suggests that the phrase when I was 12 was included in the email Tom received from Robert Morris's assistant in 2005. While Tom knew the year and exact date, he had no reference to Cindys age in 2005, nor was he aware a crime was committed, Harmer explained to CP. The way this has been written implies that when I was 12 years old was in the email, which is not accurate. Although this is how Cindys attorney wrote it, we feel strongly about clarifying the statement, Harmer added. He said Lane is still being accused of knowing Clemishires age at the time the abuse started but she had cut him off before he could learn those details. Tom did make an effort to connect with Cindy and perhaps if that happened, her age and the crime would have come up. Unfortunately, Cindy declined to engage further with Tom at that time, Harmer said. Tom is deeply distressed and feels terrible Cindy has endured this pain over the last 35 + years. He profoundly regrets not having more information back then. Asked by CP to respond to Lanes clarification of her statement, Clemishire called it unacceptable. Any excuse and putting the blame back on me is unacceptable as an elder and overseer of the church, she told CP in a statement. With the information Tom Lane had, he could have easily researched and found my age at the time the abuse started. After Clemishire publicly alleged in June that Morris abused her as a preteen girl, Morris, 62, admitted to CP in an earlier statement that he had engaged in "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" while he was a pastor at another church in his early 20s. But he did not name his accuser or disclose her age at the time. In their initial response to the allegations against Morris, elders at Gateway Church told CP that they believed Morris was fully transparent about his past and that he had been biblically restored to ministry after allegedly stepping away for two years. He reported in his 2011 book, Dream to Destiny, that he returned to ministry just one month after the "Lord orchestrated the circumstances for me to step out of ministry." At the time, Morris admitted he was struggling with pride. In announcing Morris resignation from Gateway Church on June 18, elders admitted they did not have all the facts when they first defended him from the allegations. "Regretfully, prior to Friday, June 14, the elders did not have all the facts of the inappropriate relationship between Morris and the victim, including her age at the time and the length of the abuse. The elders' prior understanding was that Morris's extramarital relationship, which he had discussed many times throughout his ministry, was with 'a young lady' and not abuse of a 12-year-old child," the elders explained. "Even though it occurred many years before Gateway was established, as leaders of the church, we regret that we did not have the information that we now have. We are heartbroken and appalled by what has come to light over the past few days, and we express our deep sympathy to the victim and her family," the elders added. In the announcement of Morris' resignation, Gateway Church elders said they have retained the law firm of Haynes & Boone, LLP to "conduct an independent, thorough, and professional review of the report of past abuse to ensure we have a complete understanding of the events from 1982-1987." Tra Willbanks, a longtime Gateway Church elder and father of seven, including six girls, said in an update to the church over the weekend that the investigation remained underway as they formally announced to the congregation that they had decided to mutually cut ties with Morris son, James, and his wife, Bridgette. He also issued a second public apology to Clemishire for how the church first responded to her claims against Morris. Cindy, in case you are watching, we want to again apologize to you on behalf of our entire church for the years of pain that you have endured. We are sorry for our initial communication which was clearly incorrect, you were a child not a young lady, Willbanks said. Additionally, two weeks ago, Gateway released a statement saying that this was an inappropriate relationship. This statement was not correct either. To be clear we believe that this was sexual abuse of a child. Any description falling short of that does not reflect our position. I'm sorry that we got that communication wrong. We are in no way attempting to cover up or minimize this situation. In fact, I would like to say to you, Cindy, thank you for coming forward. Home Opinion Kamala Harris and late-term abortion: A cold-blooded abomination President Ronald Reagan said, "We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life, the unborn, without diminishing the value of all human life." And Alveda King said, "Abortion and racism are both symptoms of a fundamental human error. The error is thinking that when someone stands in the way of our wants, we can justify getting that person out of our lives. Abortion and racism stem from the same poisonous root, selfishness." Jesus loves preborn babies and little children. Jesus said, "whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:5-6). Visualize a 6-lbs. preborn baby girl who is within a week of being born. And then picture an abortionist viciously destroying the life of this defenseless child who was made in God's image. How could anyone who supports the barbaric practice of late-term abortion have the love of God in their heart? 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 Let's face it. A vote for a candidate who supports late-term abortion is a vote for late-term abortion itself. I do not believe that a person who is forgiven of their sins would ever deliberately cast a vote for late-term abortion. If the Holy Spirit is living in you through faith in Jesus, you abhor late-term abortion. It is a brutal act of cowardly aggression against the most helpless among us, which is why Christians find it repulsive to vote in favor of such a heinous atrocity. And of course, many non-Christians are also appalled at the reprehensible practice of late-term abortion. Newsweek published an op-ed last week that stated, "Vice President Harris has also refused to condemn late-term abortion. Progressives in the U.S. have advocated in the halls of Congress and in state capitols to allow late-term abortion up until the moment of birth ... nine U.S. states plus D.C currently have laws with no week restrictions a standard more radical than most of liberal Europe and on par with countries such as China and North Korea." And in an interview last week, Bill O'Reilly said that Kamala Harris is "the most radical abortion person this country has ever seen. She believes that you can abort an unborn child up until birth. That means five minutes before. There are only three countries, non-communist countries, in the world that allow that. Three, Canada, Holland, and Singapore." Catholic News Agency recently reported that Kamala Harris "became the first sitting vice president to visit an abortion clinic in March" where "she praised abortionists and chastised pro-life lawmakers who voted to put limits on abortion." And Joshua Arnold noted that Harris has held more than 90 abortion events across 21 states over the past two years. Late-term abortion, like terrorist attacks against women and children, is a cold-blooded abomination. How could anyone who supports such merciless slayings claim to know God? Christians loathe these savage assaults, and especially the painful and violent ambushes by abortionists against preborn children who are within just days of birth. A presidential election in the United States typically involves two main candidates, both of whom have plenty of sins in their past. Christians follow their conscience when choosing to vote for either, or neither, of these two sinners. Some Christians are able in good conscience to vote for Donald Trump, while other Christians would have to violate their conscience to vote for Trump. But when it comes to Kamala Harris, there is one issue that stands above all others, and it involves the most vulnerable among us. If Kamala Harris were to repent of her support for late-term abortion, she could then potentially choose to show compassion for all preborn children and accept her responsibility to protect babies in the womb. Independent presidential candidate Robert R. Kennedy Jr. said he supports abortion "even if it's full term." Compare his dreadful position on this crucial issue to these wise words from Dr. James Dobson: "From conception to our final breath on this earth, all life is a sacred gift from Almighty God. It must be cherished in our hearts and protected through our actions, both in our capacity as individuals and also through our laws and policies as a nation." David penned this profound passage of Scripture about the Lord as the Creator of life: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-14). Every follower of Christ feels compelled to help protect people who are defenseless against ruthless invasions, and especially those precious children in the womb who are so close to entering the world. An (eye) opening ceremony Last night was the opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. It's fair to say that opinion was divided about how well the whole thing went. Personally, I enjoyed the athletes' parade in boats down the Seine; it made a nice change from the usual walk around a stadium. Celine Dion sang magnificently, especially given her health problems and the Minions were wonderful. However, there was one tableau in the middle which I found rather strange, when a group including drag queens appeared to imitate Leonardo's Last Supper. It's hard to understand the motivation behind this piece. My suspicion is that the producers (those doing the mise en Seine sorry) thought that it would be funny - after all the Minions had just mocked another Leonardo masterpiece. It probably occurred to them that some Christians might get offended by the show, but I suspect that in La France Laique they didn't worry about that. So what did I think of it? Well, I found it offensive, I also found it childish. It seemed like a sixth form school play where the pupils were trying to get away with something offensive, but not sure how to really do it well. Hopefully, they'll grow out of it! But hang about; take a look at this article from the Guardian. The report found an estimated 216,000 children were victims of sexual violence by French Catholic priests, deacons and other clergy from 1950 to 2020. When lay members of the Church, such as teachers and catechism supervisors, were included, the figure rose to at least 330,000 children sexually abused over 70 years. Have you got that? A third of a million children abused by adults in the Church over 70 years. That is horrendous. While I retain my right to be offended, I can fully understand why people in France might see Christianity in a negative light. Frankly, if you are more bothered by a silly tableau in the opening ceremony than you are by the abuse of hundreds of thousands of children who are created in the image of god, then you are missing something significant. Yes, we have a right to be offended, but we also need to stop and think about why some people might be so keen to offend us in the first place. Much of the Christian reaction that I've seen online seems to be more or less devoid of self-reflection or understanding. OK, with that in mind, I still think it was a stupid thing for the organisers to do. France has a secular constitution, it has very little, if any, place for religion in public life. However, this ceremony was supposed to be welcoming people from across the world, people from countries where religion is extremely important. The parody, or mockery of Jesus is offensive to Christians and Muslims and that includes huge numbers of the athletes from countries outside of Europe. Bienvenue en France? I don't think so. Eddie Arthur is a missiologist and has spent many decades translating Scripture with Wycliffe Bible Translators. This post first appeared on his blog, KouyaNet, and is printed here with permission. Bishop of Liverpool prays for comfort after shocking knife attack on children's dance class The Bishop of Liverpool has spoken of his shock after a knifeman attacked a children's Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, just north of the city. Two children were killed and six children and two adults critically injured in the attack shortly before midday on Monday. The school holiday club had been fully booked with 25 children aged six to 11. A 17 year old is being questioned by police in connection with the attack. Local churches have opened their doors for members of the community in need of a quiet space or someone to talk to. The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, said the tragedy had shocked the "quiet" community of Southport. "Today, as we have more information about the horrific events in Southport our prayers are with the family and friends of the murdered children. May God comfort the bereaved and support them at this difficult time," he said. "We also pray for those who remain critically injured in hospital asking God to surround them with love. "This tragedy has shocked a quiet community and we pray for them. Churches across Southport are open for prayer and our clergy will continue to support those in need." The Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm McMahon, said he was holding all those affected by the tragedy in his thoughts and prayers and asked people to pray "for peace, healing, and justice". "For those who have been injured, for those who are parents, family, and friends of the injured, for all involved in the emergency services, we pray for God's blessing, God's peace, and God's presence today," he said. Christ Church Southport, which is one of the many churches opening their doors to the local community, said it was "heartbroken" over the attack. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected. For those fighting in hospital, for those whose world has fallen apart, for those who are afraid, for those who first responded, for those who know someone that was there, for our town," the church said in a message posted to its Facebook page. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Todays hyper-competitive business landscape demands businesses to do more with less. These expectations are compounded by the advent of generative AI alongside the growth of software-as-a-solution (SaaS) platforms. Armed with the promise to help organizations deliver new efficiency levels, SaaS platforms are often the preferred way for many businesses, and for good reason: theres no need to reinvent the wheel especially when there are already so many great options to choose from. Our CIO Tech Priorities 2024 survey found that the majority of respondents chose SaaS applications over in-house deployments for project management. Similarly, 52% used SaaS applications for human resources (HR) management, while half of those surveyed also preferred SaaS for business intelligence tools and customer relationship management. While this spells good news for IT service providers, the myriad of tools in the marketplace has put a different type of pressure on CXOs, having to navigate the complexities of their business and implement the appropriate solutions. With every business being different, putting together the right mix of tools and apps is crucial to success. CXOs need to be prudent when selecting the right solutions to meet their specific business needs. Understanding the global landscape: how organizations are tapping IT services to support workflow From customer relationship management (CRM) to HR, organizations are always looking for ways to work more efficiently. The Freshworks Freshservice IT Service Management Benchmark Report (FBR), which surveyed more than 9,400 organizations across over 100 countries, found that organizations that automate business processes with workflows saw a 26.63% reduction in average resolution time (ART) and improved first contact resolution of employees by 77%. The report also highlights how generative AI is transforming the self-service experience, driving ticket deflection rates of about 53%. By using generative AI to address the more commonly recurring issues, employees can spend their time on more business-critical tasks. The high ticket deflection rates also result in higher job satisfaction levels as quick and accurate resolutions inevitably improve user experience. In terms of first response service level agreements (SLAs), the report found that chat and collaboration channels like Microsoft Teams and Slack tend to be most effective in offering solutions with minimal wait times, compared to phone calls and emails. Assignments take about six minutes on average and maintain 100% resolution. To paint a clearer and more accurate picture of how the adoption of IT solutions impacts businesses, the report provides comprehensive benchmarking and insights broken down by region, country, industry, and even company size. It also delineated seven key performance indicators (KPIs) with detailed analysis across industries. Curating IT services to meet industry demands No two industries are alike, therefore service providers need to be familiar with and understand the landscape they operate in and their priorities. Partnering with the right platforms can help organizations achieve their fullest potential to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation. For example, customer satisfaction is key to business success in construction and real estate; hence, prompt and efficient issue resolution is key. Meanwhile in the education sector, long wait times are often a challenge. To address this issue, operators may look into implementing a priority matrix to streamline ticket queue management. Geography also plays an important role. Across the globe, different regions have different cultures which impact SLAs and customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores. In Canada and the USA for example, CSAT scores are high despite not being the quickest to resolve issues. On the other hand, speed is of the essence for countries like India and Brazil. In this fast-evolving IT landscape, businesses must be clear on their priorities to avoid tool fatigue. Instead of trying out multiple tools and applications, narrow down the list based on some key priorities, then filter the best ones. Partnerships are important too, and choosing the right fit for a partner can be valuable. By learning more about the different industries and business environments, organizations will have a better idea of the tools most suited to their business. Ultimately, it comes down to streamlining workflows for better efficiencies to create a more productive and, therefore, more profitable business environment. Discover how the various IT services are helping businesses achieve true digital transformation by downloading FBR 2024 here. Organizations are under pressure to demonstrate commitment to an actionable sustainability strategy to meet regulatory obligations and to build positive market sentiment. CIOs and IT leaders are uniquely positioned to contribute based on their ability to extract vendor commitments, prioritize socially relevant improvements, and lead data strategy as it informs AI and automation investments. We examine the opportunity to lead both risk mitigation and value creation by helping advance the enterprise sustainability strategy. Stakeholder expectations are driving action Investors and stakeholders are universally paying attention to sustainability-related risks and opportunities, and private companies are increasingly leaning into sustainability commitments. For example: Walmarts management of supplier commitments helped meet defined targets six years ahead of its 2030 deadline. management of supplier commitments helped meet defined targets six years ahead of its 2030 deadline. Starbucks has committed to redesign cafes to improve accessibility. has committed to redesign cafes to improve accessibility. Verizon has allocated $1 billion in investment funding to support renewable energy. Conversely, companies running afoul of sustainability principles are increasingly feeling the impact. For example, both Coca-Cola and Nestle have been discredited with charges of greenwashing based on misrepresentation of sustainable packaging strategies, with impacts on both reputation and stock price. Volkswagens share price took a double-digit drop after altering test results to hide egregious emissions data while actively promoting the low-emission and eco-friendly features of its vehicles. Stakeholder expectations are driving focus. For example: WSJ s survey of more than 2,000 U.S. business leaders found that 71% of respondents were committed to a net-zero target and a further 26% reported targets to be under development. s survey of more than 2,000 U.S. business leaders found that 71% of respondents were committed to a net-zero target and a further 26% reported targets to be under development. IDC research indicates that nearly 30% of organizations worldwide have embedded sustainability into their business model and overall strategy. indicates that nearly 30% of organizations worldwide have embedded sustainability into their business model and overall strategy. IDCs Worldwide Sustainability predictions suggest that in 2024 some 35% of organizations will generate sustainability benefits, using AI to generate sustainability-driven cost benefits and competitive advantages. Sustainability maturity enables impact Sustainability maturity is a progressive scale for turning awareness into action, formalizing commitments and activities, and collaborating to enable actionable thought leadership. Competent Boards, 2024 Every organization can have an impact by starting with small, measurable commitments and moving along the maturity model for engagement and commitment. Pick your lanes An impactful and actionable sustainability strategy starts with a clear articulation of the lanes for investment, focusing resources on the specific ways to have impact. For example, McDonalds has gone beyond looking for gains through its core food business and is developing biodegradable synthetic fabrics to uniform more than 2 million team members worldwide. Successful sustainability programs prioritize work based on five key factors: Alignment with the business strategy: Ensure alignment between business strategy and operational imperatives; sustainability commitments and investments will fail otherwise. Ensure alignment between business strategy and operational imperatives; sustainability commitments and investments will fail otherwise. Cross-industry and ecosystem dynamics: Look to leverage and amplify sustainability efforts via strategic partnerships and collaboration. Look to leverage and amplify sustainability efforts via strategic partnerships and collaboration. Operational opportunities: Look at spending and major work components to identify the highest-impact areas for focus. Look at spending and major work components to identify the highest-impact areas for focus. Data, analytics, and AI investment strategies: Leverage work already on the digital road map and then overlay initiatives for sustainability and social ethics. Leverage work already on the digital road map and then overlay initiatives for sustainability and social ethics. Transitional strategies: Increase opportunities for success by prioritizing work that is culturally aligned with the values of the organization. Identify specific efforts that will have a measured impact, and establish the governance, tracking, and reporting to ensure the efforts are successful. Partner for success IDC research indicates that industry ecosystems are increasingly teaming up to facilitate sustainability strategies, discuss challenges, and share best practices. IDCs Future of Industry Ecosystems MaturityScape Benchmark Survey, 2023 Notwithstanding the power of collaboration, high-profile programs bring the risk that new partners will present themselves opportunistically. Choose the right allegiances by being intentional about: Criteria for value: Be clear about the criteria for value including profile and relationship outcomes, anticipated level of effort to support the collaboration, and the risk dynamics in support of maturity development. Be clear about the criteria for value including profile and relationship outcomes, anticipated level of effort to support the collaboration, and the risk dynamics in support of maturity development. Relationship clarity: Be specific about the opportunities including technical capabilities, the nature of the combined voice being created, and funding elements where partnerships often bring an infusion of resources. Be specific about the opportunities including technical capabilities, the nature of the combined voice being created, and funding elements where partnerships often bring an infusion of resources. Plans for development: Identify the leaders who bring genuine authority to ensure alignment on joint outcomes and commitments. Identify the leaders who bring genuine authority to ensure alignment on joint outcomes and commitments. Management for impact: Establish clear governance and well-defined performance measurements for the partnership. Partnership experts suggest that 50% of business partnerships fail. Diligence and structure are critical for sustainability partner relationships. Operationalize key maturity development initiatives Operational approaches, objectives, and reportable targets give momentum to a sustainability strategy, by leveraging every opportunity for impact no matter how small. Build an operational framework that supports a balanced scorecard based on these four key strategic questions: For financial success , how will the sustainability strategy be seen by stakeholders? , how will the sustainability strategy be seen by stakeholders? For operational success , what processes and capabilities must we excel at to satisfy our stakeholders and customers? , what processes and capabilities must we excel at to satisfy our stakeholders and customers? For customer success , what will customers perceive our vision to be? , what will customers perceive our vision to be? For maturity development, what is our plan for continuous improvement? Learn more about IDCs research for technology leaders. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the technology markets. IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG Inc.), the worlds leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. Recently voted Analyst Firm of the Year for the third consecutive time, IDCs Technology Leader Solutions provide you with expert guidance backed by our industry-leading research and advisory services, robust leadership and development programs, and best-in-class benchmarking and sourcing intelligence data from the industrys most experienced advisors. Contact us today to learn more. Alizabeth Calder, an adjunct research advisor with IDCs IT Executive Programs (IEP), is the former CIO of HomeEquity Bank, a contributing writer to IT World Canada, and a best-selling author and sought-after keynote speaker. She focuses on bridging the gap between the technology sector and the leaders who provide the governance and investment needed to succeed. Prior to her current role, Alizabeth was CIO at firms including IBM, Loyalty Group (a Division of Alliance Data), and CML Healthcare. Her more than 35-year technology career includes transformational success in banking, financial services, transportation, logistics, healthcare, analytics, and professional services. Alizabeth is a recognized thought leader on digital oversight and board engagement, including strategies to close the value gap and deliver the right level of digital maturity to have a long-term impact. Alizabeth has also been an expert in cybersecurity since the 1980s, providing a unique bridge for directors and C-level executives on one of their most critical risk considerations. 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. The Nuffield Foundation has appointed Gavin Kelly as its next chief executive, the grantmaker has announced. Kelly will succeed Tim Gardam, who has led the foundation since 2016, and will take up the position in January 2025. He is currently chief executive of the Resolution Trust, executive chair of the Resolution Foundation and chair of the Living Wage Commission, as well as a board member of the Orwell Foundation and Political Quarterly. Between 2010 and 2015, Kelly was chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, and before this worked in Whitehall for more than 10 years. He held roles including deputy chief of staff at No 10 Downing Street, a senior civil servant in the Department for Education and deputy director in the prime ministers strategy unit. On his appointment, Kelly said: Ive long admired the role that the Nuffield Foundation plays in backing research and innovation that improves lives in so many different ways, so Im greatly honoured to be appointed as chief executive. Throughout my career both in government and in the wider research and policy community Ive seen first-hand the power of evidence to transform policy and practice for the better. Im excited about the role that the Nuffield Foundation can play in the years ahead supporting and pioneering work that will help the country address key social, economic, and technological challenges. Im looking forward to getting started in January and working closely with trustees and the staff. Nuffield Foundation chair Keith Burnett said: Im delighted that Gavin Kelly will take up the role of chief executive of the Nuffield Foundation in January next year. Gavin has an outstanding track record of leadership in public policy and in government, and we feel confident he will be a tremendous asset to our work at a crucial moment of challenge and opportunity. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The Charity Commission is considering whether to intervene after concerns were raised about four Muslim charities that allegedly hosted an extremist preacher on their premises. According to campaigning organisation the National Secular Society (NSS) , the charities hosted Islamic scholar Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer during his visit to the UK earlier this month. The NSS alleged that Zaheer has previously condoned the killing of people who leave Islam, said sexual slavery is acceptable, and claimed to have forgiven an accused paedophile. It said that the Umm Ul Qura Foundation, AlHikmah Project, Makki Masjid and Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith UK all hosted Zaheer during his July tour of the UK. A spokesperson for the Commission said: We can confirm that we are assessing concerns raised with us about a number of charities in relation to claims of their association with an individual who is alleged to have made controversial statements. We are examining the information shared with us to determine whether there is a role for the Commission as regulator. NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: Its galling to see tax breaks handed to mosques that host fundamentalists with divisive agendas when this clearly serves no public benefit. Outdated laws which regard the 'advancement of religion' as a charitable purpose must be reconsidered. It should be obvious to all that charities shouldn't be used as a platform for harmful extremists. The charities have yet to respond to a request for comment from Civil Society. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Shutterstock The Treasury has confirmed its plans to end VAT exemptions for UK private schools from 1 January and remove the ability of those in England to claim charitable business rates relief. Yesterday, the department published a technical note with details of its planned changes and opened a consultation , which will run for seven weeks until 15 September. Charity Tax Group (CTG) chair Richard Bray said the proposed changes, which were pledged in the Labour Partys manifesto , were very significant and that his organisation would consider any unintended consequences that might arise as a result. Former NCVO chief executive Stuart Etherington wrote earlier this year that the changes could result in some schools weakening the low level of charitable public benefit that they are required to provide. Charity Finance Group previously warned that removing some tax benefits and retaining charitable status could create a two-tier system of charities and risk creating confusion amongst the public. Labour said in its manifesto that it expected to raise 1.5bn from the tax changes to help fund state education including the recruitment of 6,500 more teachers. Scope of VAT policy The governments technical note reads: As of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training supplied by a private school, or a connected person, for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. Boarding services closely related to such a supply will also be subject to VAT at 20%. The intended policy will not affect nurseries and pupils placed in private schools whose special educational needs cannot be met in the state sector, it reads. It will, however, affect the fees of private-school children from the first year of primary school upwards. The government recognises that other goods and services closely related to education, such as school meals, transport, and books and stationery, are integral to children accessing education, the note reads. As a result, other closely related goods and services other than boarding (ie goods and services that are provided by a private school for the direct use of their pupils and that are necessary for delivering the education to their pupils) will remain exempt from VAT. The government said that although schools will have to state on their invoices that they are charging 20% VAT on their education and boarding fees, it does not expect fees to go up by 20%. Rather, the government expects private schools to take steps to minimise fee increases, the note says. After recovery of VAT on their costs, on average, the government expects schools to be liable for VAT amounting to around 15% of their fee income. It will be a commercial decision for individual schools how they fund this additional cost. Removal of business rates relief The government is also consulting on its plan to remove the business rates relief from which private schools currently benefit as charities. Private schools that are charities will no longer be eligible to claim charitable rates relief and will be required to pay their full business rates liability, the note reads. As business rates policy is devolved, this change will only apply to private schools in England. The increased rates liability will vary from school to school; however, the government expects increased rates liabilities to have a limited impact on average school fees per pupil. CTG looking to ensure no unintended consequences Bray said the proposed changes were very significant. The government has acted quickly to introduce its manifesto commitment to introduce VAT on private school fees and to remove charitable rates relief for private schools in England. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the draft legislation although the window for doing so is over the holiday period. We will be looking at what is proposed with the intention of ensuring that there are no unintended consequences arising from the proposed changes. We will also be taking the government up on its offer to discuss the draft legislation with key stakeholders. Meanwhile, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said: Thousands of children face having their education disrupted as a result of this unprecedented tax. It will increase pressure on state schools and on an already-stretched SEND system, as well as on faith provision, on specialist arts education and on military families. The draft legislation was published before consultation with independent schools. We will be working over the coming months to engage the government on the consequences of this policy on schools, families and communities it remains our belief that the best way to improve education for all is for schools to work together, not to tax education. Dementia UK This content has been supplied by a commercial partner. At Dementia UK, we've worked hard to cultivate an environment where our employees feel proud and connected to our vision. With 95% of our team expressing pride in their work and understanding how their efforts contribute to our goals, we've created a culture of impact that I am immensely proud of. Heres a look at how weve achieved this. A clear and compelling vision Everything we do at Dementia UK is driven by our vision of a world where no one faces dementia alone where everyone gets the specialist support they need. We do this through our Admiral Nurses. This vision is not just a statement on our website; its a guiding principle that shapes everything we do. We make sure every team member understands the importance of their role in achieving this goal. Regular updates and communications from leadership reinforce this vision, making it an integral part of our workplace culture. Empowering our employees Empowerment is at the core of our approach. We strive to create an inclusive and collaborative environment where every voice is heard and valued. This means encouraging input from all levels of the organisation and fostering a sense of integrity, ownership and accountability. By involving employees in decision-making and strategy-setting processes, we ensure everyone feels a personal stake in our success and is motivated to contribute their best ideas and efforts. For instance, we recently held a series of strategy workshops during our all-staff conference where all employees came together to brainstorm new initiatives. The energy and creativity in those sessions were palpable, and many of the ideas generated will contribute to the development of our 2025-2030 corporate strategy. Commitment to learning and development We believe in the power of continuous learning. To support our employees in their personal and professional growth, we offer comprehensive training programs that help them develop new skills and enhance their existing ones. This commitment to development not only improves performance but also fosters an ambitious culture. Our staff know that we are invested in their future, and this mutual commitment strengthens the drive we all have to ensure we are there every step of the way for the families that need us. Recognising and rewarding contributions Recognition is a vital part of our culture. We have established a culture of acknowledging our employees contributions and saying thank you. We carry out formal pay reviews to ensure fair pair is felt. We are working on new initiatives to further recognise the contribution of our staff in ways that extend beyond performance metrics; we aim to celebrate those who embody our values of compassion, collaboration, integrity, and ambition. Fostering collaboration Collaboration is key to our success. We encourage teamwork and cross-departmental projects to solve complex problems and drive innovation. This collaborative spirit is supported by open communication channels and a work environment designed to facilitate interaction. By working together, without fear of blame or failure, we ensure that our employees feel safe to ambitiously aspire for more, always thinking of ways to enable us to meet our ambitious goals. Prioritising inclusion and wellbeing The wellbeing of our team is a top priority as is the feeling of belonging. We understand the demanding nature of our work, and we provide access to mental health resources, flexible working arrangements, and initiatives that promote a healthy and inclusive workplace. By addressing the holistic needs of our employees, we create a supportive environment where they can thrive both personally and professionally. One initiative that stands out is our approach to making reasonable adjustments, where our stance is always how can we support you and make work accessible. This can do mentality has led to radical shifts in the technologies, approaches and flexibility we have been able to provide to new and existing staff. We passionately believe in everyones right to be their whole selves at work and to be supported to be the best they can be. Leading with transparency Transparency is crucial to building trust. Our leadership is committed to open and honest communication, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose. Our employees know that they can trust each other and that they are part of a cohesive, purpose-driven organisation. We believe that all of us make up the whole of Dementia UK and we are all working together to achieve the same goal, regardless of seniority, everyone has a right to be treated with honesty and respect. Closing thoughts Creating a culture of impact at Dementia UK is a collaborative journey, where, even as we grow, we ambitiously aim to retain our strong and positive culture. By focusing on a clear vision, having clear values, empowering our team, investing in their development, recognising their contributions, fostering collaboration, prioritising inclusion and wellbeing, and leading with transparency, we have built an environment where our employees are proud to work and deeply connected to our goals. The impact of our approach has enabled us to be increasingly successful in all areas of the charity, from having high-performing fundraising and engagement teams, highly effective people and infrastructure support teams, through to our wonderful services team, who deliver unparalleled support for people living with dementia and their loved ones. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I am excited for the future as we continue to support everyone that needs us. If other organisations can take away anything from our journey, its that investing in your people and fostering a supportive, inclusive culture can lead to remarkable outcomes. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. At the moment when a gunman tried to kill Donald Trump, Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico was just returning to work after an assassination attempt on May 15. He was hit by four bullets and suffered injuries to his abdomen and hip. Fico is our prime minister for the fourth time. He has ruled Slovakia on and off since 2006. And like Trump he has long resented independent and critical journalists. He blames us for his failures and mistakes. He attacks us. He berates or ignores us. In his thirteen years in power, he started to prefer media that do not criticize him and dont ask difficult questions, not to mention his own widely followed Facebook page. And when he became prime minister for the fourth time, last autumn, he further hardened his stance and declared some journalists and outlets to be hostileIm the editor of Dennik N, which is one of them. So in a way, I am writing to you from eight weeks into your own future. I hope Slovakia holds some lessons for American journalists seeking to find the right ways to respond to their own analogue. Shootings are not common in Slovakia, let alone political shootings. We all felt shock and dismay after Fico was shot. But his closest political allies immediately sought to assign blame. They landed on his political opposition, and journalists. There were calls to regulate reporters and circumscribe free speech. But when it became clear that the prime minister had survived the attack, the mood changed. For a few weeks it seemed that reconciliation might be possible. Politicians from Ficos coalition, and from the opposition, talked about it. As did journalists. Sign up for CJRs daily email In our newsroom we wondered whether our language and harsh criticism of the government and the prime minister had contributed to the radicalization of a whole society, and thus to the shooting that followed. The role of the independent media is to check power. To look critically at the decisions and statements of politicians who make decisions about the state and manage public money. But I still wanted to examine our work from a new perspective. I went through my stories and those of my colleagues, and I was relieved to find that none of us had ever, even inadvertently, overtly incited violence or even attacked Fico or other politicians personally. On July 5, almost eight weeks after he was shot, Fico returned to public life. He was not running for reelectionhe was a sitting prime minister. So we felt it was a real opportunity for him to attempt the much talked-about reconciliation. He came back instead as an avenger. He blamed the opposition, the media, and big democratic countries, which he said do not like his even-handed approach to the war in Ukraine. Fico runs the government already. All the institutions and security forces are run by him and his people. So, even weeks later, we do not know the details of the investigation. There has been no serious examination of the failures of the security, police, and intelligence services. And no reckoning with another awkward fact. Six years ago, investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee were murdered. I wrote it then and I am convinced of it today: Kuciak was killed because he was exposing fraud and thievery in the government. He was killed because Fico created a criminal system where connections and money, not the law, ruled. Fico resigned in March 2018, three weeks after the murder. He had lost the support of the electorate. And the police began to bring hundreds of corruption and misuse-of-power cases. Fico personally faced four allegations. The most serious was that he had misused the office of prime minister to benefit himself and his friends. Parliament declined to place him in custody, and the prosecutors office later dismissed those allegations. But more than a hundred of his allies were indicted, and dozens of them were convicted. The effort to avoid jail rebooted Fico, and politically he was revived. But this time his campaign felt like it had more at stake. As though it were about life and death. He took Slovakian politics down a darker path. One focused on hatred, anger, and fear. He and his allies said that the war in Ukraine was provoked by NATO and especially America. He raised the notion that George Soros was wielding influence behind the scenes. Fico did not want anyone to shoot at him, but he was certainly deliberately stirring up dark and conspiratorial emotions. After his recovery, his government continues to attack journalists. It has directly abolished Slovakian public television and radio and created state television and radio in its place, under the direct control of the government. On the day Trump was shot, Fico spoke out. He did not wish Trump a speedy recovery, nor did he talk about how violence does not belong in politics. Instead he used the opportunity to attack my publication, and a couple of others he considers hostile. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Back to the future in Slovakia Matus Kostolny is the editor in chief and one of the founders of Dennik N (Daily N), a liberal independent daily in Slovakia financed by its subscribers. British drugmaker GSK said on Monday it has agreed to confidentially settle a lawsuit in Illinois that alleged its discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer, the latest in a series of settlements to end costly litigation. First approved in 1983, Zantac, sold at different times by GSK, Pfizer, Sanofiand Boehringer Ingelheim, became the worlds best-selling medicine in 1988 and one of the first to top $1 billion in annual sales. Related: Industry Groups Back Drugmakers Appeal in Zantac Cancer Lawsuits The companies together are facing thousands of petitions against them including more than 70,000 lawsuits in Delaware. Lawsuits began piling up after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 asked manufacturers to pull the drug off the market over concerns that ranitidine, an active ingredient in the drug, could degrade into a cancer-causing chemical over time or when exposed to heat. Related: Delaware Judge Lets More Than 70,000 Zantac Lawsuits Go Forward GSK did not admit any liability and said it would vigorously defend itself in any other Zantac cases. (Reporting by Shabong and A in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K and Eileen Soreng) CLEVELAND, Ohio Three people were wounded when an apparent gun battle erupted Monday evening outside St. Malachi Parish in the Ohio City neighborhood, police say. Police Chief Annie Todd said in a news conference recorded by WKYC Channel 3 that one of the wounded males was found near the Greater Cleveland Aquarium about a half-mile away from the shooting site. He was taken into custody by an off-duty officer and a handgun was recovered. The male is considered a person of interest in the shooting, Todd said. A second wounded male arrived at Cleveland Clinic-Lutheran Hospital, which is just a few blocks away from the church, while a third wounded male was found near the scene. Its unclear if the other two wounded males were involved in the shooting or were just bystanders. None of the wounds are considered life-threatening, Todd said. The church was not targeted in the gunfire, but Todd said police patrols would be increased in the area following the shooting in order to reassure residents and businesses nearby. We dont feel anything that happened here today is related to the people who use this church as one of their neighborhood resources, Todd said. We want to give them that the reassurance that we are here and were going to make sure we keep our increased patrols to keep it as safe as we can. The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. in the area of West 25th Street and Washington Avenue. She said when officers arrived on the scene it was chaotic and that several people were running around, although no victims were located initially. Police believe it was a shootout between at least two people, one on the street and another in a vehicle. Police say evidence shows that multiple weapons were involved, including a high-powered rifle. Anytime theres a shooting, its very dangerous, Todd said. Were just grateful that no one was killed in this shooting. ... Its going to cause a scare, this was in broad daylight. Its going to cause a scare in everyone. COLUMBUS, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday will share his thoughts about a redistricting amendment that will appear on the November ballot. But will he propose an alternative? COLUMBUS, Ohio The CEO of Ohio Right to Life, the states most influential anti-abortion organization, announced he is resigning after about two years. Peter Range described the work as his dream job and characterized his departure as walking away, but when contacted on Tuesday, declined to share more details about why he has left. The Alphabet logo is displayed on a smartphone screen with the Google logo in the background. Jaque Silva | Lightrocket | Getty Images Britain's competition regulator on Tuesday said it is investigating to see if Google parent Alphabet's partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has resulted in reduced competition. The Competition and Markets Authority said that it is looking into whether a partnership between the two firms has led to a "relevant merger situation," and if that "may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition" in the U.K. The regulator has invited comments from interested parties before beginning a formal investigation. An Anthropic spokesperson told CNBC that the company will cooperate with the CMA and "provide them with the complete picture about Google's investment and our commercial collaboration." "We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others," the spokesperson added. The Anthropic spokesperson added that, unlike OpenAI, which previously gave Microsoft an observer seat on its board, neither Google nor Amazon has a seat or any observation rights over Anthropic's board. Microsoft recently dropped its seat as an observer on the board of the company. Anthropic added that its models are available non-exclusively on Google's Vertex AI platform, as well as Amazon's Bedrock, alongside models from other AI labs. Google also pushed back on competition concerns over its deal with Anthropic. A spokesperson for the company told CNBC that it's "committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world," and added that Anthropic is "free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don't demand exclusive tech rights." Google agreed to invest up to $2 billion in Anthropic back in October, in a move that involved a $500 million upfront cash injection and an additional $1.5 billion to be poured in over time. This was on top of prior investments Google had made in the company, which has reportedly given it around a 10% stake in the AI startup. Anthropic is the developer of Claude, a rival chatbot to OpenAI's ChatGPT. (This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Tuesday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) A semiconductor stock and a streaming giant were among the names being talked about by analysts on Tuesday. Barclays upgraded ASML to overweight. Meanwhile, Oppenheimer said investors should by the dip on Netflix. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 8:01 a.m.: Whirlpool moved to underperform by Bank of America Struggling Whirlpool may still have further to fall before it finds a bottom, according to Bank of America. Analyst Rafe Jadrosich said in a note to clients that investors should consider selling the stock. "We move our rating to Underperform (from No Rating), given recent M & A speculation appears to have faded following Bosch's public comments that the company will be focused on closing its acquisition JCI's light commercial and residential HVAC assets over the next 12 months, which has allowed WHR to return to trading on fundamentals," the note said. The issue for Whirlpool is that it's fundamentals aren't trending in the right direction the company lowered its full-year earnings guidance in June. That guidance may not have been enough, according Jadrosich. "We continue to see risk to guidance that implies stronger trends in 2H24 and model 2024E EPS 13% below consensus and below guidance," the note said. Bank of America set a price target of $88 per share, 11% downside from Monday's close. Shares of Whirlpool are already down 18% year to date. Jesse Pound 7:24 a.m.: Bank of America upgrades LPL Financial to buy Things could be looking up for LPL Financial , according to Bank of America. Bank of America analyst Craig Siegenthaler upgraded shares of the financial firm to a buy rating from neutral. He cited the stock's "significant decline in valuation and deterioration in sentiment, while we now have greater transparency into cash sweep risks post calls and channel checks." "Cash sweep/sorting was the key driver behind our Neutral rating and we estimate LPLA's client cash allocations are now very close to a bottom," he added. With the stock's decline in valuation, LPL Financial now offers attractive earnings and revenue growth. Siegenthaler estimated that the stock could generate annualized earnings per share growth of 20% or more. Shares of LPPL Financial are down 5% on the year. Lisa Kailai Han 7:15 a.m.: Bank of America downgrades Lattice Semiconductor Bank of America thinks shares of Lattice Semiconductor could face a reckoning. The bank downgraded the semiconductor manufacturer to underperform from neutral, citing "slowing growth prospects and muted visibility." Analyst Duksan Janh also slashed his price objective to $47 from $83. This updated forecast is approximately 14% below where shares closed on Monday. Lattice Semiconductor stock has declined 20% this year. Janh pointed out that not only has the firm's growth begun to slow, but its current multiples look "unsustainable." The company has also disappointed in its most recent earnings reports. LSCC YTD mountain LSCC year to date "We flag: no immediate catalyst given many auto/industrial semis already guided to CY25E recoveries; limited end demand visibility given LSCC's high disty exposure (~90%); rising competitive pressure from Intel/PSG; increasing Asia/China exposure over the last five quarters, a potential sign of buy-ahead; and high multiple," Janh wrote. Lisa Kailai Han 7:10 a.m.: Bank of America upgrades Affirm to buy, sees 34% upside Bank of America sees a conducive macroeconomic environment ahead for Affirm . The bank upgraded shares of the buy now, pay later company to buy from neutral, citing increased profitability prospects as a catalyst. Shares of Affirm have plunged 45% in 2024, but analyst Jason Kupferberg's $36 price objective implies that the stock could rally 34% from here. Kupferberg believes that Affirm's "achievable" medium-term profitability framework could boost its stock. Furthermore, the company would also profit from impending rate cuts. "A lower interest rate environment would be beneficial to AFRM's funding costs and for gain on loan sales," the analyst said. Meanwhile, Affirm's fiscal fourth-quarter print due out late August could be a potential positive catalyst for the stock. "AFRM may communicate a more bullish message on profitability, while delivering F4Q upside and guiding F25 solidly in-line w/ Street," Kupferberg wrote. "New Apple relationship, further scaling of Affirm Card, and potential geographic expansion of existing large partnerships should all be supportive of F25/F26 forecasts." Lisa Kailai Han 6:53 a.m.: Needham stands by buy rating on CrowdStrike post-IT outage CrowdStrike will ultimately survive despite its recent fiasco, according to Needham. Analyst Alex Henderson reiterated his buy rating for the cybersecurity firm but lowered his price target to $375 from $425. This new price forecast is approximately 45% above where shares closed on Monday. CrowdStrike has crashed 25% since a global IT outage on July 19 led to thousands of flight cancellations. The stock is now up just 1% on the year. However, Henderson thinks the damage to CrowdStrike's reputation should fade over the next year. "We consider CRWD the best in breed Security company and note that its handling of the problem has been uniformly lauded as open and exemplary," the analyst wrote. Henderson added that he is cutting his revenue and earnings estimates due to Delta seeking compensation and a likely one-time cash charge to CrowdStrike's balance sheet. But the analyst pointed out that while customers are angry, they remain committed to CrowdStrike's platform due to the "strength of its technology, architecture and strong management execution." "Crowd's cloud native, microservices based, API driven, single agent, single UI platform and superb data lake architecture is the root of our confidence in its ability to rebound," he added. "We believe CrowdStrike is going to be a major premier platform for Security. And we still believe CRWD shares should be a core holding for growth investors." Lisa Kailai Han 6:37 a.m.: KBW double upgrades Aon to outperform from underperform There's a rosy outlook ahead for Aon , according to Keefe, Bruyette and Woods. The firm double upgraded shares of the professional services company to outperform from underperform and hiked its 12-month target price to $380 from $313. The new forecast implies upside of 19%. Analyst Meyer Shields cited a "very strong" second-quarter earnings report and conference call as a catalyst. Shares of Aon are up 10% this year. Despite rising 8% on Friday, Shields believes that the stock is still trading at a discount. "We attribute the discount to several recent quarters' weak organic revenue growth, as AON's Commercial Risk Solutions segment's organic growth rate consistently underperformed its peers'," the analyst wrote. Going forward, he's more bullish on Aon's "ramping productivity" that should boost both growth and margins in coming quarters. "We think AON is in the early stages of recovering organic revenue growth and subsequent margin expansion as recently recruited brokers ramp up their productivity, offsetting the initial expenses," the analyst wrote. Lisa Kailai Han 6:31 a.m.: JPMorgan sees a more solid setup ahead for Coinbase JPMorgan believes that a recovering cryptocurrency backdrop should boost shares of Coinbase . The bank reiterated its neutral rating on the company, but raised its price target to $181 from $171. This now implies that shares of Coinbase could fall 23% from their Monday closing price of $234.20. Coinbase stock has rallied 35% in 2024. JPMorgan analyst Kenneth Worthington attributed a higher assumption for total crypto market cap as one reason for his price target raise. "We see the cryptoecosystem in the midst of a material participation rally, benefitting Coinbase revenue generation near term," the analyst wrote. "We see the longer-term success of Coinbase being driven by development, with our focus on tokenization and payments." Lisa Kailai Han 5:55 a.m.: JPMorgan downgrades Novavax to underweight Waning demand for the Covid-19 vaccine could dent Novavax's momentum, according to JPMorgan. The bank downgraded shares of the biotechnology company to underweight from neutral. Analyst Eric Joseph's December 2025 price target of $8 implies a 51% decline ahead for the stock. Shares of the vaccine maker have soared 242% this year, in part due to the announcement of a strategic partnership with Sanofi around its Covid-19 vaccine program. NVAX YTD mountain NVAX in 2024 However, Joseph thinks investors have been vastly overestimating the potential Covid vaccine demand. Not only are vaccine doses in oversupply, but the demand is now only fractional to that of flu vaccines. "Notwithstanding the strengthened balance sheet and abated going concern status from the associated $500M upfront milestone, having further reviewed the implications from the agreement and the outlook for the COVID-19 and flu vaccine demand, we believe current levels substantially overvalue the potential Nuvaxovid economics / revenue to the company," the analyst wrote. "Anticipating little meaningful news flow from its proprietary pipeline with value accretive potential given its early stage, we expect NVAX share to underperform our broader coverage over the mid-term," he added. Lisa Kailai Han 5:48 a.m.: Barclays upgrades ASML to overweight Chipmaker ASML's future looks bright, according to Barclays. The bank upgraded the stock to overweight neutral. Analyst Simon Coles also raised his price target to 1,150 euros from 930 euros. The new forecast represents approximately 43% upside from Monday's close. Shares of ASML are up 15% on the year but around 20% off their recent peak, "owing to China concerns, debate around the [return on investment] on AI investment and slight disappointment on 2025 expectations following 2Q24 as well as wider market dynamics," the analyst wrote. ASML YTD mountain ASML year to date "We do not think these debates are over, but we see the recent sell-off as an attractive opportunity to gain exposure to one of the highest quality names globally," he added. Going forward, Coles is more bullish on a solid setup heading into 2026. Factors including continued AI investment has led the analyst to forecast 2025 growing around 15% year over year. He also sees orders for ASML's dual-stage extreme ultraviolet lithography system improving, although the stock will not be completely immune from some near-term risk in China. "Whilst we expect negative news from China in the coming months to impact global semicap, ASML is a relative safe haven, in our view," he added. Lisa Kailai Han 5:48 a.m.: Buy the dip on Netflix, Oppenheimer says Investors should use Neflix's recent pullback to load up on shares, according to Oppenheimer. Analyst Jason Helfstein reiterated his outperform rating on the stock. He also maintained his $725 price target, which implies upside of 15.6% from Monday's close. Netflix shares have dropped more than 7% this month, as investors move away from megacap tech winners in favor of smaller, beaten-down names. NFLX mountain 2024-06-28 NFLX in July Still, "we are bullish on NFLX shares ... as the company has the best long-term visibility within our coverage and deserves to trade at a premium valuation," said Helfstein in a note. "While NFLX has already won the streaming wars, eventual consolidation will drive more viewership to NFLX, with ~12% viewing share likely up for grabs from consolidation driving margin leverage." "NFLX's revenue drivers are very clear through 2026: 2H24 driven by continued subscriber tailwinds; FY25 benefits from price increases & FY26 from advertising monetization at scale," the analyst added. Fred Imbert Bella Hadid attends the "L'Amour Ouf" (Beating Hearts) Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2024 in Cannes, France. Model Bella Hadid issued a statement after starring in a controversial Adidas campaign that the sportswear company said had an "unintentional" connection to a bloody terrorist attack. "I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign," the U.S.-born Hadid said in a statement shared on her Instagram story on Monday evening. The ad campaign for Adidas' new retro sneakers, called the SL72s, was a nod to the 1972 Munich Olympics. Released earlier in July, the advertisement featured Hadid holding a bouquet of flowers while wearing the shoes, which originally debuted in 1972 for the Munich Games. But that year's games are widely known for the dark tragedy that took place in Munich's Olympic Village: An attack committed by a Palestinian group called Black September, who killed two Israeli athletes on Sept. 5, 1972. Nine others who were taken hostage later died during a failed rescue attempt. Backlash in response to the Adidas campaign was immediate, as were attacks directed against Hadid, who is half-Palestinian and has advocated for Palestinian rights and donated money to relief efforts in the Gaza Strip. Hadid said she was not aware of the connection to the historical events of the 1972 Munich Olympics, and that she would not have taken part in the campaign had she known. "I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind," said the 27-year-old Hadid, who has also worked as the face of Dior. "In advance of the campaign release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972. ... Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated." "My team should have known," she added. "Adidas should have known and I should have done more research so that I too would have known and understood, and spoken up." President Joe Biden, age 81, ended his 2024 reelection bid as concern for his vitality mounted within the Democratic Party. "There are cognitive issues," said former Senator Bob Kerry, D-Neb., in a July interview with CNBC. The issue of aging lawmakers in the U.S. extends well beyond the presidency. At the start of the 118th Congress, the average age in the Senate and the House of Representatives was 64 and 57, respectively, according to researchers at FiscalNote. "The age of our politicians is kind of baked into the preferences of our voters," said Christian Fong, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan. "They want somebody who is successful in a different job, first as a soldier, or as a businessman, or as a farmer. And then they want them to bring that experience and perspective to Washington." National lawmakers in the U.S. are among the world's oldest, according to a 2022 Stanford University study. The median age of the U.S. population 38.9 in 2022 is older than it has ever been, according to the Population Reference Bureau. The age of the typical registered voter was 50 in 2019, up from 44 in 1996, according to a Pew Research study. Older voters tend to favor Republican politicians, whereas younger generations typically have a preference for Democrats. That said, Democratic Party legislators are slightly older than their Republican counterparts on average. "It doesn't have to be generational warfare or anything like that. But it does really, really matter for representation in terms of the quality of the legislation that's going to be coming out of Congress," said Charles Hunt, an assistant professor of political science at Boise State University. President Biden's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, age 59, led to a boom in Democratic Party donations. Earlier in July, former President Donald Trump, age 78, selected JD Vance, age 39, to be his running mate, a signal that a new generation of leaders could be moving up the ranks in Washington. Watch the video above to learn how older politicians cling to power in Washington. Packages move along a conveyor belt at an Amazon Fulfillment center on Cyber Monday in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on Nov. 28, 2022. Federal regulators have determined that Amazon can be held responsible for defective goods sold by third-party merchants on its online marketplace, rejecting the company's position that it's merely an intermediary between consumers and sellers. In a landmark order released Tuesday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the agency unanimously agreed Amazon "fits squarely" within the definition of a distributor of goods, "and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall." As part of the agency's decision, Amazon is required to develop a plan to notify purchasers and the public about the product hazards, as well as offer shoppers refunds or replacements for the affected products. Amazon's marketplace, which hosts millions of third-party sellers, now accounts for approximately 60% of the company's e-commerce sales. While the marketplace has helped Amazon bring in record revenue, it has also proven to host counterfeit, unsafe and even expired goods. The company has previously said it invests hundreds of millions of dollars per year to ensure products sold are safe and compliant. The decision addresses a thorny issue that's been debated for years. In numerous lawsuits, Amazon has maintained it just serves as the conduit between buyers and sellers on its marketplace and that it's not involved in the sourcing or distribution of products sold by third-party sellers, removing it from liability. That has been a successful defense for Amazon in the past, including in a 2018 case concerning the purchase of a faulty hoverboard that exploded and burned down an Amazon shopper's house in Tennessee. In other cases, federal courts and legislators have said the e-commerce giant should be held liable. In 2021, the CPSC sued Amazon to force it to recall hundreds of thousands of products that it deemed hazardous. At issue were 418,818 goods sold through Amazon, including faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection and children's sleepwear that posed a burn risk. Amazon argued in its response to the agency complaint that it should be characterized as a third-party logistics provider, saying it only receives and transports the products sold through its site. Still, Amazon removed all the products flagged by the CPSC and prohibited merchants from selling them on its marketplace. The company informed shoppers who purchased the items of "potential safety issues," told them to destroy the items and offered a credit. The CPSC called these actions "inadequate," saying the company should've offered refunds to incentivize consumers to destroy or return the product. In Tuesday's ruling, the agency said an administrative law judge dismissed Amazon's argument that it should be classified as a third-party logistics provider. The judge pointed to Amazon's Fulfilled by Amazon service, where sellers ship inventory into the company's warehouses, and those products are stored until they're purchased. This program gives Amazon "far-reaching control" over the products sold on its platform, the judge said. "Amazon cannot sidestep its obligations under the [Consumer Product Safety Act] simply because some portion of its extensive services involve logistics," the decision states. "Amazon must therefore comply with the CPSA to protect consumers from injury." An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement that the company is "disappointed" by the CPSC's decision and plans to appeal. They added that Amazon stands behind the safety of every product in its store, regardless of whether it's sold by the company our a third-party seller. If a product is recalled, Amazon removes them from its platform and informs shoppers of any product safety information, the spokesperson said. In 2021, the company updated its returns policy to allow shoppers to contact Amazon directly with any complaints of faulty goods, rather than communicating with the third-party merchant. CrowdStrike shares closed down about 9.7% on Tuesday at their lowest level of the year following a report that Delta Air Lines hired prominent attorney David Boies to seek damages from the security software vendor. CrowdStrike fell $25.16 to $233.65 on Tuesday. The company has now lost one-third of its value since July 19, when a historic outage of Microsoft systems, caused by a software update from CrowdStrike, knocked numerous industries offline, including airlines. Late Monday, CNBC's Phil Lebeau reported that Delta hired Boies, chairman of Boies Schiller Flexner, to seek compensation from CrowdStrike and Microsoft . No suit has been filed, Lebeau reported, and Delta didn't respond to a request for comment. Delta is handling over 176,000 refund or reimbursement requests after almost 7,000 flights were canceled. The outages cost the airline an estimated $350 million to $500 million. The Department of Transportation said last week that it's investigating Delta due to the widespread flight disruptions and service failures. Boies is known for representing the U.S. government in its landmark antitrust case against Microsoft and for helping win a decision that overturned California's ban on gay marriage. He also worked with Harvey Weinstein, the imprisoned former Hollywood mogul, and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who is currently serving a prison sentence for defrauding investors. The United Arab Emirates is on track to be the world's top wealth magnet for the third year running, according to the Henley Private Wealth Migration Report. At the same time, the U.K. already the source of many of the UAE's expatriates is projected to see its millionaire population drop by 17% by 2028, according to Swiss bank UBS. High-net worth individuals are in many cases voting with their feet, seeking greener pastures or in the case of tax-free expat hubs like Dubai, sandier beaches as costs and taxes rise in their home country. The trend is likely to accelerate in the wake of the landslide election victory for the U.K.'s Labour Party in June, according to some financiers. "There are push and pull factors for this trend of millionaires opting to relocate to Dubai," Karim Jetha, a longtime regional investor who relocated to the UAE from the U.K. during the pandemic, told CNBC. "Push factors include the prospect of higher taxes under a new Labour government. For example, one of Labour's campaign pledges was to levy VAT on private school tuition, which would raise the cost by 20%," he said. "Pull factors include Dubai's perception of being extremely safe and visa reforms that encourage migration." The UAE is set to see a record net inflow of 6,700 millionaires from around the world by the end of 2024, according to the Henley report, which was released in June. That's nearly double the second-ranked country on the list, the U.S., which is expected to welcome a net inflow of 3,800 millionaires in the same time frame. The breakthrough Alzheimer's drug Leqembi slowed disease progression in patients over three years, demonstrating the need for them to stay on the treatment long term, according to new data released Tuesday by Japanese drugmaker Eisai. The study results on Leqembi, which Eisai shares with Biogen , also found that a patient's Alzheimer's disease worsens after they stop treatment. Rates of adverse side effects associated with Leqembi, including brain bleeding and swelling, dropped after six months of treatment, Dr. Lynn Kramer, Eisai's chief clinical officer of deep human biology learning, told CNBC. That decline is critical: Those side effects in the brain have raised concerns among some doctors and are the main reason a European drug regulator recommended against approving Leqembi last week. The study is the longest available efficacy and safety data to date on Leqembi, which has had a bumpy rollout in the U.S. since winning regulatory approval last summer due to bottlenecks related to diagnostic test requirements and regular brain scans, among other issues. Eisai released 24-month data on Leqembi in November. Eisai presented the findings on Tuesday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Philadelphia, the world's largest meeting for dementia research. The results are a first glimpse at what Alzheimer's patients' future could look like on therapies such as Leqembi, which is currently taken twice a month through an infusion. The drug is a monoclonal antibody that targets toxic plaques in the brain called amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, to slow the progression of the disease during its early stages. Leqembi also works by clearing protofibrils, the building blocks of amyloid plaque. The data demonstrates the importance of early and sustained treatment for people living with the notoriously hard-to-treat brain disorder even after a drug clears a patient's amyloid plaque. "Continuing treatment is important if you would like to maintain cognition and functionality longer," Kramer said. While Leqembi is not a cure, "if you start early enough, it can give you years of benefit," he said. Kramer added that Eisai believes patients can eventually switch to a maintenance dose of Leqembi after roughly 18 to 24 months of treatment, which could be a less frequent or more convenient way to take the drug over a long period. Eisai and Biogen are seeking regulatory approval for a once-monthly infusion of Leqembi, with a decision expected in January. The drugmakers also aim to bring to the market an injectable form of Leqembi that patients can take at home once a week. "Those two things will change the paradigm, make it easier for the patient, make it easier for the whole medical system," Kramer said in an interview. Nearly 7 million Americans have the condition, the fifth-leading cause of death for adults over 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association. By 2050, the number of Alzheimer's patients is projected to rise to almost 13 million in the U.S. In this article BA AIR-FR Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT An Airbus A321 flies at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 22, 2024. Toby Melville | Reuters FARNBOROUGH, England Massive airplane orders, hundreds deep in recent years, were absent from this year's biggest air show. The focus instead was on struggles at Boeing and Airbus to ramp up airplane production while battling a hangover from the pandemic that was marked by seesawing output. Many of the issues, particularly training new workers, will take years to fix, analysts say, meaning lingering headaches for airlines, suppliers and the manufacturers themselves and a shortage of new, more fuel-efficient planes. "It's a fair sentiment on the part of the supply base and the airlines to say that we failed our commitments to them in terms of being timely, in terms of predictability," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing's senior vice president of global supply chain and fabrication, during a panel at the Farnborough Airshow outside of London last week. "So obviously, people start doing their own planning and their own second-guessing." A roadmap of the next few months of production is emerging this week. Airbus on Tuesday said its adjusted profit in the last quarter fell 56% from a year earlier, mainly because of charges in its space business. The European jetmaker had previously cut its aircraft delivery targets for the year as it isn't building planes as fast as it planned to. Boeing reports results before the market opens on Wednesday. Wall Street analysts expect the company to post another loss for the second quarter and possibly the next. Modest orders At the show, which concluded Friday, Boeing racked up 96 orders and commitments, including previously made sales that were firmed up, while Airbus had 266, far shy of the 826 orders during the Paris Air Show a year ago, according to a tally from consulting firm Ishka. Paris and Farnborough alternate hosting the expo each year. One standout was Korean Air's order for up to 50 Boeing wide-body planes, including the 777X, which Boeing is working toward getting certified by regulators. The carrier also has Airbus A350-1000 jets on order. As both manufacturers grapple with production strains, Korean Air CEO Walter Cho quipped during the Boeing order signing: "Whichever comes first will become our flagship, whoever's on time." The muted order tally during the show came as both manufacturers are largely sold out of narrow-body jets like the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A321neo through much of this decade, if not longer. Boeing has an overall backlog of close to 5,500 planes, while Airbus has more than 8,000 on order. Many airlines from United Airlines to Air India have also stocked up on new jet orders as travel rebounded in the pandemic. Boeing's presence at the air show was notably modest it didn't bring any of its commercial aircraft for flight demonstrations while it focused on its safety crisis and manufacturing issues. Arlington, Virginia-based Boeing is trying to ramp up production of its bread-and-butter Max planes to about 38 a month, and investors will be looking for clues this week on when those targets could be reached. Airbus showed off its new extra-long-range, narrow-body plane, the Airbus A321XLR, which was certified by European regulators days before the show started. Parts shortages Visitors to the air show usually get a glimpse of fleets that will fly for decades, but most of the industry this year was focused on output over the next few months. Parts shortages from landing gear to engine components like high-pressure blades to ever-more-complex cabin interiors, like those with premium seating, are also in short supply. That has slowed down production, depriving airlines of more fuel-efficient planes and angering some executives along the way. Ihssane Mounir, Senior Vice President Commercial Sales & Marketing at The Boeing Company with Peter Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer at AerCap attend the news conference at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 19, 2022. Matthew Childs | Reuters Airbus is taking a more hands-on approach "than we've ever done before," deploying more than 200 supply chain engineers among suppliers, said Christian Scherer, chief executive of the European manufacturer's commercial airplane business. "What we don't want to be seeing again in the future, whether we're in an uplift or in a slowdown of this industry, is a situation where the supply chain does not believe what we're telling them," Scherer told reporters ahead of the show. Airbus last month said it would cut its airplane delivery target for the year and said it would slow a planned production increase, citing "persistent specific supply chain issues mainly in engines, aerostructures and cabin equipment." Boeing, meanwhile, in addition to supply chain issues, is trying to dig its way out of a safety crisis stemming from a door plug blowout in January, and a series of manufacturing defects that have slowed output. New workers, low wages in focus Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to supporters in Atlanta, Georgia in her first visit to the city since accepting the candidacy. Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to lower costs for consumers by cracking down on high consumer prices and hidden fees, taking up the crusade against "junk fees" that has animated President Joe Biden's economic platform. "I will take on price gouging and bring down costs," Harris announced to a worked up crowd of more than 10,000 supporters in Atlanta on Tuesday evening. Yet the event will be remembered for Harris' direct challenge to her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, to debate her. "Donald, I do hope you'll reconsider, to meet me on the debate stage," Harris said directly into the camera during her speech. "Because, as the saying goes, if you've got something to say, say it to my face." Trump has wavered on whether he will participate in a Sept. 10 debate hosted by ABC News that he had agreed to when Biden was the likely nominee. In an interview Monday night, Trump said "the answer's yes," before adding "But I can also make a case for not doing it." With just 98 days until the election, the Harris campaign is on a turbo charged timeline to develop its own policy proposals. Harris' economic pitch on Tuesday closely echoed Biden's, blaming big corporations for the stubbornly high cost of living that has darkened voters' economic outlooks for the past two years. "We will take on corporate landlords and cap unfair rent increases," Harris said to the roaring Atlanta crowd. "We will take on big pharma to cap prescription drug costs for all Americans." "We will ban more of those hidden fees and surprise late charges that banks and other companies use to pad their profits." On a more granular level, it is still unclear what Harris' economic policy agenda would look like if she won the presidency. Indonesia's future Presidential Palace in the future capital city of Nusantara, in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, on July 11, 2024. The new city is scheduled to begin operating as the country's new political centre on Aug. 17, 2024 during Indonesia's 79th Independence Day. Indonesian President Joko Widodo spent his first night in the eagle-shaped palace of the country's proposed new capital Nusantara ahead of official meetings on Monday, as the outgoing leader works to allay fears about the beleaguered infrastructure project. Jokowi, as the president is known, has been rushing to complete as much of the new capital as possible before he steps down in October, despite Nusantara facing multiple construction delays, a lack of foreign investment, and managerial and land issues. "This is a big job. It can take 10, 15, 20 years," Jokowi told reporters outside the new Garuda Palace on Monday, "This is not a job that takes one or two years." The dramatic bird-shaped palace, comprised of 4,650 blades that make up the eagle's wings, is the centerpiece of the new capital. On Monday, the president admitted he didn't sleep well on his first night, but said that water, electricity and the internet, which had delayed his initial planned move this month, were now available. He did not specify how long he planned to work there. Carved out of jungle on the tropical island of Borneo, the $32 billion infrastructure project is located about 1,200 km (750 miles) from the current capital, Jakarta. A JetBlue Airways jet comes in for a landing after flights earlier were grounded during an FAA system outage at Laguardia Airport in New York City, New York, U.S., January 11, 2023. JetBlue Airways shares jumped 12% on Tuesday after the airline posted a surprise profit and said it would defer another $3 billion in aircraft spending through 2029 to improve cash flow. The carrier posted a $25 million profit for the second quarter, down nearly 82% from last year. Wall Street analysts had expected a quarterly loss. JetBlue hasn't posted an annual profit since before the pandemic. It has spent recent months cutting unprofitable routes and reducing costs to try to stop losing money as it faces higher expenses and an oversupplied domestic market. JetBlue said Tuesday that it has halted 50 routes and is focusing more on service from New York, New England and Puerto Rico, where it has historically been strong. It also is trying to better deploy its planes outfitted with premium seats like its Mint aircraft to maximize revenue. JetBlue says the changes will help it add $800 million to $900 million in pretax profit from 2025 through 2027. It's deferring delivery of 44 Airbus A321neo aircraft until 2030 or later. The airline has also been impacted by a Pratt & Whitney engine recall. "We have and are taking aggressive action on every front," CEO Joanna Geraghty said on an earnings call on Tuesday. Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024. Meta agreed to pay a record $1.4 billion to settle a lawsuit by the state of Texas over the Facebook owner's unauthorized use of biometric data by users, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday. The suit, filed by Paxton in February 2022, accused Meta of capturing and using the biometric data of millions of Texas residents which was contained in uploaded photos and videos on Facebook without legally required permissions. The attorney general's office said Facebook stored billions of biometric identifiers without customers' consent after introducing a new feature in 2011 called "Tag Suggestions." "Unbeknownst to most Texans, for more than a decade Meta ran facial recognition software on virtually every face contained in the photographs uploaded to Facebook, capturing records of the facial geometry of the people depicted," Paxton's office said. The office said that Meta did this despite knowing that Texas' Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act bars companies from capturing biometric identifiers of Texans without first informing them and obtaining their consent. Meta in late 2021 said it was shutting down its Face Recognition system on Facebook, citing "growing concerns about the use of this technology as a whole." The legal settlement with Meta, filed in Texas state district court in Harrison County, is the largest ever obtained as the result of an action by a single state, according to Paxton's office. Meta will pay out the $1.4 billion to Texas over five years, the office said. "This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world's biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans' privacy rights," Paxton said in a statement Tuesday on the Meta case. "Any abuse of Texans' sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law," Paxton said. A spokesperson for Meta told CNBC, "We are pleased to resolve this matter, and look forward to exploring future opportunities to deepen our business investments in Texas, including potentially developing data centers." Perplexity AI on Tuesday debuted a revenue-sharing model for publishers after more than a month of plagiarism accusations. Media outlets and content platforms including Fortune, Time, Entrepreneur, The Texas Tribune, Der Spiegel and WordPress.com are the first to join the company's "Publishers Program." The announcement follows an onslaught of controversy in June, when Forbes said it found a plagiarized version of its paywalled original reporting within Perplexity AI's Pages tool, with no reference to the media outlet besides a small "F" logo at the bottom of the page. Weeks later, Wired said it also found evidence of Perplexity plagiarizing Wired stories, and reported that an IP address "almost certainly linked to Perplexity and not listed in its public IP range" visited its parent company's websites more than 800 times in a three-month span. The artificial intelligence startup, which specializes in AI-assisted search and aims to compete with Google , raised new funding in April at a valuation exceeding $1 billion doubling its valuation from three months before. Under the new partner program, any time a user asks a question and Perplexity generates advertising revenue from citing one of the publisher's articles in its answer, Perplexity will share a flat percentage of that revenue. That percentage counts on a per-article basis, Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity's chief business officer, told CNBC in an interview meaning that if three articles from one publisher were used in one answer, the partner would receive "triple the revenue share." Shevelenko confirmed that the flat rate is a double-digit percentage but declined to provide specifics. Shevelenko told CNBC that more than a dozen publishers, including "major newspaper dailies and companies that own them," had reached out with interest less than two hours after the program debuted. The company's goal, he said, is to have 30 publishers enrolled by the end of the year, and Perplexity is looking to partner with some of the publishers' ad sales teams so they can sell ads "against all Perplexity inventory." "When Perplexity earns revenue from an interaction where a publisher's content is referenced, that publisher will also earn a share," Perplexity wrote in a blog post, adding that the company will offer publishers API credits and also work with ScalePost.ai to provide analytics to provide "deeper insights into how Perplexity cites their content." Shevelenko told CNBC that Perplexity began engaging with publishers in January and solidified ideas for how its revenue-sharing program would work later in the first quarter of 2024. He said five Perplexity employees were dedicated to working on the program. "Some of it grew out of conversations we were having with publishers about integrating Perplexity APIs and technology into their products," Shevelenko said. Perplexity's new program comes amid an increasingly heated battle between AI startups and some media outlets and creators, as many publications aggressively try to protect their businesses in the age of AI-generated content. In June, The Center for Investigative Reporting, the country's oldest nonprofit newsroom, sued OpenAI and lead backer Microsoft in federal court for alleged copyright infringement, following similar suits from publications including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and the New York Daily News. A group of prominent U.S. authors, including Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham, George R.R. Martin and Jodi Picoult, sued OpenAI last year, alleging copyright infringement in using their work to train ChatGPT. But not all news organizations are gearing up for a fight, and some are instead joining forces with AI startups like OpenAI, Perplexity and others. OpenAI and Time magazine announced in June a "multiyear content deal" that will allow OpenAI to access current and archived articles from more than 100 years of Time's history. OpenAI announced a similar partnership in May with News Corp., allowing the company to access current and archived articles from The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, Barron's, the New York Post and other publications. Washington Post Editor Karen Attiah leads a discussion on Saudi hacking techniques at the Oslo Freedom Forum 2019 on May 28, 2019 in Oslo, Norway. The co-chair of the annual National Association of Black Journalists convention stepped down Tuesday in apparent reaction to that group's decision to have former President Donald Trump speak at its convention and career fair in Chicago on Wednesday, among other factors. "To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck," NABJ24 convention co-chair Karen Attiah wrote in a social media post announcing her decision to resign her position. "For everyone else, I'm looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with all of you in the Windy City." "While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format," wrote Attiah, a columnist for The Washington Post who writes about international affairs, culture and human rights issues. NABJ on Monday announced that the Republican presidential nominee Trump would "participate in a conversation with journalists" at the convention before attendees, sparking controversy among some members of the group. The group said the event with Trump will be moderated by Rachel Scott, the senior congressional correspondent for ABC News, Fox News' Harris Faulkner, anchor of The Faulkner Focus and co-host of Outnumbered, and Semafor politics reporter Kadia Goba. Attiah's announcement Tuesday came several hours before a source familiar with Vice President Kamala Harris's plans said that Harris, who is the de facto Democratic presidential nominee, would not attend the NABJ convention because of conflicts with her schedule. The NABJ team rejected a request from Harris' team to to a "fireside chat" virtually at the convention, according to the person, who spoke with NBC News. Harris's father is Black, and her mother was born in India. If elected president, she would be the first woman and the first South Asian person elected president. Founded in 1975, NABJ is the largest association of journalists of color in the United States. Over the years it has hosted speakers who included then-presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CNBC has requested comment from Attiah and from NABJ, as well as from a spokesman for Trump's presidential campaign about Attiah's resignation as co-chair of the convention. NABJ President Ken Lemon, in a video tweeted out Tuesday, said the invitation to Trump by his group is "absolutely not an endorsement" of the Republican nominee. "Every year, every presidential election, we invited the presidential candidates to come," Lemon said. "We invited both of them, we got a 'yes' from one of them, we'd love to get a 'yes' from Kamala." "This is an opportunity for us to vet the candidates, on our ground," Lemon said. Tia Mitchell, the Washington correspondent for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in her own post on X responded to the controversy over Trump's appearance, saying she helped arrange the event as a chair member of NABJ's political task force. "I helped make this call. And it's in line with invitations NABJ has sent to every presidential candidate for decades," wrote Mitchell in that X post. "But continue to go off on your feed. I'll continue to work to create opportunities for journalists to interview the potential next President." Mitchell's post was only visible to users who she had given access to. April Ryan, the White House correspondent for The Grio who was NABJ's 2017 Journalist of the Year, blasted the invitation to Trump. "The reports of attacks on Black women White House correspondents by the then president of the United States are not myth or conjecture, but fact," Ryan wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. "To have a presumed orchestrated session with the former president is an affront to what this organization stands for and a slap in the face to the Black women journalists (NABJ journalists of the year) who had to protect themselves from the wrath of this Republican presidential nominee who is promoting an authoritarian agenda that plans to destroy this nation and her democracy with his Project 2025." During his presidency, Trump was criticized for making racist remarks when he referred to Haiti and African nations as "s---hole countries" during a meeting with senators at the White House in 2018. Trump's nephew Fred Trump III recounted hearing Donald Trump twice using the n-word, in his newly released memoir, after finding that his convertible had been slashed while parked. Trump's campaign said Fred Trump's claim was "total fake news of the highest order." Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Loop initiates BrightView as buy Loop said it is bullish on shares of the commercial landscaping company. "We are initiating coverage on BV with a Buy rating and $18 PT as we believe in the company's long-term margin expansion and unique self-help, return to profitable growth story." Evercore ISI reiterates Apple as outperform Evercore ISI said it is bullish ahead of Apple earnings later this week. " Apple looks well positioned to deliver a modest beat in the Jun-qtr and guide Sept-qtr inline to likely ahead of street expectations." Citi reiterates Nvidia as outperform Citi said it is sticking with its buy rating on the stock after attending a conference featuring Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The firm said it is bullish on Nvidia's Blackwell chip. "As such, we believe Blackwell roll out appears on track." Bank of America upgrades Affirm to buy from neutral Bank of America said shares of the fintech company could rally ahead of earnings in late August. "Given recent share price underperformance, we believe the F4Q print (late August) could be a positive catalyst." KBW upgrades Aon to outperform from underperform KBW upgraded the risk management and consulting company following earnings. "We upgrade AON's shares to Outperform from Underperform and raise our 12- month target price to $380 from $313 following its very strong 2Q24 earnings report and conference call." Barclays upgrades ASML to overweight from equal weight Barclays said investors should buy the dip in the semis company. "Whilst we think 2025 is looking increasingly closer to ASML's midpoint than upper end, we like ASML more for the 2026 opportunity." UBS reiterates Amazon as buy UBS said it is bullish heading into Amazon earnings on Thursday. "We increase our price target to $224 (from prior $217)." Oppenheimer reiterates Netflix as outperform Oppenheimer said investors should buy the dip in shares of the streaming giant. "We are bullish on NFLX shares following its 10% pullback since the 7/5 high as the company has the best long-term visibility within our coverage and deserves to trade at a premium valuation, in our view." Wells Fargo upgrades Sprouts to equal weight from underweight Wells Fargo upgraded the grocery store chain following earnings. "An impressive Q2 provides the best evidence yet of SFM's remarkable turnaround. Our skepticism has clearly proven to be wrong. The stock is not cheap and we see hurdles ahead, but SFM does seem to have reignited its growth story." Bank of America reiterates Roblox as buy Bank of America said it is standing by Roblox ahead of earnings on Aug. 1. "We expect 2Q to be a contentious print as investors look for evidence if the 1Q miss was just a blip due to search & discovery staleness." JPMorgan downgrades Frontier to underweight from neutral JPMorgan said it sees too many negative catalysts ahead for the airline. "We are growing increasingly uncomfortable with Frontier's dependence on sale leasebacks, the proceeds from which, in some instances, account for the entirety of Frontier's profit." JPMorgan downgrades Novavax to underweight from neutral JPMorgan said the biotech company is overvalued. "Coupled with the $6/sh YE25 cash forecast, but little in the way of a foreseeably value accretive proprietary pipeline, we are returning to an underweight rating of NVAX shares, establishing of Dec-25 PT of $8." RBC reiterates Tesla as outperform RBC said it is sticking with its outperform rating on shares of Tesla. "The bullish argument therefore is 2025 consensus might not be baking in any incremental gross profit despite forecasting 250k in incremental volumes." Deutsche Bank reiterates McDonald's as buy Deutsche Bank said it is standing by the fast-food giant following earnings. "We expect MCD to continue to be debated (though sentiment appears slightly more positive) with bulls viewing MCD as best positioned to win in a value environment, while bears are more skeptical given concerns on pricing, trade-off between traffic/check and a noisy competitive landscape." Bank of America upgrades LPL Financial to buy from neutral Bank of America said the financial services company has an "attractive valuation." "We upgrade LPL Financial (LPLA) to Buy following a significant decline in valuation and deterioration in sentiment, while we now have greater transparency into cash sweep risks post calls and channel checks." Bank of America reinstates Whirlpool as underperform Bank of America said it sees too many negative catalysts ahead for Whirlpool. "We continue to see risk to guidance that implies stronger trends in 2H24 and model 2024E EPS 13% below consensus and below guidance." Baird upgrades Varonis to outperform from neutral Baird said it is getting bullish on shares of the automated data security company. "We were warming to the name and as data security becomes a top-priority with GenAI adoption exposing risks, VRNS' execution and pipeline visibility position it well for growth-acceleration." Edward Jones downgrades Abbott Laboratories to hold from buy Edward Jones downgraded the stock due to litigation fears. "We are downgrading the shares of Abbott Labs to a Hold from a Buy and removing the shares from the Edward Jones Stock Focus List due to greater-than-expected litigation risk." Bank of America reiterates Goldman Sachs as buy Bank of America said top pick Goldman Sachs has "cyclical/secular tailwinds." "Stock offers among the best risk/reward in our coverage universe given the potential for positive EPS revisions, and for secular re-rating as the Street better appreciates the revenue/ROE resiliency." Morgan Stanley reiterates Bank of America, Citi, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo as overweight The firm said it is sticking with its overweight rating on several big banks on Tuesday. "We have been pounding the table on the capital markets rebound theme, and 2Q continued to support this outlook with trading and investment banking revenues beat consensus across the majority of our coverage, including beats at BAC, C, GS, JPM , PNC and WF." Seagrass on the beach frames an offshore gas rig at dusk on May 10, 2024, near Fort Morgan, AL. U.S. crude oil futures on Tuesday fell to their lowest levels since early June as worries about China's economy overshadow a new round of escalation in the Middle East. "Macroeconomic considerations keep shaping investors' sentiment and oil slid through technical supports like a hot knife through butter," Tamas Varga, analyst at oil broker PVM, wrote in a Tuesday note. "Chinese economic turmoil, including sluggish growth and falling crude oil imports, is still a major driving force for our market," Varga said. Here are Tuesday's closing energy prices: In the Middle East, meanwhile, tensions have escalated between Israel and the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, after a rocket fired from Lebanon killed 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel's military responded on Tuesday with an airstrike in a suburb of southern Beirut, targeting a commander they claim was responsible for the rocket attack. Israeli officials told Reuters on Monday that Israel wants to hurt Hezbollah, but avoid all-out war. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Feature: Chinese doctors provide medical care to South Sudan's ailing citizens Xinhua) 10:53, July 30, 2024 JUBA, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The 11th batch of the Chinese medical team demonstrated immense courage last week by traversing the dirt road with many potholes to offer free medical services in Yapa center of Lobonok Town, located 38 km from Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The two-day medical camp, which ended Saturday, benefited hundreds of patients who turned up with diverse ailments, such as malaria, diabetes, and joint pains. Ladu Santos, a resident of neighboring Tombur center, said he had tested positive for malaria before the visit by the Chinese medics, but he could not find proper treatment because anti-malaria drugs had run out at the only primary health care center in Yapa center. "I am very happy that the Chinese medical team is visiting Lobonok. We lack many things, especially medical equipment," Santos told Xinhua during an interview. In addition to providing free treatment to patients, the Chinese doctors also donated medical equipment, including medicines, food, and non-food items, to Lobonok Town Primary Health Care Center. Christine Laurence Lado, who arrived in Lobonok Town to attend a funeral in Yapa center, said that upon learning of the presence of Chinese doctors, she rushed to the site of the medical camp to get treatment for allergic rhinitis. "We came here for the funeral, but we found doctors giving free treatment, and that is good for the people in this area. Old women are sick, and they cannot afford treatment. This place needs a hospital because the people are staying far away from Juba," Lado said. Lado said she had sought medication from several doctors for her allergic rhinitis, but the condition persisted until she got treated by the Chinese medical team, stressing that she was amazed by the diverse specializations within the Chinese medical team. James Ukung, who had been suffering from persistent joint and waist pain, was among elderly patients treated using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). "I had a serious problem in my legs and part of my body, and that is why I was brought here. I was reeling in pain, but upon being treated by the traditional Chinese medicine doctors, the body pain has reduced," Ukung said. Flora Keji Santo, a resident of Yapa center, said the visit by the Chinese medical team provided an opportunity for the sick to be treated, suggesting that the medical team should consider returning to Lobonok Town for another round of treatment. Keji is among several patients who turned up with rheumatism disease, which affects joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. "I have been suffering from rheumatism, and I also have back pain, but now I have got treatment, the pain has reduced," Keji said. Isaac Loki, medical director of Lobonok Town Primary Health Care Center, said the health facility, which serves more than 15,000 people from neighboring villages, is understaffed and lacks adequate medical supplies and equipment. Loki noted that the situation has worsened since June, when the government and donors announced the closing of the multi-million-dollar donor-funded health pooled fund. "We are now six months without medical supplies at the moment; we lack tests, even basic malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are no longer available, and (we have) no injectable medication like Artemether and metro infusion," Loki said. "The lifesaving medicine is over, so I am so grateful to the Chinese medical team for supporting us, and we hope that this should not be the end." Metro infusion helps prevent infections after surgery and is also used to treat dental infections, leg ulcers, and pressure sores. Chen Si, team leader of the 11th batch of the Chinese medical team, said they were fully prepared for this medical camp in Lobonok Town, adding that they offered treatment alongside donation of rice, maize flour, cooking oil, washing soap, and sugar to the local community. "We traveled for three hours to Lobonok to conduct this medical camp, and we spent two days providing consultations and medical treatment to the people of Lobonok. I believe that with this medical camp, we have contributed toward the improvement of the health and well-being of the people of Lobonok," Chen said. Over the years, Chinese medical teams have made significant contributions to South Sudan's healthcare landscape. Chen said his team, which arrived in South Sudan last September, is very proud of the numerous successful surgeries, disease treatments, and public health campaigns that have been undertaken, adding that these efforts have strengthened South Sudan's healthcare capacity and improved the quality of life for many families. James Wani, director general of the Ministry of Health in Central Equatoria State, praised Chinese doctors for providing free health services to the local community. "The Chinese medical team came here not only to treat our patients but also to provide us with a better understanding of modern medicine through training sessions for our medical doctors and nurses," Wani said. In addition to daily diagnosis and treatment services, the Chinese medical team has trained local medical students, provided technical support to South Sudanese medical personnel, traveled to different counties to carry out 21 voluntary medical consultations, and provided free diagnosis and treatment services to people in remote areas. According to the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, more than 60,000 local people have received medical treatment from the Chinese medical teams, and more than 1,000 surgeries of various kinds have been performed by them over the past 12 years. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) As far as end-of-life honors go, not much beats a monument. If your head ever ends up cast in bronze, its a pretty safe bet that you accomplished something important. People arent made to walk under the statue of some schmo before entering a building or a park, so if you want to be glinting in the sun long after your physical body has perished, you better start working on something big. Of course, its not just humans that can have an effect on history. Shamefully, though, the monuments of the world are overly tilted toward the bipedal, which is unfortunate, because monuments of accomplished animals are absolutely delightful. Don't Miss To that end, here are five monuments to animals of the past that will brighten your day outside of the whole theyre dead" thing, obviously. 5 Monument to the Laboratory Mouse zhaso This thoroughly adorable memorial stands in Novosibirsk, Russia, in front of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics. Its a tribute thats long overdue to the unimaginable number of little mice that have unknowingly given their lives in the pursuit of science. It seems like humans cant pull off even the most basic experiment without sending a couple of mice to the big cheese wheel in the sky, so the least we could do is give them a statue. Now, are mice able to appreciate or recognize the statue in any way? Thats an experiment Id like to see, even though wed probably still somehow manage to kill one. 4 Laika the Space Dog TripAdvisor Lets be clear, there are plenty of things that Russia shouldnt be applauded for. Making sure famous animals get cool statues, though, is one positive thing that theyre all over. This one commemorates Laika the Space Dog, who was sent into space in 1957. Unfortunately, the details of the story are less heartwarming than the monument. Laika was a stray dog that the Russians thought was cute enough to get a lot of media coverage, and they fired her into space where she almost immediately died. FWIW: Her corpse did orbit the earth over 2,000 times. Advertisement 3 Balto Jim.henderson Yes, that Balto, the one you probably watched a movie about as a kid. The heroic husky wasnt a dog invented whole or half-cloth to make money off adorable animated animals. Balto was a real sled dog that really traveled almost 700 miles in a blizzard with medicine to treat the residents of Nome, Alaska, who were laid up with a real humdinger of a diphtheria outbreak. Years later, he was rewarded for his efforts with a statue in New York City's Central Park. Also, by being voiced by Kevin Bacon, which aint half bad either. Advertisement 2 Secretariat Advertisement Jlvsclrk Sometimes, an animal can earn not one, but multiple statues across the country just for being among the best versions of that animal ever. Such is the case with famous racehorse Secretariat, who was asked for nothing more than to be really, really fast, and provided. Hes one of only 13 horses ever to win the Triple Crown, and earned himself monuments aplenty (including the one above at Belmont Park on Long Island), a movie and a Wikipedia page with a length that would make most humans jealous. For a long time, the world of Star Trek simply wasnt that funny. Sure, there were the occasional moments of humor; the Enterprise becoming overrun with furry alien balls, Checkov asking about Nuclear Wessels, Dr. Crusher being brought to climax by the green Irish cloud monster that used to date her grandmother. But then came Star Trek: Lower Decks, from Rick and Morty producer Mike McMahan, which, somewhat unusually, poked fun at Star Trek from within the Star Trek franchise itself. Clearly the pivot to comedy was a successful one, because now the Star Trek franchise is apparently going to give us a straight-up sitcom. Don't Miss During the weekends Star Trek Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Justin Simien, of Dear White People fame, and comedian Tawny Newsome, who voices Lower Decks Ensign Mariner, are currently developing a new live-action Star Trek series for Paramount+. Tawny and I are pregnant with a Star Trek show, Simien told the crowd. According to the studio, the show will be about Federation outsiders who are serving on a gleaming resort planet. Not only that, their day-to-day exploits are being broadcast to the entire quadrant. So its a workplace comedy, and its basically the sci-fi equivalent of a mockumentary. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that its going to have similar tones to The Office and Parks and Recreation. While the idea of doing The Office set in the fictional universe where Holodecks and Klingon mating rituals exist may sound potentially terrible, the fact that Simien and Newsome are behind the project makes it seem promising. And Lower Decks, which begins its final season later this year, certainly proved that the Star Trek universe has room for overtly comedic stories. Advertisement But this wont be the first time that creatives have tried to crack the Star Trek sitcom nut. Its happened before, albeit in an unofficial capacity. Take Buck Henrys Quark, which had nothing to do with Deep Space Nines Ferengi bartender of the same name, but was a 70s sitcom about the commander of an Enterprise-like sanitation ship, tasked with cleaning up the galaxys garbage. It only lasted for eight episodes. Play More recently, Seth MacFarlanes The Orville, seemingly tried to be a dramatic, yet legally-dissimilar, remake of Star Trek: The Next Generation, while also throwing in wacky characters like the Norm Macdonald-voiced green goo alien Yaphit, presumably for viewers who were expecting something more in line with Family Guy or American Dad. Advertisement Advertisement The best evidence in favor of mashing up the world of Star Trek with the world of sitcoms just might be the time the cast of Frasier took over the bridge of the U.S.S. Voyager for five glorious minutes during Star Treks 30th anniversary special. Advertisement Advertisement Play As long as were making Star Trek comedies, maybe the cast of Frasier would reunite for a sci-fi spin-off that in no way involves having to deal with Kelsey Grammer? You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). As long as its not for some heinous offense, Dane Cook is just fine if you want to cancel him. Canceling is good for business, as long as youre not being canceled for something that is truly like, bad, in a legal sense, the comedian told Distractify. When people get canceled, its a lot of hullabaloo, its usually a lot of innuendo and its kind of blown out of proportion, he continued. I see more comics get canceled, and then they go on to have sold-out tours." Hard to argue with Cook there. Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K., to name a few of the most criticized comics of the past decade, continue to sell out large venues. Maybe comedians like Cook should stake out more controversial positions? I think that as rabble-rousers, were supposed to be a little persnickety, and were supposed to jab at things, and were supposed to kind of be brats and you know, all those things are actually good for the business of comedy. Don't Miss But Cook isnt necessarily consistent on how getting canceled might help his personal comedy business. Im glad nobody was filming my shows in 1995 because thats some footage that I dont think would have stood the test of time. But by his earlier logic, that footage might help him sell tickets today. That inconsistency continues in Cooks assessment of the Tenacious D controversy from earlier this month. At a concert in Sydney, Australia, Kyle Gass was asked to make a wish, then joked, Dont miss Trump next time. The ad-libbed line, certainly in bad taste, caused Jack Black to cancel the Tenacious D tour and place all future creative plans on hold. Gass joke passes Cooks litmus test as not truly bad in the legal sense, but Cook says the comic-musician got the (temporary?) cancelation he deserved. If comedy equals tragedy plus time, Cook figures Gass didnt respect the second part of that equation. I thought that the timing was wrong on that, Cook said. People are still entrenched in the terrible loss that was experienced. It doesnt mean that people dont want to go and find humor. We all want to escape that feeling of grief, fear and sorrow. So comedy is good for that in real time, but for some things, you have to take a beat. Advertisement Maybe thats why Cook laid low for a while after all those joke-theft accusations in the 2000s? That was its own kind of cancelation, at least within the comedy community. After working through those allegations on Louie, Cook has been slowly working his way back into the comedy mainstream, including his current Fresh New Flavor tour. I think its imperative that everybody gets a chance to say, I saw the error in my ways. I want to put an asterisk on myself. Id like to update what I said. I feel ignorant, Cook explained. Everybody deserves that moment. Its been 20 years since the beloved stoner comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle first hit theaters, which is why the titular burger chain offered a Harold & Kumar-themed meal earlier this year, consisting of a box full of 20 burgers, which had to be ordered between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. Thankfully, White Castle stopped short of asking customers to provide urine samples proving that they were, in fact, high as shit. To celebrate the anniversary, the creatives behind the film, including stars John Cho and Kal Penn, chatted with Rolling Stone, describing the ins and outs of the films production. Penn also revealed that, despite the fact that the movie initially flopped in theaters, its eventual cult following included several high-ranking politicians who still never bothered to legalize weed. Don't Miss Famously, Penn went on to work in the White House under President Barack Obama in 2009 after sending in a job application online, eventually serving as a junior staffer and liaison to arts communities, young Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. According to Penn, his schedule became complicated when the third Harold & Kumar movie, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, got the greenlight forcing him to put in his notice. After a briefing, I said to the president, Sir, these are my last two weeks because they picked up the third option for Harold & Kumar, Penn recalled. He goes, Oh, man, I love those movies. Thats really funny stuff. Can you come back? Advertisement Advertisement Yes, Obamas Harold & Kumar fandom allowed for Penn to take a seven-week hiatus from politics, purely so that he could make a movie in which Santa Claus gets brutally shot in the head. Even weirder, Penn claims that Harold and Kumar were beloved by both folks in the Obama administration and members of the George W. Bush administration, including Bushs Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, which is more than a little surprising seeing as Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay wasnt exactly the most flattering portrayal of Bushs America. Like, did Rove watch that movie thinking that Rob Corddrys character was the hero? Although, to be fair, Bush (played by a lookalike obviously) shows up in the films climax to smoke a joint with the duo and pardon them for their crimes. Advertisement Penn also recounted the time that he met Bill Clinton while representing the White House at a youth conference, only to be told by the ex-president: Your movies are funny as shit. Advertisement Penn remarked that the fact that (love for the franchise) spanned at least three presidencies is very exciting to me, adding, I havent met anyone from the Trump administration to ask, but I do wonder if it can span four. Of course, Donald Trump has never publicly commented on Harold and Kumar, presumably because Harold and Kumar dont appear anywhere in his favorite 45 minutes of Bloodsport. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Whopper alert. Rachel Reeves whacked old-age pensioners and claimed it wasn't her fault. No one had told her the state of the nation's finances. Which might have been more believable had she not been following her script with a sharp and lacquered fingernail, had her eyes not been darting from side to side and had she not rushed through her remarks at roughly twice her normal speaking speed. A West End actor would hesitate to employ all three of those classic stage techniques for portraying furtiveness. 'Over the top, darling,' the director might say. 'We don't want the audience to think you're a complete skunk until after the interval.' What a chilly, awkward performance this, the Reeves voice strained as if being pushed through a sieve. It was staccato, defensive, nervous, the tone much higher than her normal foghorn. Clenched, acidic, mean: those were some of the adjectives I scribbled in my notebook. Rachel Reeves whacked old-age pensioners and claimed it wasn't her fault. No one had told her the state of the nation's finances Reeves voice strained as if being pushed through a sieve. It was staccato, defensive, nervous, the tone much higher than her normal foghorn Ms Reeves produced a slip of paper and read some breaking-news reaction from Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Turned out that Ms Reeves had been less than truthful Sir Keir Starmer, sitting alongside his Chancellor, pulled an uncomprehending face, as if sucking a mulberry. Sir Keir is never terribly clued up about economic matters. Also nearby was the Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, shrivelled and crabbed. Liz is normally a sunny soul but it will now be her duty to explain why the winter heating allowance has been snatched from unwealthy oldies mere hours after the Labour Government caved in to the unions and offered a 22 per cent rise to those pensioners' young doctors. Alastair Campbell would never have allowed such clumsy timing of contradictory government announcements. When Ms Reeves announced the hit on pensioners, Labour MPs fell utterly silent. Stella Creasy (Lab, Walthamstow) shifted on her hams, Clive Efford (Lab, Eltham) nibbled his beardlet, Luke Akehurst (Lab, North Durham) swayed a bit in his seat. If you have ever been to a Cup match where the home side concedes an early goal to underdogs, you will know the atmosphere. Mugging grannies: hey, that hadn't been in the manifesto they all supported just three weeks ago. 'If we cannot afford it, we cannot do it,' Ms Reeves kept intoning. She possibly hoped it would be a modern version of Gordon Brown's 'prudence for a purpose', but Gordon was the more convincing miser. And look what he did to pensions. Sir Keir and Ms Reeves had entered just before 3.30pm to a Commons that is still squeaky new and naive. The place seems to have been over-run by earnest curates. Sir Keir's new parliamentary aide Liz Twist (Lab, Blaydon and Consett) pushed through this flotsam. Powerful set of front teeth on her. Could be the cow-catcher on a cowboy-film locomotive. The competition for Top Lackey continues. Oliver Ryan (Lab, Burnley) had trouble keeping pace with Ms Reeves' silver-fish narrative of Labour fiscal virtue (lots of nodding and beaming smiles, please, Oliver) and Tory wickedness (cue doleful shaking of head). Jeremy Hunt, itchily angry to hear himself accused of false accounting, made an uncharacteristically fierce speech with enough questions to keep a High Court jury in session Conservatives asked the Chancellor to say clearly that she was not inventing her shock discoveries of Treasury shortcomings. She declined to make such an undertaking Sir Keir Starmer pulled an uncomprehending face, as if sucking a mulberry. Sir Keir is never terribly clued up about economic matters Other crawlers included Torsten Bell (Lab, Swansea West), v. pleased with himself, Jim Dickson (Lab, Dartford), who is possibly a bit of a gumby, and a wet-as-coley Josh Fenton-Glynn (Lab, Calder Valley). Jeremy Hunt, itchily angry to hear himself accused of false accounting, made an uncharacteristically fierce speech with enough questions to keep a High Court jury in session for days. Stuart Anderson (Con, South Shropshire) asked the Chancellor to say clearly at the despatch box that she was not inventing her shock discoveries of Treasury shortcomings. She declined to make such an undertaking. Lying at the despatch box is a cardinal sin. Perth's Pete Wishart (SNP) snorted that before the election, when the Scots Nats predicted Ms Reeves would do this, they were themselves criticised for talking 'mince'. With a vicious glint, Ms Reeves produced a slip of paper and read some breaking-news reaction from Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. 'Roar!' went Labour MPs, thinking this a crucial moment. But then Nick Timothy (Con, West Suffolk) read Mr Johnson's comment in full. Turned out that Ms Reeves had been less than truthful. Jolly moreish, dishonesty. Once you start... The Conservative Party was defeated at the last election. I fully accept my share of the blame, even though it wasnt my fault. We owe the British people an apology. I am proud to say I have made that apology. I meant it then and I mean it now. And one thing is clear. I have offered and will continue to offer a bigger and bolder apology than any of my colleagues. Yes, Ive said Im sorry. Sorry for the way my advice was routinely ignored. Sorry that, through no fault of my own, I had not been selected to lead our Party at its moment of need. We can and must learn from defeat. Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives a final speech outside 10 Downing Street on July 5 Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Official Portrait Defeat. Dehands. Denose. Detoes. You cant have one without the others. But what is defeat? This is the question we must ask ourselves. We must take a long, hard look at this question. But not before we have prepared our answer. And the answer is this. The Conservative Party is the party of common sense. We know that defeat is the best form of victory. Make no mistake. The Labour Party under Keir Starmer did not win. Far from it. All the indicators tell us that the Labour Party lost and lost badly. The message sent to us by the British people at the last election was clear. They told us that we did not deliver what we set out to deliver. And even if we had delivered it, it would still not have been what they ordered. Unlike the other candidates, I know about real life. I was brought up in a house with just one front door. So I know that a guaranteed next-day delivery must be signed for. Otherwise, it can end up with a neighbour, or stuffed behind a bin 50 yards down the street. History shows what our Party can achieve when we trust the British people. Winston Churchill bringing our country together in its darkest hour. John Major initiating the Cone Hotline. David Cameron managing to speak for nearly half an hour without notes. Theresa May running through those wheat fields with all the boldness and determination at her command. Liz Truss lost her seat to Labour, in one of the biggest shocks of election night on July 4 Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference to outline the government's new long-term Covid-19 plan in February 2022 Boris Johnson reminding us that rules are made to be broken. And Liz Truss showing us the sort of impact you can make when you want to make an impact. Yes, it all comes down to one thing. Truss. We must learn to truss the British people. We must never kid ourselves that there is a simple fix. And thats why I intend to spearhead this three-point plan: 1. Roll out the ESFI, or End of Simple Fixes Initiative. 2. Put an End to Simple Fixes. 3. Win the next General Election. This is my pledge: I do not intend to start my campaign with yet more pledges. Instead, I plan to listen. Because its only by listening that we can begin to hear. So I will stand on every street corner of this great nation, my megaphone pressed hard against my ear. And I will listen harder than Ive ever listened. And when Ive finished listening, I will announce, without fear of interruption, everything Ive planned to say. You know, theres a deep well of talent on which to draw from our MPs, members and volunteers. Fighting the last election single-handed, I was overwhelmed by the number of people of exceptional talent. Some could operate a remote control without looking through the instruction manual. Others could pat their head with one hand and make an anti-clockwise movement on their chests with the other. With all this talent, I believe that the Conservative Party is best placed to come in the top three at the next election. And thankfully the solution is simple: there is no simple solution. What qualifies me for this job? Well, I live by a simple rule. If I say Ill do something, I say Ill do something. Every one of my colleagues in this race is a good Conservative. I am proud to call them friends and collies. They know when to admit defeat and respond well to orders. And that is why I am best placed to lead our party to victory in 2054. Zara and Mike Tindall are the 'way forward' for the royal family, according to Princess Diana's royal butler Paul Burrell. The couple, who married in 2011, are celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary today. Princess Anne's daughter married the rugby star at Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh's Royal Mile on June 30 that year. Burrell, who was once the confidante of Princess Diana and also served as Queen Elizabeth II's personal footman, noted that the 'down to earth' nature of the couple could symbolise the way forward for the royals. Speaking on behalf of Slingo, he said: 'He [Mike] seems to be a very grounded, down to earth guy, somebody who lives in the real world. Zara and Mike Tindall are the 'way forward' for the royal family, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell (pictured together at Wimbledon earlier this month) Burrell (pictured last November) was once the confidante of Princess Diana and also served as Queen Elizabeth II's personal footman 'Mike brings his realness to that equation and he's a great asset to Zara and his family. They're very happy. They just call it as it is, and I think that's the way forward.' He added: 'Mike Tindall has done incredibly well to step over that line into a royal world and yet keep one foot in the real world. He must have a very balanced mind to cope with both entities.' Mike, 45, and Zara, 43, have long been known as some of the 'most relaxed' royals, including their love for public displays of affection. They're also known for their friendly relationships with everyone in the Royal Family, marking themselves as key players binding members of The Firm together. While some grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth have opted for the likes of Westminster Abbey or St George's Chapel for their weddings, Mike and Zara instead married on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, and it was not shown on TV. It made for Scotland's first royal wedding in 20 years, with Queen Elizabeth herself as the guest of honour. Zara wore a romantic full-length ivory silk gown with silk tulle detail, designed by the Queens favourite couturier Stewart Parvin. It took place just three months after William and Kate's royal wedding, which captured the attention of millions around the world. Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall after their wedding at Canongate Kirk on July 30, 2011 in Edinburgh Mike and Zara are commonly known as the 'most relaxed' royals and enjoy showing public displays of affection - such as at Cheltenham in March (pictured) The two couples are known to be close - and clearly have much in common. Paul commented that William and Kate have the 'same realness' os Zara and Mike, and both couples don't 'hide' anything. Their wedding has set the scene for the rest of their marriage, and the couple have gone from strength to strength over the years. Since their 2011 wedding, Zara and Mike have welcomed three children: Mia in 2014, Lena in 2018 and Lucas in 2021. Though they are not officially working royals, they still seem to be working their way towards Charles's inner circle. They have been pictured close to senior royals at recent landmark events, such as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and the Tindalls were also part of Charles's coronation celebrations last year. At more private events, they have also joined the family for the Christmas service in Sandringham in December, as well as joining them for a festive lunch. In recent years, Mike has also reflected on how close the family has gotten since the late Queen's passing in 2022. Mia Tindall, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall and Lena Tindall are pictured at St George's Chapel in April 2023 Zara and Mike looked like they were having a whale of a time at Wimbledon earlier this month PDA-loving Mike even put a cheeky hand on Zara's bottom at Royal Ascot last month He has spoken of how the Royal Family 'came together overnight' following the death of Elizabeth II. The ex-England rugby ace also revealed he is 'full of regret' for not asking the Queen more questions during his time with her in a special episode of his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby. He said: 'It's been sad, emotional but happy. In some ways amazing. To see the family come so close together overnight. 'You never predict it. A 96-year-old lady, you know it's going to happen but you're never ready for when it does. 'Watching what Zara had to go through, obviously she loved the Queen beyond everything else. Their connection with horses, they had a real bond around that. 'It's like the world has lost its grandmother in some way.' He continued: 'I also have loads of regrets about not asking her so many more things Having nervousness when you sit there get that lucky seat of being sat next to her. 'Going back through history and everything she's possibly seen; 15 prime ministers, I don't know how many presidents. Though Zara and her husband Mike are not officially working royals, they still seem to be working their way towards Charles's inner circle 'To go through everything when she's meeting dictators she has to stay neutral she has to perform her duty.' The royal couple have long been known for their friendly relationships with everyone in the Royal Family, marking themselves as key players binding members of The Firm together. It includes the pair's close relationship with the Waleses - and Zara's close bond with her cousins Beatrice and Eugenie. At Ascot last month, they warmly greeted everyone from Prince William to Carole and Michael Middleton. Speaking to The Times earlier this year, one royal source dubbed Mike, 45, and Zara, 43, the 'glue of their generation of royals, no matter how serious the occasion'. 'They can help take the family's mind off the gravity of what is going on,' they added. 'While some family members can be very "royal", Mike is just himself and is relaxed and playful with George, Charlotte and Louis. Pictured: Zara, Eugenie and Kate Middleton pictured chatting together at the Royal Ascot in 2019 Zara is also known to have a sweet relationship with King Charles III. Pictured with her uncle and Queen Camilla last year 'It helps that they all have children around the same age that they can fool around together privately and bring a sense of normality to what is a stressful situation for everyone involved.' Prince William and Zara were born just a year apart, meaning they have been close for years. The Prince of Wales is also close to Mike, who interviewed him last year for his podcast - The Good, The Bad and The Rugby - last year. Zara in particular also holds a close bond with her cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, who she often hugs and pecks at high-profile royal events. Social media shy Beatrice made a rare post on X in 2022, to show her support for Mike's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! stint, dubbing her cousin's husband 'the greatest'. Zara is also known to have a sweet relationship with her uncle, King Charles III. British cheese lovers have reason to rejoice this summer as a beloved American snack makes its highly anticipated debut in the UK. Known for its perfectly thin and crispy texture, Cheez-It Snap'd is set to become a hit at parties, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or simply as a savoury treat. Responding to popular demand, the renowned US cracker brand has finally crossed the pond, bringing its unique snack, baked with 100% real cheese, to British shelves. Cheez-It Snap'ds are celebrated for their powerful flavour and satisfying crunch, thanks to their distinctive curved shape. Starting in early August, UK consumers will have the opportunity to enjoy three bold flavours: Double Cheese, Cheese & Chilli, and Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion. British cheese lovers have reason to rejoice this summer as a beloved American cracker snack makes its highly anticipated debut in the UK (stock image) Starting in August, UK consumers will have the opportunity to enjoy three bold flavours of Cheez-It Snap'd: Double Cheese (pictured), Cheese & Chilli, and Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion Each variant will offer snack lovers a unique taste experience, with Double Cheese packed with twice the cheesy punch - an option perfect for those seeking an ultra-cheesy delight. Ideal for those who enjoy a bold blend of cheesy flavour with a spicy kick, Cheese & Chilli promises to turn up the heat. Meanwhile, Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion offers a harmonious mix of tangy and savoury notes. Available in two convenient sizes, a 150g bag of the cheesy treats will retail at 2.00, while a smaller 'to-go' 40g bag will be priced at just 1.00, making it easy for snack lovers to enjoy Cheez-Its on the move. A spokesperson at Cheez-It shared their excitement, saying: 'We're absolutely thrilled to bring Cheez-It to this side of the Atlantic!' 'We know the UK's a nation of cheese lovers, and as this snack is baked with 100% real cheese, the only thing people wont love is that it didnt come to the UK sooner!' It comes after it was announced that American fast-food sensation Dave's Hot Chicken is set to spice up the UK's culinary scene by opening 60 stores across the nation - with some dishes so fiery they require a signed waiver. The chain, which gained fame in the U.S. for its unique flavour and quality, boasts 199 sites across America and has been endorsed by celebrities like Usher and Samuel L. Jackson. Ideal for those who enjoy a bold blend of cheesy flavour with a spicy kick, Cheese & Chilli promises to turn up the heat Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion offers a harmonious mix of tangy and savoury notes Established in 2017 by childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy Rubenyan in an East Hollywood car park, Dave's Hot Chicken has quickly become a household name, according to its website. Now, the trio is set to venture into pastures new, as an agreement with the Azzurri Group, which operates popular UK brands like Zizzi, ASK Italian, and Coco di Mama, means Dave's Hot Chicken will open 60 sites across the UK. The first store is planned to open in London early next year, offering British chicken enthusiasts a chance to experience their signature spiced-to-order chicken. One of the most notable features of Dave's Hot Chicken is its seven levels of spice, ranging from No Spice to Reaper. The Reaper level, which incorporates the Carolina Reaper pepper with an average of 1,641,183 Scoville heat units, is so intense that diners must sign a waiver before eating it. To date, only about 100,000 daring customers have taken the plunge. As the summer sun shines bright, experts are emphasising the importance of wearing a high-quality SPF daily, regardless of the weather. However, a concerning trend has emerged on social media, where influencers are promoting homemade sun protection solutions, leading to urgent warnings from skincare professionals. The trend has gained traction thanks to popular influencer Nara Smith, a 22-year-old South African content creator known for her "trad wife" lifestyle and cooking mini-vlogs. With a cult following of 8.9 million on her TikTok account, @naraazizasmith, Smith recently ventured into the wellness realm by posting a video on June 25 showcasing her homemade suncream recipe. The video features Smith and her husband, U.S. model Lucky Blue Smith, concocting an SPF using coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and zinc oxide powder. A concerning trend has emerged on social media, where influencers such as Nara Smith (pictured, R) are promoting homemade sun protection solutions Smith and her husband, U.S. model Lucky Blue Smith, concocts an SPF in a TikTok video using coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and zinc oxide powder In the clip, the content creator insists the product 'goes smoothly' on the skin and 'doesn't leave a white cast.' This homemade SPF trend fits seamlessly into the one of the many TikTok fads, where controversial wellness influencers often claim that commercial SPF products are harmful and can cause cancer. Smith's video has since inspired dozens of creators to share their own DIY sunscreen recipes - however, skincare experts are sounding the alarm about the potential dangers of this practice. Dr. Ahmed el Muntasar, a GP, skin expert, and aesthetics doctor, has partnered with SPF brand Hello Sunday to discusses why SPF is needed and why you shouldn't be attempting to create a DIY version yourself. He said: 'SPF is the most important step in your skincare routine because ultimately it helps you protect your skin from UV light, prevents signs of aging and maintains integrity of skin. Overall, it's a really good habit to maintain and to keep.' He warned against the DIY SPF trend, emphasising the difficulty in achieving the right consistency and concentration needed for effective sun protection. Dr Ahmed continued: 'DIY SPF is something that I'm very much against because ultimately it's actually quite difficult to make SPF at the right consistency and at the right concentration and it might give you the false security. 'You may think you are being protected when you've messed up the ingredients and actually you're not getting the protection that you want.' Smith's video has since inspired dozens of creators to share their own DIY sunscreen recipes using similar ingredients Dr. Ahmed el Muntasar, a GP and aesthetics doctor, warns against the trend, emphasising the difficulty in achieving the right consistency and concentration needed for effective sun protection Thousands of TikTok users have also echoed these concerns, condemning Smith's alternative to commercial sun protection He also highlighted the issue of uneven distribution with homemade sunscreens, which can result in some areas receiving inadequate protection. 'Overall, not Dr. Ahmed approved,' he concluded. Thousands of TikTok users have also echoed these concerns, condemning Smith's alternative to commercial sun protection, as one user commented: 'Yeah, homemade sunscreen is also homemade melanoma.' Another added, 'I love this girl, but this is not a good idea,' while a third quipped, 'Y'all are going to FRY this summer with this concoction.' It comes as another expert reveals the 11 most common sun cream mistakes, including taking medicine that interferes with SPF and leaving cream bottles in the sun. According to Cancer Research UK, 86 per cent of UK melanoma skin cancer cases are preventable. Which? have gathered together 11 of the most common sunscreen mistakes to avoid so you can ensure that you are safe in the sun. Sweet Valley High fans are mourning the death of beloved author Francine Pascal by sharing heartwarming memories of reading the books when they were younger. Francine's daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal revealed that she had passed away aged 92 on Tuesday morning following a battle with cancer. Immediately, the tragic news sent ripples throughout social media, as her readers posted loving tributes to the woman who 'sparked their passion for reading.' The book series, which followed identical twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, was a huge hit throughout the '80s and '90s - becoming a monumental part of many people's childhoods. The franchise had 181 books in total, and sparked multiple spin-offs and a TV series of the same name that aired from 1994 until 1997. Sweet Valley High fans are mourning the death of beloved author Francine Pascal by sharing heartwarming memories about reading the books when they were younger Francine's daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal revealed that she had passed away at age 92 on Tuesday morning, following a battle with cancer. The cover of her book is seen Following her death, X, formerly Twitter, was flooded with emotional messages from users who spoke about how much the book series impacted them. Some people recalled how 'escaping' to the world of Sweet Valley High got them through their own problems, while others praised the author for 'making teenagers all over the world happy.' 'Thank you to Francine Pascal for opening my tiny little head to a world where twin sisters can be as different as night and day but still be incredibly hot in the same way,' one person wrote. 'Every trip to [the book store] was so exciting, with the hope that a new book in the series would be out.' 'I need to stop and give a shoutout to Francine Pascal,' added another. 'Your Sweet Valley books were such a HUGE part of my childhood, sparking my passion for reading. '[I followed] the journey of the twins all the way through college. Many fond memories. Thank you and RIP.' 'RIP Francine Pascal, creator of #SweetValleyHigh and its vast universe of characters. Those books made me love reading and the art of soap opera,' confessed someone else. 'I read Sweet Valley High as a kid and the pull these books had on me was wild,' read a fourth tweet. Immediately, the heartbreaking news sent ripples throughout social media, as her readers posted loving tributes to the woman who 'sparked their passion for reading' 'They were hugely important to me growing up and low-key influential. I'm so sad about Francine Pascal.' 'The chokehold that Sweet Valley twins and The Baby-Sitters Club had on me in the 1980s,' said a fifth. 'RIP to the author/creator of the former, Francine Pascal. What a life, and I love her attention to detail.' 'I used to love escaping to Jessica and Elizabeth's world in Sweet Valley High. I hope Francine knew how much her words made teenagers all over the world happy,' gushed a different user. Another user called the twins her 'heroes,' and said the Sweet Valley High books were the 'first' tomes that she fell in love with. 'I read every single one of the Sweet Valley books as a girl growing up in California in the 1980s. Thank you for helping to create this lifelong reader, Francine Pascal,' wrote a different person. Someone else said, 'Reading SVH books at the beach was what summer looked like for me in the late 80s. The book series, which followed identical twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, was a huge hit throughout the '80s and '90s - becoming a monumental part of many people's childhoods The franchise had 181 books in total, and sparked multiple spin-offs and a TV series of the same name (seen) that aired from 1994 until 1997 'Nerdy me adored Elizabeth. Wannabe rebel me wished they were more like Jessica. Kid me is really sad today.' Francine's daughter Laurie told the New York Times on Tuesday that her mom died of lymphoma in New York-Presbyterian Hospital over the weekend. Francine previously described Sweet Valley High as 'the essence of high school.' 'It's that moment before reality hits, when you really do believe in the romantic values - sacrifice, love, loyalty, friendship - before you get jaded and slip off into adulthood,' she told People in 1988. She said she started writing the Sweet Valley High books after TV networks rejected her idea for a soap opera centered on teenagers in high school. She was inspired by Dallas, the hit CBS soap that followed an affluent family and their oil empire, and the twins in her life, including her then-agent and sister-in-law. The late writer penned the first 12 books in the Sweet Valley series and then, after drafting a detailed outline, worked with a team of writers to keep up a rapid publication pace. There's nothing like a lakefront cocktail, especially when the drink is served from your very own Irish pub directly built into your multimillion-dollar property. And that's exactly what the new homeowner of this $9.5million West Okoboji Lake property will get to do. The 25,0000-square-foot mansion, built by Tom and Molly Bedell, looks like any high-value lakefront property with its floor-to-ceiling windows that face the water, the multiple patio areas to enjoy a good beach read by... and lots of trees for ultimate privacy. But the lower floor of the eight-bedroom home will transport you far away from Spirit Lake, Iowa, straight to the streets of Dublin. Lined with a brick walkway and an authentic Irish storefront, the pub, Kevin O'Sullivan's, will make you feel like you're walking the streets of the Irish capital and draw you in for a quick pint. 'He brought his team to Dublin to ensure all details of the pub were an exact replica of what you see in Ireland,' listing agent Holly Lovell of @properties-elleven Christies International Real Estate, told the Wall Street Journal. The lower floor of the eight-bedroom home will transport you far away from Spirit Lake, Iowa , straight to the streets of Dublin The pub was named after Tom's fictional leprechaun, which he made up when he was young The pub was named after Tom's fictional leprechaun, which he made up when he was young, according to the Wall Street Journal. The outside features a green and gold exterior, with a harp symbol, and wooden doors that lead you into a deep rich interior with head-to-toe dark wood with wooden stools and a bar. Kevin O'Sullivan's has a large counter that seats many and has enough shelving to stock a full bar full of your favorite liquors. It also has a small stage area where a band could play to entertain the patrons. Guests can also choose to sit in booths or chairs at small tables to enjoy a more relax dining experience and it even has a private room for a small party of patrons. The outside features a green and gold exterior, with a harp symbol, and wooden doors that lead you into a deep rich interior with head-to-toe dark wood with wooden stools and a bar Lined with a brick walkway and an authentic Irish storefront, the pub, Kevin O'Sullivan's, will make you feel like you're walking the streets of the Irish capital and draw you in for a quick pint The bar area also features a study with a similar vibe to the bar with dark colored leather armchairs and warm lighting. Another fun part of the property is a staple in many millionaire's homes: A theatre. But this isn't just any theatre, it's designed to look like an old timey establishment with it's old-style marquee and movie posters hanging outside the door. Once you enter, it becomes more modern with a bar top concessions stand, featuring a popcorn machine and retro furniture. Inside the screening room, there are multiple couches to choose from and plenty of pillows for ultimate comfort. The living room features floor-to-ceiling windows that offer beautiful views of the lake and plenty of comfy couches to lounge around on The kitchen has light wood and red cabinets with a simple white tile backsplash and ocean blue countertops The rest of the home, however, features a much more modern and simple design. One of the bedrooms featured a back-paneled wall that compliments the natural light filtering in from the windows and glass door that lead to a patio area. The kitchen has light wood and red cabinets with a simple white tile backsplash and ocean blue countertops. Many parts of the home, including the living room, use pops of red to bright up the space. The living room features floor-to-ceiling windows that offer beautiful views of the lake and plenty of comfy couches to lounge around on. Another fun part of the property is a staple in many millionaire's homes: A theatre (pictured) It was built in the early 2000s on 1.25 acres of land in Spirit Lake - near where Tom grew up. The property has around 180 feet of frontage on the lake The property has around 180 feet of frontage on the lake, according to the Wall Street Journal. It was built in the early 2000s on 1.25 acres of land in Spirit Lake - near where Tom grew up. It broke the property record in the state after selling for $9.5million. It had previously been listed at $14.9million and has been on and off the market for around a decade, WSJ reported. The previous record in the state was also a West Okoboji Lake property that sold in 2022 for $5.6million. Fans of the viral Tomato Vodka Pasta sauce can rejoice as Heinz and Absolut Vodka's take on the culinary delight returns to supermarket shelves across the UK. The beloved pasta sauce, which hit supermarket shelves this week, has made a much-anticipated return after its original launch in March 2023 - which sold out in just four days. The unexpected partnership between Heinz and Absolut Vodka was inspired by supermodel Gigi Hadid's viral social media recipe for spicy vodka pasta, which quickly became a culinary sensation online and in restaurants alike. The recipe's unique twist uses vodka to unlock and intensify the flavours of a rich and creamy tomato, basil, and cheese sauce. During the cooking process, the alcohol reduces, enhancing the flavour compounds in the tomatoes and creating a perfectly balanced, creamy texture that balances the creamy notes with the rich tomato and fragrant basil. Fans of the viral Tomato Vodka Pasta sauce can rejoice as Heinz and Absolut Vodka's take on the culinary delight returns to supermarket shelves across the UK Originally launched exclusively in the UK last spring, the sauce generated a global frenzy, with purchases limited to two jars per customer and some jars reselling for up to 250 on eBay. Even today, jars of the highly coveted sauce are being flogged on the e-commerce site for up to 20 each. Despite the initial limited edition, the sauce's popularity led to an overwhelming response from fans worldwide, who flooded Heinz consumer care teams with messages of desperation to get their hands on a jar. One fan wrote on social media platform X: 'It was sold out when I went. Hopefully, I'll get my hands on a jar soon.' Another exclaimed: 'Pasta alla Vodka!!! I need this in my life!!!' Responding to the public's plea, Heinz and Absolut Vodka have reintroduced the pasta sauce, available from July 29 exclusively at Waitrose, with more retailers set to follow in Autumn 2024. Caio Fontenele, Head of Growth at Kraft Heinz said: 'As the top selling Heinz product and number one selling pasta sauce at the time of launch, we knew pasta lovers were as obsessed with it as we were. 'After receiving countless messages from fans all over the world asking how they could get their hands on a jar, we knew we couldnt ignore it. ' 'Now, everybody can have the ultimate Pasta alla Vodka experience with the iconic combination of Heinzs high-quality tomatoes and Absoluts premium vodka.' Originally launched exclusively in the UK last spring, the sauce generated a global frenzy, with purchases limited to two jars per customer and some jars reselling for up to 250 on eBay The recipe's unique twist uses vodka to unlock and intensify the flavours of a rich and creamy tomato, basil, and cheese sauce Despite the initial limited edition, the sauce's popularity led to an overwhelming response from fans worldwide Debasree Dasgupta, VP Marketing Absolut, added: 'We're absolut-ly thrilled to rekindle our partnership with the Heinz team. As passionate collaborators, we're dedicated to delivering only the best to our consumers. 'At Absolut, our 'Born to Mix' philosophy enables us to perfectly blend our premium vodka with Heinz's finest pasta sauce to create something truly exceptional.' The relaunch coincides with Heinz's recent expansion of its pasta sauce range, introducing a trio of new flavours inspired by TikTok, including Tomato & Spicy 'Nduja, Tomato, Sicilian Lemon & Ricotta and Tomato, Black Garlic & Roasted Garlic. In another unforeseen collaboration, Heinz launched a limited edition ketchup to celebrate the The Godfather in February, more than five decades since the cult classic came out. The sauce giant teamed up with Paramount to make a Heinz & The Godfather Pasta Sauce inspired by the Hollywood hit to go on sale in the UK. The limited-edition sauce was inspired directly from a memorable scene from the Francis Ford Coppola film, in which Peter Clemenza (played by Richard S. Castellano) says 'leave the gun, take the cannoli' and teaches Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) how to cook the perfect pasta sauce. An Australian brand has settled an ongoing debate as to whether tomato sauce should be kept in the fridge or pantry. For decades thousands of households have argued over the 'correct' place to store the staple condiment. But now MasterFoods - a long-loved food manufacturer - has put an end to the argument. Ross Mail, head of Research and Development for MasterFoods, told FEMAIL the classic red sauce bottles should be placed in the fridge once opened for 'freshness and quality'. 'Chilling your sauce will slow down the aging process, keeping it that nice bright red colour and will hold its strong tomato flavour,' he said. But it's not all bad news for those who prefer to keep the condiment in the cupboard. Mr Mail said: 'Given its ingredients include salt and sugar (natural preservatives) tomato sauce can be kept in the cupboard, however once it's cracked open and exposed to air, it won't stay as bright in colour and turn more of a dark brown. 'It could spoil over time if it's not in the fridge and remember to always check the best before date if you prefer this method of storage!' For decades thousands of households have argued over the 'correct' place to store the staple condiment. But now MasterFoods - a long-loved food manufacturer - has put an end to the argument The bottle can also be stored in the cupboard until it's opened and the seal has been broken. Mr Mail said this is because in the MasterFoods factory the bottles are 'filled in a very clean environment to make sure no mould or bacteria gets inside the bottle until its opened'. The recommended storage is also written on the back of sauce bottles - often below the ingredients. However, Mr Mail added that 'not all condiments are made equal' and the storage directions may vary. 'Masterfoods Tomato Sauce is formulated with a special combination of tomato paste & natural preservatives to give the rich tomatoey flavour its known for. This means once opened, we recommend storing it in the fridge,' he said. 'Other condiments, like mustard, are right at home in the pantry once opened - owing to the natural ability of mustard extracts to resist spoilage.' Ross Mail, head of Research and Development for MasterFoods, told FEMAIL the classic red sauce bottles should be placed in the fridge once opened for 'freshness and quality' The storage instructions may differ depending on the country. Since Australia has a relatively high room temperature, the fridge is the ideal place to store open sauce bottles. However, on the back of a Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle in Dublin, the label read something different. 'Store cap down. Once opened, no refrigeration required when consumed within four weeks. Shake well before use,' the label read. A conversation on the topic sparked on Facebook when Foodie Mumma Ren asked where others store the condiment. Ross Mail, head of Research and Development for MasterFoods, said the classic red sauce bottles should be placed in the fridge once opened (stock image) 'I'm from New South Wales and always kept in cupboard but since moving to Queensland I have had to keep in fridge,' one wrote. Another person said she believes it 'depends on the weather'. If it's hot she puts the bottle in the fridge, but if it's cold it goes in the cupboard. 'It generally only grows mould in warmer weather for me,' she wrote. 'Once opened, in fridge,' a third added. Someone else said: 'Fridge - it clearly tells you to refrigerate after opening on bottle.' Henry Ford (born on this day) said: 'Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you're right.' I've also heard this: 'Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right'. Although these quotes are similar there's a difference between 'thinking' and 'believing'. When we believe, a successful outcome is possible (despite any challenges). As Venus moves to link with Jupiter, it's believe-time! Need to know your more? These spookily accurate birth charts, based on your unique birth placements will tell you everything you need to know. Simply enter your birth details and receive a completely Personal Birth Chart made just for you. Read more horoscopes from MailOnline. Oscar says when we believe, a successful outcome is possible (despite any challenges). As Venus moves to link with Jupiter, it's believe-time ARIES March 21 - April 20 We might say we want love and peace and happiness. But our actions don't always suggest we're prioritising these values. We get cross when people don't behave the way we want them to. And although the idea of a peaceful life is appealing, the reality is that we love a bit of drama and excitement. Still, at least if we're aware of these contradictions we can be happy within ourselves! You don't need to be consistent today. By expressing your truth you'll open a dialogue that leads to understanding. And that brings happiness. To find out what the planets have in store for you over the coming, critical next few months, download your Guide to the Future, now. TAURUS April 21 - May 21 Would you mind if we focused on the issue in your world that's currently making you feel most irritated and stressed? You'll be pleased to hear we don't need to dwell on it for long. But if you consider it from a slightly different angle, it's likely you'll realise that it's not quite as problematic as you fear. There's a solution you can implement. And it's your reluctance to contemplate the problem that's stopping you from finding it. As your ruler moves to meet Jupiter and Uranus, a surprisingly positive discovery is possible. Want to know what the coming year has in store? Let me calculate your full personal horoscope from your exact date, time and place of birth. Click here! GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Yesterday, we were talking about the invigorating effects of having dynamic Mars in your sign. It's as if cosmic rays are beaming down onto you. The sky is sending thunderbolts of power in your direction; and your task is to absorb the energy. That's it! If you do, you'll find the motivation you need to take control of a lacklustre situation and enthuse it with more life. Be bold. Since any action you take is going to be effective, you just need to make sure that everything you do is based on a desire to do the best thing for everyone. A powerful cosmic climate is working in your favour right now. You can make a positive transformation and achieve what you've been hoping for. A personal birth-chart report will tell you what's really possible... and when and how. Download yours now! CANCER June 23 - July 23 Is it true that life sometimes has to get bad before it gets better? And if it is, am I subtly trying to warn you about a tricky time ahead? Quite the opposite. This theory helps explain why you've been dealing with so much stress. One situation, which seems to have taken a turn for the worse, can only go in one direction now. But if instead of resenting the change you look more carefully at where you're headed, you'll notice that an improvement has begun. While you're waiting for actual proof, you can override any lingering negativity. Discover your inner light, the one that shines regardless of the weather in your 'Guide to the Future'. LEO July 24 - August 23 It might be uncomfortable to admit, but when we meet people, we form judgements based on superficial things; like what they're wearing, their age, their accent etc. They, meanwhile, are doing the same thing to us. Once we've got to know someone, we don't pay much attention to their outward appearance. We might notice what they're wearing; but we're more focused on the person than their persona. Someone in your world has created a protective facade. If you see beyond it, you'll gain insight into what's really troubling them. Learn the hidden secrets of the planets and how they affect your life and shape your future. Start your journey of self-discovery here! VIRGO August 24 - September 23 These days, it's almost impossible not to be aware of what's happening in the news. Being up to date with events taking place beyond our personal world helps us see our lives in the framework of a wider context. What's happening somewhere else enables us to get perspective on what's happening to us. Sadly, our news mostly focuses on problems. But if you stand back from the immediacy of your current situation, you'll see you've got the power to write your own story - with a happier ending than you're anticipating. Now, do you want to know more about what's going to happen to you, when it's going to happen and why? Get yourself a full, 'spookily accurate' horoscope birth-chart report, and you'll find out. Download your Birth Chart report here! LIBRA September 24 - October 23 Some people are on a mission to disprove the powers of clairvoyance and telepathy. But just because scientists or modern-day illusionists can show us how something can be faked doesn't mean these metaphysical phenomena don't exist. As your ruler moves towards meeting Jupiter and Uranus, there's magic in the air. You might be able to find logical explanations for everything that's about to happen in your world, but that doesn't make any of it less real. And if you're open to transformations... well... you'll see! There are powerful changes in store for you soon. What are they? How can you best prepare for them? Find out in a full horoscope birth-chart. It's full of amazing predictions about you and your future. Get yours now. SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 To call yourself an 'expert' you don't need to know absolutely everything about your subject. You don't need to have all the answers. You don't need to be aware of all the possible questions either. It's a case of knowing a bit more than other people do; that's enough to make you an expert in their eyes. And if you happen to know that someone else knows more than you do? Don't let it bother you. Trust today, that by drawing on your experience you know as much as you need to know to be able to offer excellent advice. Wish you could fulfil more of your potential? A Personal Profile, based on your exact date of birth, reveals your secret gifts and blessings. Click here! These spookily accurate birth charts, based on your unique birth placements will tell you everything you need to know SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21 You're an honest person. You try your best to show integrity and tell the truth. But when you're not in possession of all the facts, you need to be careful with your truthfulness. There's more to a certain story than you're aware of. Right now, with the intel in your possession, it seems things are going in a very specific direction. Which means you could easily jump to the wrong conclusion. Bide your time. It won't be long before you've got a lot more info. Once you've checked the facts, you'll be ready to share your truth. Give me your date of birth and I will tell you something wonderful about your future. Download your personal horoscope here. CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20 Just because we're under pressure, it doesn't automatically follow that we're stressed. It's perfectly possible to enjoy being busy. You know the satisfaction that comes from having a lot to do, and working to achieve it. And you understand the reward that comes from taking on responsibility. And, like everyone, you can feel stressed, even when there's nothing going on. To feel good today, either do something you enjoy, or try to appreciate the value of doing something you don't particularly like. You'll make progress... and feel good. Find out what the planets have in store for you. Instantly download your Year Ahead chart. Now! Click here! AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19 That sense of success you feel when things go well? You need to access it. Think about what works, and how good you feel when you're doing what you enjoy. You're a skilful, competent Aquarian. There are many strings to your bow. So why aren't you using them? As Venus, the planet of creativity, moves to link with your ruler, Uranus, it encourages you to think even more innovatively than usual. You just need to shed the self-doubt. Then, you'll be able to see what's really possible. And how you can achieve it. Now is the right time for you to take an in-depth, up close and personal look at your life. To get your full horoscope based on your date, time and place of birth, click here. PISCES February 20 - March 20 You're so enthused by a plan that you'll do anything within your power to realise it. If that involves moving heaven and earth, so be it. Your determination is impressive. Except... in your desire to move things forwards, you might be overlooking a simpler route. Before you try every trick in the book, make sure you've proved that your current 'trick' isn't working; it's unlikely that you've reached that point yet. As Venus moves to link with your traditional ruler, Jupiter, if you pause today, you'll know what to do to make effective progress. Reveal the astrological secrets of the coming year, today. For a complete set of totally personal predictions, download 'Your Guide to the Future'. Kanye West's second wife, Bianca Censori is often seen out and about wearing astonishingly revealing clothes that seem designed to make the most of her figure. The 29-year-old Australian architect and model was recently snapped in a see-through yellow bikini along with a beige thong bottom while on a weekend getaway in Santa Barbara County, California. The ensemble added to a growing list that also include transparent sheer 'nude illusion' tops and 'micro bras' which do little to conceal her assets. Unsurprisingly, her extremely large breasts which dominate her slim, 5ft 3in figure have drawn comment as well as speculation as to whether she has undergone a cosmetic breast procedure. Some have applauded her as a positive role model for championing pendulous, natural boobs. Kanye West 's wife Bianca Censori showcased her stunning figured as they enjoyed a romantic weekend getaway at a luxury hotel in Santa Barbara County, California, on Saturday One photo from the trip showed Bianca sat next to Kanye, 46, wearing a sheer red bodysuit, which led to speculation that she may have had a boob job But in a thread on Reddit other fans claimed her breasts looked 'so high up' with 'no sag', with another suggesting she has 'big fake boobs' in images from a trip to Tokyo in June 2023. One photo showed Bianca sat next to Kanye, 46, wearing a sheer red bodysuit, which led to speculation that she may have had a boob job. A Reddit user wrote: 'Did Censori get the twins done, cause they're BIGGER than usual.' Another commented: 'And so high up! No sag and they're humongous? Hmmmmmm.' But even plastic surgeons are undecided on how Bianca has such large breasts for her small frame, suggesting she may have had a fat transfer or a small implant to give her breasts a lift. 'She does have relatively large breasts compared to her small frame,' said Dr Omar Tello London-based breast and body plastic surgeon. 'She may be blessed naturally but she could have had an implant or fat transfer.' A fat transfer takes fat tissue from other areas of the body, such as the thighs or stomach, and it is transferred to the breasts in lots of small injections to give them volume. The star paired the X-rated ensemble with high-waisted 'granny panty-style' nude shorts and wrap-around stiletto heels; pictured in February in Milan, Italy The Australian beauty donned a completely see-through top without a bra, exposing her nipples as she went out with West to see the new movie Fly Me To The Moon; pictured in June in Paris Experts say the procedure may provide a softer, more natural-looking and less obviously 'done result, when compared to implants. This may allow women to have a 'below-the radar' augmentation that is difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Dr Tello suggests Bianca may have had small breast implants, but adds that her breasts do have a 'natural droop'. He said: 'It is possible that she had breast implants years ago and over the time the weight of them has caused some drooping. So, that natural looking drop could be from an old implant.' But he admits there is 'no strong evidence'. Mr Patrick Mallucci, a world-renowned specialist in cosmetic breast surgery, also agrees Bianca's physique is 'unusual'. He said: 'Slim, petite women tend to have smaller busts so Bianca's big, pendulous breasts are unusual. 'Typically, she'd be more a candidate for a breast reduction than anything else. 'Women often find such large breasts annoying, but she's obviously celebrating her slightly droopier look which is no bad thing.' Bianca, who has carved out a reputation for her jaw-dropping looks, has been pictured in revealing outfits that make her appear is if she's topless, and often bottom-less too. She was spotted in Paris in June wearing a revealing outfit that appeared to be made only from tape. The outfit was one of her most revealing to date and saw her wear a bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples. As a result of her 'totally inappropriate' fashion choices, earlier this month some restaurateurs in Los Angeles vowed to ban Bianca from entering their eateries. Pictures of the model in younger years show she has always had very large breasts and Mr Mallucci says 'it would be quite a surprise to have a patient like her wanting to go larger.' He suggests her flaunting of her physique is part of a 'wider trend' toward a slim yet voluptuous figure with large breasts and bottom but a slim waist and legs Kim Kardashian, Kanye's first wife, is perhaps the most famous example. Bianca was seen in Paris wearing a revealing outfit made only from tape. The outfit, one of Bianca's most revealing to date, saw her wear bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples while out with her stylist Gadir Rajab Mr Mallucci said: 'Of course not everyone has to have upstanding, pert boobs and that's clearly what she's hoping to transmit. 'Most women with large bottoms and breasts are big all over, so it's very striking. Is it natural? It's impossible to know for sure,' he added. Mr Mallucci carried out the first scientific study in 2011 that defined the formula for a perfectly proportioned breast, based on hundreds of volunteers being shown pictures of breasts and being asked to assess their attractiveness. The research has since been repeated, backing up his initial findings. 'We now know from scientific studies the golden ratio for a breast,' Mr Mallucci said. 'Looking from the side, you want to follow the 45/55 rule: that 55 per cent of the breast volume is in the lower pole, below the nipple line, and 45 per cent in the upper pole, above the nipple. 'Ideally, the nipple will point slightly upward,' he added. He said: 'The lower pole will have a tight convex curve attaching to the chest, and the upper pole will form a straight line or slightly concave curve to the chest.' Bianca, who has carved out a reputation for her jaw-dropping looks, has been pictured in revealing outfits that virtually expose her breasts. She recently donned a completely see-through top which exposed her nipples while enjoying a cinema date in Los Angeles Mr Mallucci also speculates Bianca may have had an implant, but also admits 'it's impossible to be sure'. He explained plastic surgeons tend to avoid giving implants to women who already have large breasts because it risks what's called a 'waterfall deformity'. Mr Mallucci added: 'When the implant stays high in the breast and the rest of the breast hangs below it, so the implant is visible. 'It's sometimes called a 'snoopy' deformity because from the side the breast looks a bit like the cartoon character Snoopy.' He explains that if a woman with larger breasts came to him seeking an augmentation that looked natural he would offer a fat transfer, adding that this was 'possibly' a procedure Bianca had undergone. plastic surgeons tend to avoid giving implants to women who already have large breasts because it risks what's called a 'waterfall deformity' also called a 'snoopy' deformity 'Fat tissue grafted into the breast behaves like all fat tissue if a woman puts on weight, it will expand, and this means the breast size will fluctuate,' he said. 'It's possible this is why Bianca looks like she has bigger breasts and different times, but it's hard to tell as the appearance will change depending on what top a woman is wearing, and breasts do change shape for hormonal reasons during the month.' Breasts can naturally change shape during a woman's monthly cycle due to fluctuations in hormones. They can swell slightly and have some texture changes. Weight changes can also impact the size and shape of a woman's breasts. But if you notice a change in the look or feel of the breast or nipple, such as lumps or discharge it could be a sign of breast cancer and you should consult your GP. You won't be surprised to learn I'm a big fan of modern medicine. From the man in his 60s with a cardiac arrest who we bring back to life using a defibrillator, to the teenager with appendicitis who gets better with an emergency operation, every day I see Western medicine not only works well, but is lifesaving. I used to think that modern medicine was the saviour for all ills, and I was dismissive of people who said they'd benefited from alternative remedies such as acupuncture. I'd quietly snigger under my breath when a patient told me how yoga, rather than sertraline, was helpful for their stress. And sneer at those who took vitamins or supplements for this or that. Not only was alternative medicine not my bag, I thought it was at best a waste of money and almost certainly damaging. However, I can now announce a screeching U-turn. Because for many patients, the approach that's so indoctrinated into our medical psyche is clearly failing. We have patients with chronic pain dosed up on addictive (and often ineffective) opioid painkillers, for instance, and those with insomnia whose sleeping tablets have led to long-term dependency and ill health. There is evidence that acupuncture can be effective in treating gastro-intestinal pain, migraine and menopausal symptoms Let's also not forget patients on multiple drugs for heart failure, blood pressure and high cholesterol, to combat the side-effects of unhealthy Western lifestyles filled with too much processed food and not enough exercise. Although necessary, many of these medications have side-effects and can cause harm. I treated a man a few months ago, following a fall, who was a perfect example of the downside of our current approach. He was in his 80s and had dementia and all the hallmarks of early Parkinson's disease. He'd been suffering from back pain and insomnia, too, and been given the opioid painkiller codeine, as well as zopiclone to help him sleep. He had high blood pressure and so was also on amlodipine, which lowers blood pressure but can make you dizzy if you stand up quickly. At 3am he got up to go to the bathroom. The combination of his medications made his reflexes slower, and when he slipped on a rug, he failed to grab the handrail in time. He fell, breaking a few ribs, fracturing an arm and suffering significant bruising all over his face. For someone healthy, these injuries would be easily manageable, possibly even without the need for admission to hospital. But for him, it made living alone at home very difficult. After a three-week hospital stay, he was discharged to a residential home and lost his independence. The blame lies with the side-effects of the medications he was taking. Now, the modern medicine argument is that there was no alternative to these drugs, so we must accept the side-effects. But over the past few years of my career, I've started to question this orthodoxy. A healthier lifestyle could certainly have led to my patient not needing his amlodipine, however, without his other medications, he would still have been in pain and sleeping badly. Or so I thought. Last month, a study was published in the highly respected journal JAMA Network Open, which showed how effective acupuncture can be for helping patients with Parkinson's to sleep. (Two in three patients suffer from insomnia.) In the study, patients at the Guangzhou University Hospital in China were given either acupuncture or sham acupuncture (using needles that do not penetrate the skin). After four weeks of treatment, those given real acupuncture had significantly better sleep. The effect lasted for another four weeks after that. The quality of the trial was superb, and the statistical analysis showed that the risk of results being due to chance was less than one in 1,000 (with a drug, we consider it works if the results due to chance are less than one in 20). Despite the remarkable results, it was published without fanfare no drug company funding the publicity, you see. The new findings echoed a trial of acupuncture on 72 patients with insomnia published in 2017 in the journal Sleep Medicine, which showed similar results. I'll be honest, I don't know how it works. But does that matter? Acupuncture has been performed in China for thousands of years, and results have now been replicated with the best form of scientific experiment randomised controlled trials. It doesn't fit the medical model I was taught and teach but the only conclusion we can take is that the model I believed in is not fully correct. Reading about these studies got me researching where else acupuncture could work. There is evidence that it can be effective in treating gastro- intestinal pain, migraine and menopausal symptoms. Crucially, it could also treat chronic pain, such as back pain, which I like millions of others suffer from, and for which there is little available in terms of effective treatments. The first review of studies on acupuncture for back pain was published in 2005 in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal, and pooled the results of seven trials. This showed acupuncture was as effective as other treatments such as opioid medications, but without the side-effects. But when I read the medical journals and undertook the continuous professional development that doctors must, it was the profit-making drug trials that were rammed down my throat the findings of 'no profit to be had' acupuncture trials ignored. But I'm so impressed by the results of these acupuncture studies that I have booked myself in later this week to see if it can help with my bad back. It's not just acupuncture. At a Royal College of Emergency Medicine conference this month a report on a type of traditional Chinese medication was presented as one of the top ten most influential papers published in the past year. This raised eyebrows among the audience because the results were so unexpected. Reported in JAMA, the study showed that the traditional Chinese drug tongxinluo derived from plants and insects taken after a heart attack, led to a 36 per cent reduction in outcomes such as stroke or death compared with a placebo. Both the treatment and placebo group received the standard treatment as well, so we can only conclude that there was something in tongxinluo that had such a beneficial effect. Again, just because we don't understand how it worked, we cannot dismiss these findings. Of course, we have to remember a herb is a herb until it is proven to have a medical benefit and then it's called a drug. For example, digoxin and aspirin are lifesaving medications, but were originally derived from the foxglove plant and willow bark, respectively. We need a UK-based randomised controlled trial to see whether the results of this Chinese treatment are replicated for the patients I treat. Which brings me back to my U-turn: I believe in medicine mainstream, and now alternative that works, as proven by the best available evidence. That is not necessarily a randomised controlled trial the gold standard. For example, we know the dangers of smoking and advise against it. This is not based on randomised controlled studies, but observations of what happens to smokers and non-smokers. But there are still some no-go areas for me: homeopathy, for instance, has never been shown to work in scientific studies. In fact, many trials have shown that it doesn't work at all. That's why for my bad back, I'm taking paracetamol, doing the exercises that my physiotherapist recommended and now also having my first session of acupuncture. @drrobgalloway A man who lost 50lbs without trying was told his weight loss had been caused by a deadly fungus found in bat feces. The unnamed Florida resident, 61, finally went to the hospital after suffering night sweats, extreme fatigue and fever for about 10 months. Tests showed he was infected with the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. His levels were extraordinarily high - about 25 times the level able to be detected in a blood test. The fungus had infected his heart, led to inflammation throughout this body, made his spleen swell and caused two masses to grow on his adrenal glands. The above scan shows damage done to an area of the man's heart called the mitral valve as indicated by arrows The above shows areas in the US that are likely suitable for the fungus histoplasma to live Doctors wrote in a case report that the man was lucky to be alive - he had diabetes, high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. Severe infection with the fungus is 100 percent fatal if left untreated in immunocompromised people - Covid is only deadly less in than 0.1 percent of cases. The Florida patient worked as a building supervisor and owned a 16-acre farm where he raised calves. Doctors were baffled as to how he got infected - the fungus is not commonly diagnosed in Florida and is most prevalent in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys. The CDC suggests these areas are a more 'suitable' location for H. capsulatum growth because of their soil acidity, distance from water and land coverage. H. capsulatum is a fungus found in bird and bat feces that causes flu-like illness when people inhale its spores. But the man told doctors he had not had contact with those animals and had not traveled outside of Florida recently. However, H. capsulatum can also contaminate soil and live in the ground for years. The case report said: 'The fungus requires an environment that will support its growth, which commonly includes areas with large amounts of bird or bat excrement, or typically under chicken coops.' The above shows estimated areas in the US with histoplasmosis The above is an image from a body scan of the Florida patient showing two masses on his adrenal glands as indicated by the arrows The man had to undergo heart surgeries to repair the damaged areas of the organ and was prescribed intravenous medication for two weeks. Following his operations, however, he suffered complications and was admitted to the intensive care unit for six days. He experienced anemia due to blood loss and deteriorating kidney function because of cellular damage to the organs. Once recovered, the man was sent home on 'long-term' antifungal treatment. On follow up visits, he had stopped experiencing symptoms and had decreasing levels of histoplasma in his blood. Cases of histoplasmosis are not reportable events in some states so the exact incidence of infection is not known. However, in states that do report the fungus, the rate of infection is generally one to two cases per 100,000 people. Following the report of his illness, the Department of Health requested to take samples of the soil from the man's farm 'as this remained the leading culprit of exposure.' Results were still pending at the time of the case report's publication last month. North Carolina State University played a huge role in Darren Masier's life first as a student earning his degree and PhD, then as a lecturer. But now he fears the college could be the death of him. Professor Masier, 57, began suffering unusual symptoms in mid-2022 a weeks-long eye infection, gum infections that lasted for months and gout. Then last summer, despite being a triathlete and avid runner, he was diagnosed with a rare and deadly blood cancer that normally strikes people in their 70s or 80s. As the father-of-one began treatment, he started to hear from former colleagues who were also struck down by mysterious illnesses including unusual tumors. Professor Masier is pictured above within Poe Hall giving a presentation on his dissertation. He had not previously had concerns over the building Professor Masier is pictured above leaving hospital after 133 days in the units for treatment 'I started hearing from people that I knew about this Poe Hall thing, and a lot of them were being diagnosed with different cancers,' Professor Masier told DailyMail.com. 'There were about six or seven of us who were pretty close during our time at NC State. One of us had leukemia, another of us had cancer, and another had an immune disorder. 'And that's just us six. When they heard I had leukemia, they all tipped me off about this.' The number of cases in his group led Professor Masier who teaches human resource management believe there was an issue with the building where they taught. Professor Masier had attended classes and lectured at Poe Hall on the college's North Campus in Raleigh for five years, from 2009 to 2013. Testing in November 2023 revealed the air and surfaces in the building contained chemicals known as polychlkorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which cause cancer and were outlawed in the US in 1979 after previously been widely used in construction materials, paints and electronic equipment. Tests found levels of this substance at up to 38 times the safe limit in the building, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More than 211 people have now come forward saying they have fallen sick after attending classes at Poe Hall, the 1971-built seven-storey brutalist building. Poe Hall, a class building at North Carolina State University, was found to be contaminated with PCBs which were outlawed in the US in 1979 The building was constructed in 1971, when PCBs were more commonly used in construction materials Rebekah Dunston, a 35-year-old former communications student who was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer after attending classes at the hall. Sarah Glad was also a former student and who died less than two years after she was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. Professor Masier was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of aggressive cancer that affects white blood cells. The majority of cases are diagnosed in those aged 65 years or over, with most occurring in the late 70s and early 80s. Professor Masier pictured above with his wife He is now in remission after being treated with a bone marrow transplant, but eight months later is yet to regain his full strength and can only jog a little. He also had to have the top part of his left lung removed after he developed a fungal infection while in hospital. Professor Masier said: 'I have been a very avid runner and triathlete my whole life, but I can't really run anymore. I just walk and jog a little. 'I am recovering well, but still have about ten pounds to gain back. I am also still bald, but that hair should grow back soon.' Doctors say his cancer has now disappeared, although he remains concerned that it could return. Statistics show that 70 percent of AML patients die within five years of their diagnosis. He has since instructed attorneys to fight to gain access to Poe Hall to allow independent testing of the air to be carried out. He does not plan to seek damages at this time, but rather wants to find the cause of the illnesses in order to help others who were in the building but have since been diagnosed with an illness. This week, independent testing finally began in the building after a settlement was reached with the university following a four-month battle. Darren Masier, 57, pictured above with his wife, was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer a decade after he was teaching in Poe Hall at North Carolina State University NC state received complaints over the building's ventilation system as early as 2007, but did not close it until November 2023 Other victims include Rebekah Dunston (left, in hospital) who discovered she had stage three colon cancer just weeks after Sarah Glad found out she had terminal breast cancer. The pair were in their early thirties and in the prime of their lives Sarah was 14 weeks pregnant (with her baby boy) and Mrs Dunston had just got married They plan to take more than 1,000 swabs in order to build a picture of the extent of PCB contamination in the building. Records show concerns were first raised over the air quality in Poe Hall the former home of the psychology and education classes in 2007, when staff said they needed to put 'cheesecloth-like' fabrics over vents in order to use the building. More recently, people also reported a black liquid dripping out of air ventilation units and onto their desks. The university only closed the building in November 2023, after independent testing revealed it was laced with PCBs. These are man-made chemicals previously used in caulking substances putty used to seal gaps and joints in buildings among others. They may leach out and evaporate into the air, however, where they can be breathed in by humans and enter the blood stream where they play havoc with the immune system and raise the risk of conditions like cancer. The EPA has labeled them a 'potential carcinogen' and lab studies in animals have linked them to blood cancers like non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and cancers of the liver, breast and brain. Dr Norman Sharpless, the former director of the National Cancer Institute and professor of cancer policy and innovation at the University of North Carolina, previously told DailyMail.com: 'The data is reasonably strong that PCBs can be linked to certain kinds of cancer.' NC State alumna Christie Lewis (pictured left), who attended the university from 2007 to 2012, said that she started having night sweats while she was taking classes in Poe Hall. 'I could not figure out what was happening,' she told Fox News Digital Dr Suneel Kamath, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic, added: 'While we can't say for certain that PCBs at Poe Hall were the cause of the cancers observed in patients, it is highly unusual that so many young and otherwise healthy people would get cancers at such a high rate. 'It definitely suggests that some environmental exposure is the culprit. It's unlikely this number of people would have hereditary/genetic reasons to develop cancer, especially without a strong family history.' Professor Masier was in Poe Hall from about 8am to 3pm every day, and then often in the evenings for other classes. In 2013, he left to become a professor at Meredith College also in Raleigh, North Carolina. While being treated for his cancer, he had four rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant when he nearly lost his life after his body showed signs of rejecting the new tissue. 'It was a rough Christmas and New Year's,' he said, 'but I made it out of the intensive care unit and back'. He is pictured again above with his wife following discharge from the hospital Professor Masier added: 'If they find out what caused my leukemia, that could provide assistance to doctors and assist with the treatment of myself or anyone else who falls ill after spending time at Poe Hall. 'If they are hiding something, and everything is pointing towards that they are hiding something, this might infuriate me, who knows. I just want answers.' 'The way NC State has fought us really makes me wonder, there are so many people that have come forward that spent a significant amount of time in Poe Hall, it makes me wonder about that building.' NC State has set up a webpage for those who are concerned about the air quality in Poe Hall, and says it is now looking into replacing the ventilation system. A spokesman said: 'We are pleased that we have reached an agreement with all law firms including those involved in the pending litigation that have reached out to us on behalf of potential claimants to allow them access to Poe Hall to conduct testing and visual inspections of the building. 'While the building remains closed and access limited, this approach ensures that the interested law firms are able to gather the information they are seeking in an orderly process prior to any remediation of the building.' Chancellor Randy Woodson adds online: 'The university remains committed to doing the right things to ensure this is a safe place to work, learn and live.' A life-extending drug for incurable breast cancer will not be made available on the NHS because of its cost. Campaigners reacted with outrage to the decision on trastuzumab deruxtecan, sold under the brand name Enhertu, saying it was denying patients 'precious hope'. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said it was 'deeply disappointed' it was unable to recommend the drug due to pricing. However the companies behind the drug called for the NHS watchdog to 'evolve' the way treatments are assessed. The charity Breast Cancer Now said it was 'devastated and angry' that patients have been 'caught in the middle of a stand-off about cost and the system which is denying them precious hope'. A life-extending drug for incurable breast cancer will not be made available on the NHS because of its cost Campaigners reacted with outrage to the decision on trastuzumab deruxtecan, sold under the brand name Enhertu, saying it was denying patients 'precious hope' Enhertu is the first licensed targeted treatment for patients with HER2-low breast cancer that cannot be removed surgically or that has spread, also known as metastatic breast cancer. Draft guidance published by Nice in September said it would not recommend the drug for NHS use in England due to uncertainties in the information provided. It then paused its appraisal in December during talks with pharmaceutical companies Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca. In March, it was announced talks concluded without a price agreement in place and treatment was blocked. However, in May, Nice paused publication of its final guidance, which it said would aim 'to allow all parties to reach a rapid commercial solution'. Helen Knight, Nice director of medicines evaluation, insisted flexibility had been offered at a 'fair price' but the firms did not put forward a new one. 'We are deeply disappointed that we are unable to recommend Enhertu for use,' she said. The charity Breast Cancer Now said it was 'devastated and angry' that patients have been 'caught in the middle of a stand-off about cost and the system which is denying them precious hope' (file image) About 1,000 patients a year would have been eligible. Both firms said they were disappointed. 'Nice misclassifies HER2-low metastatic breast cancer as a medium severity disease,' they said in a statement, pointing to other European countries, including Scotland, already delivering routine access. 'We are calling on Nice to evolve the way treatments are assessed.' Breast Cancer Now has previously stated that the drugs offer women six more months to live. A spokesman said: 'We are both devastated and angry that women's lives will be shortened as a direct result. 'This was an avoidable tragedy. These women don't have time to wait.' New blood tests for Alzheimers disease offer a potential way to get faster diagnosis, and as a result, put patients on the pathway to treatment. While a range of blood tests are now available, experts have yet to actually assess their accuracy compared to more complex or invasive brain scans and spinal fluid tests which are currently considered the diagnostic standard. But a new study, by experts from the Washington University School of Medicine in the US, aims to change that. Scientists compared six blood tests for Alzheimers which measure different molecules in the blood, called biomarkers, which indicate someone has the disease to see if they were as accurate as current methods. To do this they compared blood samples from 392 patients, with an average of 78, of which half exhibited cognitive impairment, a potential sign of the disease. While a range of blood tests are now available, experts have yet to actually assess their accuracy compared to more complex or invasive brain scans and spinal fluid tests which are currently considered the diagnostic standard Presenting their findings at the Alzheimers Association International Conference in Philadelphia today the experts said of the six tests four reached a 90 per cent accuracy threshold. They noted all four of these tests were designed to home in on one specific biomarker, a form of tau known as phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217). Tau is type of protein found in the brain that in Alzheimers patients acts abnormally, forming tangles that impede the function of the neurons causing a variety of problems, the most famous of which is dementia. Lead researcher of the project and expert in neurology, Suzanne Schindler, said such head-to-head comparisons are important so doctors can help treat their patients more effectively. 'Some of the blood tests are accurate and some are not, and doctors dont know which tests to use,' she said. 'With this head-to-head comparison, doctors now have more reliable information about which tests will best help them provide an accurate diagnosis to their patients.' The six tests analysed were those made by companies or ventures ALZpath, C2N Diagnostics, Fujirebio Diagnostics, Janssen, Quanterix and Roche Diagnostics. Of these, ALZpath, C2N Diagnostics, Fujirebio Diagnostics and Janssen, which examined P-tau 217 performed the best according to the authors. Of this subgroup C2N Diagnostics, Fujirebio Diagnostics were the top performers. Ms Schindler said they set the diagnostic accuracy the tests had to reach as the same as the cerebrospinal fluid tests, which are approved in the US for diagnosing Alzheimers. 'We concluded that, to be used without a second test, blood tests need to be as accurate as FDA-approved cerebrospinal fluid tests, which are approximately 90 per cent sensitive and specific at identifying Alzheimers disease in cognitive impaired individuals,' she said. 'In this current study, the p-tau217 tests met that standard, but the others did not.' Fellow researcher Kellen Petersen, also an expert in neurology, said the identification of single biomarker as distinguishing factor of the head-to-head test comparison, compared to a combination of biomarkers, was contrary to some expectations. Around 900,000 Brits are currently thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017 'Some people thought that we might need to measure multiple biomarkers to get at the different features of Alzheimers disease Thats not what we found,' he said. 'P-tau217 alone can do it all. It accurately predicted levels of amyloid and tau in the brain, brain volumes and cognitive symptoms. It was more accurate than any other biomarker, or even any combination of biomarkers, across the board.' The authors highlighted how rapid and accurate testing of Alzheimers is increasingly critical given how the Food and Drug Administration in the US has recently approved two drugs the slow the progression of the disease. While the drugs, as lecanemab and donanemab, have been described as gamechangers, they only work effectively when Alzheimers is in its very early stages meaning rapid diagnosis is critical to their success. A current lack of Alzheimers testing capacity the UK has prompted experts to warn that as many as four out of five patients who could benefit from the new drugs could miss out. Neither lecanemab nor donanemab are currently approved in the UK though a decision from British regulators is expected this year. The study has a number of limitations, the first is that it is being presented at a conference and has not been published in a peer review journal. The authors themselves another limitation is the small sample size used in the study. Reacting to the study, Dr Jacqui Hanley, head of research funding at charity Alzheimers Research UK, said: 'Too many people in the UK are left anxiously waiting for a dementia diagnosis, up to two years on average, and more than four years if they are under 65.' 'Blood tests, used in combination with other tests, are showing huge promise to help diagnose the diseases that cause dementia, and have the potential to be quicker but just as accurate as PET scans and lumbar punctures. 'But none have been validated to use as part of the diagnosis pathway in the UK.' She said the recent study was promising despite a number of limitations. 'This study, carried out in the US and which is yet to be peer reviewed, compares different commercial blood tests and current diagnosis pathways to understand which is the most accurate way of diagnosing Alzheimers disease,' she said. There are multiple possible signs of dementia a memory-robbing condition plaguing nearly 1million Brits and seven million Americans 'It adds to the growing evidence that blood tests, particularly those that measure levels of p-tau217, can diagnose Alzheimers disease and other causes of dementia, and have the potential to revolutionise the way dementia is diagnosed. 'However, the companies providing the tests for this study also provided the data, which was limited. And only a small number of people were included, so they were not representative of the general population.' Dr Hanley added that before being introduced in the UK such blood tests needed to be tested more widely and Alzheimers Research UK was already funding projects to do this. 'This groundbreaking project aims to transform the way dementia is diagnosed, by validating blood tests for diagnosing dementia that can be used within the NHS within the next 5 years,' she said, In the UK Alzheimers is typically diagnosed after a mental test to see if a patient is suffering from any signs of cognitive impairment. This is then followed up by assessment such as brain scan to see if Alzheimers is the most likely cause. The NHS warns that it may take several appointments and tests over many months before an Alzheimer's diagnosis is confirmed. Hundreds of participants were judged on how healthy their life was, logging a score of between zero and six based on all the different factors. Volunteers who didn't break a sweat for at least ten minutes a day for three or four days a week got nothing. The other lifestyle habits related to alcohol consumption, smoking status and quality of sleep. Social interaction and having hobbies were the other two factors While Alzheimers is the leading cause of dementia other health problems like reduced blood flow to the brain, called vascular dementia, also need to be considered. Charity The Alzheimer's Society reports there are around a million people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Meanwhile in the US there an estimated 7million people living with dementia. It comes as promising research suggests a diabetes jab already prescribed to thousands of NHS patients could slash the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Liraglutide sold under the brand name Saxenda is offered to people with type 2 diabetes as it cuts blood sugar and aids weight loss. Now, research suggests the once-a-day injections could also slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients by as much as 18 per cent. Researchers today said the findings 'provide hope' and could pave the way for new dementia treatments, meaning further research was vital. READ MORE: Abortions hit highest level since 2014 , according to new study DIY abortions surged after Roe V Wade was overturned, a study suggests. The researchers found that about 2.1 percent of all abortions in the US in 2021 were done without medical supervision. Results showed the figure rose to 3.4 percent in 2023, a 40 percent jump, when abortion protections were removed from the federal level. Plan B emergency contraception - which prevents pregnancy but cannot be used to terminate it - herbs such as mugwort, getting hit in the stomach, and drinking alcohol were cited as the most common methods. The team cautioned, however, that while the rise is significant, self-managed abortions are still rare, and the overall number remains low. Abortions from medications like mifepristone were a leading cause of the rise in self-managed abortions, researchers at the University of California - San Francisco found The findings come as over a dozen states have restricted abortions or even banned them altogether following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022. The team wrote: 'These findings suggest an increased prevalence of self-managed abortion in the US; self-manage abortion should continue to be monitored carefully as barriers to facility-based care broaden.' An important caveat the team noted is that when they filtered out the women who performed these abortions without a confirmed pregnancy test, the differences between 2021 and 2023 were not significant. The study was published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco surveyed over 14,000 women at different points between December 2021 and July 2023, asking if they had ever performed a 'self-managed abortion,' or one without medical help. The women were asked two questions. The first was whether or not they 'ever taken or done something on [their] own, without medical assistance, to try to end a pregnancy.' If they answered 'no' or skipped the question, they were presented with a list of self-abortion methods and asked to select any they had ever used 'to try to end a pregnancy on [their] own, without medical assistance.' If the women said 'yes' to either question, they were asked how many times they performed their own abortions, how old they were, if they took a pregnancy test, why they suspected they were pregnant, where they lived, if they method worked, if there were complications, and if they sought medical help after. The team also asked why the women performed their own abortions. Additional research has shown increases. A report by reproductive health firm Guttmacher Institute showed that there were 1 million abortions in the US in 2023, the equivalent of 16 per every 1,000 women. That was up 10 percent from the 14.4 per 1,000 in 2020 and the highest since 2014, when the rate was 14.6 per 1,000 Nearly two-thirds of abortions in 2023 were from medications like mifepristone, according to the report from the Guttmacher Institute Emergency contraception was the most popular method (30 percent), followed by herbs (26 percent), hitting oneself in the stomach (21.6 percent), and alcohol or other substances (18.6 percent). Certain herbs like pennyroyal, mugwort, and high doses of vitamin C have been shown to induce an abortion, but they have also been linked to liver damage. Additionally, Dr Ryan Marino, medical director of toxicology and addiction at the University Hospitals in Cleveland, told NBC News that pennyroyal is especially dangerous. 'Even in cases where people dont get symptomatic, or dont end up hospitalized, its associated with long-term cancer risk,' he said. 'Its a known human carcinogen, and every time those molecules are in your body, theyre doing something bad there.' Meanwhile, the amount of women using abortion pill mifepristone increased by 40 percent between 2021 and 2023, which could have been due to it become widely available online and in pharmacies. This method involves two drugs, taken over a day or two. The first, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy-sustaining hormone progesterone. The second, misoprostol, induces uterine contractions. In March, mifepristone hit the shelves of pharmacies like CVS and Walgreen's in five US states: New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. New Mexico has seen the largest increase in abortions, which could be due to it bordering Arizona and Texas, which have restrictions The above map shows states where abortion is restricted in some form or banned altogether The proportion of self-managed abortions was highest among black women - 5.1 percent in 2023 - and lowest in white women - 2.7 percent. The average age of a woman's first DIY abortion was about 21 in 2021 and 2023. One in five women reported performing more than one self-managed abortion. ' The findings are consistent with other recent research, including a March report from reproductive health firm Guttmacher Institute, which showed that abortions have reached their highest level since 2014. There were several limitations to the study. For example, several women could have underreported their abortions out of fear of repercussions, as the procedure is outlawed in several states. Additionally, self-managed abortions are rare, so there was a small sample size. Thousands of people who attended a popular California music festival are being warned they may have been exposed to a life-threatening fungus. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said it is investigating a cluster of Valley Fever cases identified among attendees of the music festival Lightning in a Bottle in Buena Vista Lake, which was held from May 21 to 25. More than 20,000 people attended the event and five have been diagnosed with Valley Fever. Three of the infected have been hospitalized. Valley fever - which got its name because a majority of cases are found in Arizona and California - is a deadly infection that kills one in 100 people that contract it. The above shows the number of reported Valley Fever cases in the US from 1998 to 2023 The above shows areas where the fungus that causes Valley Fever could be It is caused by the fungus Coccidioides, which releases spores into the air when soil is disturbed that are then inhaled by people. There is no person-to-person transmission. The CDPH said: 'Additional cases linked to attendance at the outdoor festival are possible.' The department added: 'Overall, cases of Valley fever in California have increased substantially over the last two years, so CDPH is asking attendees of this festival to complete a voluntary survey, even if they don't have any symptoms.' Officials did not make public any information about patients, but a Reddit user claims to be one. About 18 days after returning from the festival, they were hospitalized with a severe lung infection and experienced fevers, aches and a cough. The user called Valley Fever 'no joke' and said it was 'causing a cavity (a hole) to form inside my right lung.' Another user commented on the post saying they too had gotten Valley Fever and have been 'insanely sick.' One poster said her husband had been infected and developed fluid in his chest and around his lungs. His symptoms began June 5 and he was hospitalized on June 12. He was finally sent home July 1 but will be on antifungal treatments 'for months.' Multiple users said the festival organizers should relocate going forward because of the prevalence of the fungus in the area and the dusty conditions of the event. Representatives from the Lightning in a Bottle festival told DailyMail.com in an emailed statement: 'The California health department has recently made us aware that they are expecting 7,000-9,000 cases of Valley fever across the state this year, with 5,400 already confirmed, signaling a large increase in 2024 cases due to wet weather. 'This week they reported that 5 cases may have been linked to this years event as part of their Californias Valley fever Awareness Month campaign. 'We prioritize the health and safety of all our patrons and are in communication with the California Department of Public Health and Kern County Public Health Department to learn more about Valley fever and any preventative measures we can take to reduce Valley fever risk for future festival events, and to make information available to this years attendees.' Most people with the mild form of Valley Fever will not realize they have the illness because its symptoms fatigue, cough, fever, aching muscles and breathlessness mimic those of a respiratory virus infection. Other symptoms include night sweats, joint aches and a red rash, usually on the legs but occasionally on the chest, arms and back. The disease, for which there is no preventative vaccine, can often be missed by doctors or misdiagnosed as pneumonia. But up to 10 percent of infections become severe and take months to recover from. In these cases, known as disseminated coccidioidomycosis, the disease can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, including the brain, skin and liver. If it infects the membranes and fluid around the brain it can cause life-threatening meningitis. There is no proven treatment for Valley Fever and patients are usually prescribed rest and given therapies to manage symptoms. Doctors may prescribe antifungal medications, but there is no evidence from clinical trials that show these treatments are effective - and antifungal drugs come with the potential for serious side effects. The above is a photo of a previous Lightning in the Bottle festival in California Valley Fever is caused by the fungus Coccidioides, which releases spores into the air when soil is disturbed that are then inhaled by people California health officials are encouraging people who visited the area around the festival - near the city of Bakersfield and in Kern County - and are experiencing respiratory symptoms to visit a doctor and ask about being evaluated for Valley Fever. The department said: 'Be sure to mention attendance at the music festival or travel to Kern County where Valley Fever is common.' While only five cases have been detected, there are likely more. Mild cases of the fungus in people who contracted it at the event two months ago could have already resolved and others still experiencing symptoms could still be undiagnosed. The number of Valley Fever cases peaked for the first time in a decade in 2021. The 20,970 recorded instances were the most on record for a single year since the last peak in 2011. Instances declined in 2022 but picked back up last year, and experts are concerned over an expected surge of the fungus in the coming decades. The CDC estimates Valley Fever could infect more than half a million Americans each year in the future. The agency said that due to rising temperatures across the globe, the endemic region of the disease will spread north to include dry western areas. Other experts fear that it could be endemic in 17 states by 2100. A man in his 20s suffered a one-in-a-million cancer that may have been linked to his vaping habit. The 23-year-old, from Indonesia, was found to have a tumor called synovial carcinoma which kills around 70 percent of its victims. The tumor had developed in the tissue between his lungs, pushing his heart to the side and preventing it from pumping blood properly. The patient was an e-cigarette user for about five years leading up to his health problems, which plagued him for three months before he was diagnosed. Vaping has been shown to potentially increase the risk of cancer, though the doctors cannot confirm if it was linked to the new patient's tumor. The patient's scan shows a mass on his right side near his lung, which pressed against his heart [shown on the right side of the image, but is the left side of his chest] The young patient had been a regular user of e-cigarettes for about five years leading up to his diagnosis The young man went to the hospital with shortness of breath for about two months, which worsened when he was lying down, and had chest pain and a cough for three months. He also lost 11 pounds in that time. A physical exam showed he had general weakness, an asymmetrical chest shape, decreased vibrations felt through the chest wall in the upper right chest, a dull sound when tapping the upper right chest, and reduced breath sounds in the same area. His doctors began a series of imaging tests, including X-rays and CT scans. One scan showed a tumor on the right side of his chest near his lung. Another showed that the solid mass was compressing veins to the lung, the left side of the heart, a crucial artery going to the right lung, and the right middle lobe of the lung. The tumor was the length of a large tablet, the width of a dinner plate, and the height of a medium cantaloupe, the doctors said. His heart was also surrounded by fluid, and his lymph nodes were enlarged. The compression of various structures in the mans chest reduced oxygen flow to the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties and impaired heart function. Doctors said: Synovial sarcoma macroscopically appears as a well-defined mass with variable size, ranging from 5 to 23 cm [about two to nine inches], with a soft to firm texture and invasion into surrounding tissues. The mass pressed against his heart as well as other organs. It was about the length of a tablet and width of a small cantaloupe Definitive diagnosis of synovial sarcoma can be challenging, even after tissue sampling. Immunohistochemistry can be helpful but insufficient as the tumor can histologically resemble other soft tissue tumors. Vaping has been tied to a higher risk of lung cancer. While it does not produce carcinogen-laced smoke in the same way that cigarettes do, the liquid in e-cigarettes contains thickeners and heavy metals that damage lung tissue. A study out of South Korea last year analyzed health data from 4.3million ex-smokers and found those who switched to vapes were twice as likely to die from lung cancer, compared to those who went cold turkey. Another study, this time from University College London and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, analyzed more than 3,500 cheek swabs of smokers and vape users. They found epithelial cells which typically line organs and are often where cancer starts in the mouth showed substantial granular changes in smokers. Similar changes were observed in the cells of e-cigarette users who had smoked fewer than 100 tobacco cigarettes in their lives. The patient underwent surgery to remove the mass, known as a resection. He then had to go through three rounds of chemo. Synovial sarcoma is considered rare and accounts for around eight percent of tissue tumors while accounting for 15 to 20 percent of the cases in adolescents and young adults. For every one million people, one to two are diagnosed with synovial sarcoma per year in the US. Doctors said: Due to the infrequency, diagnostic errors are common. Histologically, synovial sarcoma can exhibit various growth patterns adding to the diagnostic challenge, especially in uncommon locations. The prognosis of this type of cancer is generally poor, with an estimated 37 percent of patients surviving after five years. After three cycles of chemo, an evaluation of the patient showed that the tumor had shrunk and the fluid around the lung had disappeared. I have questions about the Labour policy to charge VAT on private school fees. Firstly, what is the legal position? My understanding was that VAT could not be applied to education or the provision of such. I believe this divisive policy will widen the gap between those that have and those that don't. If it is implemented, would the Government allow those who qualify (parents not on six-figure salaries) to pay for their school fees via tax-free childcare? Private schools: Charging VAT of 20% on their fees is one of Labour's key policies Finally, I understand that Labour will enact a policy whereby they can retrospectively charge VAT on any school fees paid from the date the policy is enacted, giving them time to put a framework around the VAT charging and claw back backdated VAT. Is this the case? If so how likely is challenging it to be successful? SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW TO ASK HEATHER YOUR TAX QUESTION Heather Rogers replies: Charging VAT of 20 per cent on private school fees was much discussed during the election as one of Labour's key policies. After it was included in the King's Speech, we can be fairly confident that this policy will feature in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's first Budget which is on 30 October 2024. Here, I'll give you an overview of Labour's plans before turning to your specific questions. First, let's look at the definition of a private school, as this will be relevant. A private school, also known as an independent school, is one which charges fees for pupils to attend. They do not have to teach the national curriculum at present, but they have to be inspected. About half the independent schools have charitable status and about half do not. Some of these schools specialise in teaching children with special educational needs and disabilities, known as SEND. Sometimes local authorities will fund children who have education, health and care (EHC) plans to attend these special independent schools. What are Labour's plans for private school fees? Labour plans to remove the current VAT exemption and also business rates relief for private schools, raising an approximate 1.5billion per year. This will be spent on 6,500 new teachers, teacher training, delivering work experience and career advice for young people, amongst many other educational projects. As noted above, most of these plans are paid for by local authorities but the VAT changes will not affect those children whose needs can only be met by a private school. The Chancellor is permitting local authorities to reclaim the VAT where they pay; if a parent doesn't receive local authority funding, then it is less clear what the position is. How will removal of the VAT exemption work? Independent schools, regardless of whether they have charitable status or not, are exempt right now from charging VAT, if they are deemed to be 'eligible bodies'. Along with fees for education, those for related services such as boarding, trips and catering are also currently exempt. VAT will in future apply to tuition fees and boarding fees. It will not apply to nursery care, wraparound childcare (before and after school care), school meals and holiday clubs and part time classes music, drama, and so on. The legislation is currently laid down in the EC Directive 2006/112/EC and is implemented in the UK under the VAT Act 1994 (known as VATA 1994), which was retained after Brexit. Changes will require careful drafting. The VAT charge will apply to both UK and overseas students and will apply across the UK. Will changes be made retrospectively? Can you pay school fees in advance to avoid the VAT? You asked whether Labour will try to retrospectively charge VAT on any school fees. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that the VAT exemption would not be applied retrospectively However, there has been much discussion about whether parents should pay fees in advance for subsequent school years, prior to any VAT legislation change, and therefore avoid the charge - this is known as forestalling. Unfortunately, it's not that simple and this is why. Labour had said that the VAT charge will apply from 1 January 2025 but it will catch pre-payments made on or after 29 July 2024. This would mean that on any fees paid from now for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025 school year onwards, VAT can be recovered. The Chancellor has stated that prepayments of fees for terms starting on or after 1 January made on or after 29 July 2024 will have VAT applied. Anti-forestalling legislation has been used before. It was introduced by George Osborne when the VAT rate was raised from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent in 2011. It was also used when changes were made to VAT rates and certain loopholes closed in 2012 - including the infamous Pasty Tax, which was eventually scrapped. Money spinner: Labour plans to use the estimated 1.5billion annual income from VAT on school fees to hire and train more teachers in the state sector and provide work experience Will there be legal challenges? You asked about whether removing the VAT exemption will stand up legally. I am not a lawyer, but it is quite possible there will be various challenges depending on the legislation brought in. Part of the reason why I believe no retrospective VAT charge has been made on fees is due to the legal complexities of doing so. Tax-Free Childcare and private school fees Regarding your question on Tax-Free Childcare, which provides up to 2,000 a year to help with childcare, this can be used by parents to cover some kinds of costs but not others. There is a useful explanation on the Revenuebenefits website, which is a partnership between the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group and Rightsnet, created with support from HMRC. It says: 'Tax-Free Childcare payments are for actual childcare but there are various situations where the childcare fees also include other items. 'Where the childcare is provided by a private school where the child attends, tax-free childcare can be used to pay for those costs if they: - Relate to a child under compulsory school age, or - Do not include any element of compulsory education, or - Are for childcare provided out of school hours. 'If the costs are partly for qualifying childcare and partly for compulsory education, only the portion which relates to the qualifying childcare can be paid for using the tax-free childcare account.' Will private schools have to pass on VAT in full to parents? At the moment, schools are exempt, meaning that they are not VAT registered. They don't pay VAT but they don't claim it back either. The Institute for Fiscal Studies expects the average net VAT payable to be around 15 per cent, due to being able to offset input tax on purchases. Additionally, some schools might be able to reduce the bill by reclaiming VAT under the capital goods scheme, or on capital expenditure that doesn't qualify under the capital goods scheme. If they are charities they will still be liable to be registered for VAT if they exceed the VAT registration threshold, but they will continue to receive tax beneficial treatment as a charity - Labour is not removing their charitable status. Many schools, like most businesses that deal with the public, will also no doubt absorb a proportion of the VAT themselves, to avoid a price increase of effectively 20 per cent. What can parents worried about paying VAT on school fees do now If you have already paid, you are probably OK, but on payments from (and including) 29 July, VAT applies. Additionally, business rate relief is being removed from April 2025 and even those schools which are charities will not be able to claim charitable relief. Advertisement When most petrolheads hear the words 'car show', they think of gatherings of ultra-rare classics worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and displays of exotic supercars. But this weekend saw the return of a car show that goes against convention. The Festival of the Unexceptional is a unique motoring event designed to celebrate long-forgotten everyday family cars many of us would have owned during the 1970s to 1990s. Some 2,000 once-popular vehicles from the era descended on the grounds of Grimsthrope Castle in Lincolnshire. Of 50 cherished mundane motors picked out to compete in its 'concours' showpiece, this year's winner was an immaculate 1982 Toyota Hilux. Can you spot any models you've previously owned? The Festival of the Unexceptional is a unique motor show like no other. It is designed to celebrate long-forgotten everyday family cars many of us would have owned during the 1970s to 1990s, including cars like 1982 Vauxhall Cavaliers (pictured) Some 2,000 once-popular vehicles from the 'unexceptional era' descended on the grounds of Grimsthrope Castle in Lincolnshire at the weekend The quirky event has become one of the big dates on the summer motoring calendar, with this year's show another sell-out with 4,000 people in attendance. Hosted by classic car insurer Hagerty, it offers the opportunity for owners of undesirable vehicles from 1969 to 1999 to showcase cars that commonly ended up in scrapyards and have since disappeared from our roads as a result. The weekend's showcase was the tenth instalment and was its biggest yet with more showgoers and cars than ever before. Fifty cars are picked to enter a concours show. The winners trophy for the 2024 event was awarded to Mitch Lewis and his pristine Toyota Hilux pick-up. A workhorse on a strawberry-picking farm from new, it has just 20,000 miles on the clock and is entirely original and in immaculate condition From left to right: Amy Jaine's 1998 Renault Clio which was awarded runner-up in the best in show; Luca Alpert's German-registered Nissan Primera won the Retro Repmobile trophy; Mitch Lewis' crowned Toyota Hilus; Colin Corke's Applejack Austin Metro was winner of the Chairman's Award The winners trophy for the 2024 event was awarded to Mitch Lewis and his pristine Toyota Hilux pick-up. A workhorse on a strawberry-picking farm from new, it clocked 10,000 miles under its original lady owner. Since Mitch purchased the Hilux he's put another 10,000 miles on it, though it remains completely original and in absolutely immaculate condition. To prepare for the event, the car was simply 'cleaned well, and driven to the event,' according to its owner. Owners of a 1997 Toyota Paseo and 2003 Toyota Yaris congregate behind their motors A 1994 Proton 1.5 GL drives up to the entrance of the show, followed closely by a Mk1 Ford Fiesta The mix of vehicles is particularly varied, including those selected for the Concours showpiece. From left to right is a 1994 Reliant Robin next to Colin Corke's 1981 Metro and a 1995 Alfa Romeo 145 This is the only show you'll likely see someone meticulously cleaning a 1989 Proton GL Black Knight. This is the motor than one the best in show award in 2021 Showing just how eclectic the mix of machinery on display at the festival is, the second place trophy was awarded to Amy Jaine's 1998 Renault Clio. The French supermini was originally owned by her grandmother, bought to take her grandchildren on days out. Many years later it was destined to be scrapped as it was no longer used. However, Amy rescued it and says she now uses it to return the favour to ferry her grandmother around, on days out. Another gong was handed out for the 'Retro Repmobile Award', which was presented to German Luca Alpert and his Nissan Primera. Luca is 21, drives the Primera daily and travelled all the way from Hanover to enter the 2024 Festival of the Unexceptional. A fleet of first-generation Ford Focus arrive at the show. The model launched in 1998, meaning it just squeezes into the unexceptional era One of the big highlights of this year's event was the attendance of this car - the last Austin Montego to be produced, which was supplied from the British Motor Museum's collection. It's signed by the assembly line that built it A pair of Bond Bug three-wheelers. Reliant built these two-seater, wedge-shape micocars from 1970 to 1974. They famously feature a lift-up canopy and side screens instead of conventional doors The range of models in attendance is a selection of the most boring vehicles from a forgotten era, including many Vauxhall Novas and Ford Fiesta There aren't many shows where a Fiat Multipla might attract adoring looks, but one is the Festival of the Unexceptional Taking the last available prize - the Chairman's Award - was Colin Corke for his Applejack Metro - the eighth time he's entered the concours at the festival and the first time he's taken home a crown. There were a few significant motors on display given their historical value. One of them among the 4,000-strong parade of vehicles was the very last Austin Montego to be produced, which was supplied from the British Motor Museum's collection. Among the 50 cars in the concours show of the best-kept cars was a 1996 Fiat Punto (left) and 1994 Vauxhall Corsa, both in stunning condition This stretch 1996 Rover 827 might just be one of the least cool limos in existence. Parked alongside it is a nineties 900 Series Volvo This early Ford Mondeo is another example of once very popular family cars from the 1990s that has rapidly depleted in numbers in recent years The event, hosted at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, was a sell out. Some 4,000 people attended with 2,000 vehicles Hagerty, the classic car insurer that organises the event, says it is an important part of 'securing the future of classic cars' and offers the chance for younger enthusiasts to get involved with the cars they own - some of them older than they are Thousands of other cars from the generation lined the castle grounds for as far as the eye could see, with many owners having travelled hundreds of miles to be there. The public display had a wide offering of vehicles, ranging from a perfectly unexceptional Vauxhall Belmont to a base-spec W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and everything in-between. Mark Roper, managing director of Hagerty International, said: 'Festival of the Unexceptional is an important part of securing the future of classic cars, with many young enthusiasts attending to show their FOTU-era cars.' Criminal gangs are using a devious tactic to steal financed cars from Britain and are then transporting them to different parts of Europe, we can reveal. The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) told This is Money that it has prevented the theft of - or returned - 320 stolen financed motors since 2021 with the support of HPI Check data. The team has found and returned vehicles worth 9.6million, with Romania and Bulgaria accounting for 60 per cent of the value seized. A specialist vehicle crime intelligence company has been working with HPI Check to track down and locate hundreds of financed cars stolen from the UK and transported to Europe The NaVCIS is funded by the Finance and Leasing Association and has one role: to track down and recover stolen finance vehicles. The aim is to take down large-scale illegal operations using different strategies to pinch motors. Members of criminal gangs will take out vehicles on hire purchase agreements in their own name. Before defaulting on payments, they fit the cars with false plates to avoid detection. Others fraudulently take out finance using a false identity. The vehicles leave the UK through ferries, shipping containers and the channel tunnel. The team has found and returned vehicles worth 9.6m, with Romania and Bulgaria accounting for 60% of the value seized. The NaVCIS is working with forces in these countries to identify pinched UK models However, HPI Check has been supporting the intelligence service with its own vehicle data, which is made available to European Law Enforcement to aid in identifying stolen motors. When vehicles are being re-registered in the destination country, the vital intelligence and data provided by the NaVCIS and HPI Check flags if these are stolen UK cars. If identified, they can be seized by local police and returned to their rightful UK finance companies. The tactic is just one that's been highlighted by the operation in recent years, which is developing a list of best practices to help overcome the increase in vehicle finance crime. Over 5,000 vehicles in the UK and abroad, with a combined value of more than 75million, have been recovered since operations began in 2007. Members of criminal gangs take out vehicles on hire purchase agreements in their own name or using a false identity Sharon Naughton, head of NaVCIS, said: 'These are complex crimes operating across international borders, and it requires the tireless work of the NaVCIS team of experts, alongside partners across Europe, to identify and seize these vehicles. 'Our data partnership with HPI is essential to the process, which is time critical to prevent onward transit of stolen cars, reducing opportunities for seizure and allows vehicles to be checked for outstanding finance, theft and a wide range of other factors.' Following the success of the operation, other foreign police services have expressed an interest in cooperating with NaVCIS. Jon Clay, data director at HPI, added: 'Advanced technology ensures that our data is updated in real-time, and were pleased to support the vital work undertaken by NaVCIS.' Care at home: Find out how to get it set up and what it costs Amanda Greenaway is head of care and lifestyle at retirement development provider McCarthy Stone. The firm provides care for many homeowners who live independently in its communities. When people think of care in later life, they often assume it will be provided in a residential care home. However, nearly a million people a year receive care in their own home. It is there to help people who are finding it difficult to cope with daily tasks, such as washing or dressing, want extra companionship or need help to get out and about. For many older people, it provides extra support to maintain a degree of independence and their preferred routines for as long as possible. What type of care is available to people in later life? There are typically three main options. Most people receive help in their own home, with a carer visiting them regularly if needed. Another option is making the move into a residential care home, although this is usually for those who cant maintain their independence at home. The third is a retirement community, which helps people maintain their independence in their own property, but often has a range of flexible care and support options available from a dedicated team based on-site. Having more help in your own home can make a huge difference to your wellbeing, especially to help maintain independence and mobility. It can be provided for perhaps an hour a week, or even several hours a day and night depending on your needs. A carer could also live with you. Support includes the following. - Helping you with your daily routine, such as getting in and out of bed, washing, dressing and getting out and about Amanda Greenaway: Care at home helps people maintain a degree of independence and their preferred routines for as long as possible - Using the toilet - Preparing meals and drinks - Helping with medications - Shopping, collecting prescriptions or your pension - Cleaning and changing bed sheets - Laundry - Doing the washing up - Companionship How do you set up care at home? If you need care and want to remain in your own home, in the first instance you will need to undertake a needs assessment to help you understand the nuances of what you require, how much it costs, and what it would involve. This is usually done in two ways. It can be done through your local council, which will arrange a visit from a social care officer to undertake a care needs assessment. This will decide what you need, what if any free care you might be eligible for, and what the costs might be. To find out which council area you are in, go here: Apply for a needs assessment by social services. You can also contact a private care provider and ask it to undertake a care needs assessment. Ahead of the assessment, think about what you would like help with and do some research about whats available. Depending on what the agreed outcome of your needs assessment shows, the care is usually provided directly by your council or by your private provider. Will you have to pay for care at home? Some people with very complex care needs can receive non-means tested funding from the NHS, particularly if you suffer from cancer. In England and Wales care at home will need to be paid for if your savings and assets are above the local authority means-test threshold for care funding. This doesn't include the value of your home. England: 23,250, also inclusive of any income. Annual income including savings which combined adds up 23,250 will mean that people will have to pay the costs of their care in full. This includes all income, though some specific disability benefits may be excluded. If savings are held jointly with someone else these are usually treated as equally divided. The means test works as follows: Over 23,250 you need to pay the full costs of your own care Between 14,250 and 23,250 contribution made from your income and sliding scale of support from local authority Less than 14,250 - the council will pay the costs identified via their needs assessment. Wales: Over 24,000, you pay a maximum weekly charge of 100. Northern Ireland and Scotland: Personal care at home is free to those who have been assessed by their local authority as needing it. There is no means test for personal care but other kinds of support may be charged for. If, following a needs assessment, your needs weren't found to be eligible for local authority support then you will most likely need to self-fund. It is worth getting a needs assessment even if you are found not to qualify for funding as your local council will give you information about the range of local services available to meet your needs. You can still ask them to help arrange care services for you, even when you are paying for these services yourself. The assessment will also be important if your needs or means change in the future. How much does care at home cost? Care at home is usually much more cost-effective than moving into a residential home, where the average cost is now more than 1,000 a week. More complicated care needs mean costs will be even higher. When it comes to care at home, costs vary substantially depending on where you live, the care provider and the support required. Home care services are typically quoted for on an hourly basis by most home care agencies. Live-in care fees will usually be calculated on a weekly basis. The UK Homecare Association advises 29-30 per hour for regulated care services. These are services which are externally regulated and monitored by the Care Quality Commission. What should you look for in a care provider and what should you ask? Making the right choice of provider will naturally be a significant concern for people accepting the need for care at home for the first time. For many, the idea of having someone new coming into your home is at best uncomfortable, and at worst potentially intrusive or scary. For family members, concern over the wellbeing of a loved one who needs care can be exhausting and filled with guilt. However, where the right steps are taken, it can create a better and more balanced family relationship. The following is a list of questions you should ask a potential care provider: 1. Who will write my care plan? How am I involved and how will you understand me and my needs? Either the care recipient or a nominated representative or family member should be fully involved in putting together the care plan and agreeing the visit timings. This document which you will see and agree lays out directions to the care company and the carers involved as to what you need and how you like things to be done. A good care company will support you to make this your document. 2. How many carers will be involved? Ideally, we would expect the number of carers involved to be kept as low as possible. Consistency of carers and timings in the care plan should be a priority. However, it is important to accept that carers will have holidays and other absences, so with larger care packages a group of up to six carers might be acceptable. Look to agree what this number may be with the care company and ask them for confirmation that this is possible. 3. What training do care staff receive? Staff should have references, have been checked by police, and have completed the right level of training. You may also want to ask about any specific training which is relevant to your individual needs, for example memory care or hoist training. 4. Will you get to meet the carers before they start? There is no guarantee you will be able to meet your carers before they start, but it is certainly worth asking and a good care provider will always try to make this happen for you. At the very least, you can ask for specific information about the individuals who will be visiting. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable with an individual, let the provider know straight away so they can resolve things or arrange a change. 5. Who will see the care plan or visit notes? Outside of your care team, your care plan and visit notes should only be shared with you, those with an appropriate power of attorney, or people with whom you have chosen to share them. The only exceptions to this may be the inspector from the Care Quality Commission or to health, social care or blue light professionals where it has been deemed you are at risk of harm at any time. This should all be agreed with you at the time the care plan is finalised. 6. What if your needs change? Things change and so do our needs. You can request a change to your care plan at any time to support an increase or decrease to your needs. The care company should look to regularly review your care plan with you as part of the support they deliver. How is the quality of home care regulated? The Care Quality Commission is responsible for monitoring quality and performance. Check the latest CQC report online for any care provider before entering into a contract with them. The CQC report will outline the experiences of other people using each specific service and what the people who work for that service think and say, and give you an overview of strengths and weaknesses of each provider. This can be really useful when talking to the care manager who will be overseeing the service to ensure they fully understand what is important to you as a family or individual, and that you understand what is achievable and reasonable for them to deliver. It is important to have a clear agreement on how things will proceed from the outset. You should be explicit about your needs and preferences for how you like things done. Ultimately, the carer is a visitor in your home who is there to ensure your wellbeing. What other support is available? It is possible to adapt your home, for instance with a stair lift, and you can request help from your local authority social care team. In some cases, they may be able to send out an occupational therapist to help to advise on changes to your home which may make life easier. Age UK can also offer independent advice and support on managing in later life including information on funding and entitlements, telephone befriending and in some locations social activities and other services. Age UK has a free helpline: 0800 678 1602. Cruel online trolls have raised questions following the deaths of a toddler and her heroic father, who were killed when their pram rolled onto the tracks. The pram, which was carrying two-year-old twins, rolled onto the railway tracks at Carlton train station in Sydney's south about 12.25pm on Sunday. The twins' father, Anand Runwal, 40, leapt down from the platform in a brave attempt to save them, but a passing train struck and killed both the father and one of his daughters, Hilal. Mr Runwal's wife, Poonam, watched on in horror and was screaming for her husband and children as another commuter held her back while police jumped onto the track to try and locate her family. Miraculously, Hilal's twin sister Hiya was pulled from underneath the train and escaped the accident 'with hardly a scratch on her'. NSW Police are investigating what caused the pram to roll over and believe a simple 'gust of wind' could have caused the accident. They said the parents appeared to have taken their hands off the pram for a 'very short period of time' before it rolled towards the tracks. Pictured, Anand Runwal and wife Poonam with their two-year-old twin daughters Hilal and Hiya On social media, some cruel trolls claimed the tragedy could have been avoided, just days after the tragic deaths. 'I'm sorry, prams are fitted with brakes. This is tragic, no doubt about it, but why didn't he just click the brakes on the pram before leaving it unattended? That's what most would do,' one. A second added: There are signs everywhere to keep hold of your pram on platforms. It's also common sense. Also prams have brakes for this exact reason.' Others jumped to the parents' defence, explaining a runaway pram is very common and that the parents might have had a lapse in concentration. 'This is such a tragedy. A moment's lapse of concentration or turning away from a pram, and the worst happens. Sadly, I've seen this almost happen so many times,' one said. 'My daughter was eight months when my pram rolled from our front gate to the street - unfortunately, I forgot to put the brakes on, and yes, very lucky she survived without any consequences,' a second added. Another wrote: 'Does anyone commenting this think for a second this mother isnt going to punish herself every day for the rest of her life?'. The twins' father heroically jumped onto the tracks to try and save his daughters but was struck by a train passing through, killing him and his daughter Hilal Miraculously, Hiya survived the accident with 'hardly a scratch on her' (pictured, Hilal and Hiya) Cruel trolls are blaming the parents for the deaths, claiming they were responsible for the pram rolling onto the tracks and should have used the pram's brakes (pictured, the family minutes before the tragic accident) Principal owner and consultant at Railway Safety 101 Michael Maartensz told Daily Mail Australia the horrible accident was caused by a 'tragic set of circumstances'. Mr Maartensz explained it seemed the pram was briefly left unattended, and a gust of wind, coupled with the platform sloping, pushed it onto the tracks. When speaking with Daily Mail Australia, Mr Maartensz said passenger screen doors were the 'ultimate solution' to preventing accidental deaths at railway stations. Passenger or platform screen doors weigh 175 kilograms, are about 2.5 meters high, and stretch 170 metres, creating a barrier between the platform and the track. NSW Sydney Metro installed the safety measure across its eight new city stations, including Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street, Central, Waterloo and Sydenham. However, he claimed the government would not have 'an appetite' to install passenger screen doors at existing stations because it is too expensive. 'It's really not on their radar. It would cost a lot of money, but boy, it would, definitely save lives and in this case, it would have saved two lives,' Mr Maartensz said. 'It's just really unfortunate that that sort of railway infrastructure is not in place or in all the networks at this point.' The safety expert added further warning signs alerting parents to the dangers of prams on platforms were cost effective and could be implemented immediately. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland conceded that the installation of guard rails across the whole network would be a massive challenge. He said the size of the Sydney rail network, which consists of 500 platforms and various types of trains, pose significant logistical and structural issues. The [train] doors are spaced at different intervals. So for a platform screen door to operate effectively, it needs to line up exactly with the train doors as they stop at the platform,' Mr Longland told 7 News. 'And the signalling system needs to ensure that the train can stop at that exact point on the platform'. The landline was once the centrepiece of the home. Before the internet and social media, people relied on their home phone to stay in touch with friends. Typically located in a living room and shared between family members, the landline telephone often came with a tangled spinal cord and hard-to-press buttons. But as modern technology has developed, landlines have become more and more a remnant of times gone by. According to Ofcom's annual technology tracker, for the first time ever, the majority of Brits do not have a home phone. Just 47 per cent of UK homes have a landline as of 2024, as more people are relying on their smart phones to communicate and voice calls are going out of fashion. But does the traditional landline still have its place in modern society? MailOnline asked shoppers on Oxford Street, London, and Newcastle's Quayside, whether they still have one and whether or not they use it. LONDON: Student Dylan Hughes, 18 (pictured) was unsure at first what a landline telephone was and said mobiles are more convenient to use LONDON: Calum Hollington, 25, (pictured) who works in media, said he still had a landline telephone but he 'wasn't sure whether it still works anymore' LONDON: Aidan and Charlotte, both 29, from Australia, (pictured) who both work in health and fitness, said neither of them had used a landline since they were children living at home Phil Douglas, 71, from South Australia, believes traditional landlines still have their uses. 'If you've got a landline, you've got a constant link,' he said. 'If you've got a mobile, things can shut down. Same as GPS, they can switch the satellites off any day and your GPS is no use. So you need that fall back, you need that in case one of them doesn't work. 'I've just had two weeks in Switzerland absolutely fighting my phone. Everything these days is online. 'Mobiles are great when they work but its like any technology, when it works its fantastic but you need a fallback for when it doesn't.' LONDON: Phil Douglas, 71, from South Australia, (pictured) believes traditional landlines still have their uses LONDON: Retiree Joan O'Sullivan, 62, said her mother-in-law still relies on her landline and that they still have their uses A MailOnline graphic showing the data according to Ofcom 's annual technology tracker When asked about the pros and cons of a landline, Phil added: 'With a landline you're restricted to your house, you can't use it everywhere whereas with a mobile you can, so you've got that flexibility. 'It's great to have both. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, which is what they're going to do if they get rid of the landlines. Keep the landlines, keep the mobiles and have the two working together.' Student Dylan Hughes, was unsure at first what a landline telephone actually was. He told MailOnline: 'Is that the one that's connected to the wall? My grandparents used to have one. I don't know if they still do, but that's the closest thing to what I used to have.' The 18-year-old said he didn't see the point in a landline, not when it is more convenient to use a mobile. He said: 'Everyone's got their phone on them, it's always on them and not just at home. I can contact that guy across the street right there, I don't have to wait until I get home. 'A mobile is more portable and that's the number one benefit in my opinion.' Dalal Daoud shared Dylan's views and said mobiles are 'convenient' to use because they also contain all of your contact numbers. The 45-year-old who works in advertising added: 'I think if you're used to a landline and that's something you rely on I'm thinking for the much older generation where it's their go-to and something they use[...]then there's nothing wrong with a duel (approach). 'I'm not saying landlines should be completely taken out, but I see it within the next decade or two that that's maybe where it's going.' LONDON: Dalal Daoud, 45, (pictured) said mobile phones were more convenient to use because they are on your person at all times and contain all your contact numbers NEWCASTLE: Jan, 55, told MailOnline that her mother uses a landline and it is her 'lifeline' Aidan and Charlotte, 29, from Australia, who both work in health and fitness, said neither of them had used a landline since they were children living at home. 'I would never pick up a landline to call someone,' Charlotte said. 'Everyone is out and about and you're not just sitting at home waiting for someone to call so you have a mobile on you.' Aidan added: 'I think it's just so easy for everyone to have a mobile phone and if you're trying to call someone individually, rather than calling a house where there's loads of people there, you just call the individual. The pair acknowledged it would be 'tough' for elderly people who are still reliant on their landline, but said their grandparents have made the switch. When asked about the pros of having a landline, Charlotte said 'aesthetically'. 'If you had one of those old school phones, it would look cool,' she said. It comes as BT is looking to phase out traditional landlines and replace these with a digital network that relies on broadband. But the controversial move has been put on hold following concerns the elderly and vulnerable might be at risk as many consider their analogue landline to be a lifeline. And new data suggests that fourth fifths of people aged 65 and over continue to rely on their landline telephone. Calum Hollington, 25, who works in media, said he still had a landline telephone but he 'wasn't sure whether it still works anymore'. When asked about concerns for elderly relatives, Callum said this was the case 'maybe five or 10 years ago but now my grandparents are using mobiles now with no problems.' He said: 'I can't think of anyone that relies on the landline in my sphere of family and friends.' Jan, 55, told MailOnline in Newcastle: 'My mum still has a landline but that's her lifeline.' Retiree Joan O'Sullivan, 62, said she did have a landline telephone but she didn't use it and only ever receives nuisance calls via it. She did, however, say she felt for the older generation who find it difficult to use modern mobiles. 'My mother-in-law, she's 95, so obviously it's a bit harder for her to use her mobile so she relies on her landline,' she said. 'I think, still have a landline, don't get rid of it it's still very useful.' Charlotte, 29, from Adelaide in Australia, said one of the pros of having a landline was the 'aesthetic' of traditional rotary phones (pictured) NEWCASTLE: Robert Rolls, 64, said he still had a landline but it wasn't a 'conscious' decision to keep it, 'it's just something we've had and we've not got round to getting rid of it' LONDON: Sherice Friedland, 48, (pictured) said she hadn't used a landline for around five years and wasn't sure whether her children could remember what a landline looked like NEWCASTLE: Andrea Russ, 32, said she hasn't had a landline in eight years because she's rarely at home and prefers to be reachable by her mobile phone Robert Rolls, 64, said he still had a landline but it wasn't a 'conscious' decision to keep it, 'it's just something we've had and we've not got round to getting rid of it'. He added: 'We kept it to provide the broadband over but that's about it. We virtually never use it, we use mobiles all the time now.' Sherice Friedland, 48, said she hadn't used a landline for around five years and wasn't sure whether her children could remember what a landline looked like. The physiotherapist said: 'At least with a landline your battery can't run flat but I think there are more cons than pros.' Andrea Russ, 32, said she hasn't had a landline in eight years because she's rarely at home and prefers to be reachable by her mobile phone. 'On the landline you get lots of phone calls to buy things which you don't get on your phone because you can just block those numbers.' she said. But, she said 'you know where to reach someone' on a landline 'and they don't have a battery problem, you can't lose them. There's that one place you can always find someone.' Andrea has fond memories of speaking to her friends on the landline when she was younger and said there was still a place in society for them. In December 2023, the Government was alerted to cases in which the changeover had stopped telecare devices working, particularly those in rural and isolated areas. Around 1.8million elderly and disabled people rely on the alarms, which are worn around the neck or wrist and automatically call a response centre over the landline in a health emergency. When the phone lines need internet signal, telecare systems will simply stop working if coverage drops. In contrast, traditional copper phone lines typically continue to work even in power cuts. Just 47 per cent of homes have a landline as of 2024, as more people are relying on their smart phones to communicate and voice calls are going out of fashion(Stock Photo) The rollout of digital phone lines was put on hold amid fears it was putting the elderly and vulnerable at risk (Stock Photo) Following the reports, telecoms providers including Sky and TalkTalk were summoned to Westminster where they 'committed to concrete measures to protect vulnerable households'. The Government said all providers had agreed 'to not forcibly move customers on to the new network unless they are fully confident they will be protected'. The Telegraph reported that the number of households with landline telephones has dropped from 54 per cent in 2023, while a decade ago 84 per cent had a home phone. Video calls became more popular during Covid lockdowns, which may have contributed to the drop in home phone ownership from 77 per cent to 66 per cent in 2020 to 2021. There was also a rise in the number of complaints about nuisance calls during that period, causing many people to stop answering the phone altogether. Younger people in particular prefer to use text messages and video calls as their preferred method of communication. And just 16 per cent of under 25s have a landline. Epstein used Gates's The Giving Pledge charity to 'tunnel his way into' his orbit Bill Gates was at one point the 'brightest star' in Jeffrey Epstein's orbit but became a target for the late pedophile after their short-lived partnership collapsed, a new book claims. Epstein had set his sights on Gates in 2010 when the Microsoft founder and fellow billionaire Warren Buffett launched The Giving Pledge, a charitable campaign under which they vowed to donate 99 percent of their wealth. To Epstein, their charitable initiative was a potential new 'way to make money' and restore his public image, according to new biography, Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World. It would allow Epstein to launder his reputation after his 2008 conviction for procuring underaged girls saw him serve a brief stint in jail and made him a registered sex offender. In the book, set to be released August 13, New York Times journalist Anupreeta Das writes that Epstein then began to 'tunnel his way into Gates's orbit' with spectacular results. Bill Gates is pictured at Epstein's Manhattan mansion in 2011, from left: Jes Staley, at the time a senior JPMorgan executive; former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers; Epstein; Gates and Boris Nikolic, who was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's science adviser According to a new book, Epstein began to tunnel himself into Gates's orbit after the Microsoft founder and fellow billionaire Warren Buffett announced their charitable campaign The Giving Pledge in 2010 The two men became friends as they worked on a health fund for billionaires with Gates even calling Epstein 'my buddy'. Epstein's outrageous lifestyle was an 'adventure' for nerdy Gates who chafed at his overscheduled life married to a wife committed to monogamy, Das writes. Emails between the two men even referred to Gates visiting one of Epstein's homes for 'Big Macs', which some took to mean young girls. Gates, 68, denies most of the accusations in the book, saying Das relied 'almost exclusively on second- and third-hand hearsay and anonymous sources'. In a statement to DailyMail.com, he added: 'The book includes highly sensationalized allegations and outright falsehoods that ignore the actual documented facts our office provided to the author on numerous occasions. 'Mr. Gates has previously stated his deep regret for ever meeting with Epstein, who he met with for discussions regarding philanthropy only.' But Das's book puts a fresh spotlight on his relationship with Epstein, which is seen as having cost him his marriage to Melinda French Gates. Melinda only met Epstein once in 2013 and told her husband he was 'evil personified' but Gates inexplicably carried on seeing him anyway. While the world saw the Giving Pledge in 2010 as an extraordinary gesture by the world's two richest men, Epstein just saw another lucrative opportunity. Das, 46, writes that Epstein saw that much of Buffett's money would be distributed through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 'began to tunnel a way into (Gates's) orbit'. New biography, Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World, will be released on August 13 Epstein, who counted Britain's Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton among his associates, saw Gates as more valuable than anyone else. The money element was the key and Epstein saw a way to do what he had always done: connect people and make a fortune for himself. By August 2010, 40 billionaires had signed up to the Giving Pledge and many turned to Gates for advice about how to give away their money. They did not have experience setting up their own foundations yet Gates did. As a result, Das writes: 'Of all the stars that studded Epstein's dark universe, Gates was the brightest'. Their first meeting was in the summer of 2011 after Epstein pitched Gates a health-based fund for billionaires. The introduction came through Epstein friend, neurosurgeon Melanie Walker, and Boris Nikolic, the former chief advisor on science and technology to Gates. Epstein would later name Nikolic as executor of his will days before committing suicide, in a move that is believed to have been intended to undermine Gates. According to Das, Gates had been 'receptive' to Epstein's idea and didn't appear to have even done a Google search to vet the pedophile. Had he done so, he would have seen that Epstein had served a 15 month prison term for soliciting minors for prostitution. As the talks progressed, Epstein roped in JP Morgan to manage a 'very high profile' group of donors each worth at least $100million. Reports at the time said that Gates flew on Epstein's plane and had at least six meetings with him including dinners at the pedophile's New York townhouse. Gates told a colleague in 2011 that Epstein's 'lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing although it would not work for me'. Buffett and Gates vowed to give away their combined $155billion fortune through the charity, which also encouraged other billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to good causes Bill and Melinda Gates in 2018, three years before they announced their split. In a CBS interview after the divorce, Melinda said she warned her then husband that he should never again meet with Epstein after she went to his house in 2013 Gates and Epstein met numerous times beginning in 2011 - after he was convicted of sex crimes. In fact, Gates visited Epstein at least three times at Epstein's New York City townhouse One Epstein victim, a Polish model, met Gates at his Microsoft office in Seattle and even posed for a photo with him. The woman, who was in her 20s at the time, has said that she recalled people looking at her as if to ask: 'What is she doing there?' According to Das, Epstein was an 'adventure' for Gates and referred to him at least one time as 'my buddy'. In an ominous passage, Das writes that Gates 'chose not to listen' to warnings about Epstein as the pedophile 'could offer him something that was worth putting (his) image risk aside for'. Epstein spent months trying to get the fund off the ground but in the end it came to nothing. One source said that the 'incentives were misaligned': Epstein wanted the connections, JP Morgan wanted to run the fund, and Gates just wanted money for vaccines. The last known contact between Gates and Epstein was in 2014 and their friendship would have likely not become public had Epstein not been arrested in 2019. While the pedophile hanged himself a few months later, anyone who had ever dealt with him got caught in the blast radius. The reports about Gates were deeply unflattering, including how he turned to Epstein for advice about his 'toxic' marriage. Epstein counseled him to get a divorce, and Gates had enjoyed the 'boys club' atmosphere at Epstein's homes. One of the most embarrassing episodes to come out of Gates's friendship with Epstein was his affair with Mila Antonova, a Russian who he met at a bridge tournament. Epstein also met Antonova, paid for her to attend a software coding course, and let her stay at one of his apartments in New York. Reports have claimed that in 2017, Epstein emailed Gates and asked to be reimbursed for the cost of the course. According to the Wall St Journal, the 'tone of the message was that Epstein knew about the affair and could expose it' in apparent retribution for not taking part in his health fund. In the book, Das faults the 'Gates media machine' for its handling of the crisis. They tried to 'shut down' the story with denials but then had to backtrack and admit some of the events when proof came to light. Bill Gates had an affair with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova around 2010 and Jeffrey Epstein is reported to have tried to extort him over the relationship Gates was introduced to Epstein by Boris Nikolic, who serves as science adviser to Gates' foundation. Epstein would later name Nikolic as a executor of his will days before committing suicide in 2019, in a move that was believed to have been to undermine Gates The prestigious university MIT even launched an investigation amid claims that Epstein directed a $2million donation to the college on behalf of Gates. Das writes that the money was used to seek other donations with donors being told that the money was really from Gates. Author Anupreeta Das In one of the most shocking passages of the book, Das writes: 'Gates was often mentioned in the thousands of emails that lawyers reviewed between Epstein and MIT employees. 'There were references to Gates visiting Epstein's residences, and Epstein arranging for "Big Macs" which one of the people said referred to Epstein's interest in young girls and also the food he was sometimes known to serve to his guests at his Manhattan townhouse, on silver platters.' Epstein has used code words with another of his close associates: Jes Staley, who was head of JP Morgan at the time Epstein was trying to set up the fund with Gates. Emails between the two revealed in court documents have shown that they both made suggestive references to Disney princesses. In one message from 2010, Staley wrote to Epstein: 'Say hi to Snow White' and asked if 'Beauty and the Beast' was free. Epstein replied: 'Well, one side is available', apparently referring to Beauty. In another message Epstein sent Staley a picture of a young woman, to which Staley replied: 'Don't tell me, a French wine'. Epstein replied: 'Always thoughts of alcohol'. A spokeswoman for Staley has previously denied he used code words with Epstein and denied wrongdoing. Speaking to CBS after the divorce, Melinda French Gates said that she made it 'very clear' to her former husband that he should never again meet with Epstein after she went to his house in 2013. Melinda said: 'I wanted to see who this man was and I regretted it from the second I stepped in the door. 'He was abhorrent, he was evil personified, I had nightmares about it afterwards. 'My heart breaks for these young women because that's how I felt and I'm an older woman. My god I feel terrible for those women, it's awful. He was awful'. New details have emerged about the bizarre trap created on a rural Queensland property where a family laid in wait for police, ready to launch what would become a fatal ambush. Constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, were murdered after they attended the Wieambilla property of Gareth Train and his wife, Stacey, while performing a welfare check for Gareth's brother, Nathaniel Train, in December 2022. Unknowingly, the officers had walked into an elaborately staged trap where they, along with two other officers - Constables Keely Brough and Randall Kirk - were met with gunfire, an inquest into the deaths has heard. Footage from Constable Kirk's body worn camera was played in court as counsel assisting the coroner, Ruth O'Gorman KC, gave her opening address. The vision shows the four officers jumping the fence at the Train property about 4.35pm to approach the house on foot. Ms O'Gorman said less than two minutes after the officers entered the property 'a shot rang out'. Constable Arnold was only 120m from the front gate where the officers had come from when he shot in the chest and died. The inquest was told the fatal bullet had been fired by Nathaniel, who was most likely in a 'hide out' lying in wait. Images of the hide out were displayed in court on Monday, showing an elaborate set up hidden among tree debris which featured a large tent, dumbbells, a copy of the book 'The Godfather' and a chair with sawn-off legs that allowed the shooter to have a direct line of vision through the cutout to allow them to see anyone who approached the front gate. Gareth Train and his wife, Stacey, ambushed cops as they tried to caryy out a welfare check for Gareth's brother, Nathaniel Train, in December 2022 Constable Rachel McCrow, 26, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 29, were gunned down at the property in the western Darling Downs, about three hours west of Brisbane New details have emerged about the bizarre trap the trio created on their rural Queensland property near Wieambilla, 300km west of Brisbane Ms O'Gorman said before the first shot, the officers were not aware they were walking into an ambush. The inquest heard Constable McCrow was shot in the back while trying to use her radio to call for help. She was then shot in the lower right leg and upper left leg at 4.38pm. 'Unable to call out on her radio, Constable McCrow recorded the harrowing events that she had then lived through in what is known as a sitrep, or a situational report,' Ms O'Gorman said. 'She also recorded a message of love for her family.' The inquest was told while it was unclear who fired the three non-fatal shot at Constable McCrow, Gareth Train likely pulled the trigger causing the fatal shot. Ms O'Gorman said Constable McCrow showed 'great courage and honour' during her final moments. 'It was about seven minutes from the time of the shot that killed Constable Arnold to the time of Constable McCrow's death,' she said. 'In that time she was injured by gunshot wounds, her shooters unknown to her. 'Despite being ambushed, in pain and no doubt terrified, Constable McCrow showed great courage and honour.' Alan Dare, 58, lived at a nearby property and came to investigate after seeing smoke in the area. He was murdered moments after he arrived to help. It's understood he was fatally shot in the back by one of the Trains, but the inquest was told an investigation could not determine by who. Detective Inspector Suzanne Newton, who led the investigation into the deaths of Constables McCrow and Arnold and Mr Dare, told the inquest on Monday she'd been able to identify the voices heard in audio captured by the officers body worn cameras through the assistance of Nathaniel and Stacey's son. Neighbour Alan Dare also died in a shooting at Wieambilla when he tried to help The former couple had two children before separating and Stacey went onto marry Nathaniel's brother, Gareth. Detective Inspector Newton said an audio recording of a telephone call made in a hospital where Nathaniel had been recovering after suffering cardiac arrest in August 2021 between the two brothers and Stacey. The inquest heard that through the body worn camera audio, both brothers could be heard speaking to each other moments after Constables Arnold and McCrow were killed. 'He f**king ran,' Gareth said. 'The other car's gone ... took a car.' Nathaniel replied: 'do you want to move forward or stay here'. Detective Inspector Newton said moments later Nathaniel was heard saying 'one went right and three went to the left'. 'In the scope, there were three to the left of him ... I was looking at them,' Nathaniel said. 'He could have broken that way, but I'm pretty sure he went to the right.' It's understood Nathaniel was describing Constable Brough's movements in this verbal exchange with his brother before the pair started several fires to try to smoke her out. On Monday, the inquest had heard Constable Brough spent nearly two hours waiting to be rescued as flames licked her feet. The officer, who had only been on the job for less than nine weeks, had managed to seek shelter in bushland. The inquest heard she was able to call 000 on her mobile phone at 4.34pm as she tried to remain hidden in the grass, which was about eight inches tall. Ms O'Gorman said a male's voice could be heard on Constable Arnold's body worn camera saying 'there's one more somewhere'. Constable Brough, who remained on the line with the 000 call operator, revealed her concern for her life. 'I think they know I'm here, I'm scared,' she said. She was rescued about 6.34pm after running to the front gate where officers were waiting to collect her when it was safe to do so. Stacey and Gareth Train had posted a video to a now deleted YouTube channel. QLD Police Constable Keely Brough escaped the shooting at a Wieambilla property. Special Emergency Response Team officers shot all three members of the Train family following a lengthy siege within seven minutes of each other. Ms O'Gorman said Stacey was killed first - at 10.32pm - from a gunshot wound to the head. Gareth was killed four minutes afterwards, also from a gunshot wound to the head. Nathaniel was the last standing Train member before he was shot in the head and torso, at 10.39pm. Months after the massacre, police confirmed the Trains had prescribed to an extremist Christian ideology known as 'premillennialism' and acted as an 'autonomous cell' to carry out their 'religiously motivated terrorist attack'. The inquest heard on Monday Gareth and Stacey had been seen by Polair to be seen sitting at a table during the hours after they killed two police officers and a civilian to record a video which was later uploaded to YouTube. The video, which was played to the court, saw the married couple confirming they'd killed two police officers. 'They came to kill us and we killed them,' Gareth says in the video. 'If you don't defend yourself against these devils and demons, you're a coward.' Stacey then adds: 'We'll see you when we get home.' And then: 'We love you.' Gareth says: 'We'll see you at home Don.' Ms O'Gorman told the inquest 'Don' was a man in America who the couple had been speaking with about their beliefs. She said 'home' referenced to seeing Don in the afterlife. The inquest continues. A woman has revealed how her relationship fell apart after she made her boyfriend attend a George Floyd protest at the height of the pandemic which saw him arrested and held overnight in a prison cell. Writer Emily Witt detailed how the longterm relationship with her partner, whom she calls Andrew, slowly spiraled out of control, with her pinpointing the protest and his subsequent arrest as the beginning of the end of their time together. The couple had lived in Bushwick for years but when the coronavirus pandemic struck it affected people in different ways. For Witt and her boyfriend, things came crashing down as he fell into a deep depression, while she attempted to busy herself with everyday tasks running small errands such as biking to a fish shop or bakery in Brooklyn. Writer Emily Witt has revealed how her relationship fell apart after she made her boyfriend attend a George Floyd protest at the height of the pandemic which saw him arrested and held overnight in a prison cell As the couple made their way towards the protest they felt there was a heavy police presence for the relatively small number of protestors that had gathered. Pictured, the moments before the Bronx protest of June 4, 2020 In the background to the pandemic, protests had sprung up following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. While Witt had covered protests in and around the New York area, she felt she needed to attend as a member of the public rather than using the perks of her press pass to remain more of an observer. On one June evening, she convinced Andrew to meet her in the South Bronx where a protest was due to take place, promising him that the pair would leave before a citywide curfew. 'I relive this moment. I think I will forever. You can ruin your own life in an instant by not paying attention,' Witt writes in a lengthy article for The New Yorker. As the couple made their way towards the protest they felt there was a heavy police presence for the relatively small number of protestors that had gathered. For Witt, old habits die hard as she put on her press pass, perhaps in the hope it might afford her some protection. Witt put on her press pass and was able to resist being arrested by police. Her boyfriend was not so lucky and spend the night in an NYPD holding cell in Queens Witt posted a short clip of the footage she had gathered at the protest the following day Demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd in the South Bronx on June 4, 2020 Widespread protests continued around the country and other parts of the world for months following the death of George Floyd This video is from 7:59 p.m. yesterday. pic.twitter.com/s6mIwapHb1 Emily Witt (@embot) June 5, 2020 The police seemed to be closing in on the group and honing in on white participants before NYPD cops lashed out and began pepper-spraying, arresting and beating the protestors. Those arrested later received $21,500 each in a class action lawsuit. Witt documented a scene of chaos as people all around her were arrested, including medics and a pregnant woman. Witt believes she would have been next had she not yelled out that she was press to police while flashing her pass. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, Andrew, was nowhere to be seen. It wasn't until later in the evening she found out that he had been taken to Queens Central Booking, near Flushing Meadows. The following morning Witt returned to pick up her boyfriend. She remarks how things between them felt noticeably different. 'I understood then that he was angry with me. He had a broken finger, a scratched eye, and a bloody nose, and had been forced to sit in police custody with pepper spray burning his face for sixteen hours. It was my fault: I had made him go, and I was unscathed,' Witt writes. Andrew told of the hellish experience that he had endured having spent the night with dozens of other men in a holding cell having waited hours to be processed by the NYPD. He became focused on how the police at the protest had used their bikes as shields. His depression became replaced by a new energy as he worked to understand what had happened. But it appears there was to be no return to normality for the couple as the pair began to argue more often over the most insignificant things, such as dirty dishes piling up or the unkempt state of their apartment. The day following her boyfriend's arrest, Witt returned to pick him up from an NYPD holding cell and noticed that things felt different between them. It was the beginning of the end Demonstrators march to protest the death of George Floyd in the Bronx. The same protest Witt's boyfriend was arrested at Andrew's arrest had bent their relationship out of shape as the couple suddenly began verbally sparring with one another. It was Andrew who made the decision for the couple to break up as he asked whether he should move out of the apartment, or her. Witt moved out and initially booked an Airbnb in Manhattan for the night. The pair went back-and-forth over text as Andrew blamed her for the state of their relationship. While she also accepted her share of the blame for pushing him to attend the Bronx protest, it appears him getting arrested may simply have been the final straw. Andrew threatened to call the locksmith and told Witt that she could come and get her possessions from the street the following day. Cruelly, he then tormented her by telling her that he'd had sex with someone else while she had been away at a writing residency months earlier. While Witt had covered protests in and around the New York area, she felt she needed to attend as a member of the public rather than using the perks of her press pass In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, demonstrators are seen protesting the death of George Floyd in the heart of the South Bronx on June 4, 2020 Consoled by her friends, Witt decided that she needed to get out of the relationship. It really appeared to be over as Witt set about finding a new sublet in Manhattan. What looked to simply be an annoyance or inconvenience for him was a life altering crisis for her. Witt held back from texting Andrew but eventually found she had no choice after she needed to return to her old apartment to pick up some clothes. Witt considered that Andrew had been having a mental episode following his arrest, but he had also explained himself that the relationship had ended because he had come to his senses. But when Witt went back to collect her clothes, he had left her a letter suggesting the couple needed to try and fix what had been broken. On Labour Day 2020, Witt tweeted a picture of the beach with the caption: 'Summer of heartbreak and violence, glad it's over.' Andrew accused her of libel despite her not even mentioning him by name. Over the next couple of months Witt describes her state of mind as being like a nightmare from which she was unable to wake up. One night she returned back to the Brooklyn home and found the place to be completely wrecked with unwashed dishes stacked in the sink with trash piled up in another room. On Labor Day 2020, Witt tweeted a picture of the beach with the caption: 'Summer of heartbreak and violence, glad it's over.' The tweet appeared to have more than once meaning Bizarrely, even after time apart, Andrew was not clear as to whether he wanted to break up or not. Despite this, he would continue to taunt her by telling her that he had slept with a former co-worker and that the sex had been better with the other woman. On one return trip, Witt went back to see Andrew and the pair slept together once more. On what was to be their final night together, having had sex for the final time, Witt described the longing she once felt as having gone. She noticed that Andrew had become energized again in a way that made her anxious with his nervous energy turning to fury at a moment's notice. Witt tells how she felt alone at the realization their relationship was finally over. In the midst of the pandemic, she was unable to be with anybody else close to her. By October 2020, Witt had packed up her Brooklyn apartment and began the journey west Her parents were in New Hampshire and were reluctant to come into New York City - then the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. - while her brother lived thousands of miles away in California. Many of her friends had also left town and she felt ashamed to even mention to them that she had gone back to Andrew. Finally, it appears a fire was lit under Witt who over the course of three days packed up her possessions from her apartment, rented a storage unit and booked movers. She threw herself into work assignments and began focusing on other stories rather than the chaos of her own. Weeks after the breakup, she learned that Andrew had been hospitalized in a psychiatric ward, later finding out that he had been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. It explained much of his behavior in the earlier part of the year that had been symptomatic of a manic episode. Months later while traveling across the country and visiting a national park in Utah, Witt looked at her now exes social media. In the calmness of Zion National Park Witt texted Andrew telling him that she was struggling and would like to talk. 'I cannot be near you ever again. I feel a lot better' he wrote back Many of his rants had been deleted. His friends had told her that he had a new life, a new social circle and a new girlfriend. In the calmness of Zion National Park Witt texted Andrew telling him that she was struggling and would like to talk. 'I cannot be near you ever again. I feel a lot better' he wrote back. Witt says that it felt as though he had erased her from his life and that she had been left wandering alone in the desert while he was still living happily in the Bushwick apartment they once shared, perfectly happy. It was only when she finally reached the west coast and sunny California that she felt relief. She never looked him up again. 'If I didn't look for him, he would no longer exist, so I stopped looking, and my life took on its own character once again,' Witt concludes. A no-nonsense real estate agent has slapped down a boomer who complained about a forthcoming ban on 'no-fault' evictions of renters in NSW. State Premier Chris Minns announced a new law on Saturday abolishing 'no-grounds' evictions to allow renters 'to build a home and life on surer ground'. It means that landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without a 'reasonable' excuse. One critic, writing beneath Mr Minns' announcement on Instagram, lashed the decision as 'typical Labor attacking anyone who wants to provide for their own retirement'. 'If I buy a house I should have more rights than the person renting it, period,' the critic seethed. 'It will just encourage and empower bad behaviour from tenants.' But Sydney-based real estate agent Ashton Chan was having none of it. 'If you want rights, don't take your tenant's money,' he responded. NSW Premier Chris Minns announced a new law on Saturday abolishing 'no-grounds' evictions to allow renters 'to build a home and life on surer ground' (pictured: a queue for an open inspection in Bondi in Sydney's eastern suburbs) Mr Chan, who has helped sell hundreds of luxury properties across Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia he stood by his words - and actually wanted the government to go further. 'I agree with the ban because I myself was a renter for five years in Artarmon on Sydney's lower north shore,' Mr Chan said. Poll Do you think a landlord should be able to kick out a tenant for no reason? Yes - it's their property No - renters have rights Do you think a landlord should be able to kick out a tenant for no reason? Yes - it's their property 390 votes No - renters have rights 401 votes Now share your opinion 'I would not be happy if my landlord kicked me out for no reason, out of the blue, especially in this market right now where it's hard to find a place to rent.' He added: 'If you want to rent out your property and take your tenant's money, you cannot also at the same time have the the rights to do whatever you wish.' Mr Chan acknowledged that his views may surprise people given he often works for landlords. 'I know real estate agents get a bad rep but not all agents are the same,' he said. He said he also wished the government would look at altering the rules around landlords who let out their property for a fixed term but then decide to sell it within that period. 'What I have to face every day now is if my vendor wants to sell the property, I have to arrange an inspection time with the tenant and I'm interrupting their privacy and their personal space,' he said. Sydney-based real estate agent Ashton Chan (pictured) said he backed the ban on no-fault evictions in NSW - and called on the government to also address the issue of landlords who decide to sell their property during a fixed term lease 'They pay full rent every week but I have to come in there and do the open home inspections because the landlord decides to sell. 'I don't think it's fair for the tenant because they signed a contract with the landlord and all they want is to get what their money's worth and to enjoy their home in privacy.' The move to ban no-fault eviction in NSW brings the state into line with other states and territories including the ACT, South Australia and Victoria where governments have already legislated their own models to end the practice. The NSW government said about 33 per cent of the population were renting, a whopping 17.6 per cent increase since 2016. Worse still, median rent prices grew by about 7 per cent in the past 12 months. 'Anyone who rents in NSW knows just how anxious and challenging renting can be at the moment,' Mr Minns said at the time of the announcement. '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.' Regional airline Rex is set to plunge into administration, with Bloomberg reporting that Ernst & Young (EY) will be appointed as administrators. The popular carrier's shares went into a trading halt this week and the financial news service claimed that EY's appointment was expected to be announced on Wednesday. Rex's shares went into a trading halt on the ASX on Monday following recent boardroom turbulence and multimillion-dollar losses. The trading halt also came amid reports Rex had called in consultancy firm Deloitte to review the airline's books. Deloitte referred media inquiries to Rex, which declined to comment. It would be the second major domestic airline to collapse in Australia this year following the demise of Bonza. Rex is even more vital, flying to some 56 destinations across the country, and is a lifeline for some small regional communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the federal government was 'concerned' about Rex and would evaluate its options. But he also noted the airline already received 'substantial government support with no conditions attached'. Transport Minister Catherine King said the government was in touch with the airline and keeping an 'hour-by-hour' watch on the situation. There were increasing concerns on Tuesday over the fate of regional airline Rex (plane pictured), with an estimated 2,000 jobs being 'thrown into limbo' Bloomberg reported that Rex was set to plunge into administration, with Ernst and Young (aka EY) to be appointed 'Regional Australians rely on Rex,' she told Channel Seven's Sunrise on Tuesday. 'It's an incredibly important airline. In many cases (it's) the only airline going into a range of smaller country towns and people are heavily reliant on it. 'We are treating this very seriously and being very vigilant about what is happening, and keeping an eye on the situation hour by hour.' Rex has built a strong reputation since its inception in 2002 and became known for its reliability. The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics found in April the airline cancelled just one per cent of its flights - beating all of its competitors. The domestic airline was recognised internationally at the World Airlines Awards in early July when it received the title for Best Regional Airline in Australia/Pacific. Passengers expressed fear for the future of the airline on social media. 'Rex is one of the best airlines,' wrote Julia Bradley on X. 'Barely any delays. Staff are always so nice and helpful.' Another X user added: 'It's easily the best service airline in Australia. It deserves to be salvaged'. Where Rex flies: The regional carrier is a vital lifeline to regional communities - flying 56 routes Ms King noted that unlike Bonza, which recently collapsed, Rex owns rather than leases its planes. 'It is up to Rex to be informing its customers that it's operating services today,' she said. 'There has been some instability in the board recently... but I do want to reassure people that Rex is an important airline... and we are watching the situation carefully.' The carrier mostly serves regional cities, but in a shift in strategy, it has more recently added services between capital cities such as Sydney and Melbourne; routes which are dominated by larger rivals Qantas and Virgin Australia. A range of regional communities around the nation rely on the carrier, which emerged 22 years ago following the collapse of Ansett. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Rex has struggled with its profitability as the overall sector struggled in tough conditions. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Rex has struggled with its profitability as the overall sector struggled in tough conditions (pictured, Melbourne Airport) Earlier in July, creditors voted to liquidate budget airline Bonza. Passengers are pictured at Sydney Airport In February, Rex reported a bottom line net loss of $3.2million for the first half of the 2023/24 financial year on the back of rising costs, especially for fuel. But that was an improvement on the $16.5million loss reported in the previous corresponding period. In June, Rex announced that long-serving executive chairman Lim Kim Hai was stepping down, though he remains on the board as a non-executive director. In July, Mr Lim, a significant shareholder, requested a general meeting of shareholders to remove a number of directors including non-executive chairman John Sharp. Rex shares have fallen 35 per cent this year. The stock last traded at 56.5 cents on Friday. The airline's shares were priced at 79 cents a month ago. Senator Pauline Hanson has promised to cover the surgery costs for a nine-year-old girl after she has spent seven years on the public hospital waiting list. Kadee Byrnes, 9, from Yeppoon, about 740km north of Brisbane, Queensland, has been on the public hospital waiting list for seven years in desperate need of adenoid surgery. The surgery is a procedure to remove the adenoids, small tissue lumps in the nasal cavity, to address her chronic tonsillitis. The nine-year-old was told she had to repeat the forth grade after missing too many days of school due to the infection. The One Nation party leader said she was 'disgusted' the young girl had to wait so long for surgery and promised to cover the cost of her private treatment. 'I'm grateful for the opportunity to help 9-year-old Kadee by covering the cost of her private treatment', Ms Hanson said on Tuesday. 'It is unacceptable that young Kadee was told she would have to repeat Grade 4 due to missing so many school days because of tonsillitis. 'Situations like this are sadly all too common and highlight the severe consequences of the Labor government's lack of investment in our public hospitals, especially outside South East Queensland.' Senator Hanson broke the news to Kadee's mother, Kahlia, at a speaking event in Roslyn Bay on Monday. 'Straight away, I said we're going to get this operation done. Kahlia you don't know, I'm paying for it, all right, I'm going to pay for it,' Senator Hanson said. Kahlia said she was grateful for Senator Hanson's generosity and to see her daughter finally have a normal life. 'I am very that it's going to end this way,' Kahlia said. 'She is finally going to have a surgery and she is finally going to be able to live a life as a normal nine year old,' Kahlia said. Kahlia Brynes' (pictured) nine-year-old daughter has been on the public hospital wait list for seven years, in desperate need for adenoid surgery Senator Pauline Hanson surprised the mum by promising to cover the cost of her daughter's private treatment Central Queensland Hospital and Health Chief Executive Lisa Blackler acknowledged wait times in the public health system were challenging for families. 'I acknowledge that it is challenging for families who need to wait to access health care,' Ms Blacklers said. 'The longest category 2 patient waiting for ENT surgery at Rockhampton Hospital is currently 249 days.' Rockhampton Base Hospital is the biggest hospital in the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service. The hospital provides specialist services in ear, nose and throat surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedics, urology, obstetrics, oncology, paediatrics and psychiatry. It is the largest major hospital in Central Queensland and provides medical services to an estimated 230,000 people throughout the Rockhampton, Gladstone, the Capricorn Coast and Emerald communities. California is one of four states that does not set a minimum age requirement for marital unions. Instead, a minor only needs to get the permission of a parent or guardian and approval from a judge to obtain a marriage license - a concept that has spurred some controversy. New Mexico and Oklahoma are the only other states to allow people of any age marry with the permission of a judge and a parent - but the Golden State is the first to balk at it. AB 2924, which would strike existing legal language that allows provisions for marriage under 18, was introduced in the local legislature in February. However, it has already been met with pushback - from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Northern California, ACLU California Action and the National Center for Youth Law. Scroll down for video: Child marriage survivors like Sara Tasneem, 43, are fighting to get an old law tweaked in California Others who have suffered similar ordeals have flocked to protest child marriage and champion AB 2924, which would strike existing legal language that allows provisions for unions under 18. Protesters are seen outside officials' offices in San Jose on July 18 The coalition argues such a guidance would drive abusive relationships underground, while limit the rights of minors who willingly want to marry - a stance that horrifies child marriage survivors like Sara Tasneem. 'At fifteen, my father forced me to marry a man who was a complete stranger and almost twice my age,' the El Sobrante resident, now 43, writes on her website. 'It took me seven years to leave this abusive marriage behind. 'I am fighting to change laws that allow child marriage in the United States along with other survivors who know all too well about the human rights abuse that is forced child marriage.' In an interview with The Mercury News, she recalled how she was trapped in the archaic arranged union until she was 23. During that span, she had two now-grown kids, and was finally able to initiate divorce proceedings toward the tail-end. To do so, she was forced to leave her kids with their father for a period, she said - describing how she figured out the next steps. Soon enough, she was able to get them back, and now uses her experience to get others who suffered and are suffering similar ordeals on her side. Child marriage survivors are seen protesting with a 'chain-in', used to represent how minors are being basically imprisoned with these unions, according to them '[A child marrying an adult] in and of itself is abusive because one person is holding power over another,' Tasneem told The Mercury News Monday, days after the display '[A child marrying an adult] in and of itself is abusive because one person is holding power over another,' she told the Bay Area newspaper Monday. She explained how she had already testified about her experience with child marriage in Sacramento in support of AB 2924 earlier this year, and what she views as the primary obstacle in her quest thus far. 'To me, its Planned Parenthood thats standing in the way,' she declared. 'I just dont understand - we really should be on the same side in this situation.' Pointing out the irony of such an institution taking issue with a guidance designed to protect, more often than not, young mother. Tasneem described how she is one of several advocates who has met with Planned Parenthood multiple times about the bill, which was introduced by Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris of Orange County. The group, along with the local ACLU chapter and the National Center for Youth Law, have refused to back down, she said. 'They have kind of seemed to dig their heels in a little bit and made this a little bit more of a political issue versus looking at this as an actual issue that affects children,' she explained. Their refusal saw Petrie-Norris, a Democrat, cancel a judiciary committee designed to pass AB 2924. Tasneem described how she is one of several advocates who has met with Planned Parenthood multiple times about the bill, which was introduced by Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris of Orange County (seen here) The bill at that point was withdrawn - a development many at the time blamed on Assembly Member Ash Kalra, the chair of the judiciary committee, due to his support of several amendments survivors like Tasneem take issue with. They include banning marriage under the age of 16 but allowing the court make certain exceptions for some 16- and 17-year-olds and emancipated minors, Petrie-Norris said - prospects that horrify Tasneem, and stopped Petrie-Norris in her tracks. 'I have tremendous respect for the lived experience of the survivors and advocates who I was working with on this bill,' she said at the time, explaining who she decided to pause the bill because the survivors she was working with were adamant there should be no exceptions. 'After considering our options for this legislative session, I decided to pause the bill rather than move forward with a compromise proposal that they do not support.' The bill seemingly died there, but Tasneem and other survivors continue to fight back with protests at the statehouse. New legislation could also soon be on the way, Tasneem said - one that, like Petrie-Norris's. would remove the ability of minors to marry at all, setting the minimum age to 18 with no exceptions. Only 13 states, including New York, Pennsylvania, and all of New England, have passed such stipulations. All other states have a minimum marriage age of either 16 or 17, with Hawaii and Kansas having an especially low limit of 15. The bashed bill, meanwhile, was seemingly a popular one - with 20 co-authors across parties and houses, after work started on it way back in 2021, she said. The bill was withdrawn in April - a development many at the time blamed on Assembly Member Ash Kalra, due to his support of several amendments survivors like Tasneem take issue with, like banning marriage under the age of 16 but allowing the court make certain exceptions 'I want to protect the people with the smallest voice in this process, and thats the minor,' Tasneem said as she continues to fight for new legislation that will stop these unions. She plans to continue such protests at the statehouse in Sacramento, in hopes someone will, one day, bring forth a similar bill The federal government, meanwhile, signed onto a United Nations pledge to end child marriage by 2030, but states have been slow to produce bills like ones seen in the Northeast and Washington state that have made 18 the mandatory age. A 2021 study by Unchained at Last, a non-profit that campaigns to end young marriages, suggested the issue is an important one, with some 300,000 minors were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018. Many of them were from California, with more than 8,000 minors in California between 15 and 17 years old becoming married in 2021 than 2021, Unchained at Last found upon perusing the US Census's American Community Survey. in 2022, that number rose to more than 9,000, Unchained at Last said - adding how about 86 percent of these marriages involved underage girls wedding grown men. In defiance, survivors and Unchained at Last hosted a 'chain-in' protest outside Kalra's San Jose office on July 18, one where woman donned wedding gowns with chains around their wrists, to symbolize the prisons they say these marriages create. 'I want to protect the people with the smallest voice in this process, and thats the minor,' Tasneem said days later. 'Nobody looks out for them - not their parents, not the law, not lawyers, not politicians. Nobody.' She plans to continue such protests at the statehouse in Sacramento, in hopes someone will, one day, bring forth a similar bill. Brittany Higgins' husband David Sharaz has made a dramatic career change while living in the south of France, picking up a role in advertising - after an outspoken commentator told him to 'get a job'. Sky presenter Prue MacSween sparked a war of the words last week after it was revealed Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins have to sell their $600,000 home in France to pay for their defence of Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds' defamation action. The couple bought the property last year after Ms Higgins was awarded a $2.4million compensation payment from the Commonwealth based on claims her political career was in ruins following her rape in Parliament House in 2019. Less than two years after the payout, the couple are strapped for cash, expecting their first child, and facing the prospect of having to pay about $1million in legal fees. Ms MacSween mocked the couple on X, saying: 'Mon Dieu Higgins has to sell her French Chateau to pay for her mounting legal bills. C'est la vie.' Mr Sharaz slammed her as 'vile', but Ms MacSween fired back by encouraging him to 'use all his efforts to find himself a job rather than trolling'. On Sunday, Ms MacSween doubled-down on her comments during a segment on Brisbane radio station 4BC, telling the former journalist to 'get a job, mate, and get legitimate'. David Sharaz, pictured with Brittany Higgins, quietly freelanced for an advertising company in London Conservative commentator Prue MacSween (pictured) lashed out at Mr Sharaz last week, and again on Sunday However, sources close to Mr Sharaz have confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the former journalist has freelanced for an advertising company in London. He worked on a Starbucks campaign that ran in the UK and the Middle East. The source revealed he does plan to get a fulltime job after a two-year hiatus, but has no desire to return to journalism. Mr Sharaz worked for Sky News in Canberra until 2020 when he took up a brief role as senior media advisor for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in Parliament House - where he met Ms Higgins. He moved to Southern Cross Austereo in Brisbane in March 2021, but quit in February 2023 - shortly after Ms Reynolds launched legal action against him - and has not had regular employment since. Speaking on Brisbane radio on Sunday, Ms MacSween said Australians were 'fed up' with the situation. She then accused Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins of 'orchestrating' the rape claims to damage the Liberal Party, and questioned the legitimacy of Ms Higgins' allegations. Ms MacSween said: 'Just talking generally, if a person was raped or felt that had alleged rape, you'd go to a hospital, you'd go to the police.' Brittany Higgins (right) and David Sharaz (left) were pictured leaving WA Supreme Court in March following mediation with Linda Reynolds Pictured: Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz's French home, which they now have to sell 'I don't think many of us would think, "Oh, I'm going to go to the media first before I go to the police". 'I mean, why would you do that, unless you had some sort of other reasons, so it's just very curious.' In April, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee found on a balance of probability that Ms Higgins was raped by her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann after a night out in March 2019. The court heard Ms Higgins did go to the police following her rape. She decided not to pursue the complaint because she felt it would mean giving up her dream job as a Liberal staffer. She went to the media two years later because she wanted to speak out against the treatment of women in Parliament House. Ms MacSween was then asked to respond to Mr Sharaz calling her 'vile'. 'Well, mate, I mean he would know what vile was, because the poor bloke lives it every day, doesn't he?' she said. 'I think the man should get a job and focus on that rather than worrying about what people are saying him on Twitter. Linda Reynolds is pictured with Brittany Higgins in Perth in 2019, when she was a Liberal staffer 'If he's got a kid coming along, he's got this wife, he may be facing losing his home, get a job mate and get legitimate.' Mr Sharaz is expected to return to Australia with Ms Higgins ahead of the defamation case, which will begin in the WA Supreme Court in Perth on Friday. Ms Reynolds is suing the couple in separate cases over a series of social media posts in 2022 and 2023 that she claims damaged her reputation. The posts revolve around allegations by the couple that the senator did not support Ms Higgins after she disclosed that she was raped by Lehrmann in Ms Reynolds' office in March 2019. Ms Higgins has repeatedly claimed she was ostracised by Ms Reynolds and her staff in the wake of her assault, and that she was ultimately forced to choose between her career and pursuing her rape allegations with police. Ms Reynolds has consistently denied that she failed to support Ms Higgins. Earlier this year, Mr Sharaz conceded defeat due to financial difficulties. His matter will likely settle in August. A terminally-ill grandmother who fatally shot her son's ex in a grisly murder-suicide detailed allegations of abuse in a seven-page note. Kathleen Leigh, 65, claimed that her former daughter-in-law Marissa Galloway, 45, tried to alienate her four-year-old daughter from her son - the girl's father - in the note found in her pocket, sources told the New York Post. She also wrote that no one believed her and her son's claims that Galloway abused the young girl - an accusation New York City's child service investigators twice determined were unfounded. The letter - scrawled with the words 'For Police' - was found on Leigh's body after she shot Galloway in the head and back as she was loading her one-year-old into a car seat in the back of a parked vehicle on the Upper East Side Friday morning. Leigh then took her own life by shooting herself in the head, police said. Kathleen Leigh, 65, pictured in surveillance footage from the shooting on Friday, claimed in a seven-page note that her former daughter-in-law was abusive to her four-year-old granddaughter Leigh shot and killed Marissa Galloway (pictured), the mother-of-two, on a Manhattan street Friday morning before taking her own life The four-year-old, who was not with her mother or grandmother at the time of the shooting, had been the subject of a years-long custody battle between Galloway, a special education teacher, and Leigh's son. Over the course of the battle, both sides have accused the other of child abuse, according to the Post. In some of the reports, the girl's father would claim that his daughter would arrive home with bruises on her arm, but investigators found the accusations unfounded. Leigh had even brought the claims to her neighbors in a Manhattan apartment building, where she has been living for the past three years with her son. Galloway had been loading her one-year-old daughter into a car seat in the back of a parked vehicle when she was shot '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 neighbor Meryl Feidelman. 'I said, "No, no she's a lovely, lovely mother, a lovely woman."' But Galloway also had a history of domestic violence disputes with her partner related to the custody battle, according to 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. 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 child is now in the custody of Leigh's son, as the NYPD continues to investigate the murder - which occurred just steps away from Mayor Eric Adams' residence. She had been with her father when her grandmother murdered her mom along the usually quiet tree-lined street just before 9am. Two guns were recovered at the crime scene - a 9-millimeter gun from the sidewalk and another gun in the Target 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 in Chicago - where she worked for 17 years before retiring in 2014. But officers believe she acted alone in the killing, and have no evidence that her son knew of her plans, according to the Post. Still, Galloway's family could have standing for at least some custody of the four-year-old under special circumstances that would be met 'when the mom is murdered in cold blood,' a custody lawyer told the Post. Her other child - a one-year-old girl whose father was reportedly a sperm donor - is now with her maternal grandparents in New Jersey. A Queensland man has admitted to trying to organise a time to have sex with a 12-year-old girl while on an overseas trip with his wife and three children. Gary Richmond-Jones, 57, flew from Sydney to Manila, in the Philippines, in December 2022, and was stopped by border force officers when he returned. Child abuse material was found on his phone, and a subsequent AFP investigation found messages about his sickening plans to abuse children, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Richmond-Jones pleaded guilty to preparing and planning to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16 outside Australia, and importing child abuse material. He is due to be sentenced in August. Eight days into the Philippines trip, Richmond-Jones, who is from Mackay, downloaded encrypted messaging app Telegram to contact a stranger who messaged him on social media platform X , offering child abuse material. 'Hey, saw your Twitter. Interested. Pinay girls loli,' Richmond-Jones wrote. He told the NSW District Court that 'Pinay' meant Filipino females and 'loli' referred to underage girls. A Queensland man has admitted to trying to organise a time to have sex with a 12-year-old girl while on an overseas trip with his wife and three children (pictured, the red light district of P Burgos Street in the Makati area of Manila, Philippines) On December 26, 2022, Richmond-Jones was sent previews of videos appearing to show adults abusing children and a price list for them, ranging from $3.80 to $51. 'Looks good,' he replied. 'I will send (payment) as soon as I can.' The court heard Richmond-Jones was told he could avoid paying 'by card' by instead using a local Philippines 7-Eleven's loyalty program. 'Is it possible to find real 13-15 in Manila?' he asked. Richmond-Jones and told the court he was thinking about engaging in sexual activity with a child. The person he was arranging things with asked where he was and Richmond-Jones replied that he was in the Philippines and he would be in the capital Manila soon. Three days later, he sent a text saying, 'I arrive next Friday'. In reply he received nine photos of girls aged between 12 and 16, some with cartoon symbols hiding their breasts. 'All gorgeous, but (redacted name) would be the pick,' he wrote, talking about a 12-year-old girl. He then asked what the price was and said he needed to keep the transaction secret from his wife. When the costs for 'services' was sent to him, Richmond-Jones wrote 'fantastic, I will book a hotel'. But he backed out of the plan on the day it was supposed to happen and did not reply to the other person's texts, the court was told. The court heard Richmond-Jones was told he could avoid paying 'by card' by instead using a local Philippines 7-Eleven's loyalty program (pictured, a mock-up of the Telegram messages Richmond-Jones sent) Richmond-Jones told a sentence hearing he 'deeply regret(ted)' his 'completely unacceptable' actions and that 'child abuse is never OK'. 'It was a wake-up call to myself that I was even considering it,' he said. 'If it had been my children, I certainly would've been looking for the people involved to be prosecuted and brought to justice. 'I look at my children and there is an innocence that shouldn't be taken away.' Though Richmond-Jones tried to 'justify' what he did by thinking it was 'just online' he later realised it put children at risk. 'The only way to stamp it out is to stop it from happening and in this case it had to start with me not proceeding with what I was planning to do,' he told the court. Daily Mail Australia contacted the car seller that Richmond-Jones lists on LinkedIn as being where he works as a sales manager, but was told he does not work there. Australia's paper incoming passenger arrival card has come under fire, with critics labelling it a 'total embarrassment' and urging the government to replace it with a digital version. Australia is one of the few remaining countries that still requires visitors and returning residents to fill out a paper form upon arrival. Many Aussies have slammed the process as outdated and inefficient, especially in an era where many countries have already transitioned to digital solutions. 'Been to half a dozen countries in the last year and Australia is the only one still doing this stupid landing card - it's bizarre,' one said. A second added: 'Most ridiculous piece of paper ever. Could all be done online like Singapore. I get the issues surrounding bio security but surely this can be done online.' A third agreed: 'As someone who travels internationally for work every two weeks Australia is an embarrassment when entering not just because of these ridiculous forms but also the poor state of the major international arrival terminals. Melbourne and Sydney are terrible.' Another added: 'Nothing says 'welcome to Australia like that bloody card.' The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is leading calls for the federal government to introduce a digital alternative to the paper form. 'We nearly got rid of it during Covid when they had the digital passenger declaration, but they stuffed that up so badly they walked away from it,' John Hart, executive chairman of the chamber's tourism arm, told the Herald Sun. People landing in Australia have to declare alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, animals, fresh food, plant material, seeds, soils, meat and animal products He also called for a major update to Australia's smartgates to reduce wait times at the border. Currently, smartgates require incoming passengers to visit a separate kiosk and complete a questionnaire before they can proceed to border and customs checks, which adds unnecessary waiting time. Mr Hart argued that upgrading to a single-step facial recognition system would greatly reduce these delays. 'Facial recognition has been trialled. It is incredibly simple to implement and it would get rid of those smartgate machines,' he said. 'It won't get rid of the gate itself, but when you approach the gate it will just be a matter of facial recognition and away you go. It's incredibly fast.' Smartgates require incoming passengers to visit a separate kiosk (picture) and complete a questionnaire before proceeding to passport checks and customs Mr Hart proposed funding for the upgrades be pulled from revenue collected by the government from the sale of passports, visas and the passenger movement charge. Mr Hart urged the federal government to seriously consider the chamber's recommendations because 'tourism is too valuable a commodity to risk losing'. Australian Airports Association head of policy and advocacy Natalie Heazlewood said the group would 'welcome any additional funding' from the federal government to improve facilities and 'enhance the travel experience'. Donald Trump described how Melania Trump heartbreakingly watched the attempt on his life on live television in a new interview. Trump miraculously survived the assassination attempt by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks on July 13. He was asked by Laura Ingraham how his wife Melania experienced the traumatic day from home. 'She was watching,' he said. 'She was watching live. It was all over the place. It was on television.' Trump added that his wife is unable to even speak to him about that horrible day, though he's able to see it as a sign she truly cares for him. Donald Trump described how Melania Trump heartbreakingly watched the attempt on his life on live television in a new interview Trump added that his wife is unable to even speak to him about that horrible day, though he's able to see it as a sign she truly cares for him 'She can't even really talk about it. That's okay, that means she likes me -- she loves me. She could talk about it freely, I'm not so sure which is better. She either likes or loves me, that's nice.' Melania believed 'the worst had happened' when she witnessed the shooting live because of how he'd been taken down by the Secret Service. Trump continued to have sympathy for the Secret Service agents that ultimately failed him. 'I just want to say one thing about Secret Service... they were very brave. They were coming. Bullets were flying over me. I went down and they were -- they were on top of me, I had a lot of very big, strong people on top of me.' Trump reiterated that multiple times but totally understood where things went wrong that fateful day. 'Should've been somebody on the roof, should've been communication with the local police and we're seeing this guy, who was a very disturbed person... how about the Trump fans who were screaming about him?' Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the assassination attempt. Trump added that the Secret Service counter-sniper who took out Crooks did a good job 'but it should've happened nine seconds earlier'. Melania believed 'the worst had happened' when she witnessed the shooting live because of how he'd been taken down by the Secret Service Trump miraculously survived the assassination attempt by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks on July 13 He added that he's set to speak to the FBI to provide a 'victim statement' on Thursday. A group chat of those meant to protect Trump were aware that gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was in their midst over 90 minutes before Trump was shot at, rather than an hour as the FBI had previously claimed. When one of the three countersnipers was about to call off at the end of their shift at around 4:26pm, they noticed a man who they later confirmed to be Crooks sitting on a picnic table. It emerged the gunman's' father called police on the day of the shooting because Crooks didn't return from what he thought was a routine Saturday trip to the local gun range. And it was revealed Crooks was at the former president's rally three hours before opening fire, even sparking the suspicions of the Secret Service during that time because he was carrying a rangefinder used by hunters to take long shots. But he was never stopped or questioned. He later climbed onto the roof of the building he was lurking near, shot Trump and killed retired volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore. Crooks had told his boss he needed the day off from work Saturday and gave colleagues a final chilling message: That he would be back on Sunday. Trump continued to have sympathy for the Secret Service agents that ultimately failed him Trump added that the Secret Service counter-sniper who took out Crooks did a good job 'but it should've happened nine seconds earlier' The gunman searched online 'how far' Lee Harvey Oswald was from John F. Kennedy when he shot him, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed in stunning testimony to Congress earlier this week. FBI Director Christopher Wray also told lawmakers the 20-year-old gunman flew a drone 200 yards from the stage just two hours before he opened fire in Butler, Pennsylvania, and had three explosives in his car. 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. The FBIs assessment continues to be that Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service counter sniper, acted alone. On Tuesday, Kimberly Cheatle resigned as the agencys director amid mounting questions over her the colossal security failures at the rally. Cheatle took responsibility for the catastrophic lapses after she was lambasted by Republicans and Democrats alike when she appeared before Congress on Monday. In a staggering moment, Cheatle admitted on Monday her agents on the ground were warned between two and five times that there was a 'suspicious person' reported before Trump took the stage. The security chief had faced mounting questions over why an agent was not stationed on the roof from where Crooks opened fire on the former president, and why Trump was allowed to take the stage even when a threat was detected. QUESTION: Did George Harrison ever write songs in collaboration with Lennon or McCartney? In the late 1950s, John Lennon formed a skiffle group called the Quarrymen, named after his school. The line-up featured John on guitar with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, John 'Duff' Lowe on piano, and Colin Hanton on drums. After rehearsing at McCartney's house, they booked a recording session at Percy Phillips' studio at 38 Kensington, Liverpool, in July 1958 and recorded In Spite Of All The Danger, a song credited to McCartney and Harrison. They could afford only one copy of the 10in disc, so they agreed to share it, with each member keeping it for a week. Lowe ended up keeping it for 23 years. When he rediscovered it in 1981, he contacted McCartney, who bought it from him for an undisclosed fee. It was eventually released on The Beatles Anthology 1 in 1995. After several changes in their line-up, the Quarrymen evolved into The Beatles. Over recent years, McCartney has played In Spite Of All The Danger on concert dates, much to the delight of his fans. Trevor J. Halliday, Liverpool In the late 1950s, John Lennon formed a skiffle group called the Quarrymen. The line-up featured John on guitar with Paul McCartney and George Harrison There are three Beatles tracks where George Harrison (along with Ringo Starr) has joint credit for composition with Lennon and McCartney. None is among the the Beatles' finer efforts Many of Harrison's songs never saw the light of day as Beatles numbers, which gave him a rich source for his monumental first solo album, All Things Must Pass There are three Beatles tracks where George Harrison (along with Ringo Starr) has joint credit for composition with Lennon and McCartney. None is among the group's finer efforts. Two are from Let It Be (1970): Dig It, taken from a throwaway Lennon composition, and Maggie Mae, where all four are credited as arrangers of the old Liverpool ballad. The other track, Flying, is a pleasant but unremarkable instrumental written for the Magical Mystery Tour film. Harrison felt under-appreciated musically: it was McCartney who played the stunning guitar solo on Harrison's Taxman, effectively hijacking Harrison's role as lead guitarist. During the Let It Be sessions, a tense conversation culminated in Harrison saying to McCartney: 'I'll play... whatever you want me to play. Or I won't play at all, if you don't want me to play. Whatever it is that will please you, I'll do it.' At another stage, Harrison wrote the song Wah-Wah to express his conflicted views about the fame Lennon and McCartney had brought him, which contrasted with his feeling that, after all this time, he was still the third wheel. Many of Harrison's songs never saw the light of day as Beatles numbers, which gave him a rich source for his monumental first solo album, All Things Must Pass (generally considered as good as any of the solo albums by Lennon or McCartney). Bob Bell, Croydon, Surrey QUESTION: Is all 'new' architecture today stolen? While contemporary architecture often draws inspiration from historical styles and cultures, and existing designs, it also incorporates innovative materials, concepts and technologies. This blend of old and new should be seen as an evolution rather than theft. To take some modern examples: The Shard, designed by Renzo Piano, was inspired by the gothic spires of London's historic churches and the masts of tall ships depicted by the painter Canaletto. Using modern glass and steel, he has created a distinctly contemporary building. The Shard, designed by Renzo Piano, was inspired by the gothic spires of London's historic churches and the masts of tall ships depicted by the painter Canaletto TOMORROW'S QUESTIONS... Q: In the 1960s, when we saw an ambulance we had to hold our collars until we saw a dog. My husband and I still do this today. Does anyone else do this? And why? Sue Jones, Birmingham Q: I'm a keen racegoer but I've never seen a jockey with a moustache or beard. Is there a reason for this? Cliff Bridge, Beaumaris, Anglesey Advertisement The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, designed by Adrian Smith, draws inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture. Its design incorporates the spiral minaret style while using cutting-edge materials and technologies. Architectural creativity lies in the adaptation and reinterpretation of influences to create unique and contextually relevant buildings. Intellectual property laws also guide architects in respecting originality and preventing outright copying. Thus, modern architecture is a complex interplay of homage, innovation and originality. S. K. Lewin, London N5 QUESTION: Who were the first ethnic minority MPs? Ethnicity is subjective and subject to changing interpretations. The first MP from what we would consider to be an 'ethnic minority' background may have been John Stewart, MP for Lymington, Hampshire, in 1832-47, whose father owned plantations in the West Indies. David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre, MP for Sudbury 1841-2, was of mixed European and Indian descent. His election was annulled due to corruption. The first MP with full ethnic-minority origins was Dadabhai Naoroji, a professor at University College London, who was born in Mumbai. Naoroji was a critic of British rule in India and was elected Liberal MP for Central Finsbury, London, in 1892. Prominent pro-British Indians decided to put up their own candidate, Mancherjee Bhownaggree, who was elected MP for Bethnal Green North East, London, in 1895. Olivia Simmons, Guildford, Surrey Three US Army soldiers were killed when their car plunged 400 feet down a dangerous San Francisco cliff on Friday morning. Brylyn Aroma, 36; Angelica Gacho, 28; and Mohammad Noory, 29, were driving down California's Highway 1 - known for its hairpin turns and steep seaside cliffs - just after 11am on Friday when the two-door gray sedan they were in plunged down a cliff dubbed Devil's Slide. Their vehicle came to a rest down the embankment, and was photographed upside down but still visible in the water below. Multiple California Highway Patrol officers along with other law enforcement agencies and fire crews rushed to the scene, while a CAL FIRE team rappelled down the side of the cliff to check on the occupants, ABC 7 reports. Authorities initially found just two people in the car, whom they pronounced dead at the scene. Angelica Gacho, 28, was killed in a horror crash when the car she was traveling in plummeted 400 feet down a cliff off California's Highway 1 Brylyn Aroma, 36, and Mohammad Noory, 29, were also killed in the crash Friday morning Rescuers were then able to find and recover two of the bodies, and a third was found on Saturday. It was recovered after high tides created 'incredibly dangerous' conditions, the highway patrol said, according to USA Today. The car was then removed from the water by a tow truck on Saturday morning. It was apparently being driven by Noory, of South San Francisco, who worked as an Uber driver at the time of the crash, according to NBC Bay Area. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, as friends of Noory's try to raise money for his family back home in Afghanistan. The online fundraiser says that prior to driving for Uber, Noory worked for the US Army as an interpreter in Afghanistan. He achieved a Special Immigrant Visa for his service to the US, and immigrated in 2021 in hopes of supporting his family. But friends of Noory's say they are not familiar with the other victims. Photos from the scene show the two-door gray sedan overturned in the water below Authorities needed to use a tow truck to pull the vehicle from the water on Saturday Recovery efforts were hindered by high tides that created 'incredibly dangerous' conditions Yet the three shared a bond, as Gacho was also a communications specialist for the US Army, according to her LinkedIn. She shared reels of her life on a base on her Facebook page, and announced in April that she had got engaged. 'You are foremost the highlight of my military career,' she wrote of her fiancee. Aroma, meanwhile, was a US Army medic and was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. She was commended as the 'dragon of the week' by the First Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment in March 2023. 'She took the initiative to serve as a bridge between our soldiers and Allied forces,' the battalion raved. 'Her language skills and selfless service enhanced the capabilities of the organization during vehicle training and land navigation.' It added that she was 'vital in communication when it came to our Allies, which resulted in better safety and better training block for everyone involved.' Gacho was a communications specialist for the US Army, according to her Linkedin Aroma was stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas at the time of the crash, and had been working as a US Army medic Following the news of her sudden death, friends and family flooded Aroma's Facebook to express their grief. 'I can't stop crying thinking that you will not be here in Fort Riley no more,' Joy Juliano wrote. Aroma's boyfriend, Vinny Hall, whom she had recently attended the Military Ball with, said he was 'devastated and heartbroken.' 'You were my rock baby, my whole world. We had so much planned for our future,' Hall wrote, sharing photos of their time together. 'I will always love you so, so much. You will always be in my heart forever and always.' On his own Facebook page, Hall said that he was 'just at a loss for words right now' and doesn't know what to do. Aroma's boyfriend, Vinny Hall, whom she had recently attended the Military Ball with, said he was 'devastated and heartbroken' Gacho announced in April that she had got engaged Cheryll Lorca Gone also appeared to have known both Aroma and Gacho, writing it is 'so sad what happened [to] both of you! 'What a tragedy that happened!!! 'So sad you guys [are] gone [at such a] young age and we will miss you both!!!' An Australian man has been left paralysed from the waist down following a horrific accident while on a European holiday with his girlfriend. Jordan Theobald, 29, and his partner Laura Mahoney saved for years for what was supposed to be 'the trip of a lifetime' before it spiralled into a nightmare. 'A jump off the iconic Mostar Bridge in Bosnia left Jordan with a life-altering injury,' Ms Mahoney wrote on a GoFundMe page. 'Upon landing in the water he shattered his T12 vertebrae, leaving him with paralysis of his lower body. He is currently in the ICU after complex surgeries.' Old Bridge Mostar is a tourist attraction where the brave-hearted have the chance to jump into the water below - a 20 to 27m plunge depending on river levels. Anyone wishing to jump off the bridge must first receive permission and training from local jumpers who provide lessons on how to land safely and avoid injury. Ms Mahoney said her partner is 'an incredibly active and loving person... he has an adventurous spirit and a passion for surfing and snowboarding'. She said the Melbourne man's caring nature draws people to him and he 'is always ready to lend a helping hand' to others. Australian man Jordan Theobald (pictured left with his partner Laura Mahoney) has been left paralysed from the waist down after a dream overseas trip turned into nightmare Mostar Bridge in Bosnia, the bridge Australian man Jordan Theobald jumped off, is pictured 'Jordan's journey to recovery is just beginning,' she said. 'He has already undergone several blood transfusions and requires additional medication to help stabilise his condition.' Ms Mahoney said what lies ahead will be 'long and challenging', but that there are already positive signs. 'Following the surgeries, he has been able to wiggle his toes and stand assisted for a few seconds. These small yet significant signs of progress give us hope,' she said. Ms Mahoney said the emotional toll on Jordan and his loved ones is immense, 'but the financial burden is equally overwhelming'. The cost of medical care and repatriation to Australia will come to more than $100,000, with further expenses expected later. 'This is a daunting sum, and we cannot face it alone. At this stage we are unsure what, if anything, our travel insurance will cover,' Ms Mahoney wrote. She said any donation, no matter the size, 'brings Jordan one step closer to the care he needs and the comfort of being surrounded by his loved ones (and) will make a profound difference in his recovery journey'. 'Jordan and I are eternally grateful for the support we have already received and any future support,' Ms Mahoney wrote. An Aussie dad who recovered from a double lung transplant more than a decade ago has now been told he may only have a few months to live after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Murray Brown, 31, who lives in Berwick, in Melbourne's south-east, was given the devastating news by surgeons last year when they had found a tumour after he had a seizure. The father-of-four had the tumour successfully removed by specialists, but doctors said it could grow back. Doctors conducted a biopsy to examine the cells and discovered that despite the removal of the tumour, Mr Brown has stage three cancer and the disease is incurable. The cruel health blow comes after Mr Brown received a double lung transplant to treat cystic fibrosis 12 years ago after he was given just weeks to live. He had lived with the genetic condition, which affects the lungs and digestive system, for his whole life. There is no cure for the disease and Mr Brown feared he would die until the successful transplant. Now he faces another gruelling health battle that has already taken a toll on his family as they struggle to come to terms with the diagnosis. Murray Brown, 31, (pictured) had a tumour successfully removed but a biopsy to examine the cells discovered Mr Brown has stage three cancer and the disease is incurable Mr Brown's partner Danielle said the family are staying positive and are trying to make the most of their time with him despite the heartbreaking news. 'The hardest part is that we don't know exactly how long he has,' she told Yahoo. 'They [doctors] can't tell us anything. So it could be 12 months, it could be 12 years that's very optimistic'. Danielle said there are several factors that have made it difficult for doctors to understand what treatment plan will be most effective. This includes how his body will react to anti-rejection drugs, which are medicines given to patients to help them cope with an organ transplant. Danielle said the hardest part of the process has been explaining the situation to the couple's young children, who are aged six, four and two-year-old twins. Mr Brown's partner Danielle (pictured left) said the hardest part of the process has been explaining the situation to the couple's young children (pictured) 'We are quite positive. So it's okay until you have those moments that sort of knock you for six looking into the future and picturing what our lives will be like,' she said. Mr Brown is currently receiving radiation and chemotherapy and a family friend set up a GoFundMe page to help fund their medical costs. The fundraiser has to date reached the goal of raising $40,000 with $40,366 raised from a total of 902 donations. Dr. Anthony Fauci is being accused of lying to Congress last month when he said he never used private email to conduct official business. Fauci, 83, told a journalist in 2021 that he would reach out to them through his private email as he faced backlash over research being done on beagle puppies by his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). The project saw innocent hound dogs tormented and killed in a lab in Tunisia to learn more about a parasitic disease, something the NIAID initially denied funding before Fauci confirmed this year that was a fib. It also saw the hashtag #ArrestFauci trend on the site formerly known as Twitter, as he also faced backlash over his handling of the pandemic. The now-retired expert faced a grilling about this in June as well. The White Coat Waste Project, who years ago revealed how NIAID spent $1.86million in taxpayer funds on the tests, has now uncovered correspondence where the doctor told a reporter he would message him personally as they spoke briefly about the then budding scandal. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is seen testifying at a coronavirus pandemic hearing on June 3, 2024. There, the former head of the NIAID told lawmakers he never used a personal email to discuss work 'I will send you an e-mail via my gmail account,' Fauci wrote in a 2021 email sent to Washington Post reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb. She had been the national health policy reporter for the paper at the time, before becoming a White House reporter the same month Fauci retired Back in June, the former head of the NIAID told lawmakers he never used a personal email to discuss work - a stance that, while now coming into question, he continues to maintain. 'I will send you an e-mail via my gmail account,' Fauci wrote in the email dated October 29, 2021, and sent to Washington Post reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb. Shortly before, the journalist who had been the national health policy reporter for the paper at the time, sent a message that appeared to air pity toward the doc about the series of 'crazy articles' that had surfaced surrounding the beagle experiments. Earlier emails showed how Fauci shared an article from the fact check website Snopes, in which journalists seemingly sought to cast doubt on his connection to the experiments. The article further suggested Fauci, who retired in August 2022, did not sign off on the taxpayer-funded experiments, which, aside from spawning widespread outrage, warranted a scathing rebuke from members of Congress. The Snopes article called them 'rumors' designed to 'disparage' the then-NIAID director, and Fauci in turn wrote to the journalist, 'As per our discussion, more of the same.' The latter appeared to dismiss legitimate questions about the experiments where dogs were left for sand flies to be eaten alive for research purposes as outlandish. Some three years later, he would concede to a House subcommittee that he 'signed off' on grants that funded the tests - an admission offered before several lawmakers on June 3. The correspondence appeared to center around the project that saw innocent hound dogs tormented and killed in a lab in Tunisia to learn more about a parasitic disease, something the NIAID initially denied funding before Fauci confirmed this year that was a fib The inconsistency isn't the first from the lifelong doctor, and apparently isn't the last either, if the FOIA records obtained by the White Coat Waste Project and The New York Post are to be taken seriously. As mentioned, the exchange - occurring less than a year before Fauci's retirement and Abutaleb's seemingly simultaneously ascension to Post White House reporter - suggested the doctor sent an email to the woman from his personal account. In a statement offered Monday in response, Fauci's attorney David Schertler, said his client stands by his June 3rd testimony' He further claimed the email 'was a personal matter and not a matter related to government business'. For that reason, Dr. Fauci used his personal email account to communicate about the matter, he told the New York Post, the first to report on The White Coat Waste Project's latest qualms. The founder of the firm that first brought attention to the then-shrouded beagle experiments responded by telling the New York paper the email was proof that Fauci 'broke federal law', alleging he lied under oath about a variety of things. 'Weve followed the money and exposed how Fauci lied... about not funding gain-of-function at the Wuhan animal lab, that he lied about not bankrolling beagle torture in Tunisia,' Anthony Bellotti reportedly said 'And, now, that he broke federal law by using his personal email to evade FOIA requests about Beaglegate and secretly communicate with a Washington Post reporter who then published NIH disinformation to protect him and discredit us.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene holds up a photo of the experiments unveiled by the The White Coat Waste Project in 2021 at the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus pandemic last month In a fact-check last month surrounding the now confirmed Beagle experiment, the Washington Post found the government-sanctioned was erased from a grant database weeks after members of the press began inquiring about it in 2021. 'Beaglegate' was thus born, a mostly online movement that questioned Fauci and the government's involvement that culminated with White Coat Waste Project in 2022 releasing internal NIAID documents that included the full grant proposal. Months before, Fauci had asked NIAID staff for details of the grant - after which one of the agencys employees pressured the journal that published the study to remove its affiliation, according to internal NIAID documents obtained by White Coat Waste. Representatives for the NIAID would then argue it funded a separate but similar study involving sand flies, before Fauci slammed reports on the experiments as 'lunacy' from the 'far-right' in his recent memoir. However, days before the book published, he suddenly changed his tune - telling Congress he did, in fact, sign off on the Tunisia experiments - 'because they were approved by a peer review', he said in his June 3 testimony. The committee had already obtained a trove of emails showing one of his top aides, Dr. David Morens, using a private email account to evade FOIA requests while bragging about deleting 'smoking guns.' Faucis top adviser at NIAID from 1998 to 2022, Morens is now the subject of an internal NIH investigation for alleged FOIA evasions and the deletion of federal records. Correspondence between EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak and Fauci was also uncovered, after the nonprofit received more than half a million in funding from NIH to help conduct gain-of-function experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology beginning in 2014. He continues to deny covering up the origins of Covid-19 as some claim the gain of function experiments were the cause, after 100 hours of testimony and a 15-month investigation failed to turn up any evidence linking him to potentially dangerous research relating to Covid-19 The committee had already obtained a trove of emails showing one of his top aides, Dr. David Morens, using a private email account to evade FOIA requests while bragging about deleting 'smoking guns.' Morens is now the subject of an internal NIH investigation But perhaps the most disturbing incidents funded by Fauci's National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases involved the Tunisian research lab, where $375,000 was given to have beagle puppies heads held in cages, before being left for sand flies to be eaten alive. Distressing snaps showed the pups with their heads kept inside the muslin-type cages filled with the hungry insects. Another procedure - which the NIH funded to the tune of $1.8m - saw 44 beagles undergo a 'cordectomy' that saw their vocal cords cut to stop them barking. That experiment, which took place in Menlo Park, California, saw the dogs then pumped full of drugs, before being killed and dissected. Fauci would announce his impending retirement months after the White Coat Waste Project exposed both, the same month Abutaleb changed jobs to become the Post's White House reporter. He continues to deny covering up the origins of Covid-19 as some claim the gain of function experiments were the cause, after more than 100 hours of testimony and a 15-month investigation failed to turn up any evidence linking him to potentially dangerous research in Wuhan. He has also dismissed the - in his own words - 'absolutely false and simply preposterous' Republican claims he influenced the CIA's analysis of whether the pandemic started naturally or escaped from the lab. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has dropped out of the Veepstakes to be Kamala Harris' running mate amid rumors he plans to run for Senate in 2026. Cooper confirmed in a statement Monday night that he would not be a candidate to be Harris' vice president, saying he was 'honored' to be considered but 'this just wasn't the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket.' The governor, 67, withdrew from contention well before Harris' vetting process began and never submitted the requisite material, according to two of the people. Harris remains focused on mostly men with executive experience from swing states like Cooper to round out the ticket. A Bloomberg report Monday revealed that Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro as well as Arizona Gov. Mark Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are the top three contenders Harris is considering adding to her ticket. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has dropped out of the Veepstakes to be Kamala Harris ' running mate amid rumors he plans to run for Senate in 2026 Cooper confirmed in a statement Monday night that he would not be a candidate to be Harris' vice president, saying he was 'honored' to be considered but 'this just wasn't the right time' The current vice president's team was initially said to looking at about a dozen potential contenders, but the field has narrowed and now Shapiro and Kelly are seen as among the front-runners, according to insiders. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan told CBS News Monday that she could see a decision happening in the next week. Cooper, the former chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, has been close to Harris since they were both state attorneys general. His potential selection was seen as a possible asset in shifting North Carolina - the Democrats' only significant opportunity to expand on their 2020 map - into Harris' hands. A source close to Cooper has said that the governor is specifically targeting the Senate seat in North Carolina up for election in 2026, NBC News reports. Thom Tills, a Republican, has won two consecutive terms but both times by less than two points. Under the state constitution, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is the GOP's nominee to replace the term-limited Cooper, becomes acting governor and can assume the Democrat's powers when he travels out of state. Cooper, according to two of the people, has expressed concern about what Robinson might do if he were to leave the state extensively for campaign travel. The governor's legal team, as well as some outside experts, do not believe Robinson would actually assume the powers that accompany being governor, such as issuing executive orders. The governor (pictured right), 67, withdrew from contention well before Harris' vetting process began and never submitted the requisite material, according to two of the people Under the state constitution, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson becomes acting governor and can assume his powers when he travels out of state. Cooper has expressed concern about what Robinson might do if he were to leave the state extensively for campaign travel But the governor was concerned enough, one of the people familiar with the matter said, that Robinson would try to take action that could prompt litigation and spur distractions in North Carolina, one of the most critical political states nationwide both for the presidency and in its gubernatorial race. Robinson is an ardent social conservative, who once called abortion 'child sacrifice.' In various church pulpits, Robinson has asserted men as the rightful leaders in church and society. He once mused that leaders of the original birth control movement in the U.S. were 'witches, all of em.' Robinson has also discussed LGBTQ people with words like 'filth' and 'maggots.' In the weeks before President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Cooper appeared with Harris at campaign events in Greensboro and Fayetteville. He had deflected questions about the vetting process. 'I trust her to make the right decision,' he told reporters in North Carolina recently. Harris' search is ongoing and her teams of lawyers and political aides are still reviewing information on a narrowing list of potential candidates. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday found Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona has the highest favorables amongst the contenders. A source close to Cooper has said that the governor is specifically targeting the Senate seat in North Carolina up for election in 2026 The same poll has the vice president's favorability sitting at 43 percent an eight point surge since last weekend, according to ABC News/Ipsos polling which showed Donald Trump under water. Kelly, a former astronaut and husband of ex-Congressman and gun control advocate Gabrielle Giffords, is viewed positively by 22 percent of respondents and negatively by just 12 percent. While a majority either still don't know Kelly or have no opinion of the border state Democrat, he remains better liked than some of his potential VP rivals. Kelly is seen as a potential worry for Republicans, according to Kevin Madden, a Republican strategist and former spokesperson to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. Republican strategist Matt Wolking believes Shapiro and Kelly are the most formidable candidates in the running for vice president, but he noted choosing Kelly would open up a Senate seat in the battleground state of Arizona should Democrats win the election. 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. 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 Trump selected Ohio Senator JD Vance (pictured left), 39, to be his running mate 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. WARNING: Graphic content A police officer has revealed the moments he watched his colleague get murdered in front of his eyes as a horrific ambush unfolded at a rural Queensland property, a coronial inquest has been told. Constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, were murdered after they attended the Wieambilla property of Gareth Train and his wife, Stacey, while performing a welfare check for Gareth's brother, Nathaniel Train, in December 2022. Unknowingly, the officers had walked into an elaborately staged trap where they, along with two other officers - Constables Keely Brough and Randall Kirk - were met with gunfire, an inquest into the deaths has been told. Footage from Constable Kirk's body-worn camera was played in court as counsel assisting the coroner, Ruth O'Gorman KC, gave her opening address. The vision shows the four officers jumping the fence at the Train property about 4.35pm to approach the house on foot. Ms O'Gorman said less than two minutes after the officers entered the property 'a shot rang out'. Constable Arnold was only 120m from the front gate where the officers had come from when he shot in the chest and died. The inquest was told the fatal bullet had been fired by Nathaniel, who was most likely in a 'hide-out' lying in wait. Constables Rachel McCrow, 29 (pictured), and Matthew Arnold, 26, were murdered after they attended the Wieambilla property of Gareth Train and his wife, Stacey, while performing a welfare check for Gareth's brother, Nathaniel Train, in December 2022 Constable Arnold (pictured) was only 120m from the front gate where the officers had come from when he shot in the chest and died Gareth Train is seen on Rachel McCrow's bodycam during the ambush About seven minutes later, Constable McCrow was murdered by Gareth, who shot her with his rifle at close range. The Trains then lit fires to try to smoke out Constable Brough, who had managed to escape to bushland metres away from where her colleagues were murdered. Constable Kirk had also managed to escape the ambush after he made a frightening dash back to his police vehicle at the front gate while being shot at by the Trains. 'Do you have eyes on the others' - horror moment for cop Constable Kirk told the inquest on Tuesday he'd been assigned the Code 3 job to attend the Wains Rd property with his colleague Constable Brough when the pair started their shift at the Chinchilla Police Station at 4pm on December 12. Constables Arnold and McCrow had also been tasked with the job and a plan was made for the four officers to meet at the road near the property as the Tara crew had never been to the house. It was the second time Constable Kirk had been to the property, having attended with another officer in August 2022 looking for Nathaniel. The inquest heard the two officers didn't go past the locked gate and left a note in the letterbox about the reason for their visit. This time however, the four constables jumped the locked front gate because an arrest warrant had been made and a missing persons welfare check for Nathaniel. Constable Kirk said two separate crews were called to the Code 3 job because property was in an area with poor reception. 'There's sorts of areas you have between Chinchilla and Tara you have what you call black spots ... having more crews at specific jobs tends to help,' he said. As the four officers walk up the dirt driveway, they were captured on Constable Kirk's body worn footage chatting together. Constable Kirk is heard saying 'there's an arrest warrant for this fella'. Constable Randall Kirk is seen brandishing his gun as he flees the area He told the inquest relaying that type of information 'tends to help everyone' as they approach a job About 120m from the gate, a single shot rings out and Constable Arnold is killed. The inquest heard that Constable Kirk says 'get back, get back' to his colleagues as they try to seek cover. 'I recall myself going behind a tree,' he said. 'I don't recall where Keely Brough went and I could see where Rachel was, still at the same position...where the initial shot went. 'I recall dropping, laying on my stomach. I don't recall specifically when I dropped.' When asked why he dropped to the ground, Constable Kirk simply replied it was 'to try not to get shot'. He told the inquest he 'assumed' the 'loud' gunshots had come from 'in front' of where the officers had been walking but he didn't see it happen and didn't notice anyone on the property. As he tried to remain hidden from sight, Constable Kirk was able to move to another tree that provided him better coverage. 'It was my only protection,' he said. 'I remember getting to the tree. I remember scanning to get eyes on Keely, Matt and Rachel. 'I don't recall seeing anyone initially. I don't recall where the shots had come from. 'I do recall trying my radio, and then that not working and then having to use my phone to the sergeant.' Constable Kirk was able to make a phone call to his supervising officer, Sergeant Justin Dryer, to relay what was unfolding at the rural property. From his position, he was able to tell Sergeant Dryer what was happening to him and his colleagues. 'I was constantly scanning around the tree trying to find out where Keely was as well as to confirm the status of Rachel,' he said. Constable McCrow was killed in the ambush at Wieambilla in 2022 'My observations was (Constable Arnold) just wasn't moving. (Constable McCrow) was rolling around, screaming out.' Constable McCrow had been shot three times moments after Constable Arnold was killed and she lay about 30m from where Constable Kirk hid. The inquest heard all four officers were wearing their assigned Glocks, which has an accuracy distance of 'within 15m'. Ms O'Gorman asked Constable Kirk whether he was able to 'turn your mind' to if he could 'physically' get to Constable McCrow to assist her after she received the first three non-fatal shots. 'I did but I wasn't able to get there.. to the nature of where the shots were coming from, it was still unknown,' Constable Kirk explained. The inquest heard Constable Kirk was able to see 'one shooter' - later identified as Gareth - emerge from the hide 'well over 50-60m' away but he was too far away to shoot at him. 'I first saw him come out to what we now know is the hide, I saw him on that treeline,' he said. 'From there it was kind of a constant (pearing) from my tree to see where he was going. 'There was interruptions (to his surveillance of Gareth), I kept going back behind my tree to lose sight but also to provide myself cover.' Constable Kirk said he couldn't remember when he saw Nathaniel emerge from the hide but saw him standing at the tree line. He said he thought he told Sergeant Dryer that Nathaniel was carrying a 'cross bow'. Gareth Train fatally shot Constable Rachel McCrow during the horrific attack The inquest heard Gareth went over to Constable Arnold and removed his Glock from him. 'I saw him walk up to Constable McCrow, they exchanged words and then he fatally shot her,' Constable Kirk said. The inquest was told Constable McCrow had fired 15 shots from her Glock at Gareth moments before he killed her. Upon hearing the gunfire, Constable Kirk discharged his Glock once firing in the direction of Gareth. Ms O'Gorman asked the constable why he'd only fired one shot. 'The main reason was Constable McCrow was in the line of fire as well as it being outside of my glock Glockement range,' he replied. 'The single shot was an attempt to hit the target. 'If that was the case I would have gone for more shots, given it was ineffective... I returned to my cover to not give up my location.' Constable Kirk said he became aware Gareth knew he was nearby. 'He was sort of swaying side to side, moving his head as if he was trying to pear around the tree where I was at,' he said. In the following moments, Constable Kirk managed to run for his life back to his car after his supervisor told him to 'look after' himself when he asked him if he should run. '(I did) try and maneuver (between) a few trees and bush to try to provide myself enough cover while I ran,' he said. Despite being shot in the hip, Constable Kirk was able to get to his car and drive away to call for help. The Dares' call for help Alan Dare, 58, lived at a nearby property and came to investigate after seeing smoke in the area. He was murdered moments after he arrived to help. It's understood he was fatally shot in the back by one of the Trains, but the inquest was told an investigation could not determine by who. The inquest was told Mr Dare's wife, Kerry, called triple-0 at 5.13pm after the couple had spotted fires coming from the Trains' property. Mrs Dare called again four minutes later at 5.17pm to report an update on the fire as her husband was getting in his car to drive off to investigate and lend assistance. Detective Inspector Suzanne Newton said through her investigation, the operator speaking to Ms Dare told her that her husband should 'absolutely' not go to the property where the fires were. When asked if she knew if Mr Dare was told the warning, Inspector Newton said she was unable to confirm through listening to the call's audio if he received the message. 'I'm not in a position to say if he heard it or not,' she said. 'Mrs Dare was on the phone at the time, he was getting into his Ford Territory. 'You cannot hear on any recording that Mrs Dare has relayed that information to Mr Dare.' Inspector Newton said she was also unable to determine where Mrs Dare was when she made the second call to triple-0. Ms O'Gorman said Mr Dare had arrived at the Trains' property about 5.30pm in response to the smoke he spotted coming and was 'killed without warning'. Constable Randall Kirk recovered in hospital with partner Bree after the shooting Ms O'Gorman said he died from a gunshot wound to the torso 'while looking out for his community'. Her investigation also confirmed all four officers who attended the Wains Rd property had performed their duties according to QPS policies and procedures. She said they'd been carrying out a 'low level routine job' for a code 3 call-out to perform a missing persons welfare check for Nathaniel. The inquest was told there was also an arrest warrant out for Nathaniel after he'd allegedly crossed the Queensland border months prior during Covid lockdowns and dumped three weapons as he crossed. Harrowing moments before murders Ms O'Gorman said both officers 'died in the line of duty' and in their service to their community. Images of the Trains' hide-out were displayed in court on Monday. They showed an elaborate set-up hidden among tree debris that featured a large tent, dumbbells, a copy of the book The Godfather and a chair with sawn-off legs that allowed the shooter to have a direct line of vision through the cutout to see anyone who approached the front gate. Ms O'Gorman said before the first shot, the officers were not aware they were walking into an ambush. The inquest was told Constable McCrow was shot in the back while trying to use her radio to call for help. She was then shot in the lower right leg and upper left leg at 4.38pm. 'Unable to call out on her radio, Constable McCrow recorded the harrowing events that she had then lived through in what is known as a sit rep, or a situational report,' Ms O'Gorman said. 'She also recorded a message of love for her family.' The inquest was told while it was unclear who fired the three non-fatal shot at Constable McCrow, Gareth likely pulled the trigger causing the fatal shot. Ms O'Gorman said Constable McCrow showed 'great courage and honour' during her final moments. 'It was about seven minutes from the time of the shot that killed Constable Arnold to the time of Constable McCrow's death,' she said. 'In that time she was injured by gunshot wounds, her shooters unknown to her. 'Despite being ambushed, in pain and no doubt terrified, Constable McCrow showed great courage and honour.' Inspector Newton told the inquest on Monday she'd been able to identify the voices heard in audio captured by the officers' body-worn cameras through the assistance of Nathaniel and Stacey's son. Stacey and Gareth Train posted a video to a now deleted YouTube channel after the shootings The former couple had two children before separating and Stacey went onto marry Nathaniel's brother, Gareth. The inquest was told that through the body-worn camera audio, both brothers could be heard speaking to each other moments after Constables Arnold and McCrow were killed. 'He f**king ran,' Gareth said. 'The other car's gone ... took a car.' Nathaniel replied: 'Do you want to move forward or stay here?' Inspector Newton said moments later Nathaniel said 'one went right and three went to the left'. 'In the scope, there were three to the left of him ... I was looking at them,' Nathaniel said. 'He could have broken that way, but I'm pretty sure he went to the right.' It's understood Nathaniel was describing Constable Brough's movements in this verbal exchange with his brother before the pair started several fires to try to smoke her out. On Monday, the inquest was told Constable Brough spent nearly two hours waiting to be rescued as flames licked her feet. The officer, who had only been on the job for less than nine weeks, had managed to seek shelter in bushland. The inquest was told she was able to call triple-0 on her mobile phone at 4.34pm as she tried to remain hidden in the grass, which was about 20cm tall. Ms O'Gorman said a male's voice could be heard on Constable Arnold's body-worn camera saying 'there's one more somewhere'. Nathaniel Train had been a principal at Queensland and NSW schools. Constable Brough, who remained on the line with the triple-0 call operator, revealed her concern for her life. 'I think they know I'm here, I'm scared,' she said. She was rescued about 6.34pm after running to the front gate where officers were waiting to collect her when it was safe to do so. Special Emergency Response Team officers shot all three members of the Train family following a lengthy siege within seven minutes of each other. Ms O'Gorman said Stacey was killed first - at 10.32pm - from a gunshot wound to the head. Gareth was killed four minutes afterwards, also from a gunshot wound to the head. Nathaniel was the last standing Train member before he was shot in the head and torso, at 10.39pm. Months after the massacre, police confirmed the Trains had prescribed to an extremist Christian ideology known as 'premillennialism' and acted as an 'autonomous cell' to carry out their 'religiously motivated terrorist attack'. The inquest was told on Monday that Gareth and Stacey had been seen by Polair sitting at a table during the hours after they killed two police officers and a civilian and recording a video that was later uploaded to YouTube. In the video, which was played to the court, the married couple confirmed they'd killed two police officers. 'They came to kill us and we killed them,' Gareth says in the video. 'If you don't defend yourself against these devils and demons, you're a coward.' Stacey then adds: 'We'll see you when we get home.' And then: 'We love you.' Gareth says: 'We'll see you at home Don.' Ms O'Gorman told the inquest 'Don' was a man in America whom the couple had been speaking with about their beliefs. She said 'home' referenced to seeing Don in the afterlife. The inquest continues. An expert has warned that airfares will likely rise as Rex gets set to enter administration and possibly become the latest airline to collapse after Bonza. Ernst & Young will be announced as administrators for Rex by Wednesday, the Bloomberg financial news service claimed, and that spells bad news for travellers. Monash University professor and 'Up in the Air' author Greg Bamber said it would 'reduce competition' and encourage Virgin and Qantas, 'who form an oligopoly' in the market, to increase their prices. 'That's what generally happens when there's less competition - the dominant players put up their prices,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Prof Bamber said that when Bonza collapsed at the start of July, 'Virgin and Qantas both offered passengers free tickets on the routes that they were flying'. 'But the challenge for customers of Bonza and Rex is that they flew routes typically which were regional routes, which in most cases were not being flown by Qantas or Virgin,' he said. 'So it didn't always work. That sort of offer didn't help most of the passengers in practice.' If Rex goes down, it could be a long time before another airline emerges in Australia to challenge the dominance of Qantas and Virgin. With regional airline Rex set to plunge into administration and Bonza collapsing earlier this month, Qantas and Virgin Australia are likely to take advantage and send flight prices soaring. Bonza staff pictured 'Australia has seen several examples over the years of new entrant airlines collapsing, not only Bonza and Rex, but going back further we saw the collapse of Ansett (in 2002), which wasn't a new entrant,' Prof Bamber said. 'The problem is that we have got an oligopoly (in Australia) with one very strong player - a quasi-monopolist - Qantas, which has too much market power. 'The regulators have not reined in the dominant player that is Qantas. I think we deserve to see a higher degree of regulation in Australia which would rein in the great market dominance that Qantas has.' Prof Bamber said a strong and competitive airline industry is vital to Australia's wellbeing. 'This is a huge country with vast distances between our major centres of population,' he said. 'We don't have an alternative way of travelling between centres in so far as there's no high speed rail system and the roads are not of world class standards between the major cities, which are widely separated. 'So aviation is an essential industry in Australia.' Amid the potential collapse of a second airline within a month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was 'concerned about Rex. 'It's an important regional airline. What we will do, though, is examine any proposals (for keeping it flying).' He added that 'Rex, as a regional airline, of course, provides important links with regional communities - and particularly between capital cities and regional communities - it is important for those local economies. 'So we want to see the aviation industry in Australia continue to be one that provides those services and that access.' Opposition front bencher Simon Birmingham said on Tuesday that the Government 'needs to act with urgency, but they also need to be very clear-headed about how they act'. Mr Birmingham told Sky News that Labor needs to get its priorities right. 'The government has responsibilities to taxpayers and to travellers, not to shareholders. That was certainly the approach (the Coalition) took in relation to the difficulties with Virgin (in 2020). 'There are ways in which government can support and maintain routes which are essential for the travelling public, particularly in regional areas. 'And there are ways that they can act to ensure that the travelling public is protected. 'But they also must act in a way that is responsible for taxpayers and not underwriting shareholders, or creating an environment where taxpayers face the potential of significant losses.' If Rex goes down, it could be a long time before another airline emerges in Australia to challenge the dominance of Qantas and Virgin Will my Rex flight go ahead? As of Tuesday afternoon, Rex's website was not taking bookings for its services between capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Regional services, many of which are only served by Rex, could still be booked. Unlike Bonza, Rex owns its own planes, so this makes it more likely, but not certain, that flight obligations will be met while the company goes through administration. Further details are expected later today or on Wednesday morning. If you have a flight booked in the coming days or weeks, check directly with the airline or your travel agent to make sure your flight is still happening. How do I get a refund if Rex goes under? On April 30, when it was obvious that Bonza was on the brink of collapse, customers got text messages saying they'd get their money back within three weeks so long as they filled out an online form within 24 hours. But that promise proved to be a false dawn and the administrators from Hall Chadwick had other ideas. Unlike Bonza, Rex (plane pictured) owns its own planes, so this makes it more likely, but not certain, that flight obligations will be met while the company goes through administration On May 1, they announced that processing refunds for customers was not a priority. Those with flights booked were to be considered unsecured creditors while the administrators figured out what to do with the business. Unsecured creditors are usually the last people to get their money back, while secured creditors such as banks, are first in line for whatever money is left. The situation with Rex, if it collapses completely, is likely to be very similar to what happened with Bonza - the customers will be at the back of the queue for refunds. CPC leadership sets out economic priorities for 2nd half of 2024 Xinhua) 13:40, July 30, 2024 BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership held a meeting on Tuesday to analyze the current economic situation and set out priorities for the second half of this year. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting of the committee's Political Bureau. The country's economy has been generally stable and made progress since the start of this year, according to an official statement released after the meeting. The country has sustained the momentum of economic recovery and moved faster to foster new growth drivers and competitive edges, the statement said. China's GDP expanded 5 percent year on year in the first half of 2024. Currently, the country faces more adverse impacts from changes in external environment, and effective domestic demand remains insufficient. There are still various risks and potential dangers in major sectors, as well as challenges resulting from the replacement of traditional growth drivers with new ones, it said. However, it noted that those are all issues in the course of development and transformation. The meeting called for efforts to raise the awareness of risks, be prepared to deal with worst-case scenarios, and maintain strategic resolve and confidence in the country's development. Noting that tasks of reform and development and maintaining stability in the second half of the year are arduous, the meeting underscored the importance of pursuing progress while ensuring stability. It called for efforts to foster new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, strengthen macro regulation and tap the potential of domestic demand, among other endeavors. Steadfast efforts must be made to accomplish the goals for this year's economic and social development, the meeting said. China has set its annual GDP growth target for 2024 at around 5 percent. Reform should serve as the driving force in promoting steady growth, making structural adjustments and guarding against risks, the meeting noted. A number of reform measures that are ready, tangible and attainable should be adopted in a timely manner, it said. Work should be done to refine the systems underpinning the market economy, such as those related to property rights protection, market access, and enterprise bankruptcy and market exit, according to the meeting. Macroeconomic policies should be more effective, it said. Efforts should be made to strengthen counter-cyclical adjustments, accelerate the issuance and usage of special bonds, and promote large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-ins of bulk durable consumer goods. The country should make full use of multiple monetary policy tools, strengthen financial support for the real economy, and enhance the consistency of macro policy orientation. Domestic demand should be expanded with a focus on boosting consumption, and economic policies should center on improving people's livelihoods and promoting consumption, the meeting said, highlighting service consumption in the expansion and upgrading of consumption. The meeting called for strong and effective support for gazelle companies and unicorn firms. It urged industries to strengthen self-discipline to prevent rat race and irrational competition. The market mechanism of "survival of the fittest" should be strengthened and exit channels for backward or inefficient production capacities should remain unclogged. The meeting also urged work to expand China's institutional opening up, with a new round of trial measures rolled out to further open up the country's service industry. Trade in intermediate goods and green trade should also be expanded. To promote the stable and sound development of the country's property market, the meeting urged active support for the purchase of commodity housing inventory to be used as affordable housing. It also stressed accelerating the defusing of debt risks facing local financing platforms. The country should strive to boost investor confidence and the stability of the capital market. Work should also be done to see that rural people do not return to poverty in large numbers, and secure bumper grain harvest for the whole year, according to the meeting. The meeting emphasized greater efforts to ensure and improve people's well-being and implement the employment-first policy to help college graduates and other key groups find jobs. It urged all-out efforts to fight floods and improve disaster relief, and called for ensuring energy and power supplies to meet surging demand during the summer. Research and planning work for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) should be intensified, according to the meeting. Noting that pointless formalities and bureaucratism remain deep-seated problems, the meeting urged vigorous and resolute efforts to rectify such conduct. The meeting underscored the importance of strictly complying with the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving work conduct and the detailed rules for its implementation. Targeting "pointless formalities at the fingertips," the meeting also called for enhancing the regulation of mobile apps for government services. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Air New Zealand has become the first major airline to dump a 2030 emissions reduction target. The Kiwi carrier had originally pledged to reduce its carbon intensity 28.9 per cent by the end of the decade, compared with 2019 levels, in a methodology validated by the Science-based Targets initiative (SBTi), a UN-backed corporate climate action group. But it blamed high green fuel prices and a lack of lower emissions aircraft for the decision to abandon the goal. 'Many of the levers needed to meet the target, including the availability of new aircraft, the affordability and availability of alternative jet fuels, and global and domestic regulatory and policy support, are outside the airline's direct control and remain challenging,' the carrier said in a statement to the ASX. Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said it had become apparent in recent weeks that new aircraft delivery delays risked that goal and the airline would withdraw from the SBTi network immediately. 'It is possible the airline may need to retain its existing fleet for longer than planned due to global manufacturing and supply chain issues that could potentially slow the introduction of newer, more fuel efficient aircraft in to the fleet,' Mr Foran said. 'As such and given so many levers needed to meet the target are outside of our control, the decision has been made to retract the 2030 target and withdraw from the Science-based Targets initiative network immediately.' Australian airlines remain committed to the 2030 target. Air New Zealand has become the first major airline to dump a 2030 emissions reduction target The Kiwi carrier had originally pledged to reduce its carbon intensity 28.9 per cent by the end of the decade, compared with 2019 levels Air New Zealand said it was still committed to an industry-wide target of net zero emissions by 2050. Aviation is deemed responsible for about 2 per cent of the world's emissions but is considered one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise as fuel for flights cannot be easily replaced with other kinds of power. Airlines are banking on plant-based Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and more efficient aircraft to reduce emissions in the near-term. However, SAF production is expensive and plane manufacturers are struggling to deliver new-generation aircraft on time. A teenage mom who was apparently living in the country illegally has given a sickening excuse for placing her newborn baby in a trash bag and tossing it in a dumpster. Everilda Cux-Ajtzalam, 18, a Guatemalan national, was taken into custody on Thursday for allegedly leaving the baby boy with his umbilical cord still attached in the dumpster outside of an apartment building in Houston, Texas on July 21. She allegedly told police in the aftermath that she thought she had 'no choice' but to put the baby in the dumpster because she didn't want her boyfriend to break up with her, according to court documents obtained by Law & Crime. The documents go on to reveal she gave birth 'on the ground behind the food truck where she works' and then taking the baby - referred to in court documents as John Doe or CW - and placing him in a dumpster. '[Defendant] put the child, placenta and umbilical cord into a trash bag, took the trash bag to a dumpster and left the child in the dumpster tied inside the trash bag,' a magistrate judge wrote in a bond order, noting that the 'event' was caught on surveillance footage. Everilda Cux-Ajtzalam, 18, a Guatemalan national, was taken into custody on Thursday for allegedly placing her newborn baby in a trash bag and tossing it in a dumpster Eventually, a passerby heard the newborn crying from the dumpster and called 911. Officers with the Houston Police Department and emergency personnel responded to the scene at around 1.15pm. Heart-stopping footage obtained by ABC13 then shows officials responding to the scene, and finding the baby boy inside a bag. EMS were then seen wrapping the baby in a blanket by the dumpster. The child appeared to be fresh out of the womb, with his hair wet, his skin pruned and his umbilical cord still attached. Thankfully, he survived the horrific ordeal. He was examined at a hospital and was determined to be in good health. The baby is now under the care of Child Protective Services. Heart-stopping footage shows officials responding to the scene outside a Houston apartment building, and finding the baby boy inside a bag EMS were then seen wrapping the baby in a blanket by the dumpster Cux-Ajtzalam is now charged with one count of felony abandoning a child without the intent to return. She made her first court appearance on Friday, where she was reportedly scolded by Harris District Court Judge Veronica M. Nelson. 'It was pure luck that the child was found and received care,' the judge said, according to the Houston Chronicle. 'Given the fact that it's the middle of the summer in Houston, Texas and the temperature at the time... I'm going to set the bail in this case at $90,000.' Prosecutors requested a bond of $150,000 and a public defender sought a bond of $7,500, Law & Crime reports. Court documents suggest Cux-Ajtzalam gave birth 'on the ground behind the food truck where she works' Cux-Ajtzalam's bond was later raised to $200,000 on Monday, ABC 13 reports. She is said to be a flight risk, having no ties to the country, according to Click 2 Houston. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have also placed a hold on her release, and court documents noted she was previously arrested in 2023 by Customs and Border Patrol. The court documents also note she has a mental disability. A demolition worker has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after severing his colleague's leg when he ran him down with a car before smashing his head with a hammer. The savage attack at City Beach, in Perth's western suburbs, began when Matthew Lawson, 25, confronted colleague Trae Black, 29 at a Catesby Road worksite on Monday. Mr Black took off on foot, but Lawson pursued him in a car, chasing him onto the West Coast Highway, where he ran him over and amputated his leg. Lawson is then said to have jumped out of the vehicle and struck Mr Black in the face with a claw hammer, before fleeing the scene. Pictured: Trae Black, 29, who is currently fighting for life after having his leg severed in the attack Pictured: The crime scene on the West Coast Highway (pictured) in Perth's City Beach on Monday Mr Black was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where he is currently fighting for life after suffering critical injuries. Lawson was arrested near the scene a short time later and faced Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with one count of attempted murder. Appearing without a lawyer, Lawson told Magistrate Janelle Scutt 'yep guilty' when asked how he wished to plead, The West Australian reports. Magistrate Scutt asked Lawson if he would like to seek legal advice before entering a plea, noting the offence garnered a 'lengthy term of imprisonment', but he declined. He also turned down the option to have pre-sentencing and psychological reports conducted or the matter adjourned before entering a plea. He did not make an application for bail and has been remanded in custody. The hearing comes as the construction workers' boss, 'Horse' Elliott, revealed new details about the shocking attack. He said Lawson first turned up at the company's headquarters on Monday morning looking for Mr Black, before seeking him out at the construction site. 'He then came to this (City Beach) worksite looking for Trae ... theyve had an interaction, Traes taken off and Matts gotten in the car and chased after him,' Mr Elliott told The West Australian. 'I wasnt aware of what happened after he left my office until I saw the carnage on West Coast Highway like everyone else. 'But when I came down West Coast Highway...I knew exactly what had happened. He had some fatalistic intentions on his mind.' A man has been arrested over the alleged incident. Pictured is the ute allegedly used to run down Mr Black Mr Elliott said Mr Black's leg had been severed by the axle of the silver Mazda BT-250 ute being driven by Lawson. Another employee, who watched the attack unfold, said Lawson - who is just over six feet tall - looked like a 'raging bull'. A retired army veteran, who was one of the first responders at the scene, said Mr Black, 'wasn't doing too well'. 'He was asking for water and was quite alarmed,' he told 9News. 'Later on I found [the victim's] amputated leg up on the bank and put that in a bag and provided that to paramedics.' Mr Black has undergone emergency surgery and remains in a critical but stable condition as of Tuesday. Lawson is next due before the Supreme Court on August 21. Human remains have been found in the search for a real estate agent who went missing over a year ago. Yanfei Bao, 44, vanished on July 19 last year. The Chinese national was last seen in the suburb of Hornby in western Christchurch, New Zealand, at 10am on the day of her disappearance. Detectives launched a homicide investigation a week after she went missing and later charged 53-year-old Tingjun Cao with her murder. He will stand trial in October. Now, 11 days after the anniversary of her disappearance, New Zealand police have revealed they have found human remains at a property in Greenpark, around 45 minutes south of Christchurch. 'While searching private farmland in the Greenpark area this morning, a shallow grave was discovered along the treeline,' Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said. 'The remains cannot immediately be formally identified, and work is now under way to excavate and forensically examine them. Yanfei Bao (pictured), 44, vanished on July 19 last year. Detectives launched a homicide investigation a week after she went missing and later charged 53-year-old Tingjun Cao with her murder The Chinese national was last seen in the suburb of Hornby in western Christchurch at 10am on the day of her disappearance (pictured) 'This news has been shared with Yanfeis immediate family, and while long hoped for, still comes as a shock.' Detective Reeves revealed the area had previously been searched but 'new information' led investigators back to the property. 'For operational reasons, we are unable to share the information that led us to search this location,' she added. On the day she vanished, Ms Bao had been due to meet a prospective client to show him around a property. Now, 11 days after the anniversary of her disappearance, New Zealand police have revealed they have found human remains at a property in Greenpark, around 45 minutes south of Christchurch (stock image) The last contact she made was when she called a friend that morning on the Chinese social media app WeChat, asking how a Chinese buyer who lived in Christchurch could transfer $NZ600,000 ($538,899) from China to buy a house, reported Stuff. Police later charged 53-year-old Tingjun Cao with her kidnapping and then days later, charged him with her murder. The kidnapping charge has since been dropped but he will stand trial for her murder in October. Bao's husband Paul Gooch said at the time her disappearance had changed their family's lives 'irreparably'. Her daughter Momo had shown 'incredible resilience' over the past year, Mr Gooch added. 'It's truly inspiring to witness her ability to still find reasons to smile and be her authentic self in the midst of such adversity,' he said. 'Her mother would undoubtedly be deeply proud of her.' The View's Ana Navarro has declared JD Vance a 'DEI hire' - due to him being a self-professed 'hillbilly'. The Republican talk show panelist made the remark on CNN NewsNight With Abby Phillip Monday after several GOP lawmakers made the same claim about last-minute Joe Biden replacement Kamala Harris. Navarro, in turn, honed in on Vance's hayseed heritage, which he himself leaned into in his 2016 tome 'Hillbilly Elegy' that harked back to Appalachian roots and his family in rural Kentucky. In actuality, Vance, 39, spent most of his childhood in a suburb in the southwest of Ohio. The novel has since been parlayed into a Netflix film - one that Vance embraced as he used it to successfully secure his first ever term as a junior senator. Navarro, 52, honed in on these facts during her merciless undressing of the potential vice president. Scroll down for video: The View's Ana Navarro declared JD Vance a 'DEI hire' on Monday - due to him being a self-professed 'hillbilly' The Republican talk show panelist made the remark on CNN NewsNight With Abby Phillip Monday, after several GOP lawmakers made the same claim about last-minute Joe Biden replacement Kamala Harris 'It's very funny when I hear J.D. Vance talk about Kamala Harris as a DEI hire,' the self-professed centrist who's long voiced her disdain toward Donald Trump began. 'Because I think he got a book deal, I think he got a TV contract, I think he got a move deal because he's a DEI hire,' she said. 'You want to talk about DEI? You came on and you were supposed to be the hillbilly translator which was something that was sorely lacking on national TV and in the movies,' she continued 'We're going to talk about hiring somebody because what they represent and the color of their skin and where they come from? Let's start with JD Vance.' The critique did not end there, with Navarro sure to reference some of the other headlines surrounding the divisive candidate since he was named as Trump's second less than two weeks ago. 'I'm kind of marveling at the lack of vetting that seems to have gone on in the Trump campaign which had a ton of time to pick their vice president,' Navarro said as Vance faces flak for decrying some Democratic leaders as 'single cat ladies' in 2021. 'I'm just amazed at all of the things that came out.' One of the scandals she appeared to obliquely reference was the surrounding the senator and claims he had sex with a couch, another assertion aired in his book. The self-professed Republican who has been vocal about her hatred of Donald Trump honed in on Vance's hayseed heritage, which he himself leaned into in his 2016 tome 'Hillbilly Elegy' In actuality, Vance - seen here Usha Chilukuri Vance - spent most of his childhood in a suburb in the southwest of Ohio, a fact he seemed to ignore as he leaned into his identity as an Appalachian descendent A week earlier, Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett suggested Harris was selected as Biden's running mate solely because she is black. 'One hundred percent she is a DEI hire,' the 59-year-old said, spurring lawmakers such as Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming and Rep. Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin to air almost identical sentiments. 'Her record is abysmal at best.' Also calling Harris a 'DEI hire', Hageman referred to her as 'intellectually, just really kind of the bottom of the barrel. Grothman, in turn, told CBS News affiliate WDJT, in Milwaukee, that 'Democrats feel they have to stick with her because of her ethnic background.' Navarro on Monday was not having it, after already airing distaste over Vance's resurfaced 'cat lady comments' the day before on The View. 'They've given him, J.D. Vance, all these opportunities to clean up his childless cat lady comment, and he hasn't been able to,' Navarro said. 'Like, he ended up apologizing to the cats instead of to the ladies!' she added, referencing the senator's haphazard apology. A week ealirer, several Republicans suggested Democratic candidate and current VP Kamala Harris was selected as Biden's running mate solely because she is black She went on to call the show of remorse phony, saying the Ohio senator truly 'means it.' 'Because thats his intention,' she told co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behart, and more. 'He has said more than once that he thinks people without children, that thats bad and must be punished He wants people with children to have more voting rights. He wants people with children to pay less taxes.' 'But heres what I want to tell him,' Navarro continued. 'There are women who have no children because they are free to choose so, and there are women like me who have no children because we couldnt. 'And how dare you try to tell me that I am lesser than? How dare you tell me that I have less rights and less voting rights than others?' Vance voted against the Democrat-led Right to IVF Act last month, though was supportive of a GOP-sponsored bill, the IVF Protection Act, which would strip states of Medicaid funding if they barred IVF treatments. During a Q&A with Kelly over the weekend, Vance explained that he was for IVF within reason, has many experts and conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro begin to air concerns about the GOP's VP pick. 'I think we have to protect the rights of Christian hospitals to operate the way that they want to operate,' he said. 'But of course, that's totally consistent with promoting fertility treatments for parents who need it.' The dress-down came a day after Navarro, a political strategist who calls herself a centrist, made fun of Vance's running mate's recent ear injury following the attempt on his life earlier this month. The joke was met with laugher and applause Meanwhile, one the latest episode of his self-titled show, Shapiro joined the many jumping on the bandwagon of slamming the senator amid the outrage the resurfaced interview has incited. 'I think he probably would have picked somebody like Glenn Youngkin from Virginia in an attempt to broaden out his base,' he said referencing GOP candidate Trump. 'Instead, he went with JD Vance, feeling, because he was right at the time, he had a very solid advantage in the race against Joe Biden.' Harris, who has yet to officially be confirmed as the Democratic candidate, has yet to announce a running mate. Navarro, meanwhile, faced some backlash last week for making fun of Vance's running mate's recent ear injury following an assassination attempt last weekend. 'What we saw yesterday was a replay of Trump's 90-minute constant rallies,' she said. 'It's too bad the bandage was just over his ear. It should have been over his mouth.' A real estate agent has married a stranger in prison after he popped the question in just six weeks. Real estate agent Laura Gehrke met her future husband Joshua Stewart on the social networking website WriteAPrisoner.com after feeling lonely in December last year. The 27-year-old, who starred in the Netflix show Too Hot To Handle Germany, had been unable to travel home for Christmas due to an issue with her visa so was forced to spend the festive period alone in Dubai. After scrolling through TikTok, Laura stumbled upon a video about writing to a prisoner online and decided to wish an inmate Merry Christmas. Laura Gehrke, 27, fell in love with prisoner Joshua Stewart, 21, after meeting online The real estate agent married a stranger in prison after he popped the question in just six weeks One particular profile caught Laura's eye, and she began exchanging messages with 21-year-old Joshua Stewart. The pair were soon speaking on the phone up to 11 hours a day and it wasn't long before Joshua popped the question after six weeks of knowing one another. Laura flew to Washington to wed her criminal beau in June during a 90-minute prison ceremony. Despite having a conviction of controlled substance homicide, Laura said she never judged her hubby over the reason for his incarceration. Laura said: 'I was sitting here home alone feeling very sad because I couldn't be with my family [due to the visa issue] and then I scrolled through TikTok and saw a video about WriteAPrisoner.com. 'I thought I could just send one of them a message saying 'Merry Christmas'. 'I went on the website and saw my husband's account. He was the second person I clicked on and I saw on his profile he said he liked poetry and I was interested in that.' Laura Gehrke, 27, and Joshua Stewart, 21, are pictured on their wedding day posing by the prison's Coke machine One particular profile caught Laura's eye, and she began exchanging messages with 21-year-old Joshua Stewart After exchanging messages about his poetry, Laura and Joshua began speaking on the phone for as long as 11 hours a day. Laura said: 'We really clicked. He was just open about everything from the beginning. He was telling me so many stories about his life. I thought he was really emotionally intelligent. 'I wasn't immediately asking about the crime because I didn't want to judge him just based on that. 'I was hearing a lot of stories about him growing up before I knew all the details about what he was incarcerated for. It made me see it all a bit differently. 'Because I knew the backstory, it didn't change my opinion of him.' In February, Joshua popped the question to Laura during one phone call and the couple wed four months later in a prison ceremony. The couple both wore white on their wedding day. A change for Stewart from his usual orange Despite being unable to spend their wedding night together, the pair are hoping to be approved for conjugal visits later this year. Laura said: 'I flew over and we saw each other 12 times and the 13th time I saw him was our marriage. I wanted to see him first before we got married. 'It was a prison marriage - one of the other inmates was his best man. We were all in white and had our own color theme. 'It felt super right. Our families are super supportive. Obviously my mum had questions but she was very supportive.' There are plenty of doubters online who do not believe the romance will last once Stewart is out But the unconventional relationship has received some backlash online, with trolls insisting Joshua is 'just using' his wife. One TikTok user said: 'Bro just secured his financial future after he's out.' Another added: 'You most definitely got all your priorities messed up.' A third said: 'He will disappear after release.' In February, Joshua popped the question to Laura during one phone call and the couple wed four months later in a prison ceremony Laura said: 'People just look into things with a made-up mind - they can't believe we married out of love. They just think I'm using him or he's using me. 'They can't believe it's real love. We have a lot of support but we also have a lot of haters.' Laura is hoping to live with her hubby in the US when he is scheduled to be released under house arrest in December 2025. The tragic final movements of a mother-of-six have been revealed before she was found unconscious on remote country path and sadly later died. Cops have asked for any CCTV or doorbell footage near where Anita Rose was found with serious head injuries while on a dog walk as they continue to investigate. Ms Rose died four days after she was found on a usually 'safe and peaceful' countryside path near to Rectory Lane in Brantham, Suffolk, early on Wednesday morning. She had gone on a walk with her beloved springer spaniel Bruce, who 'heroically stayed with her and alerted passersby'. Ms Rose's son called him an 'amazing dog' and reassured concerned locals that the loyal pooch is safe. Yesterday, the family of the 57-year-old paid tribute to the 'well known and loved mum', as police held a man, 45, on suspicion of murder. Police have released a map showing the route they believe the dog walker took before she was injured, and ask anyone who saw her to come forward. Residents have been left reeling from the tragedy, left 'scared' after the incident in the sleepy area where 'you don't get anything like that happening'. Anita Rose died four days after she was found unconscious on a usually 'safe and peaceful' countryside path near to Rectory Lane in Brantham, Suffolk, early on Wednesday morning Anita Rose, pictured with her partner Richard Jones, was described as a 'loved mum' She had gone on a walk with her beloved springer spaniel Bruce (pictured), who 'heroically stayed with her and alerted passers by' CCTV images issued by Suffolk Police of Ms Rose before she was found in Brantham Anita Rose, 57, was found near to Rectory Lane, Brantham, along a footpath (above) Officers on the scene where the dog walker was reportedly attacked in Brantham, Suffolk Family yesterday said the mother-of-six was 'brutally taken from us devastatingly too early, and we have been robbed of so much time with her'. Police are today conducting house to house enquiries, searches of the scene and surrounding areas, as well as searching through CCTV footage in the quiet village. CCTV footage released by Suffolk Police showed Ms Rose leaving her house at around 5am to take her dog out. But what should have been a relaxing walk ended in tragedy, as at 6:25am, a member of public found Ms Rose lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious. They called an ambulance, and police officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am. Ms Rose was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital having sustained a serious head injury and sadly passed on Sunday morning. The day before - on Saturday - a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder. That same day, a 37-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connection with the incident. Both were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have since been released on conditional police bail. Detectives are continuing to search for Ms Rose's pink zip-up jacket which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident. The missing jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta. Police have added extra patrols to the area and advised residents to remain 'vigilant' if going for a walk and to tell someone where they are going and when they should be back. Anita Rose tragically died four days after she was found with serious head injuries Police are pictured yesterday searching for Ms Rose's pink jacket Ms Rose was found on a usually 'safe and peaceful' countryside path near to Rectory Lane Police on the country track where Ms Rose was discovered on Wednesday at around 6.30am Police resume their search for the missing pink zip up jacket near the footpath Detectives are continuing to search for Ms Rose's pink zip-up jacket which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident Ms Rose's son Ash Rose has posted an appeal on Facebook for the public to help police with their investigation. He wrote: 'The person responsible for doing this to my mum and my children's Granma is still out there! 'Our family appreciates the kind words but please please SHARE and SPEAK to friends or family who may know something no matter how small or insignificant they think it might be and please urge them to contact the police. Thank you.' Anita Rose's son Ash Rose has posted an appeal on Facebook for the public to help police with their investigation And her partner Richard Jones posted: 'This was my beautiful Anita absolute heartbroken love you always and forever in my heart.' In addition, a touching tribute issued by her family read: 'Our mum was well known and loved in the community. 'She was brutally taken from us devastatingly too early, and we have been robbed of so much time with her. 'She wasn't just a mum of six, she was also a grandma to 13, a long-term partner, a mother-in-law and a special friend to so many. 'Someone somewhere must know something, and we urge them to come forward. We want to thank everyone for their love and support. All we ask is for everyone to cherish their time with their family and loved ones.' Following the incident, anxious Brantham residents have spoken of their fears of returning to the usually 'safe and peaceful' countryside path. Bradley James, 28, a tractor driver who lives in the area, said: 'Dog walkers always use these paths. 'It's quite tragic, really - you don't get anything like that happening in this village. 'A lot of people are a bit nervous to go walking their dogs. My mum is scared because you don't know what's going on.' Ian Swan, 58, from nearby Mistley, added: 'It always seems very safe down there usually. There's plenty of people around - I've never been out here and not met someone. 'But I've never heard of any problems down here.' Rosie Rawlinson said she walked her dogs three to four times a day along the route but 'absolutely' felt she could continue doing so. She said: 'Nothing like this has ever happened like this in the four and a half years I've been here. I was scared this morning on my early walk, I must admit.' Simon Harley, a councillor on Suffolk County Council, added: 'I am of course shocked and saddened by this incident and my thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family. 'Brantham is normally such a safe and peaceful place with amazing people, and I am sure this incident is a one-off, but I would urge people to take sensible precautions at this time.' Police on the scene on a country track in Brantham, Suffolk, after the attack Police combing the scene where Ms Rose, 57, was discovered on Wednesday morning Police search fields near to where Ms Rose was found as they continue to investigate Detective Supt Mike Brown said: 'Residents will continue to see additional police officers patrolling and engaging in the area. 'We recognise that many people will feel concerned, but I can reassure you that we are working hard to identify what has taken place and that this investigation is a priority for the Constabulary. 'If people are concerned about going out for a walk, I would advise them to remain vigilant, tell someone where you are going, what time you expect to be back and let them know when you are home. 'Anita's family continue to be supported by specially trained police officers as part of the investigation. We appreciate it's a very difficult time for them and we therefore ask for people not to speculate on social media about this incident. 'Anita was wearing a pink zip-up jacket which we believe she had on immediately prior to the incident. 'To help with this, we are now releasing a map detailing the route we believe Anita walked on Wednesday morning. 'We are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything on Wednesday in these areas, or anyone travelling on trains towards Ipswich or Manningtree on that morning who saw anything that they think might be useful to the police investigation. 'We are also keen to speak to anyone living in the area that has CCTV or doorbell cameras. 'I am extremely grateful for the support the community and the media have given us so far. This assistance we receive is absolutely key.' Suffolk Police will be working alongside their partners at the British Transport Police to establish any further potential lines of enquiries and are planning to conduct an anniversary check in the Rectory Lane area on Wednesday 31 July. Anyone with information that may assist with the inquiry is urged to contact Suffolk Police quoting 37/41580/24, Millions of Aussies have been warned to be vigilant for symptoms of a potentially deadly disease. Victoria's Department of Health is investigating a widespread outbreak of Legionnaires' disease after a 'significant increase' of dozens of cases across Melbourne. In the four days since last Friday, 33 confirmed cases of the disease have been recorded on top of another 10 suspected cases. The cases have reported in the the city's northern and western suburbs. Most cases are adults aged over 40 and have severe community-acquired pneumonia that has required hospitalisation. Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker issued a warning to Melburnians. 'This is a nasty type of pneumonia ... so people can become quite sick, quite quickly,' she told ABC Radio Melbourne. 'We are concerned. This is a significant increase on normal. Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker (pictured) issued a warning to Melburnians about the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains. Pictured Legionella bacteria at Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory 'Most of our cases at the moment are in hospital, a number in ICU... so they're critically unwell.' Dr Looker added: 'As soon as we have a better sense of particular locations of concern, we will be sharing that.' Investigations are underway to identify the source of the outbreak through testing of local cooling towers and other potential sources. 'People who live in, work in or have visited metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas, and develop symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, should seek urgent medical care,' a department statement read. Dr Looker urged Melbourne residents to be vigilant for symptoms, including fever, chills, cough, headache and muscle aches and pains. Other atypical symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion. Symptoms can develop up to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria, which is found in potting mix and soils and often multiplies in bagged potting mix, mulch and other products. Anyone who develops symptoms of Legionnaires' disease is urged to seek urgent medical care (stock image) Legionnaires' disease is not contagious and can not be transmitted from person to person. 'Typically, people will almost always get it by breathing in fine droplets of water that contain the bacteria,' Dr Looker added. She said inhalation of contaminated water particles via air conditioners can often cause the disease. 'Most often we will see most of the big outbreaks are associated with cooling towers so big industrial air conditioners,' she said. The Department of Health warned the people most at risk of Legionnaires' disease include those aged over 40, smokers, people with a chronic lung disease, have a weakened immune system, and have other underlying medical conditions such as chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, and diabetes. The department revealed test results indicate that the outbreak is caused by serogroup 1, which can be detected through a legionella urinary antigen test. A grandmother allegedly stabbed her husband to death in a desperate act of self-defence after trying to stop him from taking his own life, a court has heard. Caroll Hopkinson, 58, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody on Tuesday, charged with the murder of her husband Simon in their Taperoo home in Adelaide's west on July 7. The court heard that Hopkinson, a mental health nurse, called emergency services after allegedly stabbing her husband during a tussle with a knife. Her lawyer Jeff Powell told the court that she woke up on the morning to a strange noise coming from the bathroom. Hopkinson allegedly found Simon, also a mental health nurse, trying to end his life, the Adelaide Advertiser reported. Panicked, she ran to get a knife to stop him but an 'aggressive' Simon then turned on her, according to her lawyer. 'She understood his reaction to be "why are you stopping me from something that I need to do". That is how she interpreted his reaction,' Mr Powell told the court. 'He took the knife from her and assaulted her. She had cuts on her hands from trying to defend herself. There was a struggle, and then she took the knife back.' Caroll Hopkinson, 58, is seen being escorted away by police officers after her husband was found dead in a western Adelaide home Simon then lunged at his wife, who allegedly stabbed him in fear of her life. 'It happened in a matter of moments, in a panic, early in the morning and there was no premeditation or planning about it. She had no idea what was happening in her household when she got up,' Mr Powell told the court. The court heard that she immediately called her daughter and then police, who arrived about 20 minutes later and found her in the 'unfortunate position' of having ended her husband's life in act of self-defence. Police allege Hopkinson had blood stains on nightgown when they arrived. Neighbours expressed their shock after learning of the death, telling The Advertiser the couple seemed like 'normal, happy people'. Neighbours expressed shock at the horrifying news saying the couple had seemed 'normal, happy people' The court heard that Caroll Hopkinson killed her husband Simon (pictured), in self-defence Mr Powell asked the court to release Hopkinson on bail, noting the 'unusual' features of the case meant she was not a danger to the community. However, prosecutors argued the seriousness of the charge should keep the accused woman in custody. Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal ordered a home detention report, and will make a decision on bail next month. For confidential 24-hour support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Police in Spain have launched another onslaught against the latest beach scam affecting tourists, including unsuspecting Brits. They say sunbathers on one of the country's most famous beaches are falling prey to 'unlicensed beach umbrellas' which are now being confiscated. Crafty crooks, described by some of their victims as 'mafia', are homing in on La Malagueta beach in Malaga and there are fears the con could spread to other resorts. Gangs are simply popping into souvenir shops or bazaars to snap up bargain sun umbrellas. They then take them to the beach, find tourists who are sitting in the blazing sun and then selling the rogue umbrellas for around 10 for a few hours of use. Sunbathers on one of the country's most famous beaches are falling prey to 'unlicensed beach umbrellas' which are now being confiscated Bathers seen sunbathing at Malagueta beach during a hot summer day in Malaga The holidaymakers have no idea that the sellers aren't part of the beach franchise service and willingly pay up. Unfortunately for them, the police know better and then come along and confiscate them. In just one day alone, more than 20 umbrellas were seized and 'taken into custody'. So far, two illegal vendors have been arrested and face a fine of 300 euros. However, it's estimated that the gangs are earning about 300 euros a day as sunbathers might only stay on the beach for a few hours. When they leave, the illegal vendors move in, remove the umbrellas and rent them to someone else. 'The street vendors take over public land to do business with tourists. Between 10.30am and 11am in the morning, bathers watch as they begin to simultaneously place umbrellas in an area that covers about 15 metres. 'After this, they start the first contacts with foreigners - with them, they can earn about 300 euros net per day,' says Spanish newspaper Malagahoy.es. 'Once the illegal umbrellas are intercepted, the police impose a fine on those responsible, which they do not pay, in many cases. 'And, with the same intention, they return to the beach to offer them again. ' Panoramic view of Malagueta beach in Malaga A general view of people spending time at La Malagueta beach during a hot summer day in Malaga The two parasol sellers identified by investigators in recent days are accused of violating the ordinance for the guarantee of citizen coexistence and the protection of urban space in Malaga, by carrying out activities or providing services in public spaces without being authorised to do so. Last month, the city council warned about gangs making and selling mojitos on the beach which, they warned, is illegal and a potential health hazard because of unclear utensils and conditions. Five people were arrested in just one day. Unauthorised street vending of food products on the coast constitutes a serious infringement of the Beach Ordinance of Malaga city council, which carries a fine ranging from 300 to 3,000 euros. The exact amount is determined based on the repeat offence and intention of the perpetrator; and the greater or lesser disturbance caused by the infringement to the environment and/or users. Police have now substantially increased their patrols of the beach areas and more officers enlisted. The prices of a McDonald's Big Mac, Happy Meal and double cheeseburger have all soared since the pandemic, as MailOnline reveals how much the staples cost now. The popular fast food chain has suffered the first decline in sales since the end of 2020, when stores were closed during lockdown. This may be due to the inflated prices which have hit many family favourites since Covid, with many customers shunning McDonald's as a result. Many customers who have loyally visited the fast food restaurant for years for its famously cheap food are now looking elsewhere. The price of a Big Mac surged from 2.99 to 4.69 since 2020, while a Happy Meal now costs 3.59 compared to 2.99 the same year. A graphic shows the price rise of McDonald's Big Mac, Happy Meal and double cheeseburger The price of a Big Mac surged from 2.99 to 4.69 since 2020 Chris Kempczinski, the chief executive of McDonald's,said consumers are 'more discriminating' with their spending due to the cost of living crisis However, the price of a Happy Meal is currently just 1.99 as part of a limited-time deal. And according to The Telegraph, the chain has now reported a 1pc fall in global sales in the three months to the end of June. Chris Kempczinski, the chief executive of McDonald's, told The Telegraph consumers are 'more discriminating' with their spending due to the cost of living crisis. McDonald's bosses have previously flagged that customers seemed to be seeking better value for lower prices. They also pointed to the success of the loyalty programme. This offers points to regular customers that can be redeemed to get money off future orders. Loyalty members accounted for nearly $7billion (about 1.4 billion) in digital sales across 50 markets up from $6billion in the previous three months. The drop came despite offering money off deals to try to win back customers and those who have boycotted McDonalds over the Israel-Gaza war. A Happy Meal now costs 3.59 compared to 2.99 in 2020 McDonald's bosses flagged that customers seemed to be seeking better value for lower prices However, the price surges seem to have made up for the fall in customers, with the chain reporting overall revenues of just under $6.5billion. McDonald's results dovetail with comments last week from Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey, who said sales were slow in restaurants - an indication of fewer people eating out. The chain also reported lower store traffic in China, France and the Middle East, where people have been boycotting McDonald's because of a perception that it supports Israel in the war in Gaza - which has been slammed as 'misinformation' by bosses. CEO Chris Kempczinski said there is a lot more deal-thinking from consumers who have become 'very discriminating'. 'Consumer sentiment in most of our major markets remains low,' he said. In America, meaning sales were down by nearly one per cent. 'The biggest hit for McDonald's is the low-income consumer has really cut back on visits and that is more than offsetting the typical trade down [the chain] normally sees in tougher economic times,' said Edward Jones analyst Brian Yarbrough. The burger giant introduced a $5 meal deal at US restaurants - either a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink - on June 25. That offer was only live for about a week of the financial reporting period - so its effects will be seen in the next quarter. At first introduced for four weeks, the $5 deal has been extended through the rest of the summer at most of its restaurants. McDonald's president Joe Erlinger says it has boosted sales. Generally, chains are reeling from falling customer numbers as Americans fed up with two years of price rises stay away - so are rolling out all these offers. Burger King's $5 Your Way Meal - offering four items like McDonald's - was the first to hit restaurants in June. Wendy's has a $3 breakfast offer and also a four-item $5 meal similar to McDonald's and BK's. Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value war with a coffee and food breakfast combo from $5. Quarterly revenue for McDonald's was flat at $6.5 billion and just off the $6.6 billion that Wall Street was expecting, according to analysts polled by FactSet. Opening of new restaurants offset the slight fall in same-store sales. Ohio Senator JD Vance has been left red-faced after audio from a recent fundraiser in which he admitted that Kamala Harris' entering the race was a 'sucker punch' for the GOP ticket. Vance, 39, ex-president Donald Trump's choice for vice president, was speaking with donors during an event in Minnesota on July 27 when he made the remarks, reports The Washington Post. 'All of us were hit with a little bit of a political sucker punch. The bad news is that Kamala Harris does not have the same baggage as Joe Biden, because whatever we might have to say, Kamala is a lot younger,' the former 'Never-Trumper' said. 'And Kamala Harris is obviously not struggling in the same ways that Joe Biden did.' This embarrassing development for the Trump campaign comes as a new poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute shows that Harris holds a two point lead over the GOP nominee. Meanwhile, an ABC News/Ipsos poll, Harris' favorability rating among Americans hit 43 percent in late July. It's a sharp increase from its 35 percent before Biden exited the race. Publicly JD Vance has been bullish regarding the prospect of Vice President Kamala Harris replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket A new poll gives Harris and extremely narrow advantage over Donald Trump Publicly, Vance has been bullish, arguing that Harris jumping in the race following President Joe Biden's shock announcement that he would not be running, did not impact 'the political calculus' for Republicans. Vance's surrogates have been targeting Harris' record on the border, support for police funding and fracking. 'We have a very unique opportunity, but also a very unique challenge, because, let's be honest, 10 days ago, the two candidates who were running for president, everybody had an opinion about 'em,' Vance told supporters. 'Love 'em or hate 'em, everybody has an opinion about Donald Trump and Joe Biden after the past eight years... but Kamala Harris, people don't really know.' The Angus Reid poll shows a much more diverse and youthful vote for Harris. A whopping 56 percent of non-white voters say they favor the former senator from California compared against 25 percent for Trump. In terms of the youth vote, 50 percent of potential Harris voters are under the age of 35 compared against Trump's 32 percent. The pair are tied among voters between the age of 35 and 54. Trump is unsurprisingly favored by white voters with 51 percent to 37 and with elderly voters, 49 to 40 percent. In response to The Washington Post's report, a Vance spokesperson called Harris 'weak' and 'failed' while promoting a 'dangerously liberal agenda.' 'Her far-left ideas are even more radioactive than Joe Biden, particularly in the key swing states that will decide this election like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin,' Will Martin said. It has emerged this week that the Harris campaign has raised $200 million since she emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee last week It has also emerged this week that the 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. The campaign, which announced its latest fundraising total on Sunday, said the bulk of the donations - 66 percent - comes from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle and were made after Biden's decision not to run. 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. Her campaign said it held some 2,300 organizing events in battleground states this weekend as several high-profile Democrats under consideration to serve as Harris' running mate stumped for her. 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. Mandy Robbins, 45, of Decatur, Georgia, drove to one of those organizing events Sunday in the northern suburbs of Atlanta to hear Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a potential Harris running mate. She thought Biden did a 'great job' in the White House, but acknowledged she 'would not have been nearly this excited' if he remained in the race. 'I finally feel hopeful now,' Robbins said. She added, 'We can win this with Harris.' WARNING: This story contains content that may be considered graphic to some Armed cops surrounded the building where a gunman opened fire at Donald Trump more than two minutes before the shooter attempted to assassinate the former president, shocking new footage has revealed. Thomas Crooks, 20, fired eight shots in Trump's direction from an AR-style rifle after scaling the roof of a building of some 135 meters from where Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One rallygoer was killed and two others were injured. Crooks was shot dead by a Secret Service countersniper. But newly released footage captured by a rallygoer shows that local cops surrounded the AGR International factory building with their guns drawn a full two minutes and 10 seconds before he unleased the volley of shots. It is unclear how long police were surrounding the building before the witness started filming, but it was previously reported that the gunman opened fire roughly 30 seconds after a local officer climbed on the roof, confronted him and then retreated after Crooks pointed his rifle at him. Armed cops surrounded the building where gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire at Donald Trump a full two minutes and 10 seconds before shots rang out The footage, which appears to have been filmed from the field at the base of the AGR building, shows armed officers surrounding the building where Crooks had been perched with an assault-style rifle as Trump addresses his supporters from the stage The new footage comes as Senate lawmakers are expected Tuesday to grill the acting director of the Secret Service about law enforcement lapses in the hours before the assassination attempt in the latest in a series of congressional hearings dedicated to the shooting. Astonishing new video, shared on social media by X user @realDJStew724, shows how police were seemingly aware of a potential threat minutes before Trump was shot on July 13. The footage, which appears to have been filmed from the field at the base of the AGR building, shows armed officers surrounding the building where Crooks had been perched with an assault-style rifle as Trump addresses his supporters from the stage. 'There's f*****g cops surrounding this whole entire f*****g building right now,' a woman can be heard saying as police continue to move around the building. For more than two minutes bystanders encouraged each other to 'make yourself small' before someone yelled 'he's got a gun!' and eight shots rang out. The terrified rallygoers sought cover as they tried to understand what happened. The cameraman asks another bystander: 'Did they pick him off?' 'F**k yeah, I saw a big poof of hair go up in the air. They got him right in the head. Big poof of hair,' another witness replies as the crowd begins to cheer. Trump, after being shot, defiantly raised his fist towards his supporters and encouraged them to 'fight' as he was escorted off the stage by Secret Service. He was was met with chants of 'USA' and 'Make America Great Again' from the crowd. Thomas Crooks, 20, (pictured) fired eight shots in Trump's direction from an AR-style rifle after scaling the roof of a building of some 135 meters from where Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Law enforcement standing over the dead body of Trump's attempted assassin moments after he was shot dead Donald Trump, pictured after he was shot at his rally on July 13, raised his fist and appeared to mouth 'fight' to his supporters as Secret Service escorted him off the stage The new video is the latest in a string of evidence showcasing apparent security failures at Trump's rally. Kimberly Cheatle, who stepped down from her post as Secret Service Director in the aftermath of the shooting, admitted last week that the attempt on Trump's life was the agency's 'most significant operational failure' in decades. At her hearing last week, Cheatle said the Secret Service had 'failed' in its mission to protect Trump and vowed to 'move heaven and earth' to get to the bottom of what went wrong and make sure there's no repeat of it. She acknowledged that the Secret Service was told about a suspicious person two to five times before the shooting at the rally. She also revealed that the roof from which Crooks opened fire had been identified as a potential vulnerability days before the rally. Cheatle said she apologized to Trump in a phone call after the assassination attempt. Ronald Rowe became acting director of the agency last week after Cheatle resigned in the aftermath of a House hearing in which she was berated by lawmakers from both parties and failed to answer specific questions about the communication failures preceding the July 13 shooting. Rowe, joined by FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, will face questions about law enforcement lapses at the rally during at a joint hearing of the Senate committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security today. The hearing comes one day after the FBI released new details about its investigation into the shooting, revealing Crooks had looked online for information about mass shootings, power plants, improvised explosive devices and the May assassination attempt of the Slovakian prime minister. Police personnel are pictured standing over Crooks' body on the rooftop of the AGR building where he opened fire at Trump's rally on July 13 The last photo of would-be Trump assassin, Thomas Crooks, 20, showing him clad in a t-shirt branded with the logo of YouTube channel Demolition Ranch The backpack affixed to this bicycle was reportedly related to Crooks' assassination attempt. In the video, local police confirm that the bike is being treated as a 'suspicious device' The FBI also said that Trump has agreed to be interviewed by agents as a crime victim; the bureau said last week that the former president had been struck in the ear by a bullet or fragment of one. Trump said Monday evening that he expected that interview to take place on Thursday. But the bulk of the questions Tuesday are expected to be directed at Rowe as lawmakers demand answers about how Crooks was able to get so close to Trump. In a Monday night interview on Fox News, Trump defended the Secret Service agents who protected him from the shooting but said someone should have been on the roof with Crooks and that there should have been better communication with local police. 'They didn't speak to each other,' he said. He praised the sniper who killed Crooks with what he said was an amazing shot but noted: 'It would have been good if it was nine seconds sooner.' Anjem Choudary, the notorious Islamist preacher, is facing life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years for directing a secret terrorist propaganda operation over the course of ten years. Choudary, 57, from Ilford, East London, helped found al-Muhajiroun (ALM) in 1996 and spent nearly 30 years running their operations under dozens of different names. Members have been linked to at least 16 different terrorist plots and senior members travelled to Syria, where Siddhartha Dhar and Reza Haque, joined an ISIS execution squad. Choudary himself was an associate of Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo, London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt and Fishmongers' Hall attacker Usman Khan. He celebrated the 9/11 attacks as a 'towering day in history' and Omar Bakri Muhammad, the group's leader, labelled the 7/7 attackers the 'fantastic four' before he fled the UK in August 2005, claiming he had shut down the organisation nine months earlier. Anjem Choudary , 57, from Ilford, East London , helped found al-Muhajiroun (ALM) in 1996 and spent nearly 30 years running their operations under dozens of different names Choudary was arrested at his home in London on July 17 last year, almost five years after his release from prison Choudary and Hussein at Woolwich Crown Court, London, where they were sentenced earlier today Choudary will spend more than 26 years in jail in total due to the time he has already spent in custody, meaning he will not be released before the age of 85, the judge said. Sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mark Wall told Choudary he was 'front and centre in running a terrorist organisation'. The judge also said that he 'encouraged young men into radical activity'. The judge said: 'These are offences which cause the risk of significant loss of life.' Justice Wall told of 'chilling' trial evidence about Choudary's denial of the holocaust and jokes about the 9/11 terror attacks. He added: 'I do not sentence you for holding those views, but the fact that you genuinely hold such extreme views coupled with your history of unlawful behaviour is an indication of the danger you pose into the future. 'I am sure that you will continue to preach your message of hate and division when or if you are given the opportunity to do so in the future. 'You are not someone who can be diverted from that course by any form of intervention. 'You pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public into the future by committing further specified offences such as this.' He went on: 'Organisations such as yours normalise violence in the pursuit of an ideological cause. Their existence give individuals who are members of them the courage to commit acts that otherwise they might not do. 'They drive a wedge between people who would and could live together in peaceful co-existence.' The judge labelled Choudary's views 'entrenched and abhorrent to many right-thinking people', adding Choudary is an 'intelligent man and a persuasive speaker' to those open to 'messages of hate', saying he possesses 'great determination' in pursing his aims. He continued: 'It will be for the parole board to decide whether you are safe to release back into the community. 'I cannot envisage them reaching such a decision without the most cogent evidence of a change of mindset by you. If they never form the view that you can safely be released, you will remain in prison for the rest of your life.' Choudary took over as the leader in 2014 but was arrested and jailed himself four months later, for encouraging support for ISIS. Police in Britain, the US and Canada had been running separate investigations as they became concerned that Choudary was seeking to recruit a new generation of younger followers (Pictured: Choudary speaking in 2012) Choudary told his followers that 'jihad is obliged upon us' and said being described as Britain's 'number one radicaliser' was a 'badge of honour' (Pictured: Choudary talking to supporters in 2011) His licence conditions expired in July 2021 and he began trying to rebuild the organisation, delivering over 40 lectures in one year to audiences of up to 150 across the world and communicating directly with recruits as young at 14 on Whatsapp and Telegram. Police in Britain, the US and Canada had been running separate investigations as they became concerned that Choudary was seeking to recruit a new generation of younger followers. Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner from the New York Police Department (NYPD), described how they sent their 'crown jewel' undercover officers to London to testify against Choudary, a 'shamelessly prolific radicaliser.' NYPD had placed two undercover officers, referred to as OP488 and OP377, in the group's branch in New York, called the Islamic Thinkers' Society. In his first speech, recorded by NYPD undercover officers on June 12 2022, Choudary boasted that 'so many people became shaheed alhamdulillah' [martyrs, praise god]. Police officers in London worked with those in the US before entering Choudary's home to arrest him last July Khalid Hussein, 29, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada, who idolised Choudary, helped him run an online magazine called al-Aseer [the prisoners] He said he had been labelled 'the number one radicaliser in Britain,' adding: 'That is a badge of honour for me. It's a medallion on my chest. What do you want to call me? An extremist? Fanatic? All of these.' In another recording on June 26, Choudary told them: 'You know we always manage to escape prosecution. You know no one has ever been prosecuted in this country for being a member of al-Muhajiroun.' In a discussion with members of the Islamic Thinkers' Society on March 26 last year, he advised them to set up a series of different 'platforms' adding: 'We ended up having loads of them - if you look in the Terrorist Act they listed about 15 of them - there's another 45, we used to use, so this is just a style and means brother.' He also encouraged followers to 'fight the crusaders' and told them, on February 19 last year: 'There's no doubt, jihad is obliged upon us.' A week later, on February 26, Choudary told his audience: 'Is terrorism part of the deen [faith]? Yes even more, horrifying is part of the deen, even to horrify the people.' MI5 had bugged Choudary's home in Ilford, East London and, in a conversation with his wife, Rubina Akhtar on March 22 last year, he told her: 'That impact is there - al-Muhajiroun has gone down in history and that's why they say 40 per cent of all things associated with us. The impact was phenomenal, global.' The figure appears to be a reference to an entry on Choudary's Wikipedia page. Choudary was an associate of Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo (pictured) Adebolajo and co-conspirator Michael Adebowale murdered soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich in 2013 When interviewed by police, Choudary claimed his organisation 'doesn't exist' in the UK On April 30 last year, the covert listening devices picked up Choudary updating Bakri, who had recently been released from jail, on the members of the group and asking for advice on their next steps. How Anjem Choudary was silenced: Timeline traces history of terror cell and arrest of hate preacher April 2003 - Omar Sharif from Derby, a former al-Muhajiroun member who had joined Hamas, killed himself after failing to set off a suicide bomb outside a waterfront bar called Mike's Place in Tel Aviv, Israel. March 2004 - A group of former al-Muhajiroun followers were arrested for planning a bomb attack on the Ministry of Sound nightclub in central London using half a ton of ammonium nitrate. Omar Khyam and his associates had attended lectures by Bakri at their local mosque in Langley Green, Crawley, where he was accompanied by Choudary. The Crawley cell had set up a training camp in Malakand, Pakistan, in July 2003, which was attended by Mohammed Sidique Khan, the leader of the 7/7 bombers. November 2005 - Kazi Nur ur-Rahman, an associate of the Crawley gang from East London, who had been a member of al-Muhajiroun, was caught in a sting operation at South Mimms service station, trying to buy Uzi sub-machineguns and shoulder-launched missiles. August 2006 - A key al-Qaeda commander called Rangzieb Ahmed from Rochdale was arrested in Pakistan. During an aborted trip to South Africa, he had met a former member of al-Muhajiroun in Dubai who had acted as a courier and returned to Britain with his code books. September 2008 - Three Muhajiroun followers firebombed the home of the publisher of a controversial novel about the Prophet Mohammed and his child bride in Islington, North London. One of them, Ali Beheshti, 41, from Ilford, East London, had taken his 20-month old daughter, dressed in an 'I love al-Qaida' hat, to protests against the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2006. December 2010 - Taimur Abdulwahab Al-Abdaly from Luton blew himself up in the middle of a busy shopping street in Stockholm, Sweden, on a Saturday afternoon two weeks before Christmas. He had been attending a mosque popular with ALM supporters. Al-Muhajiroun members from London, Cardiff and Stoke, led by Mohammed Chowdhury, combined to plan a Christmas car bomb attack on the London Stock Exchange. November 2011 - A Muslim convert called Richard Dart, 30, the son of teachers from Weymouth, Dorset, was stopped as he tried to leave for Karachi in Pakistan on his way to seek terrorist training. He had been discussing attacking Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, where the bodies of fallen British soldiers were repatriated. Dart was frequently pictured alongside Choudary at protests. April 2012 - A group of al-Muhajiroun supporters from Luton, Bedfordshire, was arrested after they were bugged as they discussed an attack on a Territorial Army barracks using a bomb attached to a remote controlled car and driving it under the gates. The men also talked about trying to get hold of a firearm on the black market and met someone they believed might be able to supply a weapon. May 22 2013 - Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, two converts from South London, stabbed to death Fusilier Lee Rigby as he returned to Woolwich Barracks from duty at the Tower of London. Choudary described Adebolajo as a 'pleasant, quiet guy' and added, at his most recent trial: 'I was there when he became Muslim. I officiated at his marriage.' February 2014 - Abdul Waheed Majeed, 41, a truck driver from Crawley, drove a dumper truck packed full of explosives into Aleppo prison for an al-Qaeda affiliate called Jabhat al-Nusra. Afterwards Choudary said Majeed had acted as a driver for Omar Bakri Muhammad, the leader of al-Muhajiroun, and added: 'He was a good father, a family man who was dedicated to make sure all his actions were based on the [religious] texts.' August 2014 - Brusthom Ziamani, 19, was arrested as he wandered the streets with a rucksack containing a large hammer, a 12 inch carving knife and an Islamic flag, searching for a soldier to kill. Ziamani had fallen under the influence of Anthony Small, who ran a group linked to Choudary in Lewisham, South London. September 2014 - Choudary is arrested on suspicion of encouraging support for the banned terrorist group Isis. July 2016 - Choudary convicted for encouraging support for banned terror group Isis. October 2018 - Choudary released from prison. July 2021 - Choudary's licence conditions expire. August 18 2021 - Choudary hosts Telegram Channel 'Call to Islam' - 715 people subscribe to it. September 10 2021 - Hussein sends message to Canadian undercover officer stating 'The Islamic Thinkers Society are actually Al Muhajiroun North America'. October 2021 - NYPD makes first contact with the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command in regard to ongoing investigation into ITS. February 2022 - Hussein meets Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) undercover officer and sends voice note stating ITS are the 'remnants of Al-Muhajiroun'. Spring 2022 RCMP contacts the Met's Counter Terrorism Command in relation to ongoing investigation into Hussein. June 12 2022 - Choudary hosts first online lecture for ITS - attended by NYPD undercover officers. Choudary goes on to hold around 40 lectures or classes for ITS up until April 2023. October 2022 - NYPD visits London and meets with the Met's Counter Terrorism Command to discuss respective investigations and material. March 9 and 22 2022 - Covert recordings of Choudary speaking with his wife discussing his involvement in ITS and ALM. March 26 2023 - Further covert recording of Choudary speaking with other ITS leaders - Akbar Khattak and Abu Hamza. March 29 and 30 2023 - Choudary sends a message to ITS group chat that Bakri Muhammad has been released from prison. Choudary begins sending Bakri Muhammad direct messages the next day. April 2 2023 - Choudary hosts further online lecture with ITS which features Bakri Muhammad as a guest speaker. April 30 2023 - Covert recording of a phone conversation between Choudary and Bakri Muhammad - within this Choudary confirms to Bakri Muhammad that he took over as 'caretaker emir' for ALM. June/July 2023 - Met Counter Terrorism Command officers visit the US and Canada to gather further evidence including geo-location restricted video of Choudary detailing his activities with ALM. June 30 2023 - Hussein reveals to a Canadian undercover officer his plans to visit Choudary in London. July 17 2023 - Choudary arrested at his address and Hussein arrested at Heathrow Airport as he arrives into the UK on a flight from Canada. July 23 2024 - Choudary is convicted of directing Al-Muhajiroun and encouraging support for the group online. Advertisement He spoke about his role as Bakri's 'naqib' [deputy] and how he had taken on the role of the 'caretaker emir' [leader]. He stood trial alongside Khalid Hussein, 29, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada. Hussein idolised Choudary, helped him run an online magazine called al-Aseer [the prisoners]. Hussein, who worked at a Co-Op petrol station and convenience, messaged Choudary on July 16 last year to arrange to meet him on his journey through London to Turkey to meet a Russian bride. Choudary replied with some advice on the best tourist spots in South London, including the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park and 'quaint shopping nearby.' He also added: 'You are also not too far from Woolwich - the famous Lee Rigby issue.' In a voice note sent to Choudary, Hussein said: 'There is a lot of media stigma against al-Muhajiroun so I usually don't advertise it. 'But I've kind of gotten involved in this campaign and I just wanted to let you know, that this is who I am.' He added: 'Most people don't know I'm part of al-Muhajiroun.' Over the course of nearly 30 years, Anjem Choudary lived off benefits as he preached violent jihad, labelled fellow Muslims as apostates for voting and advocated for the establishment of an Islamic state in Britain. He promised followers 'free food, clothing, and shelter' under an Islamic state adding: 'You don't have electricity? Here is free electricity. Here is free water. What else do you want? Do you want a salary? Here, take some money. There is no society like that.' He was also linked to numerous terrorists, dating back to a group arrested in Crawley, West Sussex in March 2004 who were planning to blow up the Ministry of Sound nightclub using half a ton of ammonium nitrate and had links to the 7/7 bombers. During the trial the jury was not aware that Khuram Butt, the leader of the attackers who killed eight people at London Bridge and Borough Market in June 2017, was said to be 'like a lion out of a cage' after meeting Choudary at his home. Usman Khan, who killed two Cambridge students at a prisoners' conference at Fishmongers' Hall in November 2019 was another follower who had Choudary's number on his mobile phone when he was jailed in 2010. After Choudary endorsed ISIS, large numbers of his associates travelled to Syria, including Siddhartha Dhar, a key lieutenant who appeared in an ISIS execution video in January 2016, shooting a prisoner in the back of the head. ALM also opened up branches abroad including Shariah4Belgium, which was said to have played a role in radicalising the Paris attackers who killed 130 people in November 2015. In the US, almost a dozen members or associates of the Islamic Thinkers' Society were convicted of support for terrorism and a former member called Samir Khan moved to Yemen from where he ran a notorious online magazine for al-Qaeda called Inspire, designed to encourage lone actor attacks in the West. Choudary was finally arrested when Hussein arrived from Canada on July 17 last year. Interviewed by police, he insisted that his lectures were nothing to do with al-Muhajiroun, adding: 'When I say 'us' or 'we', I am always talking about me, I am talking about my experience, I am talking about people in the UK. In no shape or form am I ever addressing them in the use of those pronouns.' He was found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation and encouraging support for a proscribed organisation. Hussein was found guilty of membership of a proscribed organisation. During the sentencing hearing, defence barrister Paul Hynes KC said that by the time Choudary had started directing ALM, it was 'little more than a husk of an organisation' and he was not 'gathering the masses to join'. ITS was infiltrated by undercover law enforcement officers in the US, who were present at online lectures in 2022 and 2023, held over the Element messenger platform. ALM was proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK in 2010, though it was said in court the group has continued to exist under various names. A senior security official said last week's conviction was a 'significant moment', adding the evidence presented in court showed 'Choudary's continued involvement in supporting terrorism and radicalising others'. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command, said: 'There are individuals that have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudary's radicalising impact upon them.' During a press conference, he added: 'ALM's tentacles have spread across the world and have had a massive impact on public safety and security.' NYPD deputy commissioner Rebecca Weiner said it was a 'historic case', describing Choudary as a 'shameless, prolific radicaliser'. Ms Weiner said: 'It is usually the foot soldiers, the individuals, who are brought into the network who go on to commit the attacks who are brought to justice. 'And it's rarely the leader, which is what makes this a particularly important moment.' Prosecutor Tom Little KC, opening the trial at Woolwich Crown Court on June 13, said Choudary had a 'warped and twisted mindset'. Omar Bakri Muhammad, who founded ALM, was in prison in Lebanon between 2014 and March 2023, and Choudary stepped in and 'filled the void', Mr Little said. In 2016, Choudary was convicted and jailed for five-and-a-half years for supporting the so-called Islamic State. The court heard that Choudary, whose licence conditions expired in July 2021 following his 2018 release from prison, said he viewed being called an extremist or fanatic as a 'medallion' during lectures. Mr Murphy said: 'What became clear after his licence conditions was that he saw the online space as a means of engaging globally with larger groups of people. 'And what was clear to us was that increasingly there were a larger number of people that were willing to engage with Anjem Choudary online and he was having an influence over those individuals.' Khaled Hussein, 29, from Canada, who prosecutors said was a 'follower and dedicated supporter' of Choudary, was found guilty of membership of ALM. He was jailed for five years with an extra year on licence Evidence showed how Hussein was effectively acting as a personal assistant to Choudary, helping to host online lectures and editing extremist online blogs and publications for him. Defence barrister Hossein Zahir KC argued Hussein was a 'wholly inactive' member. Commander Dominic Murphy, the head of Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command, said: 'For over 30 years Anjem Choudary has been a pretty constant presence in counter-terrorism. 'His influence as a radicaliser is well known but the reality of that impact around the world is that there are individuals who have conducted terrorist attacks or travelled for terrorist purposes as a result of Anjem Choudary's radicalising effect on them.' How Britain's 'number one radicaliser' and Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary claimed his organisation 'doesn't exist' in UK - after police linked him to SIXTEEN terrorism plots Islamic hate preacher Anjem Choudary, dubbed Britain's 'number one radicaliser' claimed his terror cell 'doesn't exist' in the UK after being arrested at his east London home. Choudary, 57, was today sentenced to life with a minimum term of 28 years in jail after being found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation and encouraging support for a proscribed organisation. New footage released by police reveals how he tried to claim that bugged conversations did not prove that he had kept his organisation - which he helped found in 1996 - running in secret. Interviewed by police on July 22 last year, Choudary insisted that his lectures to the Islamic Thinkers' Society in New York were nothing to do with the US branch of al-Muhajiroun. He told officers: 'There is nothing called al-Muhajiroun in Britain at all'. Anjem Choudary , 57, from Ilford, East London, helped found al-Muhajiroun (ALM) in 1996 and spent nearly 30 years running their operations under dozens of different names Khalid Hussein, 29, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada, who idolised Choudary, helped him run an online magazine called al-Aseer [the prisoners] But a jury convicted him of heading up the terrorist organisation after a series of damning evidence from bugged phone calls, messages and voice notes. Members of al-Muhajiroun, which has operated under around 30 different names, have been linked to at least 16 different terrorist plots and senior members travelled to Syria, where Siddhartha Dhar and Reza Haque, joined an ISIS execution squad. He celebrated the 9/11 attacks as a 'towering day in history' and Omar Bakri Muhammad, the group's leader, labelled the 7/7 attackers the 'fantastic four' before he fled the UK in August 2005, claiming he had shut down the organisation nine months earlier. Choudary was also an associate of Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo, London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt and Fishmongers' Hall attacker Usman Khan. But speaking to officers he claimed that the conversations only referred to his own notoriety and events in the past. He insisted: 'When I say 'us' or 'we', I am always talking about me, I am talking about my experience, I am talking about people in the UK. 'In no shape or form am I ever addressing them in the use of those pronouns. When I say 'us' or 'we' I am talking about myself.' He added: 'I want to make it absolutely clear that there is nothing called al-Muhajiroun in Britain at all and the Islamic Thinkers' Society does not exist in Britain at all, as far as I am aware. 'I am not sure of any platform with that name and therefore the Islamic Thinkers Society, from my understanding of reality is purely in America.' Choudary was arrested at his home in London on July 17 last year, almost five years after his release from prison When interviewed by police, Choudary claimed his organisation 'doesn't exist' in the UK Choudary was arrested at his home in East London during a raid by police after Hussein, his associate, flew to the UK Choudary was released from prison in 2018 after being convicted of encouraging support for Isis, but was banned from accessing the internet until 2021. Days after his licence conditions expired, he was already giving speeches and discussing the group, as evidenced by recordings made by undercover police officers. In his first speech, recorded by NYPD undercover officers on June 12 2022, Choudary boasted that 'so many people became shaheed alhamdulillah' [martyrs, praise god]. He said he had been labelled 'the number one radicaliser in Britain,' adding: 'That is a badge of honour for me. It's a medallion on my chest. What do you want to call me? An extremist? Fanatic? All of these.' In another recording on June 26, Choudary told them: 'You know we always manage to escape prosecution. You know no one has ever been prosecuted in this country for being a member of al-Muhajiroun.' After his arrest, Choudary was asked about a conversation in which he discussed al-Muhajiroun with his wife at their home in Ilford, East London. Choudary told police: 'This should be clear as well. There is nothing there in the present tense whatsoever and that supports my contention that I'm not a member of any group. Police officers in London worked with those in the US before entering Choudary's home to arrest him last July Police in Britain, the US and Canada had been running separate investigations as they became concerned that Choudary was seeking to recruit a new generation of younger followers (Pictured: Choudary speaking in 2012) 'I'm not supporting any group, I'm not instigating support or directing any group or organisation. 'We're talking, whatever existed, existed in the past, there's absolutely nothing at the moment in any of this.' The officer pointed out that in the recording Choudary speaks in the present tense, implying his role in the group 'is still ongoing'. The preacher replied: 'No, no, no, this is talking about the profile, it's clear all of this is talking about the profile over the years.' Choudary was co-accused alongside Khalid Hussein, 29, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada. Hussein idolised Choudary, helped him run an online magazine called al-Aseer [the prisoners]. In a voice note sent to Choudary, Hussein said: 'There is a lot of media stigma against al-Muhajiroun so I usually don't advertise it. 'But I've kind of gotten involved in this campaign and I just wanted to let you know, that this is who I am.' He added: 'Most people don't know I'm part of al-Muhajiroun.' Islamic hate preacher Anjem Choudary, dubbed Britain's 'number one radicaliser' claimed his terror cell 'doesn't exist' in the UK after being arrested at his east London home. Choudary, 57, was today sentenced to life with a minimum term of 28 years in jail after being found guilty of directing a terrorist organisation and encouraging support for a proscribed organisation. New footage released by police reveals how he tried to claim that bugged conversations did not prove that he had kept his organisation - which he helped found in 1996 - running in secret. Interviewed by police on July 22 last year, Choudary insisted that his lectures to the Islamic Thinkers' Society in New York were nothing to do with the US branch of al-Muhajiroun. He told officers: 'There is nothing called al-Muhajiroun in Britain at all'. Anjem Choudary , 57, from Ilford, East London, helped found al-Muhajiroun (ALM) in 1996 and spent nearly 30 years running their operations under dozens of different names Khalid Hussein, 29, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada, who idolised Choudary, helped him run an online magazine called al-Aseer [the prisoners] But a jury convicted him of heading up the terrorist organisation after a series of damning evidence from bugged phone calls, messages and voice notes. Members of al-Muhajiroun, which has operated under around 30 different names, have been linked to at least 16 different terrorist plots and senior members travelled to Syria, where Siddhartha Dhar and Reza Haque, joined an ISIS execution squad. He celebrated the 9/11 attacks as a 'towering day in history' and Omar Bakri Muhammad, the group's leader, labelled the 7/7 attackers the 'fantastic four' before he fled the UK in August 2005, claiming he had shut down the organisation nine months earlier. Choudary was also an associate of Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo, London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt and Fishmongers' Hall attacker Usman Khan. But speaking to officers he claimed that the conversations only referred to his own notoriety and events in the past. He insisted: 'When I say 'us' or 'we', I am always talking about me, I am talking about my experience, I am talking about people in the UK. 'In no shape or form am I ever addressing them in the use of those pronouns. When I say 'us' or 'we' I am talking about myself.' He added: 'I want to make it absolutely clear that there is nothing called al-Muhajiroun in Britain at all and the Islamic Thinkers' Society does not exist in Britain at all, as far as I am aware. 'I am not sure of any platform with that name and therefore the Islamic Thinkers Society, from my understanding of reality is purely in America.' Choudary was arrested at his home in London on July 17 last year, almost five years after his release from prison When interviewed by police, Choudary claimed his organisation 'doesn't exist' in the UK Choudary was arrested at his home in East London during a raid by police after Hussein, his associate, flew to the UK Choudary was released from prison in 2018 after being convicted of encouraging support for Isis, but was banned from accessing the internet until 2021. Days after his licence conditions expired, he was already giving speeches and discussing the group, as evidenced by recordings made by undercover police officers. In his first speech, recorded by NYPD undercover officers on June 12 2022, Choudary boasted that 'so many people became shaheed alhamdulillah' [martyrs, praise god]. He said he had been labelled 'the number one radicaliser in Britain,' adding: 'That is a badge of honour for me. It's a medallion on my chest. What do you want to call me? An extremist? Fanatic? All of these.' In another recording on June 26, Choudary told them: 'You know we always manage to escape prosecution. You know no one has ever been prosecuted in this country for being a member of al-Muhajiroun.' After his arrest, Choudary was asked about a conversation in which he discussed al-Muhajiroun with his wife at their home in Ilford, East London. Choudary told police: 'This should be clear as well. There is nothing there in the present tense whatsoever and that supports my contention that I'm not a member of any group. Police officers in London worked with those in the US before entering Choudary's home to arrest him last July Police in Britain, the US and Canada had been running separate investigations as they became concerned that Choudary was seeking to recruit a new generation of younger followers (Pictured: Choudary speaking in 2012) 'I'm not supporting any group, I'm not instigating support or directing any group or organisation. 'We're talking, whatever existed, existed in the past, there's absolutely nothing at the moment in any of this.' The officer pointed out that in the recording Choudary speaks in the present tense, implying his role in the group 'is still ongoing'. The preacher replied: 'No, no, no, this is talking about the profile, it's clear all of this is talking about the profile over the years.' Choudary was co-accused alongside Khalid Hussein, 29, a member of the Islamic Thinkers Society living in Edmonton, Canada. Hussein idolised Choudary, helped him run an online magazine called al-Aseer [the prisoners]. In a voice note sent to Choudary, Hussein said: 'There is a lot of media stigma against al-Muhajiroun so I usually don't advertise it. 'But I've kind of gotten involved in this campaign and I just wanted to let you know, that this is who I am.' He added: 'Most people don't know I'm part of al-Muhajiroun.' Just Stop Oil eco warriors held a sit-down protest at London Heathrow Airport today, then played dead as they were dragged away by police. The protesters sat in Terminal 5's departures area behind fire extinguishers after covering the floor, departure boards and corridor windows with orange paint - just one day after activists from the group blocked departure gates at Gatwick . But their protest fell flat and failed to cause any disruption to holidaymakers passing through the airport at the start of the summer holidays. The protest began at 8.35am before a team of police officers arrived to arrest the duo before hauling them away and into a police van by 8.50am. Heathrow officials later confirmed the airport 'continues to operate as normal'. One of the activists today was Phoebe Plummer, who last week was found guilty of criminal damage after throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh's painting Sunflowers. The 22-year-old will be sentenced on September 27 over the incident at the National Gallery in London in October 2022 and has been warned by a judge to expect jail. The second activist, Jane Touil, 58, shouted while sat down today: 'Refuse to die for fossil fuels. We have seen the hottest two days in recorded history. Last year was the hottest year in recorded history.' The Metropolitan Police said two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and officers remained at the scene to 'deal with any further offences'. Yesterday, furious families stepped over seven Just Stop Oil activists who entered Gatwick's South Terminal at about 8am and 'used suitcases with lock-on devices to block the departure gates'. 1 of 3) Just Stop Oil protesters Phoebe Plummer (left), 22, and Jane Touil (right), 58, walked into London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 today, spraying orange paint on the floor and walls 2 of 3) The activists then sprayed orange paint on departure boards at Heathrow Airport today 3 of 3) Just Stop Oil activists Phoebe Plummer (left) and Jane Touil (right) then sat on the floor Phoebe Plummer (left) and Jane Touil (right) sit on the floor this morning at Heathrow Airport Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer is arrested by police at London Heathrow Airport today Police officers take away Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer today at Heathrow Airport The protesters then sat on the floor inside the airport, blocking an entrance but passengers with suitcases stepped over them to continue with their journeys. Sussex Police said eight people were arrested on suspicion of interfering with public infrastructure, and a 'heightened police presence should be expected at this time'. Today, a Just Stop Oil press release quoted Plummer as saying: 'People around the world are rising up to demand an end to oil by 2030. 'This is an international problem, so ordinary people are doing what our politicians will not, working together globally to put a stop to the harm and suffering that fossil fuels cause.' 'Repression and prison time will not stop people stepping up to defend our families and communities. We have to put a stop to oil and gas. We've had fires raging in Jasper (national park in Canada). Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer is arrested by police at London Heathrow Airport today Police officers take away Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer today at Heathrow Airport Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer is arrested by police at London Heathrow Airport today 'British farmers are in despair after the wettest 18 months on record destroying crops. Mortuaries are overflowing in India after a heatwave. If we want to protect life and what we love, we need a treaty to Just Stop Oil by 2030.' A statement from fellow activist Touil added: 'We are in the greatest crisis humanity has ever faced and governments are not doing what is needed to protect us. 'Ordinary people have to stand up and make their governments do the right thing, because without pressure from us, they won't. I feel so angry and betrayed that politicians have let this happen when they've known about climate breakdown for over 50 years.' 'Fossil fuel companies are maxing out profits, while hundreds of millions of people pay the price with their lives. Our government must commit to signing a legally binding fossil fuel treaty to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030 and it must support poorer countries to get off fossil fuels too.' Just Stop Oil activist Jane Touil, 58, is arrested by police at London Heathrow Airport today Police officers take away Just Stop Oil activist Jane Touil at London Heathrow Airport today The check-in information boards were left with orange spray paint on them at Heathrow today Also today, Just Stop Oil supporter Dr Bing Jones told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'We are not trying to stop flying per se, but flying is a central part of the fossil fuels story. 'We are trying to show up that the fossil fuel companies are at war with ordinary people and we have just to stop this.' After presenter Ed Balls suggested the group had become 'Just Stop Flying', The Times head of travel Claire Irvin said: 'They have become Just Stop Flying. While yesterday's faintly ridiculous protest didn't actually stop flying, it was definitely very irritating.' She added: 'It's the school holidays. People have saved all year for that all-important family break. Travel is really important, it's really important on a geopolitical level, it's also really important on a personal level for mental health, family bonding, for just relaxing and enjoying the planet. 'Now nobody is suggesting that we want to burn the planet. As a travel editor, I have a huge appreciation for the planet and indeed do encourage our readers to travel responsibly. But that does not mean ruining their holidays. But Dr Jones hit back, saying: 'This is completely missing the point. We are not concentrating. The problem is that the world is actually heading for catastrophic hurt.' A Heathrow spokeswoman responded to today's protest, telling MailOnline: 'Working with partners we have quickly resolved a protest incident in Terminal 5 and all involved have been removed from the airport. 'The airport continues to operate as normal and passengers are travelling as planned. We are in full agreement that the aviation industry needs to decarbonise, but unlawful and irresponsible protest activity is not the way forward and will not be tolerated.' It comes after Just Stop Oil held a separate protest at London Gatwick Airport yesterday Also in London yesterday, environmental protesters from another group caused criminal damage and blocked access to the office building of the think tank Policy Exchange on Old Queen Street in Westminster. One person was arrested for criminal damage. The members of Extinction Rebellion held banners bearing the words 'Policy Exchange - cut the ties to fossil fuels'. Leaflets given out at the demonstration listed the group's demands, including 'full and open disclosure' of where funding for the think tank comes from, increased transparency of Policy Exchange meetings with MPs and government departments, and the removal of charitable status for 'any lobby group' that receives money from 'big oil and gas'. The group poured pools of black liquid outside the Policy Exchange building alongside a yellow sign reading 'Caution: slippery with the truth'. Phoebe Plummer (left) - who was involved in today's Heathrow protest- was last week found guilty of criminal damage after throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh's painting Sunflowers Last week, ten Just Stop Oil activists suspected of planning to disrupt Heathrow were arrested. None of the activists were able to get into the airport, according to the Metropolitan Police. The latest action is part of the 'Oil Kills international uprising', the group said, taking place at airports around the world. Just Stop Oil said 21 groups across 12 countries have taken action at 18 airports so far. It listed these as including Letzte Generation Germany; Folk Mot Fossilmakta and Scientist Rebellion in Norway; XR Finland; Futuro Vegetal in Spain; Drop Fossil Subsidies and Act Now - Liberate in Switzerland; Letzte Generation Austria; Extinction Rebellion and Scientists Rebellion in Sweden; Doe Deurne Dicht in Belgium; Last Generation Canada; XR Boston; Last Generation America; and Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island. Mel Carrington, 63, a mother and former environmental consultant from Dorset, and Greg Sculthorpe, a mathematician from Doncaster, were said to be among the activists involved at Gatwick yesterday. Earlier this month, Gatwick became the latest major airport to secure a High Court injunction in an attempt to stop would-be environmental activists trespassing on its land after receiving police intelligence over protest plans. Timothy Morshead KC, representing Gatwick at the hearing, said such action could cause 'severe disruption and financial loss' and 'significant delays for passengers'. Yesterday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said: 'We recognise the democratic right of people to peacefully express their views, but obviously they should do so within the bounds of the law. 'And clearly being seen to significantly disrupt people's summer holidays is no way of winning people around to your cause.' About 80 illegal migrants have landed in the UK this morning - amid fears 'flat and calm' conditions will see a bumper number crossing the Channel today. Dozens of asylum seekers sailed from France overnight and were picked up Border Force cutter 'Defender' before disembarking at the Port of Dover, in Kent. It comes as Britain braces itself for its hottest day of the year, with temperatures expected to reach a sizzling high of 32C in London. The arrivals have ignited fresh fears that human trafficking gangs will ramp up their criminal crossing trade, after Labour axed both the Tory's Rwanda deportation plan and Bibby Stockholm migrant barge scheme. Migrant crossings have already hit a record high this year, with 255 people having risked the journey on Sunday, taking the total for the year so far to 16,457 the Home Office said. Dozens of migrants were seen arriving in Dover this morning having taken advantage of 'flat and calm' conditions in the Channel The latest arrivals come amid fears of a bumper day of migrant crossings. Pictured of asylum seekers as they arrived in Dover on Tuesday morning The migrants were escorted into Dover on the Border Force vessel 'Defender' (pictured today) Today's arrivals will almost certainly bring the figure up to more than 16,500, smashing the previous record for the end of July of 16,420 in 2022 as well as last year's total of 14,732. The Home Office has not yet published the figures for the number of people who crossed the Channel on Monday. These will be released later today, potentially bumping the total figure even higher. It comes as those embarking on the perilous journey were filmed mocking Britain, shouting: 'This is for Rishi Sunak.' French police simply stood and watched a group setting off from the country's northern coast as numbers continue to rise. The rising numbers make the challenge to Sir Keir Starmer's new Labour Government clear. So far his most significant move on immigration has been to scrap the Conservative threat to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda. On Sunday, a so-called 'taxi boat' was seen motoring out of the harbour at Gravelines, near Dunkirk. One of the occupants of the half-full dinghy shouted to onlookers: 'This is for Rishi Sunak' perhaps in reference to the former prime minister's now junked policy. When the dinghy reached the sea, it simply turned right and headed back towards the neighbouring beach. Migrants sail down a riverway leading to the English Channel as one shouts 'this is for Rishi Sunak' A group of people thought to be migrants wade through the sea to clamber aboard a small boat off the beach in Gravelines, France on Monday A group of people thought to be migrants wade through the sea to clamber aboard a small boat off the beach in Gravelines, France on Monday Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak speaking during a debate in the House of Commons on July 22 A large group of migrants including women, children, and even an infant in a chest-mounted baby carrier emerged from the dunes and walked towards the sea. They then waded in and waited for the 'taxi boat' to reach them. When it did, as many as possible clambered aboard. As witnessed before by the Daily Mail, police on the beach watched without lifting a finger. French officers, funded with 100million a year of UK taxpayers' money to 'stop the boats', are instructed not to interfere with dinghies already afloat or to hold back migrants already in the water for fear of being culpable for drownings. Over the weekend, police instead focused on stopping children and family groups from reaching the water. Volunteers from refugee charity Utopia 56 were also at the scene over the weekend, checking boats at sea were not in trouble, offering fresh clothes to those who failed to board and monitoring police tactics. Volunteer Pablo Eymard-Picollec said of the families who turned back: 'I think a few police officers talked to them and told them to stay on the beach. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel on July 19 (file picture) Some 255 migrants made the journey across the Channel on Sunday taking the total for the year so far to 16,457 according to the Home Office (file picture of Migrants arriving on July 29) 'The boat was really, really crowded, so I think they assumed it was too risky for them to go.' Early on Sunday one migrant died and another 34 were rescued by French coastguards after a 'heavily loaded' boat got into difficulty. In the Commons, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson asked: 'Does the Home Secretary agree with me it's time now to stop paying the French any more money until they stop being complicit in this evil trade?' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the crossings were 'extremely dangerous' as she mentioned the latest death, adding: 'Criminal gangs are deliberately cramming boats to maximise their profits, and have been getting away with it for far too long. 'That is why we need a new Border Security Command in place, to work not simply with the French police but also with forces and organisations right across Europe, and beyond, to pursue the gangs and to prevent the boats reaching the French coast in the first place.' In a statement, a Home Office spokesman said: 'We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk. 'The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit.' London's phone epidemic has claimed yet another victim after a crook swiftly swiped a man's mobile phone as he strolled the capital's most famous roads. The unsuspecting man was strolling along Park Lane, Mayfair in West London - a stone's throw away from a 1,345-a-night hotel, when he was targeted by the thief. CCTV footage captured the brazen crime on June 29, only 50 metres away from the lavish five-star Dorchester Hotel, opposite Hyde Park. As the victim scrolled through his phone on the sunny morning this Monday, a man on an electric bike can be seen swooping in and quickly rushing away with the device. Seemingly in shock and confused, the disgruntled victim does not even attempt to give chase as the thief speeds away down the pavement. The unsuspecting man was strolling along Park Lane, Mayfair in West London - a stone's throw away from the 1,345-a-night, five star The Dorchester hotel As the victim scrolled through his phone on the sunny morning this Monday, the sly thief swoops in quickly rushing away with the device on Monday morning Reacting to the shocking footage, social media users urged Londoners to stay vigilant of phone thieves. 'I've done something similar before in Knightsbridge, made the thief eat some humble pie before returning the phone to the poor tourist,' quipped one. Another added: 'Be aware, be 360 degrees aware.' Police were called about the theft at 10.45 on the day of the incident. No arrests have been made but enquires continue. A Met police spokesperson said: 'We understand the impact that mobile phone theft can have on victims it's an invasive and sometimes violent crime - and we're committed to protecting Londoners and tackling this issue as we make the capital safer. 'Met officers are targeting resources to hotspot areas, such as Westminster, Lambeth and Newham, with increased patrols and plain clothes officers which deter criminals and make officers more visibly available to members of the community. 'We continue to use data and technology to build intelligence and track stolen phones to target offenders as we fight community crime. They added: 'We are also working with phone firms to design out the ability for phones to be reused and sold on as we seek to dismantle the criminal market that fuels robbery. Your browser does not support iframes. This brazen theft happened on 6 June on a busy road near Tavistock Square in Marylebone, central London, just a short distance from Euston Station and the British Museum 'We encourage people to report as soon as they can whenever they have been a victim of mobile phone theft, so officers can attend the scene and investigate swiftly.' This the most recent incident in a shocking wave of phone theft which has swept through London. One video captured in Marylebone in June, shows an unsuspecting woman having her phone snatched out of her hands by a man clad in black on an e-bike in June. Her attempt to give chase was futile as the thief raced off on an e-bike capable of speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The shocking theft happened on 6 June on a busy road near Tavistock Square in Marylebone, central London, just a short distance from Euston Station and the British Museum. Recently a map revealed the hotspots London is by far the worst affected city by this phone theft epidemic in England and Wales, with criminals targeting wealthy shoppers and foreign tourists. Nearly 52,000 devices were stolen in the capital last year alone as criminals on mopeds and e-bikes use violence and distraction techniques to target victims. The worst-hit borough was the City of Westminster, where tourists flock for theatre shows and high-end shopping, with 18,863 reported incidents in the year to December - up 47 per cent from 12,836 in the previous 12 months. In April, horrifying footage was shared on social media of a thief on a bike grabbing a woman's mobile phone from her hands in Albany Place, Marylebone Camden was the second worst affected, with 4,806 incidents, followed by Southwark (4,376), Hackney (2,761), Newham (2,585), Lambeth (2,394) and Islington (2,117). In London as a whole more than 52,000 phones were stolen last year. Figures show 165,933 mobile phone thefts were reported to the Metropolitan Police between January 1, 2019 and December 31 last year - making up 52 per cent of the total in England and Wales. Phone thefts rose by 20 per cent last year across England and Wales as a whole, according to figures released after a freedom of information request by The Times. Police forces recorded 316,683 incidents between January 1, 2019 and December 31 last year, although the total will be higher because six forces failed to respond to the request and three refused to. Sacked Strictly star Graziano Di Prima has asked to see the training tapes where he is accused of abusing Zara McDermott but the BBC has refused, MailOnline can reveal today. The professional dancer was told by the corporation that he cant see the footage due to HR rules and regulations, a source has said. The 30-year-old was sacked from the show after it was alleged footage emerged that showed him physically and verbally abusing Zara McDermott in training during last year's series. Graziano is in Italy with his family where he is said to be under medical supervision, being monitored hourly. A friend told MailOnline: He is very ill so his aim now is to try and recover. But he blames the BBC for his current state of poor health, claiming they threw him under the bus. The BBC made it clear he couldnt see the tape when he was told he wouldnt be included in the show this year, the friend said. Graz has never seen the tape and isnt allowed to - even though it is alleged that this footage shows him physically and verbally abusing Zara in training during last year's series. Graziano Di Prima is reportedly under medical supervision after being axed from Strictly Come Dancing Zara was making burgers and promoting New Look on Instagram The professional dancer, 30, was sacked from the show earlier this month after it was alleged footage emerged that showed him physically and verbally abusing Zara McDermott The BBC threw him under the bus, his friend said. The same friend also pointed out images of Zara making burgers and promoting fashion brand New Look on her Instagram last night. He is being monitored by health professionals. Meanwhile these influencers, with less talent but a keen sense of their own destiny, carry on, they said. Graziano's family are said to be 'deeply concerned' about his wellbeing and are monitoring him hourly. MailOnline has contacted Graziano Di Prima for comment. The BBC has also been asked to comment. Since leaving Strictly, the dancer has gone home to Italy to be with his mother, his wife, and the rest of the family. He is now staying in a remote family farmhouse surrounded by vineyards where he has been a virtual recluse since the bombshell news of his sacking broke. His actions have shocked his close-knit family, who believe it's out of character for their golden boy who left the small town to become a star in the UK. Meanwhile, Zara broke her silence after it was revealed close friend Pete Wicks will perform in Strictly Come Dancing this year. Despite their close-knit friendship, Pete has landed a spot on the Strictly line-up amid shocking reports Zara performed on the show with a 'fractured' leg following an injury in training and needed painkillers to get through ten-hour rehearsals. The dancer's family said: 'Graziano is currently under medical supervision, with the stress of the situation causing significant concern for his family' Zara has broken her silence after it was revealed Pete Wicks will perform in Strictly Come Dancing this year The documentary maker and the former TOWIE star are close pals and even joke they have a throuple relationship alongside Zara's long-term boyfriend Sam Thompson Pete joined Sam in the Strictly studio audience last year and together they wore patterned shirts embellished with Zara's face to show their support. They posed for photographs alongside Zara and Graziano. Reality stars Sam and Pete became friends following their appearance on E4 show Celebs Go Dating in 2019 and have since hosted podcast Staying Relevant together. It comes following new reports that Zara suffered a leg fracture during training for the BBC show. The Love Island star picked up the nasty injury while preparing for a performance with Graziano and despite being in agonising pain, pushed through to compete in the dance-off. According to sources, Zara was unaware she'd suffered the injury until she sought medical help after being eliminated from the show, and it was only recently revealed to show bosses when she was interviewed about Graziano's conduct. Graziano was sacked by Strictly bosses earlier this month after it was alleged footage emerged that showed him physically and verbally abusing Zara in training. After Zara was pictured in a recovery boot earlier this year, she shared on social media that she'd suffered a stress fracture on her tibia, but did not say at the time it stemmed from her time on Strictly. Graziano's actions have shocked his close-knit family, who believe it's out of character for their golden boy who left the small town to become a star in the UK (pictured with Zara) Zara is thought to have told BBC bosses of the 'rigorous' training sessions she endured while paired with Graziano on the show Graziano was accused of 'chasing' after Zara while 'screaming abuse,' leaving her so frightened that she 'locked herself in a toilet.' He has apologised for kicking his former partner, but added other allegations do not align with 'how he remembers it.' Child refugees in Germany are being radicalised in mosques, joining gangs and roaming the streets with knives aged just 11, a leading youth charity has warned. The Christian-run organisation 'Die Arche' (The Ark) has 33 centres across Germany, supporting over 7,000 children and young people from refugee and socially disadvantaged families. In a bombshell interview with the Bild newspaper, spokesperson Wolfgang Buscher, who has worked for the NGO for 20 years, said the continuing influx of refugees means Germany is now at breaking point. 'Our system has collapsed. We are at the end. The main reason for this is the continuing influx of refugees,' he said. 'I'm calling for a freeze on refugee admissions, otherwise it would no longer be possible to provide help.' Meanwhile a social worker at the organisation called Josi warned: 'The support systems are no longer working. Integration has failed. We can't do everything.' The 32-year-old added: 'The politicians talk and talk and turn a blind eye to the problems. It will escalate and there will be a big bang.' File image shows migrants getting into a German Federal Police vehicle, near Forst, eastern Germany after a patrol at the border with Poland Germany is struggling to cope with a current large influx of migrants, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey. File image shows people queueing at a reception facility last year Buscher's comments come days after German authorities banned an Islamic organisation in Hamburg. Pictured: Police securing the compound of a mosque run by the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg (IZH) group Buscher added that amongst the young refugees his charity is helping, those of Arab origin in particular are becoming increasingly 'criminalised and radicalised'. 'All the problems that refugee policy automatically brings with it, but that nobody really wants to recognise, are concentrated here,' he said. 'Young Muslim adolescents in particular show what goes wrong with integration. Eleven-year-olds are already running around with knives here.' He said many youngsters are 'lost' to gangs who recruit them, reeling them in by saying: 'Come to us if you don't like the Germans. It's better with us.' 'Many' of the young people who go to the Ark centres attend mosques where radical Islam is preached, Buscher claimed, adding that they refer to moderate places of worship as 'wimp mosques'. He added that of the 1,500 young people who are taken care of at Berlin Ark, there are almost no Muslim girls over the age of 13, as 'they have to stay at home.' 'I was told that the parents are afraid that our Western values could spread to the young girls. 'They would then no longer be allowed to come to us. We no longer reach these families. They live in a bubble, in a different system,' he said. He added that staff had informed him about young women being forced into marriage. File image shows a group of refugees next to clothes drying at the grounds of the arrival centre of the initial reception facility of the eastern German state of Brandenburg File image shows a refugee entering the arrival centre of the initial reception facility of the eastern German state of Brandenburg in Eisenhuettenstadt He added that such children often come from 'hotspot schools' where there are even classes with a 95 per cent proportion of immigrants. More than 350,000 people applied for asylum in Germany last year - the highest number since 2016. Opposition figures said the stark figures showed the government was failing to deal with what they called a 'migration crisis'. Around one in five - 18 per cent - of Germany's population are immigrants, with the country the main destination for migrants in Europe. Buscher's comments come days after German authorities banned an Islamic organisation in Hamburg and its subsidiary organisations for pursuing radical Islamist goals Premises belonging to the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) were searched, leading to the group to be banned and four mosques around the country closed as a result of the investigation. The interior ministry accused the IZH of promoting antisemitism and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is also banned in Germany and classified as a terrorist organisation by the European Union. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the government banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg as it 'promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany' Scenes from Bavarian Police and security forces raiding the Islamische Vereinigung Bayern in the Pasing district of Munich, Germany as part of the federal ban that includes the IZH Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement: 'Today, we banned the Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg, which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany. 'This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity, women's rights, an independent judiciary and our democratic government.' She said she wanted to make clear that 'the ban absolutely does not apply to the peaceful practice of the Shi'ite religion'. A 2020 report on Islamic life in Germany said there were roughly 5.5 million Muslims in Germany's 83 million population. William Calley, the army officer who was the only person to be convicted in relation to the mass murder of Vietnamese civilians, including children, in what came to be known as the My Lai massacre, has died at the age of 80. The Washington Post on Monday first reported Calley's death, which happened in April, according to a death certificate the newspaper cited. The New York Times, citing Social Security Administration death records, also reported Calley's death. Neither paper reported a cause of death. Calls to numbers listed for Calley's son, William L. Calley III, were not returned. American soldiers killed 504 people on March 16, 1968, in Son My, a collection of hamlets between the central Vietnamese coast and a ridge of misty mountains, in an incident known in the West as the My Lai Massacre. The killings shocked the U.S. and galvanized the anti-war movement. Initially charged in an Army court martial for 102 deaths, Calley was sentenced to life in prison in 1971 for the killing of 22 civilians. He was behind bars only three days before then President Richard Nixon ordered him released under house arrest. After being discharged from the service, he lived out his life quietly in Georgia. William Calley, pictured here in 1970, was the only person to be convicted in relation to the mass murder of Vietnamese civilians in what came to be known as the My Lai massacre, has died at the age of 80 A home in My Lai burns after being set alight by US Marines during the massacre William Laws Calley Jr. was born June 8, 1943, the only son and fourth child of a Miami businessman. In his youth, he went by the nickname Rusty. He attended four high schools in four years, two of them military academies. Calley was forced to repeat the seventh grade after being caught cheating. After he flunked out of junior college, he worked as a bellhop, dishwasher, insurance investigator and train conductor. Broke in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1966, he joined the Army and excelled. Despite a poor academic record, Calley graduated from Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning thanks to the military's then desperate need for platoon leaders one year to the day before the My Lai incident. After his discharge, Calley married Penny Vick in 1976 and went to work for her father in the jewelry business in the city of Columbus, Georgia, becoming a certified gemologist. They had one son and later divorced. Maintaining that he had merely followed orders and considering himself a scapegoat, Calley became a lightning rod for a country bitterly divided over the unpopular Vietnam War. Calley refused to talk about My Lai with reporters or historians. In the aftermath of the war, he attempted to go on the lecture circuit but subsequently retired from public life. Friends, however, said he admitted committing the deeds he was charged with and had learned to live with it. A barber in his hometown told an investigative reporter in 1993: 'He's a good man, a fine man. Let it alone. Don't drag all that stuff out again.' While a man who ran a nearby clock store and a veteran of both Korea and Vietnam said Calley was a 'hell of a fine fellow.' 'He got a bum rap... You oughta bury it. The stuff is hard enough to live with... You ever kill a man. Then you don't know what I'm talking about... You ever see enough blood to bathe in? Then you don't know what it's like.' A US Marine contributes to the inferno in My Lai Seconds after this photograph was taken, all these Vietnamese civilians were dead, killed by American soldiers of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade Calley is shown here around the time of his trial in 1971 Despite being told that My Lai was a hotbed of communist National Liberation Front guerrillas, U.S. forces met no serious armed resistance and found very few weapons, according to the Army Historical Foundation. Still they killed almost everyone there, and raped women and girls. Four soldiers were brought up on charges stemming from the massacre but only Calley was convicted. Calley spent three years in home detention at his apartment in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he had visits from his girlfriend, and was then paroled and cashiered out of the Army. In 2009, he made his first public apology. 'There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai,' Calley told a Kiwanis Club in Columbus, Ohio. 'I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.' William Laws Calley Jr. was born June 8, 1943, the only son and fourth child of a Miami businessman. He attended four high schools in four years, two of them military academies. After he flunked out of junior college, he worked as a bellhop, dishwasher, insurance investigator and train conductor. Broke in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1966, he joined the Army and excelled. Despite a poor academic record, Calley graduated from Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning one year to the day before the My Lai incident. After his discharge from the Army, Calley married Penny Vick in 1976 and went to work for her father in the jewelry business in Georgia, becoming a certified gemologist. They had one son and later divorced. A serial sex offender who was involved in abducting, raping, and murdering bank teller Janine Balding has been jailed again after he viewed violent porn. Wayne Wilmot, 51, was released from prison last month and subjected to an interim supervision order with conditions such as electronic monitoring, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, and restricted use of the internet. Yet only two weeks after his release, he was arrested and charged with breaching the conditions by searching for and viewing explicit child abuse material. On Tuesday, Wilmot was beamed into Waverley Local Court from a custody cell to be sentenced after pleading guilty to failing to comply with his supervision order. He wore a prison-issued green tracksuit and nodded along as his lawyer Dev Bhutani urged the court to consider imposing the minimum six-month sentence. Mr Bhutani argued a 'short sharp term of imprisonment' would deter his client from breaching the supervision order again. The court was told Wilmot breached the court order restricting his internet use by searching for violent pornography, including 'extreme' material involving underage women. Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge noted Wilmot sought to access 'significantly hardcore porn sites ... involving gang sexual activity' by searching terms like 'very very extreme hard f*** porn videos'. Wayne Wilmot, 51, has been charged with breaching his supervision order by viewing pornographic material Carol Anne Arrow (18) right and Wayne Wilmot (15) left, at Campbelltown Local Court in Sydney, September 1988, where they were both charged relating to Janine Balding's death According to court documents, he searched for group sex material involving 16 men and one woman and repeatedly requested violent and extreme pornography involving minors. 'This is very very concerning,' Ms Milledge said. 'It's not like he's just gone onto a dating site or anything like that.' Police prosecutor Nicole McMahon told the court Wilmot had attempted to minimise his actions by 'levelling blame at his phone'. She said the 51-year-old complained that his phone had been plagued by pop up ads which had encouraged him to look at the explicit material. Ms McMahon said the breach was 'extremely serious' given the violent nature of the material and Wilmot's history of 'extreme violence and sexual offending'. She noted he had not shown any remorse for his actions and argued the 'real and extreme high risk' of Wilmot reoffending 'could not be mitigated at all by any alternative.' The police prosecutor pushed for the serial rapist to be jailed for two years over the breach. 'The longer Mr Wilmot is detained the longer the community at large will be protected,' Ms McMahon said. 'It would be the ultimate deterrent.' Ms Milledge agreed Wilmot's lengthy criminal record was 'quite concerning, if not frightening'. She accepted the rapist may have been 'curious' about pop ups, but noted the terms of his supervision order 'couldn't be clearer that those sorts of sites were not to be accessed by you'. After applying a discount for his early guilty plea, Ms Milledge sentenced the 51-year-old to 18 months behind bars. Arrow (left) and Wilmot (right) are escorted by police at Campbelltown Court where they faced charges relating to the murder of Janine Balding The court was told Wilmot had only been out of jail for two brief stints since he was first incarcerated as a teenager. 'Since the age of 15, he's been in custody almost continuously,' Mr Bhutani noted. '(From) what I've read about his history, that's where he belongs,' the magistrate retorted. Earlier this year, Supreme Court Justice Helen Wilson described Wilmot as having a 'disturbing history of sexual offending which he continues to deny or minimise'. 'He has no insight into the risk he poses to other, and refused to acknowledge a need for risk-management strategies,' she said. Wilmot displayed 'psychopathic personality traits' and represented a risk of violent reoffending, the state's highest court was told. He was 15 years old in September 1988 when he was involved in the shocking kidnapping, rape and murder of bank teller Janine Balding. In a crime that shocked the state, Wilmot and a group of co-offenders travelled to Sutherland train station and abducted Ms Balding at knifepoint. She was forced into a car driven by Wilmot and sexually assaulted in the back seat before being driven to an isolated area of western Sydney, where she was sexually assaulted again. Sydney woman Janine Balding was abducted, raped and murdered having been taken from outside a railway station in 1988 Wilmot was 15 years old in September 1988 when he was involved in the shocking kidnapping, rape and murder of bank teller Ms Balding Wilmot remained in the car as the other youths drowned Ms Balding in a dam. When he was sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court in 1990, the judge accepted Wilmot 'knew nothing of their decision to kill her afterwards' and was not involved in the murder. The judge determined the then-15-year-old had not raped Ms Balding but he was guilty due to his involvement in the joint criminal enterprise. Wilmot was jailed for nine years and four months over a raft of offences, including sexual intercourse without consent, detain with intent to gain advantage, and robbery in company. He was released on parole in October 1996 but subsequently committed violent and sexual assaults against women. A busy morning in Heathrow's departure lounge was disrupted today by global warming's biggest nemesis Phoebe Plummer. Armed with a can of spray paint and an ego that would cripple Ronaldo, Plummer and a fellow activist painted the building orange before being promptly arrested and detained. As Plummer, 22, was on bail ahead of sentencing for her Van Gogh stunt, it is likely she will be now detained indefinitely. Last week, the non-binary activist, who goes by the name of Ziggy Stardyke on her X account, was told explicitly by Judge Christopher Kehir that she should be prepared in 'practical and emotional terms to go to prison.' This isn't an empty threat. Last week the same judge sent five members of JSO including 22-year-old student Cressida Gethin and founder Roger Hallam to prison for 4-5 years. He has form. Phoebe Plummer been described as Just Stop Oil's poster girl for her outrageous stunts Despite being on bail ahead of sentencing Plummer (left) alongside Jane Touil (right) targeted Heathrow Airport this morning Shortly after the stunt she was arrested by police at the airport In the intervening years, Plummer has taken part in numerous other demonstrations, committing flagrant offences and being constantly re-bailed so she can re-offend Plummer, who once likened herself to Martin Luther King, has lived a life of serene luxury Plummer attended the 50,000 a year St Mary's Ascott boarding school in Berkshire She grew up in her parents 2.85million Chelsea townhouse but is now thought to reside at a property in Lambeth His remarks came after he found Plummer guilty of criminal damage for throwing a can of soup over Vincent Van Goth's Sunflowers in 2022. In the intervening years, Plummer has taken part in numerous other demonstrations, committing flagrant offences and being constantly re-bailed so she can re-offend. So who is Phoebe Plummer and what if anything can be done to stop her? Plummer, who once likened herself to Martin Luther King, has lived a life of serene luxury being privately educated at St Mary's Ascot boarding school in Berkshire before studying social anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies. She grew up in her parents 2.85million Chelsea townhouse but according to court hearings now resides at a house in Lambeth. It is not known if the professional protester has managed to find gainful employment to support herself in her new digs, but according to an interview in the Times it seems unlikely. She boasted: 'I don't have to work three jobs to feed my kids or pay heating bills which means I can dedicate time towards fighting.' So then, ahead of her expected impending prison sentence (which she's apparently looking forward to) MailOnline has collated a full list of Plummer's most eye-catching and irritating moments. The list can be considered exhaustive as its extremely unlikely Plummer would ever involve herself in any action that didn't place her directly in front of the camera. In October 2022, Plummer exploded onto the stage when she and fellow activist Anna Holland, 22, flung two tins of Heinz soup at Sunflowers The painting is considered to be a masterpiece and is one of the most recognisable artworks in the world The stunt prompted outrage across the world as it wasn't originally known that the painting itself was protected by a glass screen October 2022 - Vincent Van Gogh and the soup In October 2022, Plummer exploded onto the stage when she and fellow activist Anna Holland, 22, flung two tins of Heinz soup at the Dutch artist's 1888 masterpiece Sunflowers while it was on display at the National Gallery. The stunt prompted outrage across the world as it wasn't originally known that the painting itself was protected by a glass screen. This is something Plummer claimed she knew in advance, however she was less concerned about the 17th century Italian frame which she damaged. After pouring the contents of the soup all over the painting, the two activists proceeded to glue their hands to the floor before bellowing something about no new oil and gas. They denied but were convicted of damaging property by a jury after a four day trial at Southwark Crown Court last week and have been told to expect jail time. Not that Plummer particularly cares, this act cemented her as the poster girl of Just Stop Oil and emboldened her to move to the forefront of the group's irritating activities. Police watch as traffic is held back as an activist from Just Stop Oil occupies a gantry over the M25 near Godstone in Surrey in November 2022 Plummer, who was pictured being dragged away from the scene by police officers, had allegedly bragged of her part in the disruption November 2022 - Attacking the M25 Whilst on bail for her Van Gogh stunt, Plummer once again made the headlines after joining a group of JSO activists seeking to paralyse the M25. In November of that year, activists caused chaos on the motorway by climbing gantries and targeting petrol stations causing four days of travel hell for motorists. Plummer, who was pictured being dragged away from the scene by police officers, had allegedly bragged of her part in the disruption to an undercover reporter at the Sun. She reportedly said: 'There's no risk of custodial time. The harshest punishment is a small fine. We need to grab this opportunity while we have it and it's such a minor offence. 'Slow marching because it's more entry-level for people. My first action was smashing up petrol stations. 'It was f**g brilliant what we did on the M25, shutting it down for four days. I was part of that. I went to prison for that last year.' Met Police officers - who politely told Pheobe Plummer she would have to leave her coffee - were filmed by activists as they arrested her Friends cried that she had hash browns on their way - but she had to leave before they arrived June 2023 - Slow marching back into prison (via a posh cafe) In June last year, Plummer found herself at the mercy of the old Bill who swooped on her whilst she was enjoying breakfast in an upmarket cafe in Islington. Far from her being persecuted, Plummer's arrest was actually because she had just broken her bail conditions by participating in a slow march that morning. Officers were filmed politely telling the vegan activist she would have to leave her coffee and could not wait for her hash browns as they dragged her away. Plummer described her arrest as a 'draconian breach of power.' Her friend paid for her bill. Labour's Emily Thornberry was targeted by Plummer at her home address Ever the wisecracker, Plummer states confidently: 'I've got bail not to go to any MP's house.' The video cuts to footage of a police van arriving, and Plummer climbs in before turning and waving, saying: 'See you guys later!' and laughs March 2024 - Plummer delivers a letter to Emily Thornberry In March this year, Plummer essentially handed herself into police after taking part in an ill advised stunt to hand deliver a series of demands to Emily Thornberry at her personal address. In a video shared on social media, Plummer is seen posting the letter with a friend. It then cuts to show several police officers asking if she has ID. Ever the wisecracker, Plummer states confidently: 'I've got bail not to go to any MP's house.' An officer then returns, and said: 'We've just spoken to our inspector... you will be under arrest for breaching police bail conditions.' Speaking to the camera, she then said: 'So apparently this is the world we live in now. Getting arrested, literally for just posting a letter through to somebody's house...somebody's front door. 'That's so far from a crime, isn't it?' To which the police officer replied: 'You've got these bail conditions for a reason, haven't you.' She responded: 'To prevent that. This is what it was trying to prevent. Just delivering a letter.' The video cuts to footage of a police van arriving, and Plummer climbs in before turning and waving, saying: 'See you guys later!' and laughs. This morning, Plummer targeted Heathrow airport, spraying paint on a departure board Police officers take away Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer today at Heathrow Airport July 2024 - Plummer targets Heathrow whilst awaiting sentencing Fresh from being convicted, Plummer was back in the headlines today after she and another activist targeted Heathrow Airport with orange paint, to apparently prove a point about climate change. As usual, their protest fell flat and failed to cause any disruption to holidaymakers passing through the airport at the start of the summer holidays. The 22-year-old will be sentenced on September 27 over the incident at the National Gallery in London in October 2022 and has been warned by a judge to expect jail. The second activist, Jane Touil, 58, shouted while sat down today: 'Refuse to die for fossil fuels. We have seen the hottest two days in recorded history. Last year was the hottest year in recorded history.' The Metropolitan Police said two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and officers remained at the scene to 'deal with any further offences'. This is the moment the President of Turkey slaps a child across the face on stage for not kissing his hand after he held it out. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been attending the opening ceremony of the Aider Plateau Protection and Renewal Project in the northern Rize province on July 27 when the incident took place. During the event, where the leader was seen handing keys to the new homeowners of houses rebuilt as part of an urbanisation project, two young boys appeared on stage to greet the president after he delivered a short speech. In viral footage, Erdogan was seen extending his hand to the two children so they could kiss it but one hesitated for just a moment while staring up at the president. Viewers were then left in shock when Erdogan quickly flicked his wrist and slapped the small boy across the face, before resuming his position and waiting for his kiss. The President of Turkey has sparked controversy online after he was seen slapping a young boy across the face at a ceremony in northern Rize Recep Tayyip Erdogan smacked the young child when he didn't kiss his hand after extending it out towards him on stage The child appeared to be giggling following the slap, but continued to look up at the president for a moment before finally planting a kiss on the top of his hand. Erogan - seemingly forgiving the boy's behaviour - then handed both of the children some money as a gift and hugged them before they climbed off the stage. Although the child did not seem fazed by the 'slap', the gesture sparked discussion on social media with some users criticising the Turkish leader's behaviour. One wrote: 'I wonder how he treats people behind closed doors if he can do that in front of the camera'. Another said: 'That's disgusting from Erdogan'. 'This world makes me sicker by the day,' commented a third. However, some users defended the president's actions, explaining that kissing the hand of an elder is a sign of respect in Turkish culture. One user said: 'Love it. Kissing the hand of your elders, parents, and grandparents is a sign of respect especially in Turkey. 'If you don't do it you get corrected. Especially at a young age'. But this is not the first time Erdogan has come under fire for such an incident. Previously, the leader 'slapped' a child who requested an autograph on a Turkish national team T-shirt. In 2021, at the opening of the Salarkha Tunnel in Rize, Erdogan was spotted knocking a boy on the head after he shook the ribbon. And last year, the president publicly slapped his grandson, but later claimed he was 'stroking' him, according to reports. It comes after Erdogan grabbed headlines on Sunday for issuing an open threat to invade Israel in support of Palestine. 'We must be very strong so that Israel can't do these things to Palestine,' Erdogan sai, referring to the war against Hamas in Gaza. 'Just as we entered [Nagorno-]Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we might do the same to them. There is nothing we can't do. We must only be strong.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Recep Tayyip Erdogan in September 2023 Yesterday, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz demanded that NATO expel Turkey over Erdogan's threats to send troops into Israel. 'In light of Turkish President Erdogan's threats to invade Israel and his dangerous rhetoric, Foreign Minister Israel Katz instructed diplomats to urgently engage with all NATO members, calling for the condemnation of Turkey and demanding its expulsion from the regional alliance,' the Israeli foreign ministry said. Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders, whose party is the largest in the Netherlands, called Erdogan an 'Islamofascist' and 'totally nuts' in a social media post on Sunday following the president's comment, adding that Turkey 'should be kicked out of NATO.' Wilders has long proposed booting Turkey from NATO, despite the country joining the alliance in 1952 and having the second-largest army. Erdogan's comments come after he previously called on the Islamic world to take action against Israel. He said back in May: 'I have some words to say to the Islamic world: what are you waiting for to take a common decision?' 'Israel is not just a threat to Gaza but to all of humanity,' he said. 'No state is safe as long as Israel does not follow international law and does not feel bound by international law,' Erdogan added, repeating an accusation that Israel is committing 'genocide' in Gaza. He also called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 'vampire' and accused him of killing 'innocent civilians in their tents'. Turkey has also suspended all trade with Israel over its ongoing offensive in Gaza. NATO does not have a specific mechanism to suspend or expel a member, though members may voluntarily withdraw. A gang of fake 'spiritual healers' who conned a pensioner out of a 'significant' amount of cash and jewellery to stage a ritual to 'keep her family safe' are being hunted by cops. The three female charlatans duped the 73-year-old woman after meeting her in Newport city centre, in south Wales, police have said. They reportedly offered to carry out the spiritual ritual, telling their worried victim it would protect her family. All believed to be of Chinese descent, and speaking Cantonese, the alleged fraudsters then plundered the pensioner's bank account and made off with her prized possessions. Officers have now launched a manhunt for the crooks and have released CCTV footage of one of the suspects. Police in Wales are hunting a gang of fake 'spiritual healers' after a pensioner was duped out of her money and jewellery. Pictured is one of the suspects The group of three crooks pledged to provide the woman, aged 73, a ritual that would protect her family. Pictured is one of the suspects entering a Sainsbury's shop The video shows a woman walking into a Sainsbury's shop, carrying a pink bag and wearing a dark jacket. The alleged fraudster is caught flashing a smile while at the till of the retailer. Gwent Police is now seeking to identify her as part of their investigation. Describing the incident, a spokesman for the force said: 'Officers investigating report of fraud are trying to identify this woman (pictured) who may be able to help with enquires. 'We received a report of fraud after three unknown women have reportedly taken a significant amount of money and jewellery in exchange for organising a spiritual ritual. 'The three women are described as having short black hair, aged between 30 and 50 with the ability to speak Cantonese. 'The three women allegedly befriended a 73-year-old woman while in Newport city centre and offered to organise the ritual to help the victim and keep her family safe in exchange for money. 'Officers have carried out various enquiries and are now asking for help to identify this woman who was seen in the area and may be able to help.' Anyone with information or who recognise the wanted woman are urged to call police on 101 quoting reference 2400168940. MailOnline has approached Gwent Police for further comment. Two sons of a toymaking tycoon are in a High Court battle over a share of his 14.5million business empire - as one claims the other was 'conceived by his mother on a one-night stand with a lawyer' so is not entitled to the fortunes. Stuart Marcus - described by business colleagues as 'a modest man with a big dream and a big heart' - started out selling wooden dolls' house kits above a small east London toy shop and ended up with a string of companies valued at nearly 15m before he died. His sons Edward, 46, and Jonathan, 42, worked alongside Stuart as the brand grew and diversified into other fields such as property, with Jonathan heading up successful commercial operations in Germany. Before his death in 2019, aged 86, Stuart arranged for 43 per cent of the business that made up his fortune to be put into a family trust for the benefit of his 'children and remoter issue...and their spouses'. Late Stuart Marcus, a toymaking tycoon who started out selling wooden dolls' house kits above a small east London toy shop. He is pictured holding one of his art sets But Jonathan is now suing his older brother, claiming Edward is actually the product of a one-night stand his mum had with a former lover while his dad was away on business and, as only his half-brother, he is not entitled to a share of the trust. Jonathan bases his claim on a confession by the brothers' 81-year-old mum Patricia Marcus that she had an affair with Sydney Glossop, a lawyer with whom she had a relationship with before she married Stuart. Edward admits he was blown away by his mum's shock revelation that he wasn't Stuart's son during a confidential chat in 2010, but says she later retracted the confession. The bombshell was kept secret for more than a decade, but Jonathan finally discovered the news last year, triggering his High Court bid to have Edward removed as a beneficiary of Stuart's trust, which he says is backed by DNA evidence. But Edward is fighting the claim, denying the DNA proves he was not Stuart's natural child and arguing that he would be entitled to share in the trust in any case. His barrister, Matthew Mills, told the court: 'Fundamentally, this case is about the most important question in a person's life - their identity. 'What this case seeks to do is to entirely turn my client's life on its head.' Jonathan Marcus, 42, and mother Patricia Marcus, 81, pictured outside High Court after the hearing over the paternity dispute Edward Marcus, 46, also pictured outside High Court. He denies the DNA proves he was not Stuart's natural child and is arguing that he would be entitled to share in the trust in any case The court heard Stuart Marcus founded Kitfix Hobbies in 1962 and carved out a major niche in toys, board games and craft kits, later transferring the company HQ to a four-acre site at Swaffham, in Norfolk, where the company focuses on selling 'Sequin Art' craft packs. The disputed trust he set up holds shares in 'valuable family companies', the court heard, including a 43% stake in the Kitfix Swallow Group of companies, whose value was estimated at 14.5 million in 2019. Sketching out Jonathan's case, his barrister Thomas Braithwaite told the judge, Master Matthew Marsh, that the trust established by Stuart Marcus was in favour of 'the children and remoter issue of the settlor and their spouses'. 'The key question for the court is whether Edward and his family fall within that description,' he told the judge, Master Matthew Marsh. 'In 2010, Edward and Jonathan's mother, Patricia, revealed to Edward that he is not Stuart's son. 'DNA evidence has confirmed that he and Jonathan are not full brothers. 'Not only does this impact upon Edward's present status and future entitlements, but Jonathan says that, had he known this, in light of the family friction at the time, Stuart would not have appointed Edward a co-trustee of the settlement in 2016. 'Edward defends the claim on the facts. He says that Stuart was his father.' Patricia Marcus gave evidence confirming her belief that Edward is her former lover Sydney Glossop's son, adding that he had also 'accepted Edward as his son' Despite admitting that his mum told him Stuart was not his real dad, Edward is fighting the case, claiming she later retracted the confession. From the witness box, he told the court how his mum suddenly spilled the revelation about her affair at his home in 2010. Patricia Marcus, who had kept her dalliance a secret for 30 years, also revealed the name of her lover, Sydney Glossop, a lawyer whom she had a relationship with before she married Stuart, and who has now also died. His mum told him not to tell his younger brother the news, because he was 'too hot-headed and judgmental', Edward claimed, adding: 'it was an absolute bombshell'. 'I was very troubled and she said she didn't trust Jonathan and was scared of his reaction,' he added, although his brother's barrister brushed aside this claim. The late tycoon's company grew from one room in east London to its current four-acre sit at Swaffham, Norfolk After his mum's confession, Edward searched online to see if he could find out anything about his mystery dad, finally tracking him down to a retirement home near Birmingham, which he and his mum visited in order to meet Sydney, he said. Once there, he witnessed the pair of them 'cuddling,' said Edward, telling the court: 'I saw her sit on the bed and cuddle him and I was shocked to see her behaving that way because it wasn't the way I saw her behave with my father.' But Edward said he began to harbour doubts about his mum's news, particularly as it seemed to conflict with his knowledge about strong family characteristics he shared with Stuart, such as asthma and poor eyesight. And he claimed his mum ended up going back on her account later in 2010 when she told him she was wrong about Sydney being his dad. 'She told me that I really was the son of Stuart in a car park at Waitrose and that it was all a mistake,' he told the judge. Edward also argues that, even if accepted, the DNA tests do not establish which one of the brothers is related to Stuart as no DNA sample was taken from him. He claims Patricia's relationship with Sydney may well have continued longer than a single night in 1977 and may have gone on for years, opening up the possibility that it was younger brother Jonathan who was born to Sydney and not him. He told the court of his mum telling him a story about being at Yew Tree Farm with Sydney and 'my father arriving home and him having to jump out of the kitchen window and run off through the fields. 'I can remember a man with white hair playing with our dog at Yew Tree Cottage,' insisted Edward, adding that his mum explained to him later that this man was Sydney. One of the 'Sequin Art' craft packs sold by the tycoon's company Kitfix Edward claims Patricia's relationship with Sydney may well have continued longer than a single night in 1977, and may have gone on for years, opening up the possibility that it was younger brother Jonathan who was born to Sydney and not him Patricia Marcus, however, denied that the relationship with Sydney continued beyond one night in 1977 and gave evidence confirming her belief that Edward is Sydney's son, adding that her former lover had also 'accepted Edward as his son'. She also dismissed Edward's claims that she ended up 'cuddling' with Sydney at his retirement home and rejected his barrister's claims that she had 'persuaded herself that Sydney is Edward's father'. Exploring the paternity question, Jonathan's barrister, Mr Braithwaite, said Patricia and Sydney had a relationship which ended before she married Stuart, but that there was then a 'sexual encounter in 1977 while Stuart was away on business'. 'She did not tell Stuart and he was registered as Edward's father following the birth,' continued Mr Braithwaite, adding: 'Edward will say that he believes the affair continued after Jonathan's birth, but there is nothing to support that'. He said results of DNA tests showed that Edward and Jonathan are half siblings, with it being '25 times more likely that they are half siblings than full siblings'. 'It follows that one or other of Jonathan or Edward is unlikely to be Stuart's son,' he continued. 'Patricia's evidence, and the undisputed fact that it was of course Edward to whom the revelation was initially divulged, can only lead to one conclusion. 'Edward agrees that he was told in March 2010 that he was Mr Glossop's son, and the email trail supports that account. 'It is implausible Patricia would have told him this unless it was true, and vanishingly unlikely that she would have done so if the opposite was true.' But Edward's barrister, Mr Mills, challenged the DNA evidence as unreliable, noting that 'sibling analysis' is far less conclusive than 'testing both parents against their alleged children'. 'Even if Cellmark's conclusions are accepted, they do not prove Jonathan's case,' he went on. 'Cellmark cannot explain which of Edward or Jonathan is Stuart's son. Therefore, at most, Cellmark's analysis leads to a 50-50 conclusion, which fails to satisfy the burden of proof.' Kitfix's company HQ transferred to a four-acre site at Swaffham, in Norfolk, where the company focuses on selling 'Sequin Art' craft packs On top of insisting that Stuart was his dad, Edward says that, even if the DNA evidence is accepted by the judge, he should be entitled to benefit from the trust as a step-son of Stuart Marcus. The bitter family dispute is being played out against the background of the toy and property empire built up by Stuart Marcus, who died without any suspicion that Edward might not be his son. Stuart's brainchild, Kitfix, has in recent years transformed into Kitfix Swallow Group, which in 2017 was split into two arms, one focused on making and selling toys and the second focused on property letting. Patricia and Jonathan are both named as directors of most of the family companies, the court heard, but Edward quit the family business after 2014, following what Jonathan's barrister labelled a 'gradual but complete breakdown in relations between Edward on the one hand and Patricia, Stuart and Jonathan on the other'. The judge has now reserved his judgment, to be given at a later date. A father claims he was hit with a 12,000 fine after two illegal immigrants allegedly hid in his campervan without his knowledge whilst he drove back to the UK. Holidaymaker Edson Martins Francisco, 45, and his young family had been making their way from Portugal back to the UK, when they arrived at Calais on December 17. Having arrived early after confusing the time slots for boarding the ferry, the father stopped at Lidl for 30 minutes before going through the border control check. However during his pit-stop at the supermarket, he claims two men broke in and locked themselves inside the back of his converted van unnoticed. The father-of-four, from Woking in Surrey, insists he was astonished when officials searched the van and found the two men hidden under the bed, curled up in the back of the van. Edson Martins Francisco (pictured), 45 claims he was hit with a 12,000 fine after two illegal immigrants allegedly hid in his campervan without his knowledge at Calais The father-of-four stopped at Lidl for 30 minutes for breakfast with his son before going through the border control check (pictured: his van) After the discovery Edson claims his documents, phone and van were checked and he was let go after a six- hour interview, where he insists he was told 'everything [was] fine'. He thought nothing of the incident again until he was greeted by a 12,000 penalty fine for 'clandestine entry offences' on his doorstep six months later. He's been given 60 days to pay the Border Force penalty issued on behalf of the secretary of state - despite earning just 1,200 a month. Reflecting on the six-hour interview with border control officials, he said: 'They just treated me like a criminal. 'There was no sense of my humanity or that of my boy. I kept telling them I didn't know anything about the people. I asked to see the manager.' 'They checked everything and could see I'd done nothing wrong. 'The policeman at the end said 'you have to be careful, you have to look for these things', but I do this journey all the time and they never tell you to look out for this.'' The letter, which arrived on June 15, says he did not fully comply with the Carriers Liability Regulations 2023 in three ways. He alleges the two must have broken into his van during this 30 minute window - as he insists to have been astonished when they were discovered in his vehicle After a six-hour interview, having his documents, van and phone checked, he claims to have been let go and he and his then-two-year-old son travelled back to Surrey He thought nothing of the incident, until he was greeted by a 12,000 penalty fine for 'clandestine entry offences' on his doorstep six months later (pictured: Edson on his van) It said the van was not 'locked or secured' when it was left unattended, and he didn't use locks 'appropriately and with reasonable care'. The third alleged rule break involved not checking for 'clandestine entrants' before reaching immigration control. If Edson had checked the vehicle before going to border control he would have found the people hidden in his van, it claims. 'It's ridiculous! It's a huge amount of money and there's no way I can pay it,' the father-of-four added. 'Border control searched all my stuff and said 'everything is fine you can go' - they didn't say anything else could or would happen. 'I couldn't believe it when the letter arrived. I was absolutely horrified when I opened the back of the van for border control and saw them curled up there.' He added: 'I couldn't even speak. All this stuff was going through my head - they could have kidnapped me or taken my boy. 'They must have got in when I was in Lidl. I just never thought about it. 'They must have broken in. I've worked with vehicles for years; I know how easy it is to unlock them. 'I didn't check the back of the van because I didn't think anyone would do that. 'I'm black and I get checked every time. I know I have to stay above the law so I'd never try to smuggle anyone in. Plus I had my son with me so why would I do that.' Edson has been travelling home to Surrey in the converted van with his then two-year-old son, as his partner had flown home earlier with their disabled daughter. Edson is a Portuguese national but has lived in the UK for more than 20 years and has indefinite leave to remain, and makes the journey twice a year to see family. He had accidentally arrived 12 hours early for the ferry - at 2am instead of 2pm - and didn't have the 100 needed to change his crossing time. He insists that he parked up the Ford transit and slept in the vehicle with his son, now three, before the pair allegedly broke into his vehicle whilst he grabbed breakfast at Lidl. Edson is a Portuguese national but has lived in the UK for more than 20 years and has indefinite leave to remain, and makes the journey twice a year to see family Edson claimed that he was treated 'like a criminal' and that 'there was no sense of my humanity or that of my boy' Edson added: 'This whole thing has been extremely stressful and still is. Border control should make people aware that this can happen.' 'I now realise there's such a huge thing going on with people trying to get in vehicles at Calais - it's the same people trying over and over, because when they're caught they're just let go so they try again. 'People shouldn't travel this route alone - it's not safe. 'If you check your vehicle and find them there and face up to them it could be very dangerous.' The Home Office said they do not comment on individual cases. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We are fully committed to stopping people from illegally entering the country and cracking down on people smugglers. 'We do not issue Clandestine entrant civil penalty fines without sufficient cause.' A Japanese tourist was detained at a Thai airport after being caught trying to smuggle some 500 frogs, insects and other creatures out of the country. The man in his sixties was stopped at Suvarnabhumi International Airport after an X-ray machine flagged boxes upon boxes of creepy crawlies stashed in his luggage. The man had reportedly obtained permission to take 250 insects with him from Thailand to Japan but was found to have around double with him. Spine-tingling images showed large collection of small containers packed with large spiders, live frogs, ants and centipedes, prompting authorities to intervene. The man was reportedly planning to buy scorpions and other insects in Thailand to sell on in Japan. The five crates in total were said to be worth around 400,000 yen, or just over 2,000, to the right buyer. The man was caught trying to smuggle the creatures while passing through security Live frogs were among the grotesque collection of animals heading for Japan The creatures were packaged in small boxes with little room for movement The Japanese buyer was reported to have travelled to Thailand to buy scorpions to sell Vials, more properly labelled, contained ants native only to Thailand Authorities said that the creatures were protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - or CITES. Pictures showed huge cardboard boxes being handled by staff and packages weighed at the airport. Authorities cut open bags to reveal packages inside the lining before the tourist's detention on July 16. Small vials labelled with the Latin name for a rare Thai ant were also shown, wrapped in bubblewrap. A dish covered only with a plastic lid and marked with scrawled handwriting appeared to contain a kind of shrimp hidden in tissue paper. Many of the creatures were locked up in the boxes with just a sheet of paper, without food or drink for the average six-hour flight time. Earlier this month, a man was caught trying to smuggle 104 live snakes in his trouser pockets into China in breach of local law. Officials said a male passenger entered the country through a port at Futian before he was stopped and searched. He was found to be harbouring snakes inside canvas bags sealed with adhesive tape in his pockets. 'Once opened, each bag was found to contain living snakes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours,' a statement read. The bags included a milk snake, the western pig-nosed snake and a corn snake. None of them were venomous, Business Insider reported. But the smuggling of non-native species into China is illegal and the country has introduced strict measures to crack down on animal trafficking, often linked to the snake farming trade. It was not clear for what purpose the snakes were brought into the country, but officials said they might pursue legal action. 'Those who break the rules will be held liable in accordance with the law,' the customs authority said. Thai authorities have stepped up their efforts to crack down on illegal animal smuggling The man reportedly had a permit to transport 250 creatures - but was found with some 500 Officials found five large cardboard boxes packed full of various insects, arachnids and frogs Officials found a variety of protected species among the boxes of containers What appeared to be a shrimp was found packaged in a small container marked in pen Authorities were forced to cut into the lining of the man's bags after the shock discovery Earlier this year, a man was arrested trying to smuggle Komodo dragons, pythons, tortoises and 24 live fish out of the country. Astonishingly, Komodo dragons can grow up to 10ft and weigh 300lbs. The man, heading for the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, was arrested on February 17 after checking in for a flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He was chraged with smuggling protected animals, the customs department said. Again, it was unclear for what purpose he was attempting to smuggle the animals. Sweet Valley High author Francine Pascal has died at the age of 92 after a battle with cancer. Pascal died of lymphoma at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan on Sunday, her daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal told the New York Times. The beloved writer found global success with the hit book series about identical twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, which was formative reading for generations of young girls. The series, set in the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Sweet Valley, debuted in 1983 and consisted of 181 books, also spawning multiple spin-offs, including Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley University. It ran for 20 years and was translated into 27 languages, selling hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. Sweet Valley High author Francine Pascal (pictured) has died at the age of 92 A Sweet Valley High TV series, starring real-life twins Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, (pictured on the show) ran for four seasons from 1994 to 1997 Pascal wrote the first 12 books in the Sweet Valley series and then, after drafting a detailed outline, worked with a team of writers to keep up a rapid publication pace. Sweet Valley, according to Pascal, 'is the essence of high school'. 'It's that moment before reality hits, when you really do believe in the romantic values - sacrifice, love, loyalty, friendship - before you get jaded and slip off into adulthood,' she told People Magazine in an interview in 1988. The series, set in the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Sweet Valley, debuted in 1983 and consisted of 181 books, also spawning multiple spin-offs, including Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley University Pascal came up with the idea for Sweet Valley High after TV networks rejected her idea for a soap opera centered on teenagers in high school. She was inspired by Dallas, the hit CBS soap that followed an affluent family and their oil empire, and the twins in her life, including her then-agent and sister-in-law. 'People are always fascinated by twins. You'll never be alone.' she told Entertainment Weekly in 2019. 'I sat down and I wrote a [character] bible and the first 12 [SVH] stories. It went quickly because it was such a fertile idea. Bantam Books loved it. They ordered all 12.' Pascal had a 'heavy hand' in writing Double Love, the first Sweet Valley book, but reportedly had very little interest in writing the series herself because she 'didn't think there was going to be humor' in teen books. After she stopped writing the series herself, she used her so-called 'character bible', which she says dove 'deeply into the lives of the twins and their backgrounds', to help guide a team of ghost writers as they penned more stories. 'The writers had to use those [guidelines] and follow them strictly,' she recalled. A Sweet Valley High TV series, starring real-life twins Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, ran for four series from 1994 to 1997. Sweet Valley, according to Pascal, 'is the essence of high school'. Pictured are Britney and Cynthia Daniel, alongside their castmates, in the Sweet Valley High TV show, circa 1994 Pascal was born in Manhattan on May 13, 1932, but grew up in Queens. She studied journalism at New York University and then worked as a freelance writer for various publications including True Confessions, Modern Screen, Cosmopolitan and Ladies Home Journal. Pascal's writing career started to take off after she married her second husband John Pascal - a year after divorcing Jerome Offenberg - and the couple worked together on the 1960s soap opera The Young Marrieds. In the 1970s she ventured into the world of young-adult novels with Hangin' Out With Cici, My First Love And Other Disasters and The Hand-Me-Down Kid, and found that teenage girls were a receptive audience for her efforts. Pascal, in an 1988 interview with People Magazine, praised the Sweet Valley series - which sold more than 200 million copies - because it 'created readers out of non-readers'. 'These books have uncovered a whole population of young girls who were never reading,' she said of the books. Pascal also wrote several books for adults, including a non-fiction book about the Patty Hearst trial, The Strange Case Of Patty Hearst, in 1974. She also penned adult novels Save Johanna! in 1981 and If Wishes Were Horses in 1994. Pascal is survived by her two daughters Laurie and Susan, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Sydney activist Danny Lim has been admitted to hospital after an incident allegedly involving the police. The beloved octogenarian, well-known for wearing colourful placards with slogans promoting 'peace' and 'love' but also misspelt swear words, confirmed he was in St Vincent's Hospital waiting for a doctor's report on his injuries. The alleged incident unfolded outside the Art Gallery of NSW on Tuesday afternoon. 'I'm not OK,' Mr Lim, 80, told Daily Mail Australia from hospital several hours later that night. 'At the moment I am quite confused. I'm scared something is going to happen.' He claimed the incident involved a security guard and NSW Police and was 'quite similar to what happened to me in the Queen Victoria Building' in 2022. Mr Lim wouldn't give any further detail about Tuesday's incident. NSW Police confirmed that emergency services were called to the Art Gallery on Tuesday to check on the welfare of an 80-year-old man. Well known activist Danny Lim has been admitted to hospital following an incident involving NSW police 'The man was spoken to by police and was later taken to hospital by ambulance for assessment,' a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'No offence was committed and no further action will be taken by police.' In the previous incident, Mr Lim also ended up in hospital with a subdural haematoma (blood clot) on the brain after two officers violently handcuffed him and threw him to the ground outside the QVB in Sydney's CBD in November 2022. Footage captured the local campaigner being forced to the ground by two NSW Police officers, leaving Mr Lim with a bloodied face and black eye. Mr Lim suffered bleeding to the brain from the fall and had to use a walking stick for weeks afte A father-of-five was recently fined after he was found guilty of assaulting Mr Lim in a separate incident in 2023. Ming Wiseman, 66, was found guilty in Burwood Local Court following an altercation at Strathfield train station on September 22 last year despite strenuously denying the allegation and even accusing Mr Lim of faking injuries. Magistrate Vivien Swain found that Wiseman was not acting in self-defence during the incident after he was seen angrily approaching Mr Lim on the station concourse. Mr Lim, who is well known around Sydney for sporting signs promoting peace, positivity and progressive political causes, was taken to Concord Hospital following the attack. The court heard that Mr Lim suffered a red mark to his left eye after being punched by Wiseman while he was out campaigning for the Yes vote for the Voice referendum. Danny Lim (pictured) was accused by his attacker of being a 'disgrace to the Chinese community' during fiery courtroom scenes on Monday Wiseman was arrested at a Homebush West home the following week and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty, telling the court that Mr Lim, who was then 79, was the aggressor. Wiseman said he was angered by some of Mr Lim's signs which criticise the government and police - including one former sign which said 'Police CVN'T' However Mr Lim denied they were offensive. 'Have you ever had a sign that says police are c***s,' Magistrate Swain asked Mr Lim during his evidence. 'It's CVN'T,' Mr Lim replied. CCTV played to the court showed Wiseman entering through the gates of the station, placing his bag and shopping cart down, before becoming embroiled in a heated argument and pointing at Mr Lim, who was wearing a sandwich board. Mr Lim told the court in his evidence that he heard someone approaching him from behind swearing at him before he backed up against a wall. The police prosecution conceded that Mr Lim kicked Wiseman and attempted to throw a punch. Ms Swain found that Wiseman struck Mr Lim in the face in the ensuing melee. Ming Wiseman (pictured) was found guilty in May of assaulting activist Danny Lim during a train station altercation last September Wiseman admitted that he was angry as he approached Mr Lim, but denied attacking him, calling the allegations an attempt to 'frame' him. The police prosecutor denied these claims. At one point Wiseman had to be asked by Ms Swain not to yell while giving his evidence as his testimony at times became heated. The court heard that Mr Lim and Wiseman had been involved in another verbal argument at Strathfield Station earlier the day of the incident. Ms Swain found that Wiseman was the aggressor and that he had struck Mr Lim. 'I am satisfied there is not a reasonable possibility his conduct was necessary to defend himself,' she said. Wiseman was convicted and fined $200. Ms Swain also made an 18-month AVO against Wiseman for Mr Lim's protection. Rachel Reeves spoke of her pride in 'standing up for' winter fuel payments before dramatically axing them for 10million pensioners. A social media post has emerged showing the Chancellor pledging to 'defend' the benefit in 2017, when she was a lowly backbencher. Treasury chief secretary Darren Jones also insisted older people should not bear the 'brunt' of efforts to balance the books as recently as last November. The posts on X surfaced after Ms Reeves declared that pensioners on moderate incomes will not get the payments - worth up to 300. In a dramatic statement in the Commons yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that winter fuel will be means-tested Rachel Reeves previously spoke at her 'pride' over 'standing up' for winter fuel payements In a dramatic statement in the Commons yesterday, the Chancellor said that winter fuel will be means-tested. Only those on pension credit will qualify, excluding people with incomes as low as 1,000 a month. Ms Reeves claimed the raid was needed to help fill a 22billion 'black hole' in the public finances left behind by the last Conservative government. She warned of more pain in her first Budget on October 30, saying there would be 'difficult decisions' on 'spending, welfare and tax'. In a message from May 2017, during the election campaign, Ms Reeves commented on a 1945 poster claiming that 'Labour stands for decent pensions'. 'This time again it's Labour who will stand up for pensioners, defending the triple lock & winter fuel payments.' Mr Jones also gave a strikingly response last year when speculation emerged that wealthier pensioners could lose winter fuel payments. He wrote to then-chancellor Jeremy Hunt saying: 'Pensioners will be deeply concerned about such speculation, especially ahead of winter, and anxious that their incomes may be under threat from this Government.' Pressed repeatedly on BBC's Newsnight about whether Labour secretly plotted to scrap winter fuel payments during the election campaign, the MP said Keir Starmer's team 'did not work on this policy in Opposition'. Pressed last night on why she was picking on pensioners, Ms Reeves added: 'These are not the decisions I wanted to make but in the circumstances I find myself in, these are the fair and the right decisions to make.' Darren Jones insisted older people should not bear the 'brunt' of efforts to balance the books just last November Pressed repeatedly on BBC 's Newsnight, Treasury minister Darren Jones said Keir Starmer 's team 'did not work on this policy in Opposition' The Tories accused the Government of misleading the public over winter fuel payments. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said: 'During the election, Labour sources said the winter fuel payments would continue under a Starmer government and that there were no plans to change eligibility for these benefits. 'Today they have revealed they misled the public. 'Instead of giving winter fuel payments to pensioners, they have chosen to bend to the pressure from the unions by giving a 22 per cent pay rise to junior doctors and reversing the Conservative government's planned reduction to the civil service.' Parents who want their children to go to one of the best state schools had better get their skates on if they don't already live within the catchment areas. Tens of thousands of parents are looking to send their children to state school following Labour's plan to start charging VAT on private school fees. The additional charge will be introduced in January next year, the Chancellor confirmed yesterday. Parents who can no longer afford the fees at one of the UK's 2,500 private schools may be looking to the top state secondary schools as an alternative. These each have their own entry criteria, which may include academic ability or proximity to the school. Applications for secondary school places for the following school year must typically be made to the local authority by October 31 and parents generally need to supply proof of their child's permanent address when applying. So hopefuls wanting to switch their child from a private school to a top secondary school before the 20 per cent tax is introduced in 2025 have just three months until the final deadline for applications. Parents would be hard pressed to find and buy a home in the catchment area in time as well as sell their existing home. This table shows the top 50 state schools in England and how long it takes to buy a house in the catchment area Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. But those wanting to make the move for the 2026 school year can do so over the next year. Some schools require a pupil to have lived at their address for a certain length of time to be classed as a resident in the catchment area, while some schools use the child's address at the time of applying for or sitting an entrance exam. Parents should check the deadline for moving to a catchment area with their desired school. Time is running out for parents who want to find a home in the right catchment area Here, with data from quick sale website Upstix, we break down how long parents need to leave to search for their dream home in one of the desirable areas surrounding England's top state schools. These are based on data from homes that share the first half of the schools' postcodes. Note that this is just a broad estimate, as catchment areas vary from school to school and may be bigger or smaller than its postcode area. Hopefuls for Reading School fourth on the School Guide top 50 secondary schools in England ranking need to start looking for a home around 190 days before any deadline, according to Upstix data, as that's how long it takes for homes to go from being listed to selling. Parents who want a place for their child at the Tiffin Girls' School should also be looking to move at a similar time. Homes in the school's Kingston-upon-Thames postcode have 192 days between the day it is listed to the day it's sold. Homes in the Tiffin Girls' School's Kingston-upon-Thames outcode have 192 days between the day it is listed to sold The school fifth on the School Guide list says since it introduced a catchment area ten years ago, all of its places have been offered to pupils living inside it. It takes 195 days for homes to go from being listed to sold in the Newstead Wood School outcode in Kent and 173 days for homes in The Latymer School outcode in North London. Homes in the outcode for Altrincham Grammar School for Girls take 169 days and it's 175 days for houses near Newport Girls' High School Academy, Shropshire. Homes in the outcode for Altrincham Grammar School for Girls take 169 days to sell Parents who want their children to attend Dame Alice Owen's School should be looking around 215 days before they want to move to the catchment area as that's how long it takes for homes in the Hertfordshire postcode to go from listed to sold, Upstix data shows. Not all state schools have catchment areas and admissions could instead be based on entrance test results. Look at the admissions criteria of your desired school before making any housing decisions. Even if a school does have catchment area, living in one doesn't guarantee a child's place in a school. The school could be oversubscribed or prioritise applicants within the catchment area based on test scores or other criteria. The school could have individual deadlines to apply for tests with a requirement for addresses in a catchment area which parents should research. For example, Beaconsfield School in Buckinghamshire requires pupils to take an admission test and it says September 1 is the cut-off date for the home address they'll use for applications in their first round of allocations for the 2025 intake. Parents looking to get their children into The Latymer School in North London need to start home-hunting 173 days before any deadline It takes homes in the school's postcode some 216 days to go from being listed to selling the longest in the School Guide's top 50 list so parents would need to take this into account to meet that September 1 deadline (assuming it's the same next year). The school could also say that the pupil needs to have lived at a home in the catchment area for a certain length of time to be valid. For example, Dr Challoner's Grammar School says pupils for the September 2025 intake need to have lived in the home since April 2024. Parents need to account 173 days to look at listings and buy a home in the postcode of the Amersham school, which is number 13 on the School Guide's list. Fred Jones, of Upstix, says: 'It is no secret that the UK home buying and selling process can be incredibly stressful - but it is even more so when you have a school application deadline to meet. 'Our research shows that selling a house takes more than six months on average, and there can be over a month's difference in property selling times depending on which school catchment area you are trying to get into. 'Homes in some of the catchment areas of great schools can be snapped up quickly, and with Labour's changes to VAT on private school fees we're likely to see ever greater demand in the coming months.' Parents moving to these desirable catchment areas will also need to think about how long it will take to sell their home. Fred Jones of Upstix advises pricing your home competitively in order to get a quick sale 'For families with an existing property to sell, there's a risk selling their home could hold up the process, which is lengthy, complex, and costly,' Mr Jones says. Mr Jones advises sellers to target cash buyers or chain-free buyers as these are more likely to result in a quick sale. He also says: 'Overvaluing your property will deter prospective buyers, meaning your property will sit on the market longer which can impact its value. Look at similar properties in your area and price yours competitively. 'You could consider pricing your property just below stamp duty thresholds to save buyers money on taxes.' Are you planning to move to the catchment area of a top state school? Email l.evans@dailymail.co.uk A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Katie Price after she failed to appear at her 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing - having seemingly flown abroad. The former glamour model, 46, is thought to have travelled to Turkey for another round of cosmetic surgery, despite 'very clear warnings' she needed to attend court. A jet-setting Price appeared to share a snap of herself on a plane munching a sandwich yesterday just hours before her looming court hearing this morning. Posting on Instagram, the debt-riddled beauty model shared a picture of her snack, adding: 'Crisp sandwich is the best.' It's believed Price - whose 2million 'mucky mansion' was recently repossessed - was joined on the jaunt by pal Lou Anderson. Listen to the Mail's exclusive interview with Katie Price: An arrest warrant has been issued for 'bankrupt' former glamour model Katie Price Posting yesterday, Price appeared to be eating a sandwich on a plane just hours before she was due in court As entrepreneur and influencer Lou shared the news she was heading to Turkey for a tummy tuck next week, Price seemed to confirm she would be joining her as she replied: 'Yes girl turkey here we go' Lou then replied with a series of clapping emojis and wrote: 'Come on my girl'. According to The Sun a court official disclosed earlier this week that the case against Price was still listed for 10.30am. She could now be taken into custody having failed to appear at court. MailOnline has approached Katie's representatives for comment. Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Catherine Burton said Price had received 'very clear warnings' that she must attend the hearing on Tuesday. The former model was due to face questions about her finances in the specialist bankruptcy court in London from barristers representing the trustee of her two bankruptcies. A judge at a previous hearing said Price risked arrest if she did not attend further court dates, adding evidence must be provided if she could not appear. Issuing the arrest warrant, Judge Burton said Price had 'failed to attend today's hearing' and had provided no explanation for her absence. She said: 'It is in my judgment necessary that the court issue a warrant for Ms Price's arrest. Price was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of 761,994.05 after first being declared bankrupt in 2019 As entrepreneur and influencer Lou shared her news she was flying to Turkey for a tummy tuck next week, Price seemed to confirm she would be joining her as she replied: 'Yes girl turkey here we go' 'She has no real excuse in failing to attend today's hearing.' She continued: 'The reason for her absence today is irrelevant.' Judge Burton said that an arrest warrant was not issued 'lightly' but that Price had offered only 'piecemeal co-operation' and failed to provide the 'most basic information' in relation to her bankruptcies. Price was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of 761,994.05 after first being declared bankrupt in 2019. She was then served an eviction notice that ordered her to leave her Mucky Mansion by the end of May and has since moved into a 5,000 per month new Tudor-style property. However, last week she claimed 'everything is sorted' with her second bankruptcy after being evicted from her Sussex bolthole. Insisting she now knows 'how to deal with issues,' the model promised to 'never hit rock bottom again' in an interview with Channel 5 News on Monday. Speaking on the programme, she said: 'I'm doing really, really good. I've learned a lot about myself, a lot about mental health and obviously being diagnosed with the severe ADHD, learnt a lot about that, which I wish I knew years ago. 'It becomes noise in your head, and then you just can't cope with it, you think there's no light at the end of the tunnel and then that caused depression, then a breakdown, suicidal, ended up at the Priory.' Her latest planned trip comes despite her reportedly being due in court for a 760,000 bankruptcy fight on Tuesday At a hearing in February, Price was ordered to pay 40 per cent of her monthly income from the adult entertainment website OnlyFans to the trustee for the next three years, in relation to her first bankruptcy. She was then declared bankrupt for a second time in March due to an unpaid tax bill worth more than 750,000 owed to HM Revenue & Customs. In October last year, Price said she was 'fed up' with being threatened with legal action and would go to prison to be 'done with it all'. She was due to face questions on Tuesday related to her finances at a hearing known as a public examination, with barrister Darragh Connell, for the trustee, telling the court in written submissions that there 'remains significant information missing as regards the bankrupt's income and asset position'. Speaking in court, he said the trustee does not 'have any information as to her whereabouts', adding that Ms Price 'would not be kept in custody for a long period of time', but would be detained to secure her attendance at a future hearing. He said: 'Her liberty is on the line, but unfortunately we are at the end of the road in relation to this matter.' The court heard that Price had previously made a number of 'last-minute' requests for changes to her previous hearings. Katie pre-surgery in 1995 Price has since undergone an array of procedures, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift , 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, as well as having breast enhancements The former model was first declared bankrupt on November 26, 2019, with the first preliminary application issued on January 30, 2020. 'The hearing of that application came before me at the beginning of lockdown - at the very last moment Ms Price contacted the court to be allowed to attend remotely on the basis that her son was in hospital,' the judge said. 'The court acceded to that request. 'Since that time there have been many other adjournments of that private examinationusually on the basis that Ms Price decided at the last-minute to seek to co-operate with trustees to provide the basic information they'd been trying to obtain from her since she was first made bankrupt in 2019. 'Latterly adjournments have been purportedly on the basis of ill health; at a hearing before ICC Judge Mullen on 26 April 2024, he noted the inadequacy of the medical evidence. '(He) set out a very clear penal notice that if you Katrina Price failed, without reasonable excuse, to attend a public examination at a time and place specified in this order, you are liable to be arrested without further notice.' The judge said Katie could be held in contempt of court and 'imprisoned or fined or made subject to other punishment under the law.' She continued: 'The judge adjourned a public examination at 10.30am on May 14, however once again very shortly before the adjourned hearing Ms Price decided to co-operate and provide yet more piecemeal information. 'It was provided so late in the day that the trustee did not have sufficient opportunity to establish whether all the information was present.' Judge Burton said the court is satisfied Katie 'can have been in no doubt that today's public examination was taking place. 'She informed the trustee staff that she would be attending this hearing remotely.' But no application for attending the hearing remotely was made, the court heard. The judge said it was 'possible for an individual to be discharged from bankruptcy after a year, providing they fully co-operate. 'Contrary to finding her full co-operation since 2021, Ms Price has failed not only to co-operate and provide the most basic information required of her, but has also now been made a subject of a second bankruptcy order as a result of failure to pay more than 700,000 in taxes,' the judge told the court. 'Ms Price is frequently in the press and appears to court press interest in order to make her income. 'Ms Price in no way delays in seeking the assistance of police and emergency services when there is damage apparently to her property.' The judge said 'unlike every other taxpayer' Price has 'failed' to pay her dues. 'It falls to her to provide detail of income and expenditure,' Judge Burton said. 'It was open to her to avoid any publicity in relation to private financial affairs by co-operating with trustees, but failed to do so.' MailOnline has approached Sussex Police and the Metropolitan Police for comment. A teenager accused of stabbing a 15-year-old schoolboy in a 'planned killing' in east London has appeared in court charged with murder. Police found Pharrell Garcia collapsed on the ground in Hackney having suffered fatal stab wounds at around 4pm on July 23 where he died at the scene. The teenager was killed close to Benthal Primary School, where it is believed he had picked up his little sister before going on to meet a friend. He was then attacked in what prosecutors allege was a targeted assault, with the suspect wearing a balaclava seen running away from the scene. A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after the incident and later charged with murder. Police found teenager Pharrell Garcia (pictured) collapsed on the ground in Hackney having suffered fatal stab wounds at around 4pm on July 23 and died at the scene It is understood the schoolboy was stabbed to death after picking up his younger sister from primary school He appeared via video-link from Vinney Green youth detention centre at the Old Bailey today for a preliminary hearing before Judge Alexia Durran . It is alleged that the defendant had an issue with Pharrell and had planned the youngster's killing. Prosecutors claim the youth disguised himself in dark clothing, wearing a balaclava with his hood up, armed with a multi-tool bladed weapon. He had allegedly sought out the victim in the park and asked to speak where others couldn't see, the court heard. Judge Alexia Durran remanded him in youth detention ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on 11 October. She added: 'He is said to have entered a small park at Stellman Close and appears to have been disguised in the sense he had his hood up and was wearing a balaclava. 'The prosecution case is he pulled Pharrell towards him and moved out of sight of the CCTV footage.' Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: 'Tragically, 15-year-old Pharrell lost his life after he was stabbed in Stoke Newington. 'We have informed his family, who are understandably heartbroken, and specially trained officers are supporting them at this unimaginably difficult time. 'I know the community will be searching for answers today and will be shocked and angry at this tragic loss of life. 'I want them to know that we will do everything in our power to provide those answers and bring those responsible to justice. 'Our investigation continues at pace today with officers conducting house-to-house inquiries, reviewing hours of CCTV, and speaking to witnesses. 'No one should have to lose a child and events this week in London are a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and serious violence. 'It tears families apart and robs our children of their futures.' Tributes poured in for the teen on social media from shocked friends who said he always wore 'a smile on his face', following his tragic death. A loved one wrote: 'Rest in peace bro. I heard this and broke down. A teenager 15, who can't be named for legal reasons, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder today (pictured: Pharrell Garcia) The defendant, who spoke only to confirm his identity by video-link from Vinney Green Secure Unit, was remanded into youth detention. 'You have left your loved ones not just in tears but filled with questions. 'You always would argue and fight me, make me laugh and walk around with a smile on your face. Can't really say much other than Rip. Big bro.' Other friends posted videos of memories they had shared together, with the label 'LLP. Gonna miss my brother man.' The defendant, who spoke only to confirm his identity by video-link from Vinney Green Secure Unit, was remanded into youth detention. An American woman who was chained to a tree in the Indian jungle and left for dead has been rescued after a local shepherd heard her distressing cries for help. Lalita Kayi Kumar, 50, was found in a forest near Sonurli village, roughly 280miles from Mumbai, on Saturday morning. She had been tied to a tree with an iron chain. Kumar, whose right leg was swollen from the chain, was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. She was severely dehydrated, unable to speak and likely had not eaten in several days, the Lokmat Times reported. It is unclear how long Kumar was in the jungle, as the area experienced heavy rains recently, but according to India TV, she told investigators that her former husband had tied her to the tree. She also claimed to have gone 40 days without food. Police have launched an attempted murder case against Kumar's ex-husband. He also faces act endangering life or personal safety of others and wrongful confinement charges. The woman was found tied to a tree, emaciated, by a cattle herder. The woman said her husband left her there after a domestic dispute She was quickly rushed to a local hospital where she was treated for various issues including dehydration Initial reports indicate that the authorities are looking at the possibility that the woman's husband had something to do with the incident 'She is out of danger,' a police official told The Telegraph Online A cattle herder found Kumar near Sawantwadi on Saturday morning after he heard loud noises coming from within the dense forest. Police arrived at the scene and used a cutter to break the chain and freed her from the tree. She was rushed to a primary healthcare center in Sawantwadi, where she received initial treatment. Kumar was later transferred to a more advanced facility for continued treatment. Footage recorded from inside the hospital showed Kumar writing a note about her condition in which she claimed her former husband had left her in the forest after a domestic dispute. She also alleged to have not eaten in over a month. 'She is out of danger,' a police official told The Telegraph Online. 'Doctors treating her said she suffers from psychiatric problems. We have found medical prescriptions in her possession.' Officials say Kumar is doing 'fine', but remains under observation and is 'suffering from psychiatric issues'. She is reportedly 'weak' and 'not in a position to give her statement' to police at this time. Kumar was born in the US but had been living in Goa, a neighboring state to where she was found, for 'some time'. Officials are trying to determine who she has been in touch wife over the past few months. It is believed that Kumar, who was married to a man from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the same area where Vice President Kamala Harris' mother is from, had been living in India for he past 10 years. Authorities recovered a photocopy of her US passport and her national identity card from the scene. Officials also said her 'visa has expired'. A 77-year-old woman who killed a pedestrian with her car appeared to suggest she was the victim as she was sentenced to a year in custody and two years probation. Donna Jacobs pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after she fatally struck 42-year-old Stephen Debow and left the scene last November in San Diego. Debow died six days after he was hit by Jacobs' Hyundai Ioniq EV as he crossed an unmarked crosswalk. Jacobs' car kept driving for about 65 feet while Debow was atop the hood. But Jacobs struck a completely unrepentant tone during sentencing Monday. She claimed in court that she never saw Debow and that she thought she was being attacked when her windshield was smashed, as reported by NBC San Diego. 'I saw no one, I heard no one anywhere around,' she told the court. 'I thought I was being attacked.' Donna Jacobs pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after she fatally struck 42-year-old Stephen Debow and left the scene last November in San Diego Debow died six days after he was hit by Jacobs' Hyundai Ioniq as he crossed an unmarked crosswalk Jacobs said she panicked and drove home and did not call police because she had no 'useful' information to provide as she did not see her 'attacker.' 'If I had known I'd hit a human being, I would have done something about it,' Jacobs added. Prosecutors said in court that Jacobs drove home after striking Debow, called her insurance and provided a false statement about the crash. Jacobs also took her car to a body shop to attempt to conceal her involvement in the hit-and-run, a judge heard. Debow's friends were in court to speak before Jacobs' sentencing and excoriated her for leaving the scene of the crash Jacobs claimed in court that she never saw Debow and that she thought she was being attacked when her windshield was smashed It took police several weeks to identify Jacobs as the driver who struck Debow. Jacobs will likely spend her time in custody in house arrest due to her age and lack of criminal history. While the cause of the crash remains unknown, prosecutors said Jacobs received an Instacart message around the time of the collision. Debow's friends were in court to speak before Jacobs' sentencing and excoriated her for leaving the scene of the crash. 'If you did the right thing, I would have forgiven you. But you chose to run from responsibility,' said Michael Berardi. Dustin Martin's bikie uncle is fighting his detention and deportation out of Australia because he is Aboriginal. Dean Martin, the Richmond Tigers star's uncle and former national president of the Rebels bikie gang, has mounted a court challenge to avoid being deported to New Zealand. Martin, 56, had his visa personally cancelled by Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil on character grounds on July 18 and was detained at the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre on July 22. The Herald Sun reported that Martin has filed for a writ of habeas corpus demanding his case be heard by the Supreme Court. This is a bid to determine whether the Australian government has acted lawfully or even has the power to deport him. A week after he was taken into detention, an urgent administrative hearing was called on Tuesday. Martin was not present at the hearing, where his lawyer Matthew Albert said a 2020 High Court ruling meant 'a person who is Aboriginal is not an alien and cannot be detained under the Immigration Act'. Mr Albert told the court: 'The question is, is Mr Martin a constitutional alien or not?' Ex national president of the Rebels bikie gang Dean Martin (pictured) has mounted a court challenge to avoid being deported to New Zealand Martin is the uncle of Richmond Tigers fL superstar Dustin Martin (pictured) He said it was up to the Commonwealth to prove his client was not Aboriginal. Court documents revealed Martin states that as a recognised member of the Manegin Aboriginal community in Tasmania, he is 'not within the reach' of the powers of Parliament to deport him. Martin claims he advised the Department of Home Affairs in October 2021 that he was an Aboriginal Australian. He also claims he provided evidence including a statutory declaration made by a Manegin elder, a copy of a resolution made by the Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania declaring him a member, and genealogical records. Mr Albert said his client was being deprived of his liberty and the matter should be dealt with promptly. He said this urgency was the reason the application had been made in the Supreme Court and not the Federal Court, where immigration matters are usually heard. 'This court is as well placed as any to deal with constitutional debate,' Mr Albert said. 'The Federal Court processes at the moment are very, very slow.' 'This court is significantly quicker to deal with these applications.' Richard Knowles KC, for the Commonwealth, refuted this and said the case should be transferred to the Federal Court. A hearing has been set down for Friday to determine if the case will be heard before the Supreme Court or transferred. Mr Knowles said his client had already lodged a revocation request of the visa cancellation. Mr Knowles added that if the request is successful 'his visa will spring back into life' and the case will be closed. 'If it's unfavourable to him, he will have the opportunity to seek judicial review, but only in the Federal Court, or the High Court,' he said. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe (pictured ) who briefly dated Martin (pictured) in 2021 said the government has made a mistake in his pending deportation Independent senator Lidia Thorpe who briefly dated Martin in 2021 said the government has made a mistake in his pending deportation. 'Mr Martin has proof, support and recognition that he is Aboriginal from Elders and community in Lutruwita Tasmania,' she said. 'We've already seen the High Court rule in 2020 that the Commonwealth lacks constitutional power to deport First Peoples under the Migration Act. Senator Thorpe said First Nations people could not be classified as 'alien' and deported because it is inconsistent with their connection to the country that is 'recognised by common law'. 'My question is, why does the government now think they can go against the law and deport First Peoples?' An immigration lawyer told the Herald Sun if Martin can prove Aboriginal heritage, he believes he will be allowed to stay in Australia. He added there is case law to show he could not be deported to New Zealand. An American woman who was due to be the first person to die in a 'suicide capsule' has gone missing after being told she was not a suitable candidate for euthanasia, according to the company behind the device. The 55-year-old woman, dubbed Person X, had traveled to Switzerland to use the 'Sarco' pod - designed to allow its occupant to push a button and trigger their own death. But its inventor, controversial assisted dying advocate Dr Philip Nitschke, said her planned death on July 17 was 'aborted' after she was found to be suffering from 'deteriorating mental health'. After being denied use of the machine, the woman disappeared in mid-July, and has not been contactable since, according to Dr Nitschke's firm Exit International. Her disappearance was reported to Zurich Cantonal Police this morning, the force confirmed to MailOnline. Picture shows a prototype of the 'Sarco' euthanasia capsule, which its creators claim allows the occupant to push a button and trigger their own death Australian euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke (pictured), also known as 'Dr Death', is a former physician and head of the voluntary euthanasia campaign Exit International Dr Nitschke earlier said of the decision to deny her use of the Sarco: 'Given her situation, it is clear that this is a person who should now be receiving mental health care, rather than any suicide assistance.' The Sarco, short for sarcophagus, is meant to allow the euthanasia patient inside it to press a button and die 'within seconds', according to Exit International. The pod - which looks like something out of a sci-fi film and has been likened to a Tesla car - fills with nitrogen to starve the occupant of oxygen, rendering the patient unconscious before they die. 'It was clear from statements attributed to the woman over the past weeks that she had become seriously mentally disturbed,' Dr Nitschke said. 'We have tried all avenues to make contact, but we have so far failed to locate the woman,' he added. It comes after reports yesterday that the first deployment of the 'Sarco' pod had been 'permanently postponed'. Dr Nitschke, who has widely been dubbed 'Dr Death', is said to be involved in the pre-screening of the next person hoping to use the device. Swiss prosecutors previously warned that anyone assisting someone in using the pod could face up to five years behind bars. Schaffhausen Canton Public Prosecutor Peter Sticher warned of 'serious consequences' for Nitschke for 'inducement and aiding and abetting suicide for selfish reasons.' In a letter obtained by Swiss media, Sticher said: 'There is no reliable information about the method of killing. '[It is] completely unclear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process.' Prosecutors said that under section 115 of the canton's penal code, it would be impossible to establish just who was doing the killing Would-be users would have to fill in an online survey before being given a pod's location and an access code, like a delivery mailbox. Then inside the capsule, they confirm who they are, where they are, and if they know what happens when they press the button. If they go ahead a flood of nitrogen lowers the oxygen level from 21 per cent to just one per cent, supposedly killing them in 30 seconds. Nitschke explained: 'Death takes place through hypoxia and hypocapnia, oxygen and carbon dioxide deprivation, respectively. There is no panic, no choking.' The doctor's plans to use Sarco for the first time have caused uproar from 'pro-life' organisations, including CARE. James Mildred, director of engagement at CARE, said: 'Philip Nitschke's device has been condemned by a broad range of commentators. 'Many people feel that it trivialises, and even glamourises, suicide. 'We believe that suicide is a tragedy that good societies seek to prevent in every circumstance. 'There are ethical ways to help human beings that don't involve the destruction of life.' Swiss prosecutors warned earlier this month that anyone assisting someone in using the pods could face up to five years behind bars The project has come up against a number of obstacles in the past, with it unclear if Swiss authorities could prosecute over the use of the machine. Sarco's creators said in 2021 that it had passed legal review in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal and hundreds of people use the services of organisations such as Dignitas and Exit (a separate group to Dr Nitschke's) every year. But Kerstin Noelle Vokinger, a Professor of Law and Medicine at the University of Zurich, has said that Sarco may need to be certified under the country's Medical Devices Act, which it is not. As its manufacturer, Dr Nitschke could therefore be taking a risk by using Sarco if he were to be reported and a court came to the same conclusions as Vokinger, NZZ reports. A legal report previously stated it is not and does not break any laws. The data of 40 million voters has likely been exposed by Chinese-linked hackers after basic IT security failings allowed them to break into servers, a watchdog finds. An inquiry by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) unearthed that the Electoral Commission had failed to keep its servers up to date, meaning hackers were able to take advantage of it's tech weaknesses. The attackers were also able to access reference copies of the registers held for research purposes and for permissibility checks on political donations. The registers included the name and address of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as registered overseas voters. The attack on the Electoral Commission also compromised its file sharing and email system, allowing access to the online addresses and data of anyone who messaged its staff. The data of 40 million voters has likely been exposed by Chinese-linked hackers after basic IT security failings allowed them to break into servers according to a watchdog investigation (stock image) An inquiry by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) unearthed that the Electoral Commission had failed to keep its servers up to date, meaning hackers could take advantage of tech vulnerabilities (pictured: an aerial view of the GCHQ) The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, previously believed it was likely Beijing-affiliated hackers stole hoards of the data. The hackers broke into the systems in August 2021 but the security breach was not discovered until October 2022. The commission said the attack had 'used a sophisticated infiltration method, intended to evade our checks', which was why it had taken so long to detect. Security patches for the tech vulnerabilities had been released in April and May 2021 - months before the attack - but weren't installed. Officials decided to delay informing the public while they removed the hackers and put additional security in place. The data watchdog issued a formal reprimand to the Electoral Commission, which has already put in place a series of steps to better its security. Stephen Bonner, deputy commissioner at the ICO, said: 'If the Electoral Commission had taken basic steps to protect its systems, such as effective security patching and password management, it is highly likely that this data breach would not have happened. 'By not installing the latest security updates promptly, its systems were left exposed and vulnerable to hackers. 'I know the headline figures of 40 million people affected caused considerable public alarm when news of this breach emerged last year. 'I want to reassure the public that while an unacceptably high number of people were impacted, we have no reason to believe any personal data was misused and we have found no evidence that any direct harm has been caused by this breach.' This comes after ex-Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden formally blamed state-linked Chinese hacking groups for the cyber-attack on the commission in March. Mr Dowden said there was a 'clear pattern of activity' from China, identifying the group known as APT31 as involved. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ , previously believed it was likely Beijing-affiliated hackers stole hoards of the data (pictured: outside the Electoral Commission) Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden (pictured) formally blamed state-linked Chinese hacking groups for the cyber-attack on the commission in March He said two individuals and an 'entity' linked to APT31 were being sanctioned, and the Chinese ambassador had been summoned at the time. Intelligence agencies believed the data accessed from the electoral register 'would highly likely be used' by Chinese spies for purposes, including large-scale espionage and the repression of perceived dissidents and critics in the UK. An Electoral Commission spokesman said: 'We regret that sufficient protections were not in place to prevent the cyber attack on the commission. 'As the ICO has noted and welcomed, since the attack we have made changes to our approach, systems, and processes to strengthen the security and resilience of our systems and will continue to invest in this area.' Epsom College's headteacher and her seven-year-old daughter were unlawfully killed by her husband during a shotgun rampage before he turned the weapon on himself, a coroner has ruled. Emma Pattison and daughter Lettie, seven, were found dead at their home within the grounds of the exclusive 42,000-a-year boarding school in Surrey in February last year, alongside the body of George Pattison. An inquest was previously told Mrs Pattison, 45, died of shotgun wounds to the chest and abdomen on February 5 2023, while little Lettie was shot in the head. Both are believed to have been murdered by 39-year-old chartered accountant Mr Pattison, before he killed himself with the double-barrelled firearm. Richard Travers, Senior Coroner for Surrey, today concluded that Emma and Lettie were unlawfully killed, having been shot by Pattison. He also concluded that Pattison died by suicide and intended the act. Lettie, seven, and her mother Emma Pattison, 45, were both found dead on February 5 2023 at their home in the grounds of exclusive Epsom College boarding school in Surrey, where Mrs Pattison was head teacher Emma and Lettie are believed to have been murdered by George Pattison, pictured with them, before he took his own life on February 5 Pictured is where the family were found dead on the grounds of the exclusive 42,000-a-year Surrey boarding school The news came as the court heard how a worried Mrs Pattinson had told her sister her killed husband had hit her hours before he slaughter the respected educator and her daughter. Evidence from Deborah Kirk, the sister of Mrs Pattison, was read to the inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking on Tuesday. She said she received a phone call from her sister just before 11pm on February 4, telling her that her husband had hit her and their dog, Bella. She said her sister told her: 'I need someone to come over.' Her sister's tone of voice was one of 'concern, but not of terror'. 'It was more like she had assessed the situation and did not feel safe,' she said. She said she and her husband, Mark Miller, got an Uber to her sister's home just after 11pm. 'I kept trying to call Emma but there was still no answer,' she said. She added: 'By the time we had arrived at Emma's house I was getting really worried that she was not answering her phone.' When they arrived at the house, all of the lights were on and the cars were in the driveway. Her husband entered the house ahead of her, and then stopped her from coming in any further once she entered. 'He said don't go in there, don't go in there, we are going outside,' she said. Following their deaths, heartbroken family said they believed Emma and Lettie would remain as inseparable in death as they were in life The family described Lettie, pictured, as 'Emma's pride and joy - an adorable, vibrant little girl with a compelling curiosity, a heart-melting smile and an intellect beyond her years' Mr Pattison only moved into the grace-and-favour home at the school, pictured, three weeks before the murder-suicide, it was previously reported (pictured is Epsom College) Her husband called an ambulance, and paramedics arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. Ms Kirk also read out a tribute to her sister and niece at the inquest. 'Emma was lightness itself,' she said. She said her sister was 'smart' and kind in a way that 'fills a room' and 'drives change'. She described her niece, Lettie, as 'razor smart, curious, and disarmingly cute.' She said she would comfort her niece whenever she was sad. 'I would hold her in my arms and say, yes it is hard to be seven, isn't it monkey?' she said. Ms Kirk said she was still trying to forgive Mr Pattison. 'I can only speak for myself when I say that I am trying to forgive you,' she said. She added: 'I can only imagine that you were in an extraordinary hell of your own.' The inquest heard that Mrs Pattison watched rugby with her friends in the hours before she died. Emma and her daughter were found dead at their home in the grounds of Epsom College in Surrey after a distressed Mrs Pattison, 45, called her sister The last friend left at 7pm, and Mrs Pattison then received a Chinese takeaway at 9.36pm. In evidence read out to the court by the coroner, the delivery driver said: 'She had a smiley face and seemed okay.' The inquest heard that a post-mortem report found that Mr Pattison's cause of death was a shotgun wound. It also found that Mrs Pattison and Lettie's causes of death were shotgun wounds. A toxicology report found that George had 243 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, a quantity that is associated with a 'high to extreme' level of intoxication. A statement released by Mrs Pattison and Letties family after their deaths said: 'To see the esteem in which Emma is held by all who knew her is an enormous comfort. 'She was everything one could hope for in a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher and so much more. 'We are an extremely close family and family was at the centre of Emma and Lettie's universe. 'The Epsom College community had become part of that universe for them both. 'Seven-year-old Lettie was Emma's pride and joy - an adorable, vibrant little girl with a compelling curiosity, a heart-melting smile and an intellect beyond her years. 'The two of them were inseparable and we take comfort in that they will remain so.' Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd has detailed the alleged abuse and harassment he suffered at the hands of the so-called real-life Martha Scott in legal documents backing Netflix's bid to have her $170million defamation lawsuit thrown out. Gadd in a 21-page declaration filed in California court on Monday claimed he was 'harassed and stalked' by Fiona Harvey, who says the character Martha on the widely viewed limited series is clearly based on her, for 'several years'. He alleged Harvey sent him 'thousands' of messages that 'often included sexually explicit, violent, and derogatory content, hateful speech, and threats', the court filing states. He also claimed to have made a complaint to UK police about her alleged behavior. Gadd's declaration was filed in support of Netflix's motion to dismiss Harvey's defamation suit, which it says is a 'baseless attack' on the company's freedom of speech. The company further argues that the series does not identify Harvey as an alleged abuser and is a 'substantially true' depiction of her alleged actions. Harvey, a Scot living in England, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles last month alleging she was defamed over her portrayal as a stalker in the hit mini-series. She also alleged that the streaming giant was negligent, intentionally subjected her to emotional distress and violated her right to publicity. Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd (pictured last month) has backed Netflix's bid to get a $170million defamation lawsuit filed by the alleged real-life Martha Scott thrown out. In a declaration filed in California court on Monday, Gadd alleged that Fiona Harvey, who claims to be the inspiration behind the Martha character, 'harassed and stalked me over several years' Fiona Harvey (pictured in May) filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles last month alleging she was defamed over her portrayal as a stalker in the hit mini-series Baby Reindeer. She also alleged that Netflix was negligent, intentionally subjected her to emotional distress and violated her right to publicity Gadd in his declaration submitted in federal court on Monday claimed that Harvey 'harassed and stalked me over several years' and, according to the filing, which was obtained from the court by DailyMail.com 'Overall, it was an incredibly stressful and worrying time, with a sustained period of relentless behavior taking place over several years,' he wrote in the court documents. 'It is impossible to be exhaustive in setting out all of Harvey's conduct, as there were so many instances of unwelcome personal interaction and attempts to engage, as well as deeply troubling communication.' Gadd alleged that Harvey 'sent me thousands of emails, hundreds of voicemails, and a number of handwritten letters' which he claims 'often included sexually explicit, violent, and derogatory content, hateful speech, and threats', the filing states. He accused her of monitoring his social media accounts, specifically his profile on Twitter, now called X, and sending him emails to comment on the photos he posted, the declaration revealed. Citing a message from January 2015, Gadd wrote in the document: 'Harvey sent me an email with the subject line "yummy mummy," which stated "I see your mum is on twitter . . . I looked up yours to see what was going on in your head and you retweeted her".' The actor, citing another alleged instance of social media monitoring, added that 'on September 17, 2016, Harvey emailed me "I love the photo of you sleeping on twitter".' He further claimed that she admitted to being a 'racist' in an email and would 'frequently' use 'hateful speech and derogatory racist and homophobic language' in her correspondences, the court documents revealed. Gadd, in an attempt to offer 'a microcosm of the sheer scale of her targeted harassment', also accused Harvey of putting herself in the spotlight by self identifying as the woman who inspired Martha in the series. 'I never intended the Series to identify any real person as Martha Scott, including Harvey,' he wrote the documents. 'Martha Scott is not Fiona Harvey. Like all characters in the Series, Martha is a fictional character with fictional personality traits that are very different than Harvey's.' He continued: 'I was surprised that Harvey appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Though I have only watched certain segments, I understand she claimed that she was the inspiration for the Martha character, and that she never sent me thousands of emails nor left me any voicemails. 'She harassed and stalked me over several years, and since her interview, other individuals have contacted me through my agents and publicists and said they were also harassed by Harvey, but all were too scared of her to come forward.' Gadd argued in the filing that if 'called as a witness, could and would testify' to the allegations detailed in his declaration. He also claimed that in 2016 he 'obtained a First Instance Harassment Warning against Harvey' from police in the UK, the court documents revealed. Harassment warnings are notices given to an alleged abuser that a complaint has been made against them and inform them that police action could be taken if there are similar reports in the future. Netflix filed its motion to dismiss Harvey's case on Monday in California court, alleging her claims have failed on several grounds. Richard Gadd, left, and Jessica Gunning, right, are pictured in a scene from Baby Reindeer Netflix filed its motion to dismiss the case in California court on Monday, slamming Harvey and alleging her claims, which it says 'plainly arise from protected activity', failed on several grounds. The company, in the court filing which was obtained by DailyMail.com, argued the creation of Baby Reindeer falls under 'core free speech activities protected by the First Amendment'. Netflix said the lawsuit was a 'baseless attack on Netflix's exercise of free speech' and barred by California's anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation ('anti-SLAPP') statute, which is designed to stop frivolous lawsuits. The company argued that the topics of 'sexual abuse, harassment and stalking' that are highlighted in the series are 'indisputably topics of widespread, public interest'. 'The subject matter of the Series also allegedly concerns Gadd, who is indisputably in the public eye,' the court filing reads. 'Gadd has been a recognized actor and writer for years. There is a "public interest which attaches to people [like Gadd] who, by their accomplishments, mode of living, professional standing or calling," attract the public's "attention to their activities".' The streaming service further argued that Harvey's conduct in real life was 'far worse than Martha's cinematic actions' meaning that any resemblance in Baby Reindeer was 'substantially true'. The company said: 'The thousands of actual emails, handwritten letters, social media posts, and voicemails sent by Harvey are awash with violent hate speech and sexually explicit, deeply disturbing vitriol that is nowhere depicted in the Series'. Even taking this into account, the claims should be dismissed because it was not based on real life, Netflix argued. The company wrote: 'Martha is not Harvey. Harvey is not a character name, and the Series never uses Harvey's name in any way. Netflix and Gadd never identified Harvey as someone who stalked him (and others) in real life. 'Rather, it was Harvey who thrust herself into the spotlight and identified herself as the supposed inspiration for Martha'. Netflix said that 'any reasonable viewer' would conclude that the series is 'not a factual documentary representing literally true details and imagery'. Netflix used Harvey's own words against her in an interview with Morgan when she noted: 'Martha cannot be me . . . [she] is a fictional character'. Netflix says: 'Harvey is correct: no reasonable viewer could understand the Series to make any statements of fact, let alone a statement specifically about Harvey.' Netflix argued Harvey's claims should be dismissed because the series was not based on real life. Gadd (pictured in a promo for Baby Reindeer) echoed Netflix's claim, stating in his court filing that the series is 'not a documentary representing literally true details and imagery' Baby Reindeer sees Gadd portray Donny Dunn, who in his day job at a pub gives Martha, a quick-to-laugh customer, a free cup of tea. Martha eventually becomes a stalker who sends Donny tens of thousands of emails, tweets at him hundreds of times, smashes a bottle over his head and gouges his eyes, sexually assaults him and eventually is arrested and sent to prison. Pictured are Gadd (left) and actress Jessica Gunning (right) in a scene from the show Gadd, in his declaration, echoed Netflix's claim, stating Baby Reindeer is 'not a documentary representing literally true details and imagery'. 'It is a fictionalized retelling of my emotional journey through several extremely traumatic real experiences,' Gadd wrote. 'It is an expression of my views on stalking, harassment, and sexual abuse told through the lens of my own experiences, emotions, and self-reflections. 'I did not write the Series as a representation of actual facts about any real person, including Fiona Harvey. Harvey is never mentioned in the Series.' He added: 'The Series is a dramatic work. It is not a documentary or an attempt at realism. While the Series is based on my life and real-life events and is, at its core, emotionally true, it is not a beat-by-beat recounting of the events and emotions I experienced as they transpired. 'It is fictionalized, and is not intended to portray actual facts.' Baby Reindeer, which is based on a one-man stage show by Gadd, sees the actor portray a doppelganger named Donny Dunn, who in his day job at a pub gives Martha, a quick-to-laugh customer, a free cup of tea. Martha eventually becomes a stalker who sends Donny tens of thousands of emails, tweets at him hundreds of times, smashes a bottle over his head and gouges his eyes, sexually assaults him and eventually is arrested and sent to prison. But in her lawsuit filed last month, Harvey alleges the depicted harassment never actually occurred. 'The lies that Defendants told about Harvey to over 50 million people worldwide include that Harvey is a twice-convicted stalker who was sentenced to five years in prison, and that Harvey sexually assaulted Gadd,' Harvey's complaint states. 'Defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money.' Harvey, unlike the character on the show, also never previously stalked a police officer, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit further alleges Netflix did nothing to determine whether the stalking, assault, and convictions were accurate, nor did it do anything to understand the actual relationship between Harvey and Gadd. 'Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character and her life,' the suit says. Harvey's lawsuit also alleges that she bears an 'uncanny resemblance' to Martha - played by actress Jessica Gunning (pictured in a scene from the series) - saying her 'accent, manner of speaking and cadence' are 'indistinguishable' Baby Reindeer premiered on Netflix in April, and Harvey publicly came forward and gave an interview to Morgan about a month later. But her lawsuit says viewers and British media outlets had identified her well before that, and they have tormented her constantly since. This was possible, the lawsuit alleges, because on the show Martha creates social media posts identical to searchable posts by Harvey, including one in which she says, 'my curtains need hung badly,' which is used as a sexual euphemism on the show. The lawsuit also alleges that Harvey bears an 'uncanny resemblance' to Martha - played by actress Jessica Gunning - saying her 'accent, manner of speaking and cadence' are 'indistinguishable'. The lawsuit says that the series' claim at the beginning of its first episode that it's a true story is 'the biggest lie in television history' and that its defamation of Harvey is 'at a magnitude and scale without precedent'. Harvey is seeking all profits from 'Baby Reindeer' and asks that punitive and other damages be awarded that would total at least $170million. Travellers have caused local uproar after pitching 35 caravans on a beauty spot near Richmond, leaving 'rubbish on the green' and 'dumping inflatable toys in the pond'. Wealthy residents of Ham, a leafy hamlet in west London, have been left up in arms after travellers set up camp on their picturesque village green and flooded it with campervans. More than 35 caravans were spotted parked on Ham Common, a usually quiet and well-kept nature reserve located in an exclusive area known for its expensive homes and celebrity clientele. Images today show the green has been overrun by travellers, leaving locals feeling 'unsafe' and businesses forced to close their doors. More than 35 caravans have been parked on the grounds of Ham Common, in west London Residents have been left furious by the influx of travellers who have taken over the area and have littered the grounds An inflatable was spotted dumped in a pond at Ham Common this morning An aerial view of white campervans parked on to the grounds. Richmond Council has said it is working to 'move them on' as soon as possible The trouble of travellers taking over the common has been ongoing for several years, with furious residents regularly raising the issue with the local authority. Richmond Council alerted locals to the current influx last Friday, writing: 'We are aware that a group of travellers have arrived on Ham Common. 'Unauthorised encampments breach our Public Space Protection Orders which prohibit unauthorised access to our open spaces. 'We are starting welfare checks and the legal process to move them on as soon as possible.' However, residents were left reeling at the news, with one writing on X: 'This is beyond a joke now. Local businesses are closed. Bins were seen overflown as spilling bin bags and rubbish were seen spread across the ground Shopping bags full of trash were left dumped across the grounds as campervans were parked directly on the green Residents said they feel 'afraid' to go out, with many local businesses including pubs shutting their doors 'Our business has been threatened twice. 'Even told they will move into our venue. 'It's been reported to Met Police. Local residents are unsafe and the beautiful Ham Common will be ruined. Unacceptable how long this is taking.' Another furious local questioned: 'What is being done to stop these hundreds of travellers from squatting on Ham Common and ruining/threatening the community with their lawlessness? 'Pubs shut, locals afraid to go out. Court order taking a week not good enough. Answers needed.' An inflatable pool was left dumped in a pond at the nature reserve The council and police are understood to be working together to resolve the issue Travellers are seen enjoying the sun outside their caravans in the usually quiet and exclusive area of west London Along with caravans, multiple cars were also seen parked on the grounds Meanwhile, one X user, Kathryn Barlow, said human faeces have been left in the area. She said: 'Ham Common Woods are out of bounds for local families due to human faeces. 'What is the council doing to protect local residents and families and move on this group to authorised legal grounds? 'I was verbally abused by two of the males whilst crossing the common.' She called on local MP Sarah Olney to action as she added: 'Neighbours have posted disturbing footage of animals suffering tied up in the heat. Local pub has had to take the economically difficult decision to stay closed. 'Vehicles are being driven at some speed round/over the common.' A woman pictured standing atop a campervan While the council said they were dealing with the issue, locals asked why the travellers had not yet been moved on A spokesperson for Richmond Council said: 'Unauthorised encampments breach Richmond Council's Public Space Protection Orders, but the Council is required to go through a legal process to obtain and enforce a Possession Order to move travellers on. 'Proceedings have been commenced and a High Court hearing for a Possession Order has been fixed on Thursday. 'The Council, along with Park Guard and the Police, will continue to liaise with the group and monitor the site and once they move on will ensure all waste is removed and damage is repaired.' A married father and a female boat passenger were killed in a accident on a Louisiana lake after their boats collided. Chase Sharkey, 36, of Greensburg, was operating a 25-foot pontoon boat when it collided with Thuy Gustin's Sea Fox boat in the Tickfaw River near Kings Point, roughly 65 miles outside of New Orleans, on Sunday. Gustin, 31, of Springfield, was found trapped underneath the Sea Fox around midnight after it capsized by a Good Samaritan, who jumped into the water to save her, according to Fox 8 Live. She ran her own marketing firm. They performed CPR on the mother-of-two until an ambulance arrived and she was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Sharkey, a father of four, was found deceased by rescue crews 12 hours later. Chase Sharkey, 36, of Greensburg, (left) was operating a 25-foot pontoon boat when it collided with Thuy Gustin's Sea Fox boat in the Tickfaw River near Kings Point on Sunday. Gustin, 31, of Springfield, (right) was found trapped underneath the Sea Fox after it capsized by a Good Samaritan, who jumped into the water to save her It is unclear if his wife, Shelly Verberne Sharkey, was on the boat. One friend suggested she was, but further details have not been shared. DailyMail.com has reached to Shelly for comment. Six others - three from each boat - were injured in the crash and all were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to WDSU. The cause the crash is currently unknown. DailyMail.com has contacted the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, who are investigating the crash, for comment. Six others - three from each boat - were injured in the crash and all were taken to the hospital with serious injuries Plenty of tributes came in for the father-of-four, including from his business, Sharkey Mechanical Services, which wrote in a Facebook post: 'His legacy of love, laughter, and friendship will never fade. We will continue to keep his memory alive through our work. 'Chase's unwavering passion for his craft left an indelible mark on everyone he met, and his work ethic was unmatched. We will miss him dearly, but we will continue to thrive in his honor and the legacy he has built.' Friend, Jonathan Taylor wrote on Facebook: 'Chase Sharkey was truly one of a kind. The first time I met him he made me feel like we had been friends since childhood. Chase was a true father and husband. I didnt get to spend much time around his family but I knew they were his number one priority just by the conversations we had. Chase was also a staple in his church and his community. Sharkey, a father of four, (pictured with his family) was found deceased by rescue crews 12 hours later It is unclear if his wife, Shelly Verberne Sharkey (pictured together), was on the boat. One friend suggested she was, but further details have not been shared 'Im thankful I got to know him over the past 4 years and I think we can all learn from Chase and how he lived his 36 years on this earth.' Another friend, Erin Foster, wrote: 'To know him was to love him. Chase Sharkey was a great friend...One thing for certain is he loved his wife, his kids, his family, and everyone elses babies also.' Former Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks said in a statement: 'He loved life. You knew where you stood with Chase and when you were a friend you were a friend. His word was his bond, and he was honest, sincere and trustworthy. 'His friendship was genuine and I will be forever grateful for it. One of the things outside of his family, work and weightlifting we always talked about was being saved and he truly was. So I know without a shadow of doubt he would tell me: "Boss dont worry about me big dog cause Im sitting here talking with Jesus so Im good." 'I will miss you my friend and forever be thankful for your friendship all these years. Love you buddy!' Friends remembered Gustin as 'so full of life and always ready for the next adventure' A GoFundMe has been set up for the Gustin's funeral services, which has raised more than $14,000 out of its $25,000 goal An equal number of tributes poured in for the mother-of-two, with friend Lindsay Picou writing: 'Thuy...I'm still in disbelief. 'I knew I was going to love you from the moment I met you. You were so full of life and always ready for the next adventure. But even with all of that spirit, you led with nothing but heart. You loved everyone around you so deeply, and made sure they knew it.' Another friend, Kendra M. Berthelot wrote on Facebook: 'Carrying a heavy heart today. My beautiful girl, you will be so missed. I dont even have the words to say. I love you. Rest easy, Angel.' A GoFundMe has been set up for the Gustin's funeral services, which has raised more than $14,000 out of its $25,000 goal. A Meal Train has been set up for the Sharkey Family, with nearly $3,000 in donations and plenty of meals going to the surviving family. One of the three children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, as her devastated loved ones said their princess had been taken by a 'despicable human being.' Friends and family paid tribute to the youngster today after it emerged the nine-year-old died in hospital of her injuries. A vigil for all the victims is to be held in Southport this evening. The latest tragedy comes a day after a knife rampage that had already left two girls - aged just six and seven - dead. Five further children aged between six and 11 remain in a critical condition, Merseyside Police confirmed, alongside two female adults who 'bravely tried to protect them'. A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday. Police say they are not looking for anyone else and do not believe the incident is terrorism related. Meanwhile Taylor Swift fans who set up a fundraiser for the families of those affected by the attack have seen donations pour in, with more than 100,000 raised so far. One of the children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, nine Heartbreaking floral tributes and teddy bears were left at the scene of the attack on Tuesday afternoon Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat Members of the public laid floral tributes at the scene of the attack in Hart Street, Southport today Portuguese Foreign Ministry sources confirmed today a Portuguese girl had died. One said: 'Portugal's Consul General in Manchester is assisting the family, having spoken to her parents, and is continuing to offer them all the support they need.' Alice's mum Alexandra Aguiar is understood to hail originally from Caracas in Venezuela but lived in Madeira along with Alice's father David, before the pair moved to the UK. Relative Carina Aguiar, a hotel worker who lives in Camara de Lobos in Madeira, posted a link on her social media to news Merseyside Police had confirmed a third child had died following the attack and wrote tear emoticons beside it. Earlier she posted a photo of a black ribbon on her Facebook alongside Alice's name after writing in an emotional tribute: 'Princess Alice. In this moment of great pain my soul hurts, my body hurts, my mind hurts. I have a lump in my throat. 'You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason. 'Look after your mum and dad who are suffering, who are desolate and broken. Fly high our little star. I love you.' Friend Claudia Trindade responded by saying: 'Have strength. Let my dear God console the hearts of her parents.' Magda Fernandes said: 'I have no words. My condolences to the whole family. Lots of strength at this difficult hour.' Liliana Soares wrote: 'What a huge tragedy. My pretty and innocent angel. Such tremendous pain. My sincerest condolences Carina to the whole family.' Another family friend, Henrique Drummond, wrote on social media in a direct message to Alice's parents: 'David Aguiar, Alexandra Aguiar. Life is so cruel that an animal takes the life of children, especially our Alice. Lots of strength in these extremely difficult moments.' The local teacher saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11, while nine children were taken to hospital. One has since died, with five still in a critical condition She organised the dance, yoga and bracelet making workshop in Southport with Heidi Barlow, also 35, a fellow dance teacher, (pictured) who advertised the event as being for 'Swifties' Firefighters from Merseyside joined members of the public in paying tribute to those killed and injured in the stabbings Forensic officers were seen at the scene in Southport on Tuesday as investigations begin Two mourners pay tribute to those killed after a six-year-old, seven-year-old and nine-year-old died The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something 'like a horror movie', witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said. Locals said the alleged knifeman arrived at the dance studio wearing a black hooded top and facemask in a taxi and got out without paying. They said the suspect then walked into the studio through a front door that was unlocked for fire safety reasons. Emergency services said the scene was 'horrific' and 'chaotic' as they arrived at the children's club. Police said the suspect, who was born in Cardiff, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon. All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children's hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester. At the scene today, flowers and teddies were left by the police cordon. One message in a 'Thinking Of You' card said 'thoughts and prayers' are with those affected and was signed: 'Love - Southport.' Another said: 'Fly high with angels little ones.' In a social media post, Taylor Swift shared her horror at the 'loss of life and innocence' at the workshop. She wrote: 'The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I'm just completely in shock. 'The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. 'These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Southport MP Patrick Hurley embrace as they pay tribute to those injured and killed in the horror attack Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy A tribute to 'the lost angels' sits alongside a fluffy teddy bear in a heartbreaking message for the little children Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack A vigil will be held in Southport on Tuesday evening. Sefton Council said it was supporting the event, which will be held outside the Atkinson arts venue on Lord Street at 6pm. Councillor Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton Council, said: 'It is entirely understandable and appropriate that local people want to gather and show their support and solidarity. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected at this incredibly sad time.' A book of remembrance is available for people to sign at the Atkinson, in Southport, and one is being set up at Bootle Town Hall, a council spokesman said. Sir Keir Starmer today opened Cabinet by acknowledging the 'truly horrific' event in Southport. 'He said the thoughts of the whole Cabinet and the entire country would be with those who were attacked and their families who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. 'He added that it was hard to find words to express what the grieving families and community must be going through.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street in Southport this morning. Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers. A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were 'thinking of everyone involved'. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said she 'can't even begin to imagine the depth of pain and suffering' felt by the families affected by the stabbings. Speaking in the Commons, she told MPs: 'I know the whole House will join me in sending our deepest condolences and strength in the hours ahead to those affected by yesterday's shocking incident in Southport. 'And as a mother and grandmother, I can't even begin to imagine the depth of pain and suffering of those involved. 'I'd like to echo the words of (Labour MP for Southport Patrick Hurley) in thanking the police and the emergency services for their swift response, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who have already sadly lost loved ones, and (those who) are now fighting for their lives as well.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack The attack happened at a Taylor Swift-themed workshop on Hart Street in Southport. Police later swooped on a property in Banks, five miles away The Home Secretary stood for a few moments looking at the tributes before laying her flowers and reading some of the messages left by others. She and Mr Hurley hugged. She is understood to have met with first responders in the town earlier. Speaking to the media today, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: 'The town is in mourning, the town is in shock this morning. The incident that took place yesterday was uniquely horrific. 'Southport's a quiet seaside, coastal town. This has just sent shockwaves through the whole community. 'It's a very small town, Southport, and a lot of families across the area will be impacted directly. 'I think at this stage we need to just reach out, make sure that there's a level of community healing going on and make sure we give voice to the solidarity that people need right now.' Taylor Swift said she is 'completely in shock' after the 'horror' of the Southport knife attack The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, of Merseyside Police, said those injured had all suffered stab wounds in the 'ferocious attack'. She added: 'We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked. 'As a mum and a nana, I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this moment in time. 'I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to them.' Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the yoga and bracelet making class is among the adult victims fighting for her life in hospital. The primary school supply teacher - who now teaches children's yoga workshops - suffered stab injuries after a man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat, and started attacking children. Ms Lucas and her co-organiser and dance teacher Heidi Barlow, also 35, saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11. Ms Barlow was also injured in the attack, although not seriously, MailOnline understands. Two female adults were rushed to hospital after police say they 'bravely tried to protect them' from the attack at the Hart Space Studios on Hart Street. Ms Lucas, who's also a qualified primary school teacher, is the owner and founder of Enlighten, planned the two-hour session to coincide with the start of the school holidays. Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack A person leaves flowers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where the event took place Police officers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, this morning following the stabbing yesterday She was hailed today by relatives who paid tribute to her bravery and love for her students. Pauline Bennett, 64, said: 'She's only tiny, she wouldn't have stood a chance against a man with a knife, but she just wanted to protect those children. 'I can't imagine what she would have been thinking when he came through the door. It all happened so quickly, she just did what she could. 'Her sister stayed at her bedside all night and her parents are with her now. We're just hoping and praying that she's going to be ok. 'Leanne loves teaching children, it's all she's ever wanted to do. She just loves children. 'It's just heartbreaking that someone could do something like this.' A former school friend said: 'To my knowledge she organised it, she used to be a primary school teacher at a local school. Ms Lucas - who taught in China and Dubai before the Covid pandemic hit - is a big fan of Taylor Swift, her aunt said. A little girl is helped as she takes flowers to leave with the line of floral tributes North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing spree 'Then she came home in Covid and now this happens. She went to the Taylor Swift concert and she got a big poster of her for the kids.' Posting a photo of Ms Lucas on Facebook, Sunshine Yoga wrote: 'I'm absolutely devastated. Please please pray for Leanne. 'Leanne came on my training course in December. A beautiful young creative girl who was so passionate about helping children. 'I just can't believe it. Please pray.' Others described the news as 'devastating' and 'heartbreaking'. One Facebook user wrote: 'I'm in shock. Thinking of you Leanne and everyone involved, love and prayers go out to you all.' Another added: 'Thank you for your bravery in defending your class. I pray you get to see how proud the whole town is of your actions today.' According to Leanne's Facebook page, she had only recently returned to the UK after a holiday in Italy that included a trip to Venice and the Dolomite Mountains. Ms Barlow was a dance teacher at Southport Dance Academy, where she had recently taken time off to have a baby girl. Wishing her luck last year, the school said: 'We are sending you lots of love and hope you are enjoying all the quality time together.' Reacting to the tragic news today, the academy posted on Instagram: 'Thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by today's shocking events. Southport together.' Photos from her social media show her celebrating marriage two years ago and her paying tribute to her 'gorgeous' students as her classes were halted over lockdown. Dramatic footage has captured the moment Ukrainian artillery wiped out dozens of Russian war machines and thwarted their furious assault. The clip, obtained from the Command of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, shows Russian armour and other military vehicles being targeted by Ukrainian ordnance and destroyed. A statement was shared alongside images of the assault that read: 'Occupiers launched a second assault with 57 armoured vehicles to break through the defence of the Tavrian paratroopers in the Kurakhove direction - the massive Russian assault failed again'. It comes after Putin's forces were left humiliated just one week ago after a failed assault in the same region led to the reported deaths of 40 invaders, and left 37 more injured. 'During one day, the occupiers deployed 10 tanks, 47 armoured fighting vehicles with infantry, 10 motorcycles, and one buggy,' the statement continued. Ukrainian paratroopers destroy 29 military vehicles and armored units in another failed Russian assault near Kurakhove in Donetsk The Command of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released the footage on Tuesday Ukraine said in a statement that occupiers launched a second assault with 57 armoured vehicles to break through the defence of the Tavrian paratroopers in the Kurakhove direction The dramatic footage captured several Russian vehicles exploding in an orange blaze after being targeted and destroyed by Ukrainian forces In one clip, a body is seen flying out of the Russian vehicle as it storms through a field before an explosive is dropped 'Despite the enormous number of enemy equipment, all enemy attempts were once again nullified: during the battle, our soldiers hit 12 armoured fighting vehicles, eight Russian tanks, nine motorbikes, and the buggy. Thirty-six occupiers were killed, and another 32 were wounded. 'This footage shows the brilliant combat work of our artillerymen, strike drone operators, anti-tank soldiers, sappers, and our heroic infantry. The dramatic footage shows several Russian vehicles storming through a barren landscape before a target is set on the leading machine. Within seconds, the vehicle erupts in a cloud of thick smoke after being obliterated by Ukrainian forces. A separate clip captured another Russian army vehicle driving through what appears to be a field before a body is seen flying out of the moving machine before an explosive is dropped. 'Maimed Russian stormtroopers with torn limbs, who felt the wrath of the Tavrian paratroopers and in panic are crawling away from the battlefield - this is what needs to be shown to everyone who is still planning to participate in their 'special military operation', the statement added. 'Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Air Assault Forces!' Last week, during one of Russia's intense attacks across multiple sections of the eastern front, Ukraine scored a mighty victory as its troops managed to fend off 29 attacks in Kurakhove alone, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Dmytro Hutsuliak revealed in an update at the time. Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed six Russian tanks and seven advancing armoured combat vehicles as they were hit by kamikaze drones, it said. The brutal attack reportedly involved some 57 armoured vehicles, 11 tanks, 12 motorcycles, and 200 assault vehicles. Ukraine's brigade had spotted the Russian equipment in advance and unleashed fury upon Moscow's forces through relentless artillery fire. The Russians also reportedly fell in to mines placed by Ukrainian sappers. 'As a result of the battle, our paratroopers shot down six tanks and seven armoured personnel carriers with infantry,' said Ukraine's 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade - also known as the Taurian Brigade, in a statement. 'All 12 motorbikes were burned. 'The Russians suffered huge losses in manpower: 40 occupants were killed and another 37 wounded.' But despite Ukraine being short of manpower, ammunition, and trenches, Russia has faced a series of embarrassing setbacks with their grand summer offensive plans appearing to be failing. Russia last week suffered a crushing setback from an assault in the Kurakhove area of Donetsk region with the loss of six tanks, seven armoured personnel carriers with infantry, and 12 military motorbikes Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed six Russian tanks and seven advancing armoured combat vehicles Ukraine's 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade called Russia's push last week 'one of the largest assaults of the war' And with just two months left until summer is over, Russia has come nowhere near achieving either of its two biggest ambitions - a huge Russian breakthrough, or a complete collapse of Ukraine's defences on the frontlines. In worrying figures for tyrant Russian President Vladimir Putin, the British Ministry of Defence last week said that Russia had suffered catastrophic casualties of 1,262 and 1,162 per day in May and June - the highest since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Not only are casualty numbers sky high, but Russia's reported daily losses of artillery systems on Ukraine's battlefields have also reached their highest levels in three months, according to Ukraine's armed forces. The Ukrainian military said on Monday that Russia had lost 74 artillery systems in the previous 24 hours alone. Kyiv's figures indicate that Moscow has lost more than 16,000 artillery systems since the conflict began. But Russian forces have continued to advance and make gains, despite their continuous losses. Russian forces said Tuesday they had captured another village in their offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. The defence ministry said Russia had 'liberated' the village of Pivdenne, on the outskirts of Toretsk, a larger town which Russian forces have advanced towards in recent months. Before Russia launched its full-scale offensive, the village had a population of around 1,400, according to Ukrainian government estimates. Moscow has claimed to have taken a string of villages in the Donetsk region in recent weeks - many consisting of just a few streets. Its forces have been closing in on Toretsk, a town that was once home to around 30,000 people, in its latest assault. The savage assaults comes after the Kremlin revealed they are open to negotiation with Ukraine on ending the war - something Moscow has dubbed a special military operation. But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on July 24 during a visit to China that Kyiv was also prepared for talks with Russia provided Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully respected, though he said that Ukraine has seen no sign of that. When asked a day later whether Russia would be ready to hold talks with Ukraine while President Volodymyr Zelensky was in power, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: 'Russia is generally open to a negotiation process. 'But first we have to understand how ready the Ukrainian side is for this and how much the Ukrainian side has permission for this from its handlers.' Putin in June said Russia would end the war in Ukraine, but only if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions. Budget airline Rex has plunged into administration, with flights between capital cities grounded. The airline suspended trading on the ASX on Monday and on Tuesday night it was confirmed that EY had been appointed as administrators. Rex will cancel flights between major cities and instead focus on regional flights. A source told the Australian Financial Review that the federal government had stepped in to ensure that regional flights were not axed, however the airline will stop competing with other airlines on established routes between larger cities. Virgin Australia immediately stepped in to support Rex customers by offering them free transfers onto equivalent flights. The airline also encouraged Rex staff to apply for jobs with the airline. Virgin Australia has also swooped in on Rex's Boeing 737-800s, with the airline planning to secure leases for three of the aircraft that Rex will no longer use. 'Virgin Australia has made an offer for Rex customers with an existing ticket on a flight cancelled due to the administration process the opportunity to transfer their ticket free of charge to the 13 overlapping Virgin Australia services,' EY said. Budget airline Rex has plunged into administration, with flights between capital cities grounded The airline suspended trading on the ASX on Monday and on Tuesday night it was confirmed that EY had been appointed as administrators 'Rex and Virgin Australia are also exploring opportunities to support regional customers, which include Virgin Australia selling Rex's regional services through codeshare or interline arrangements, and making Velocity Frequent Flyer benefits available to Rex's regional customers.' Rex is the second major domestic airline to collapse in Australia this year following the demise of Bonza. Rex is even more vital, flying to some 56 destinations across the country, and is a lifeline for some small regional communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said earlier on Tuesday that the federal government was 'concerned' about Rex and would evaluate its options. But he also noted the airline already received 'substantial government support with no conditions attached'. Transport Minister Catherine King said the government was in touch with the airline and keeping an 'hour-by-hour' watch on the situation. Where Rex flies: The regional carrier is a vital lifeline to regional communities - flying 56 routes 'Regional Australians rely on Rex,' she told Channel Seven's Sunrise on Tuesday. 'It's an incredibly important airline. In many cases (it's) the only airline going into a range of smaller country towns and people are heavily reliant on it. 'We are treating this very seriously and being very vigilant about what is happening, and keeping an eye on the situation hour by hour.' Rex has built a strong reputation since its inception in 2002 and became known for its reliability. The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics found in April the airline cancelled just one per cent of its flights - beating all of its competitors. The domestic airline was recognised internationally at the World Airlines Awards in early July when it received the title for Best Regional Airline in Australia/Pacific. The unexpected death of a father-of-two has left his pregnant widow raising their children alone. Nithin Paul, 37, died suddenly in Cairns in far north Queensland on Sunday. His wife, Dayana and their young children have been left without a husband and father. Mr Paul was born in Kerala in India's south before moving to New Zealand and then Cairns with his family in 2021. He was the hospitality co-ordinator at the Malayali Association Cairns (MAC) and a prominent member of the local Malayali community. The MAC executive committee extended its sympathies towards his family and vowed to support them in any way it could. The group has already set up a GoFundMe to help support Mr Paul's family going forward. 'In this difficult time, we want to support Nithin's family in any way we can,' the page states. Nithin Paul, 37, suddenly died in Cairns on Sunday, leaving his pregnant wife Dayana and their young children without a husband and father Mr Paul was the hospitality co-ordinator at the Malayali Association Cairns (MAC), whose executive committee promised to support his surviving family in any way it could 'The funds raised will help alleviate the burden of immediate and ongoing expenses on the family. 'During the last few years Nithin has tirelessly worked to support our community both at a personal level and as a member of MAC. 'He was a dedicated and selfless individual who tirelessly volunteered his time to the betterment of our community through his involvement with MAC.' MAC President Bindhu Louis said Mr Paul loved to provide for his community. 'He was a happy man all the time, he was a catering person and made delicious food for us,' Ms Louis told the Cairns Post. 'He was an awesome guy who spent most of his Cairns life for the community.' News of Mr Paul's death was also shared online by the North Shore Malayali Association, which has extended their 'heartfelt condolences' to the family. Nithin Paul and his young family had moved to Cairns from New Zealand in 2021 News of Mr Paul's death was also shared online by the North Shore Malayali Association whose President extended their 'heartfelt condolences' to his family 'With deep sorrow, we regret to inform you of the passing of Nithin Paul who had been an active community member with us before he left for Aussie few years ago,' a statement read. Mr Paul had previously been a chef on the Royal Caribbean chef before leaving to start his own catering business, Dum Dum Biryani. His parents and brother are now trying to arrange travel to Australia to be with Mrs Paul and their grandchildren A date for the funeral is yet to be set. For confidential 24-hour support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Over a dozen orphaned baby barn owls from Washington, who tragically lost their nests, have now found their new home. About 15 owls were left without any shelter after the haystacks supporting their nests were removed last year in the state. As a temporary relief, the hooters were sent to the Blue Mountain Wildlife facility in the Central Washington area but soon had to be displaced again earlier this year. But now, the big-feathered birds have found their permanent home in a pair of nesting boxes as a result of a collaboration between Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Horticulture Center. About 15 orphaned baby barn owls have found their permanent home in a pair of nesting boxes as a result of a collaboration between Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Horticulture Center Dr Marcie Logsdon, a WSU wildlife veterinarian, told the Seattle Times: 'The really exciting thing about this is that this is the first year that we had our own hack site that we were able to raise and release these barn owls in. 'It's a technique that works especially well with barn owls, because as babies they stay in the cavity nest until they are pretty much fully flighted.' Caretakers at the university are also taking special measures to ensure the baby owls do not imprint on the humans and are able to develop into predators. As a part of caregiving methods without nest boxes, attendants have been wearing ghillie suits to disguise themselves as an owl parent and present food to the younglings. A study on barn owls in vineyards revealed that a single barn owl family can catch and consume about 3,466 rodents in a year Caretakers are also taking special measures to ensure the baby owls do not imprint on the humans and are able to develop into predators Grant Glover, wildlife biologist and farmer on the WSU orchard said: 'Right now, their parents would still be helping them. 'Even when they're on their own, they'll still beg for food from mom and dad, and they'll come feed them and whatnot. So I think that's probably what's going on here. 'Now that they're fledged, we leave some mice on top of the box every night just to kind of fill that role that their parents would have.' Logsdon further noted that baby barn owls require extensive parental care especially for when they need to be fed. The expert revealed that a single baby owl is able to consume up to 10 mice per day and in an effort to keep up with high food demands, parents tend delay the hatching of some eggs. Dr Marcie Logsdon, a WSU wildlife veterinarian noted that baby barn owls require extensive parental care especially for when they need to be fed Logsdon added: 'It's a way to help the parents raise absolutely as many babies as they can find food for, because the biggest baby owl eats first and it goes down the line. And so they can raise huge numbers of babies that way. 'Its a wonderful, wonderful method of rodent control for things like orchards, which is one of the reasons why were so excited to be able to set this up with the WSU orchard.' A study on barn owls in vineyards revealed that a single barn owl family can catch and consume about 3,466 rodents in a year. Combined with their ability to live in close confines with one another, ban owls tend to be perfect alternatives for harmful rodenticides or other forms of pest control for farmers. One of the migrants accused of assaulting two New York City Police Department officers in Times Square accepted a plea deal in exchange for a light sentence. Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on Monday for his role in the horrific January 27 attack. The shame-faced migrant wore a beige jail uniform entered his plea in a faint voice then was led out of Manhattan Supreme Court in handcuffs bowing his head, reported The New York Post. Gomez-Izquiel's sentencing is scheduled for September 5 where he faces up to one year in prison. 'The sentence should absolutely be longer, but we're glad that this individual is pleading guilty to a felony and will continue serving time for this brazen attack on our brothers,' Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry told The Post. Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel (pictured), 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on Monday for his role in the horrific January 27 attack The incident erupted when two officers attempted to disperse a group in front of 220 West 42nd Street 'However, the important test will come once his sentence is up. He needs to be deported immediately upon release, without setting another foot on our city streets.' Prosecutors said Gomez-Izquiel grabbed one officer and kicked the other in the brawl which was captured on film. The incident erupted when two officers attempted to disperse a group in front of 220 West 42nd Street. Lieutenant Ben Kurian and Officer Zunxu Tian are said to have suffered lacerations, bruising and substantial shoulder pain. Gomez-Izquiel was initially released without bail, but was arrested again February in connection to a group that robbed a Macy's in Queens and assaulted an employee. Gomez-Izquiel could face up to one year in prison for grabbing one officer and kicking the other in the brawl He is now the second migrant to take a plea deal in the Times Square attack case. Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, pleaded guilty to obstructing governmental administration on June 18. Arocha is said to have kicked a police radio during the melee. Ulises Bohorquez, Yohenry Brito, Edgarlis Vegas, Wilson Juarez and Yorman Reveron have also been charged in the attack. The Manhattan District Attorney's office has offered plea deals to Bohorquez and Brito for them to serve a year in prison in return to pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Brito has previously been described as the 'most culpable' of the defendants and videos show the two officers and Brito falling to the ground and during the struggle, other suspects interfered by pulling, grabbing and kicking the cops. As Brito attempts to wriggle away, the officers are holding on to his shirt that he eventually takes off. Juarez have been presented a deal where they serve six months in prison for pleading guilty to obstructing a government admin. Reveron was also offered a deal of two years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to second degree assault. Children were seen consoling each other after their 15-year-old friend vanished during a night swim in Huntington Beach on Sunday night. Two swimmers went into the water near Lifeguard Tower 11, south of Huntington Beach Pier, but only one returned, per authorities. Witnesses said the came up fast and the waves got bigger, sweeping the boy away. The US Coast Guard said on Monday night that it had suspended the search for the boy, who has not been named by authorities. Children were seen consoling each other after their 15-year-old friend vanished during a night swim in Huntington Beach on Sunday night The US Coast Guard said on Monday night that it had suspended the search for the boy, who has not been named by authorities 'The decision to suspend an active search is never easy and is only made after exhaustive efforts to find the missing person,' said Capt. Stacey Crecy, per ABC 7. 'Our hearts ache for his family and friends.' Friends of the teen, a rising high school sophomore, participated in the search and spoke to local media. Love Che-Howell, of the teen's friends, told ABC: 'It's pretty heartbreaking because he was one of my really good friends. Witnesses said the came up fast and the waves got bigger, sweeping the boy away 'We just came out here and started looking for him on the beach, and we just saw there were cars everywhere. There were helicopters. The whole ocean was lit up. There were lights shining everywhere.' A small boat crew and an helicopter were dispatched for the search. The coast guard said waves were about three to five feet high with strong rip currents throughout Sunday. Video footage has captured the moment a passenger in a stolen BMW cried out for help after the driver smashed the powerful sedan during a police chase, trapping him inside. A dramatic police chase in Long Beach, California ended in chaos on Monday evening when the suspected car thief crashed the stolen BMW before going airborne and smashing into three parked vehicles. The driver attempted to flee the scene on foot while the passenger of the stolen car can be heard wailing from inside the vehicle, telling officers, 'I can't, I'm hurt.' The high-speed pursuit came to a violent conclusion just before 5:30pm when the driver of the allegedly stolen vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of 4th Street and Cherry Avenue - a typically bustling area with trendy shops and dining options. 'It was like a Michael Bay explosion,' witness Bash Lopez, who narrowly escaped the accident told KTLA, referencing the Transformers movie. 'It was huge, cars were flying, I didn't see a way that people could get away from that not being hurt.' A dramatic police chase in Long Beach, California ended in chaos on Monday evening when the suspected car thief crashed the stolen BMW before going airborne and smashing into three parked vehicles The high-speed pursuit came to a violent conclusion just before 5:30pm when the driver of the allegedly stolen vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of 4th Street and Cherry Avenue Long Beach Fire Department officials were called to the scene to extricate the trapped suspect as crowds of onlookers gathered to watch the dramatic rescue unfold The powerful sedan collided with a passenger car traveling southbound, causing a chain reaction that damaged three parked vehicles. Footage obtained by KTLA shows the aftermath of the crash, with police approaching the mangled BMW with guns drawn. Long Beach Fire Department officials were called to the scene to extricate the trapped suspect as crowds of onlookers gathered to watch the dramatic rescue unfold. According to the Long Beach Police Department, the male driver initially attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended shortly after in the 2000 block of Florida Street. The driver attempted to flee the scene on foot while the passenger of the stolen car can be heard wailing from inside the vehicle, telling officers, 'I can't, I'm hurt' Both suspects were hospitalized with upper body injuries and are reported to be in stable condition. Two innocent bystanders in the passenger car that was struck also suffered upper body injuries and were rushed to hospital, where they too are listed as stable Both suspects in the stolen vehicle were hospitalized with upper body injuries and are reported to be in stable condition. Two innocent bystanders in the passenger car that was struck also suffered upper body injuries and were rushed to hospital, where they too are listed as stable. The area surrounding the crash site was closed off as investigators combed the scene for evidence and crews worked to clear the debris. Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects or victims involved in the incident as the investigation continues. Fortunately, nobody was killed in the accident. Officials said it could have been 'a lot worse.' 'It was like a Michael Bay explosion,' witness Bash Lopez, who narrowly escaped the accident told KTLA , referencing the transformers movie. 'It was huge, cars were flying, I didn't see a way that people could get away from that not being hurt' Lopez told KTLA that 'it all happened so quick.' 'I think he saw me because we were like inches away from each other... so he swerved out like way from me, went into the intersection and that's when he got hit.' 'I was kind of reeling for another 30 minutes after it happened,' he told the outlet. X users have devised an outrageous new set of conspiracy theories - including claims that President Joe Biden has been secretly replaced by an imposter. A viral video showed the President and his wife, Jill Biden, walking out of the White House after he addressed the nation about his decision to drop out of the Presidential race. While many commenters praised the 81-year-old for his years of service to his country, conspiracy theorists have since made bizarre claims about his height, and that the man in the video was a 'stand in' for Joe. Theorists have also suggested that his alleged growth was a side effect of COVID-19, which he battled earlier this month. The President is currently 6'0, while his wife stands at 5'6. Conspiracy theorists on X claimed President Joe Biden had mysteriously grown several inches The President appeared to be taller than his wife after he addressed the nation from the oval office following his drop out from the Presidential race One theorist did the math and factored in distance and Jill's shoes to conclude that Joe was allegedly four to five inches taller than his wife. The X user claimed Jill wore two to three-inch heels when she walked out of the White House with her husband. They believed Jill looked as tall as the President's chin and then claimed the average distance from a chin to the top of a man's head is 24.1 centimeters. After converting centimeters to inches, using the low end of those numbers, and averaging out the digits, the X user believed he came up with what he believed was the correct height difference. They concluded his findings by assuming COVID-19 was the reason behind the growth, despite the shoes Jill was wearing that night. I took a snapshot of Joe & Jill Biden walking out as this is the best comparison side by side Joe Biden is said to be 6 0 Jill Biden is said to be 5 6 Jill Biden is wearing at least 2-3Heels Jill looks to be as tall as Joes Chin the average distance from the https://t.co/n09ZWl8jeJ pic.twitter.com/Q7a7vEyoOj MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) July 25, 2024 The President is currently 6'0, while his wife stands at 5'6 This new theory is one of a few claims made by X users regarding President Biden's health. X users created a series of memes last week after he was rumored to be in hospice care after he tested positive for COVID-19 and was out of the public eye for nearly a week. Multiple X users who created the memes were seemingly inspired by things like 'Where's Waldo?,' missing person posters, and milk cartons that advertised an individual that disappeared. Well-known radio host Alex Jones also went viral after he posted a July 22 X video asking viewers - 'Is Joe Biden Dead?.' The video, which has received nearly 8 million views, led to a slew of conspiracy theory tweets, ranging from AI, to the President having been dead for two years. Several conspiracy theorists have only discussed his height, but more than one person claimed the alleged growth spurt was because of health issues other than COVID-19, including Parkinson's Disease. X users believed President Biden's alleged growth spurt was because of his battle with COVID-19, or other health issues he has faced in July 'Another side effect of COVID. Apparently it makes you much taller,' an X user tweeted. Another person wrote: 'Clone number 8 is actually taller. I wonder where they found this one.' When did Joe Biden grow that much? That's a nice treatment he got for his cold, COVID, etc... Or is it once again not him,' tweeted an X user. There is no actual evidence to support the claim that Covid 19 makes people taller, or that Biden has been replaced by a body double. Pete Buttigieg revealed that he found out President Joe Biden was ending his reelection campaign in the same social media post that announced it to the rest of the world. The Transportation Secretary discussed with Daily Show host Jon Stewart how Biden is doing after he ended his campaign and turned over the reins to Vice President Kamala Harris and whether he felt 'bullied' into doing so. Buttigieg is being floated as a potential running mate for Harris, although new reports suggest she has narrowed it to three other men Arizona Gov. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Questions continue to swirl over the events that led to Biden dropping out of the 2024 race including whether Harris and others were involved in a 'cover-up' of the extent of the President's cognitive decline. 'Obviously, you know, she represents a lot of continuity with the values of the Biden-Harris campaign and the Biden-Harris administration, but also a different messenger, a different style, a different approach, and people are clearly really fired up and excited about it,' Buttigieg said in the Monday interview. 'I know I am.' Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he found out about President Joe Biden ending his reelection campaign the same way everyone else did in his social media post Stewart then asked if this enthusiasm has 'hurt Biden's feelings,' acknowledging it was a 'strange question' to ask but that there was clearly a divide between how voters felt about his candidacy versus his VP's. 'I don't know,' Buttigieg divulged. 'I think even now we might be underselling how world-historically rare it is to be literally the most powerful person in the world, to lay power aside,' the Transportation Secretary continued. 'Just because it's the right thing to do.' Biden's announcement on July 21 was no shock to most Americans. It came after weeks of pressure from within the Democratic Party for the 81-year-old to 'pass the torch' after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, 78, last month. Harris, 59, quickly took over Biden's campaign infrastructure and seamlessly transitioned to the de facto 2024 Democratic candidate last week when she earned enough support from delegates to win the nomination. Buttigieg told Stewart that he didn't know the announcement was coming. Buttigieg is being floated as a potential vice presidential candidate for Harris as she narrows her search 'I found out the way everybody did,' he said, adding that his husband was the one who told him about it. 'I was actually on a plane, fittingly enough, taxiing in, and Chasten was sitting next to me and checking Twitter and saw the post, and so we found out the same way everybody else did, Buttigieg said. He admitted: 'And yeah, ever since, I think a lot of us, you know, our heads are spinning. So much has changed. But part of what's changed is this incredible energy that we have now.' Stewart asked if Biden was pressured into ending his reelection bid. 'No! I mean, that's the thing, right? It was his call and he made that call,' Buttigieg explained. 'And people may second guess the manner of it or the timing of it, but at the end of the day, it was his choice, he made that choice, and it must have been an extraordinarily difficult choice, but also the right choice.' Buttigieg said on Sunday that he thinks voters are now more concerned about Trump's fitness for office especially as he now faces a younger candidate in November. 'I'm pretty sure voters are worried about the age and acuity of President Trump compared to Kamala Harris who represents being a generation younger,' Buttigieg told Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream. 'And how could anybody not watch the stuff he's saying, the rambling on the trail and not be just a little bit concerned?' 'Americans are worried about him in lots of ways and he's not running against President Biden anymore,' he continued. Harris took over Biden's 2024 campaign infrastructure after he dropped out last weekend Bream pressed Buttigieg on whether Harris knew the extent of Biden's mental and physical decline as a new poll revealed a huge number of Americans think the VP was involved in a 'cover-up.' 'We're all aware of how he's doing,' he said. 'Our country has watched our president lead, and yes, we've also seen the fact that he's 10 years older than he was years ago.' 'But unlike Republicans, right, 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 Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi, even though he's 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 he's strong as an ox, leaps tall buildings in a single bounds,' Buttigieg said. He added: 'We don't have that kind of warped reality on our side.' A notorious influencer who has been terrorizing Seattle residents with his late-night, noisy driving stunts has been taken into custody. Miles Hudson, the so-called 'Belltown Hellcat', was detained on Monday following a court appearance. The 20-year-old is accused of taunting his neighbors by revving his Dodge Charger Hellcat, then flooring at speeds up to and over 100mph. He appeared in court on Monday in connection with stalking and harassment charges, as well as two counts of reckless driving. Magistrate Judge Seth Niesen set his bail at $5,000 for the stalking charges and a $2,500 for the alleged driving offences after Hudson pleaded not guilty. Miles Hudson, the so-called 'Belltown Hellcat', was apprehended on Monday following a court appearance But he has been ordered to pay $83,000 in fines for noise violations stemming from his souped-up car. Niesen also imposed additional conditions on the provocateur by banning him from posting on his Instagram or Twitch streams. Hudson has nearly 800,000 followers on Instagram where he frequently brags about his dangerous hobby - and he has been accused of deliberately winding-up Seattle residents for content. The harsh lesson was handed down after Hudson was spotted filming in the court room prior to his appearance before the judge in a bid to create more content. 'I want to inform the court that I've been made aware by the two officers who are here today that Mr. Hudson has been filming the courtroom on his cell phone and dangling his car keys in front of it and apparently uploading that footage,' Seattle city prosecutor Christopher Karr said, KOMO News reports. Hudson was told to delete the posts and was also forbidden from driving his vehicle on Washington streets. 'The other obvious problem that the court seems to run into is the use of this Hellcat on the city streets,' Judge Niesen said. 'It's inexorably tied to these alleged crimes and the social media presence, which seems to be kind of the core of all these alleged criminal activity.' Driver Miles Hudson has been the focus of numerous complaints from residents He has been pulled over by the police a few times, and the city is now suing him over the noise he is creating Occasionally, Seattle Police have managed to pull Hudson over. Pictured here in March 2024 The social media personality stands accused of sending intimate images of his ex-girlfriend to her former boyfriend, which he denies. Hudson was also accused of making a 'mockery' of the court after he showed up to the hearing wearing a face mask which he refused to remove for 'religious' reasons. Prior to that he had patched into a remote hearing wearing a ski mask and dark glasses, before deliberately positioning his camera to obscure his features when told to remove them. On Monday he arrived sporting a scarf which covered most of his head and face. Hudson believes he is being targeted because of his race. 'There are way bigger issues than a black man with a nice car who makes noise occasionally,' he told the Seattle Times. But the city attorney alleges Hudson 'flaunts' his Charger's excessive noise on his Instagram as he sets out to deliberately keep people awake. 'Mr. Hudson has cultivated online infamy by flagrantly breaking Seattle's laws and waking his neighbors with excessive noise. It's time for him to face the consequences of his actions. That's why I have requested that the court find Mr. Hudson in default and award the City all applicable penalties,' City attorney Ann Davison wrote in a statement. Known as the Belltown Hellcat, Hudson has drawn the ire of people living in the area including the Seattle Police who have rarely managed to pull him over Hudson's online success is now fueling his need for speed as he continues to produce more extreme videos of himself, tearing through the downtown cityscape In one video, the lights of Fourth Avenue in Seattle all turn to green encouraging Hudson to put his pedal to the metal reaching triple-digit speeds Court filings show that Hudson was supposed to submit proof that he had fixed his car's exhaust system so that it did not make the same level of noise. He is subject to $1,300 in fines for every day his car is not fixed. 'In the two months since that notice of violation, Mr. Hudson has failed to remove the illegal modifications or address the excessive noise,' the city attorney's statement says. Aside from speeding, Seattle police also issued Hudson with four infractions and note how there have been multiple noise and speed complaints from fed-up locals kept up each night by Hudson's antics. A Seattle police officer, who also has expertise as a car mechanic, said the exhaust of the Charger had illegally been modified to deliberately backfire, creating an 'exceedingly loud' noise. His case for two counts of reckless driving was continued until August 12. Families bereaved in the Omagh bombing have expressed hope that they will finally receive answers as the long called for public inquiry into the atrocity finally opened. The probe, led by chairman Lord Turnbull, is examining whether the 1998 bombing could reasonably have been prevented by UK authorities. The bombing was the biggest atrocity of the Troubles, killing 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins, in the town of in Omagh, Northern Ireland. The dissident republican bomb - planted in a maroon Vauxhall Astra on August 15, 1998 - also injured hundreds of others when it devastated the Co Tyrone town. Some of the bereaved families, who have called for decades for a public inquiry into alleged security failings, welcomed the inquiry opening yesterday. As the inquiry began on Tuesday, its chair, Scottish judge Lord Turnbull, vowed it will undertake its work rigorously and fearlessly. Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh Omagh bomb campaigners Michael Gallagher (left) who lost his son Aiden and Stanley McCombe (right) who lost his wife Ann Security experts examine the charred remains of the vehicle thought to have contained the bomb which exploded in Omagh's shopping area in Northern Ireland, August 16, 1998 And as families and survivors gathered at the Strule Arts Centre for the first public hearing, the names of all those killed were read out while those in the hearing room stood for a minutes silence. In his opening statement, Lord Turnbull said the attack, which came just months after the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, caused outrage and consternation across national boundaries and across continents. He added that the pain of bereavement and trauma caused by the dissident republican bomb attack spread beyond Omagh and Northern Ireland to families from England and Spain. The probe is expected to scrutinise the sharing of intelligence information, the use of mobile phone analysis, whether there was advance knowledge of the bomb and whether disruption operations could have been utilised to stop it. But it is not its purpose to identify the individuals responsible. Three days after the attack, the Real IRA claimed responsibility. The dissident republican group said its targets were 'commercial' and apologised to 'civilian' victims. No one has ever been convicted for the bombing, however, Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt was found responsible in a 2009 civil case. Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were also found liable for the attack. It has been contended that the terrorists prepared the bomb in the Republic of Ireland and fled back across the border after planting it in Omagh on August 15 1998. The Irish government has promised to assist the inquiry, but it has rebuffed a call for a separate or joint public inquiry. The inquiry said, however, it is seeking clear written agreements with the Irish government over co-operation, including access to materials held in the Republic of Ireland and Irish witnesses. A police officer looking at the damage caused by a bomb explosion in Market Street, Omagh Claire Hayes, sister of Alan Radford who was killed in the Omagh bomb, with her husband Jony Hayes at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh Former Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris established the probe to investigate whether the attack could have been avoided Omagh bomb campaigner Michael Gallagher speaks to the media at the Silver Birch Hotel in Omagh, Co Tyrone, after then Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he intended to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the 1998 bombing The inquiry into the atrocity was ordered last year by former secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris following a legal challenge by a bereaved family. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the Real IRA attack, brought the legal challenge that resulted in a judge directing the state to act. High Court judge Mr Justice Horner, in a judgment, 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 government formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry. Mr Gallagher welcomed the start of the inquiry yesterday and said the hearing 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. Speaking as he arrived at the Strule Arts Centre on Tuesday morning, Mr Gallagher said it had taken a long time to get here. It has taken us 26 years to get here and were just delighted, he said. One of the sad ironies is that when I got up this morning and saw the sunshine, it was exactly the same on August 15, 1998. It was one of the most beautiful days of that year. Its good to be here. Its a long time but we are where we want to be and we just have to wait and see where this inquiry takes us. Every morning I waken up and still pinch myself, I cant believe that were there. Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the bombing, said he had great faith in Lord Turnbull and his legal team. After years of hard labour were hopeful, were very very hopeful, he added. Lord Turnbull vowed the inquiry will undertake its work rigorously and fearlessly Strule Arts Centre in Omagh where chairman of the inquiry Lord Turnbull convened the first public hearing into the Omagh bomb attack Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, ahead of the first public hearing Paul Greaney KC, Counsel to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, arriving at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh Ruairi de Burca (centre), a senior official with the Government of Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs, arriving at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh Survivors have also gathered in Omagh for the hearing which included opening remarks from the chair and counsel to the chair Paul Greaney KC. Commemorative and personal statements are set to be made during inquiry hearings next January. The Daily Mail has long campaigned on behalf of the families for both transparency and justice. Two years after the attack, relatives announced in the Mail their intention to launch a landmark legal action for damages and readers helped raise 1.2million - with the Government subsequently providing the extra 800,000 needed to bring a civil case. The nine-year crusade - spearheaded by the Mail - resulted in a historic court victory in 2009 as families were awarded more than 1.6million in damages against four Real IRA terrorists over the bombing. As the inquiry opened, chair Lord Turnbull said it will undertake its task rigorously and fearlessly, and emphasised the defining character of the inquiry must be its independence. He said: The value which the inquiry attaches to its independence means that it will not be amenable to influence from any government or from any state agency. It will not allow itself to be deflected from its purpose by the difficulties which may lie in its way on account of the passage of time or the volume and complexity of materials. Lord Turnbull also told the hearing that he will approach the task with an open mind, and will assess the evidence which is heard both fairly and reasonably. He added: I will do so without any preformed view or impression as to whether the atrocity could or could not have been prevented. In his opening statement, Paul Greaney KC, counsel to inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull, said it is highly likely, if not inevitable, that the state authorities within the Republic of Ireland hold evidence and bearing upon the inquiry's terms of reference. He added that access to materials and citizens requires co-operation from the Irish government. He said inquiry staff have held a number of meetings with Irish government officials and the Irish police, and commended positive discussions. He said: The discussions that have taken place have been positive, and during them, the government of Ireland has expressed a strong desire to co-operate fully with the inquiry. The challenge is to see the engagement that has occurred to date translated to meaningful engagement with the inquiry's processes, both leading up to and during the course of inquiries or evidence hearings. We emphasise that the inquiry team does not doubt that the government of Ireland has a strong commitment to achieving that vital aim. He added: The intention of the inquiry is to ensure that those discussions now move into a practical phase in which clear written agreements are put in place, to make certain that the inquiry has full access to any potentially relevant materials held by the state authorities in the Republic of Ireland, and that it has the ability to obtain statements and call witnesses to attend the inquiry, to give evidence in person. Two senior officials from Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs attended the inquiry hearing on Tuesday. The Irish government told the inquiry that it will do everything in its power to help. A statement was read out during proceedings by one of its Department of Foreign Affairs officials, Ruairi de Burca, who said assistance will be grounded in law to support concrete action. Mr de Burca added: The government is committed to put in place additional new legislation, if that is what is required, to support our assistance to the Inquiry. These important details are being worked through with the inquiry team, to ensure that our engagement proceeds on the strongest possible footing. Our commitment is to ensure that there is nothing left unanswered in our jurisdiction at the end of the inquiry. Dublin has previously faced criticism for rejecting calls from some victims families to establish its own public inquiry into the bombing. A former marine who was ordered to remove an outlandish eight-foot sign from his porch is celebrating a win for free speech after local officials revised their ban. Pennsylvania resident Dave Bliler on Tuesday said he had 'shut down' the restrictions imposed on him by the borough and once again raised a 'F**k the government' sign on his property. The Bliler family took legal action against what they called an 'unconstitutional infringement' of their First Amendment rights by Olyphant Borough, which had threatened to fine them. The borough did not answer DailyMail.com's request for comment. Bliler said he was inspired to fight the ban by a Supreme Court ruling that 'government has no power to restrict expression.' A first amendment battle unfolded as residents of Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania, challenge the borough sign ordinance against the monstrosity situated on the front porch of their home that reads 'F*** THE GOVERNMENT' in bold red font 'That ideal inspired me to put up my sign,' he told DailyMail.com on Tuesday. 'I'm grateful that our lawsuit could shut down the borough's restrictions on our most basic right to free speech.' Americans have long distrusted their government, and complaints against it are common though not always expressed in such direct terms as on the Blilers' sign. Lawyer Harmeet Dhillon In recent years, anti-government feeling has motivated the right, meaning the borough's restrictions could be seen as partisan. Plaintiffs Dave, Chelsea, and Paige Bliler brought the case against the Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania and William Shigo, the Borough's Zoning Officer. Their suit was in response to an enforcement letter, alleging a violation of the sign ordinance, threatening a $500 fine, and mandating a permitting process by the borough. The rule imposed a one-sign limit, not exceeding six square feet, subject to a content-reviewing permitting process. The Blilers took down the offending sign, but also took legal action late last year. Under this week's settlement, the borough revised its rules and now lets residents display up to three signs, each with a maximum size of sixteen square feet It also eliminates the need for a permit. Their lawyer, Harmeet Dhillon, CEO and founder of the conservative Center for American Liberty, hailed a victory over a 'foundational principle of our republic.' The Blilers have proudly raised their 'F*** THE GOVERNMENT' sign once again, a stark critique of government failures in recent years The Bliler family took legal action against what they perceive as an 'unconstitutional infringement' on their First Amendment rights In 2021, A New Jersey woman has won an appeal to keep her 'F**k Biden' banner just over a week after a local judge ordered her to remove them or face a $250-a-day fine It 'sends a powerful message that Olyphant Borough's sign ordinance and enforcement actions flagrantly violated the Constitution by imposing unnecessary restrictions and outright banning protected political speech,' she added. In a similar case from 2021, a New Jersey woman won an appeal to keep her 'F**k Biden' banner after a local judge ordered her to remove it or face a $250-a-day fine Andrea Dick, 54, hung 10 pro-Trump signs on her Roselle Park home, where she lives with her mom, that included the former president extending two middle fingers over the words 'F**k Biden'. Municipal Court Judge Gary Bundy ordered Dick to take down three of the 10 signs or face a daily fine of $250 because they violated local public obscenity laws. But Judge Bundy's ruling was vacated by the state's Supreme Court after the ACLU got involved and warned that Bundy's edict violated Dick's First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The civil liberties organization challenged the original ruling, with New Jersey's Supreme Court agreeing. Three girls stabbed to death by a hooded knifeman who stormed a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport have been named today after seven people, including five children, were rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Bebe King, six, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack, with heartbreaking photographs show her cuddling her father, Ben King. She attended Churchtown Primary School in Southport, MailOnline understands. Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital. Earlier today, 'happy smiley' Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. Five further children, aged between six and 11, were in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero teacher Leanne Lucas, who 'bravely tried to protect them'. Alder Hey Children's hospital this afternoon released a statement confirming that seven children had been taken to the site for treatment. One of those was Alice, and of the others, two remain in a critical condition, a spokesperson said. Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital Another of the children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, nine Heartbreaking floral tributes and teddy bears were left at the scene of the attack on Tuesday afternoon A tribute to 'the lost angels' sits alongside a fluffy teddy bear in a heartbreaking message for the little children A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday. In a statement, Bebe's family said: 'No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.' Churchtown Primary School released a statement this afternoon and said: 'Our whole Churchtown Primary School community is utterly heartbroken by the tragic events that have taken place. We stand united with all of our families and the wider Southport community during this incredibly difficult time.' The family of Alice also paid tribute to their 'princess'. They said: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.' Devastated relatives of Alice said she had been taken by a 'despicable human being.' Her mother Alexandra Aguiar is understood to be originally from Caracas in Venezuela and her dad David Aguiar is from the Portuguese island of Madeira. Relative Carina Aguiar, a hotel worker who lives in Camara de Lobos in Madeira, posted a link on her social media to news Merseyside Police had confirmed a third child' had died following the attack and wrote tear emojis beside it. Earlier she posted a photo of a black ribbon on her Facebook alongside Alice's name after writing in an emotional tribute: 'Princess Alice. In this moment of great pain my soul hurts, my body hurts, my mind hurts. I have a lump in my throat. 'You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason.' Firefighters from Merseyside joined members of the public in paying tribute to those killed and injured in the stabbings Forensic officers were seen at the scene in Southport on Tuesday as investigations begin Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack Liliana Soares wrote: 'What a huge tragedy. My pretty and innocent angel. Such tremendous pain. My sincerest condolences Carina to the whole family.' Another family friend, Henrique Drummond, wrote on social media in a direct message to Alice's parents: 'David Aguiar, Alexandra Aguiar. Life is so cruel that an animal takes the life of children, especially our Alice. Lots of strength in these extremely difficult moments.' Father John Heneghan, who led Alice Aguir's first communion service, described her as a 'beautiful girl from a lovely family' - adding that they had only been to mass on Sunday morning, 24 hours before the tragedy. Describing Alice at her First Communion, Fr Heneghan, parish priest at St Patrick's for eight years, said he remembered 'little Alice' having the most beautiful smile, a radiant smile, if you'd say the epitome of happiness that day, she was it.' 'We can't make sense of it,' he added. Portuguese Foreign Ministry sources confirmed today a Portuguese girl had died. One said: 'Portugal's Consul General in Manchester is assisting the family, having spoken to her parents, and is continuing to offer them all the support they need.' Police say they are not looking for anyone else and do not believe the incident is terrorism related. Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat The local teacher saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11, while nine children were taken to hospital. One has since died, with five still in a critical condition She organised the dance, yoga and bracelet making workshop in Southport with Heidi Barlow, also 35, a fellow dance teacher, (pictured) who advertised the event as being for 'Swifties' The attack happened at a Taylor Swift-themed workshop on Hart Street in Southport. Police later swooped on a property in Banks, five miles away Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Southport this afternoon and thanked emergency service workers who responded to the knife attack, telling them: 'I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives.' He added: 'It is sometimes really important in life just to come and say a simple thank you to all of you, so let me do that, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the country - thank you.' The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something 'like a horror movie', witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said. Locals said the alleged knifeman arrived at the dance studio wearing a black hooded top and facemask in a taxi and got out without paying. They said the suspect then walked into the studio through a front door that was unlocked for fire safety reasons. Emergency services said the scene was 'horrific' and 'chaotic' as they arrived at the children's club. Police said the suspect, who was born in Cardiff, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon. All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children's hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester. The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop Taylor Swift said she is 'completely in shock' after the 'horror' of the Southport knife attack Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Southport MP Patrick Hurley embrace as they pay tribute to those injured and killed in the horror attack At the scene today, flowers and teddies were left by the police cordon. One message in a 'Thinking Of You' card said 'thoughts and prayers' are with those affected and was signed: 'Love - Southport.' Another said: 'Fly high with angels little ones.' Prime Minister visits Southport and thanks emergency services Visiting Southport on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer told emergency service workers: 'I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives.' 'It is sometimes really important in life just to come and say a simple thank you to all of you, so let me do that, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the country - thank you.' He added: 'I came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine - I can't imagine, as a dad myself. 'To get a briefing from the chief constable and the emergency services about the ongoing investigation but, also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from emergency services, say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand, and to say that as Prime Minister on behalf of the country, we are grateful for what they did. 'They, of course, say that they will respond, they're professionals, to anything, but there's no pretending that what they had to respond to yesterday was ordinary. 'It was very, very difficult. They were absolutely professional. And it was important for me to come and say simple words - thank you.' Advertisement In a social media post, Taylor Swift shared her horror at the 'loss of life and innocence' at the workshop. She wrote: 'The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I'm just completely in shock. 'The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. 'These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.' A JustGiving page - set up by Taylor Swift fans - has already raised more than 100,000 to help families affected by the tragedy and pay for the two funerals, with more than 6,500 donations. Sir Keir Starmer today opened Cabinet by acknowledging the 'truly horrific' event in Southport. 'He said the thoughts of the whole Cabinet and the entire country would be with those who were attacked and their families who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. 'He added that it was hard to find words to express what the grieving families and community must be going through.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street in Southport this morning. Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers. A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were 'thinking of everyone involved'. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack An aerial view of Hart Street, where a horrifying knife attack took place just before midday Emergency crews and forensic teams descended on the scene after 13 people were stabbed The Home Secretary stood for a few moments looking at the tributes before laying her flowers and reading some of the messages left by others. She and Mr Hurley hugged. She is understood to have met with first responders in the town earlier. Speaking to the media today, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: 'The town is in mourning, the town is in shock this morning. The incident that took place yesterday was uniquely horrific. 'Southport's a quiet seaside, coastal town. This has just sent shockwaves through the whole community. 'It's a very small town, Southport, and a lot of families across the area will be impacted directly. 'I think at this stage we need to just reach out, make sure that there's a level of community healing going on and make sure we give voice to the solidarity that people need right now.' Police screens up at the scene of the tragic stabbing incident in Hart Street in Southport Southport locals have also rushed to leave their kind words, with one saying their 'thoughts and prayers are with you' Alongside the bouquets of flowers are stuffed toys for the children, including a panda and a rabbit Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, of Merseyside Police, said those injured had all suffered stab wounds in the 'ferocious attack'. She added: 'We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked. 'As a mum and a nana, I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this moment in time. 'I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to them.' Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the yoga and bracelet making class is among the adult victims fighting for her life in hospital. The primary school supply teacher - who now teaches children's yoga workshops - suffered stab injuries after a man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat, and started attacking children. Ms Lucas and her co-organiser and dance teacher Heidi Barlow, also 35, saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11. Ms Barlow was also injured in the attack, although not seriously, MailOnline understands. Two female adults were rushed to hospital after police say they 'bravely tried to protect them' from the attack at the Hart Space Studios on Hart Street. Ms Lucas, who's also a qualified primary school teacher, is the owner and founder of Enlighten, planned the two-hour session to coincide with the start of the school holidays. Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack A person leaves flowers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where the event took place Police officers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, this morning following the stabbing yesterday She was hailed today by relatives who paid tribute to her bravery and love for her students. Pauline Bennett, 64, said: 'She's only tiny, she wouldn't have stood a chance against a man with a knife, but she just wanted to protect those children. 'I can't imagine what she would have been thinking when he came through the door. It all happened so quickly, she just did what she could. 'Her sister stayed at her bedside all night and her parents are with her now. We're just hoping and praying that she's going to be ok. 'Leanne loves teaching children, it's all she's ever wanted to do. She just loves children. 'It's just heartbreaking that someone could do something like this.' A former school friend said: 'To my knowledge she organised it, she used to be a primary school teacher at a local school. Ms Lucas - who taught in China and Dubai before the Covid pandemic hit - is a big fan of Taylor Swift, her aunt said. A little girl is helped as she takes flowers to leave with the line of floral tributes North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing spree 'Then she came home in Covid and now this happens. She went to the Taylor Swift concert and she got a big poster of her for the kids.' Posting a photo of Ms Lucas on Facebook, Sunshine Yoga wrote: 'I'm absolutely devastated. Please please pray for Leanne. 'Leanne came on my training course in December. A beautiful young creative girl who was so passionate about helping children. 'I just can't believe it. Please pray.' Others described the news as 'devastating' and 'heartbreaking'. One Facebook user wrote: 'I'm in shock. Thinking of you Leanne and everyone involved, love and prayers go out to you all.' Another added: 'Thank you for your bravery in defending your class. I pray you get to see how proud the whole town is of your actions today.' According to Leanne's Facebook page, she had only recently returned to the UK after a holiday in Italy that included a trip to Venice and the Dolomite Mountains. Ms Barlow was a dance teacher at Southport Dance Academy, where she had recently taken time off to have a baby girl. Wishing her luck last year, the school said: 'We are sending you lots of love and hope you are enjoying all the quality time together.' Reacting to the tragic news today, the academy posted on Instagram: 'Thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by today's shocking events. Southport together.' Photos from her social media show her celebrating marriage two years ago and her paying tribute to her 'gorgeous' students as her classes were halted over lockdown. An irate Bec Judd has continued her one-woman war on youth crime in her affluent Melbourne suburb with another social media post attacking the Victorian government. In an Instagram story, the influencer and former AFL WAG fired up over a 16-year old boy being released on bail after he allegedly stole a Mercedes from a woman with cerebral palsy and crashed into a Volvo being driven by a mum picking up her kids from school. Judd attached a news report of the alleged incident, which happened in her suburb of Brighton in Melbourne's Bayside, to her Instagram story The 16-year-old driver was allegedly speeding and driving the stolen Mercedes on the wrong side of the road before crashing into the Volvo. The Mercedes had been stolen hours earlier and had been been specially modified for the owner who has cerebral palsy. The alleged driver was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and was bailed to appear in court at a later date. The alleged incident sparked anger from Judd, who took aim at Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and state Attorney General Jaclyn Symes. 'Keep Victorians (not just Baysiders) safe. Already out on bail and probably breaking into some innocent persons home tonight,' Judd captioned the TV news segment shared Bec Judd (pictured) has continued her one-woman war on crime with another social media post attack on the Victorian government Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen (pictured) has once again been targeted by Bec Judd '@jacintaallanmp @jaclynsymesmp Victoria is falling to pieces on your watch. You should both be ashamed.' Earlier this month, Judd expressed her anger that one of the youths allegedly involved in the kidnapping of teenager Benjamin Phikhohpoom in Melbourne that left him with permanent brain damage had walked free despite pleading guilty. 'Victoria, this is not OK but sadly just another case of a violent offender let off because our laws are weak,' Judd wrote on social media. Last month, Judd slammed Melbourne as 'woke, broke and violent' after residents were encouraged to put Apple AirTags in their cars amid a crimewave in the city. The 16-year-old alleged driver of the stolen Mercedes was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and will appear in court at a later date The footy WAG, who lives in a $7.3million mansion in Brighton, was drawn to comment on an interview between 3AW radio's Jacqui Felgate and Sandringham Liberal MP, Brad Rowswell. During the talk, Mr Rowswell was asked about a rise in violent crime in Melbourne's suburbs. The MP was asked about a suggestion at a community safety forum in Beaumaris last Thursday that residents consider placing AirTag trackers inside their cars in case they are stolen - something Judd took issue with. 'Melbourne this is sad. Woke, broke and violent. I can't believe we are living like this,' Judd wrote online. In March, Judd called out Premier Allan after a home invasion in Bayside left an elderly man fighting for his life. Chris Kenny has accused ABC Media Watch host Paul Barry of employing 'disgusting smears' by 'insinuating' the Sky News host has criticised US presidential candidate Kamala Harris because she is a woman of Indian heritage. Kenny used his show to return fire at Barry, who took aim at Sky News presenters on Monday night over their negative coverage of Ms Harris after she took over as the Democrat candidate for the upcoming US election when President Joe Biden stood aside. 'He deliberately leaves that odious suggestion (that Kenny and other News Corp commentators target Ms Harris because of her gender and ethnicity) out there,' Kenny fumed on Tuesday night. 'As the daughter of an Indian immigrant, Kamala Harris shares not just the gender but a significant part of her ethnic heritage with my wife and therefore my two children, so Barry ought to be ashamed of his smears.' 'But he won't be, he takes a salary from taxpayers, taxpayers like you and I, and he uses it to run an ideological program, that attempts to demonize those who disagree with him. 'You thought it was your ABC, they think it's their ABC but for Paul Barry, well he runs amok like it's his ABC, because nobody is in charge over there.' Kenny is married to Sydney lawyer Sunita Kenny and the couple have two sons. On this week's episode of Media Watch, Barry accused Kenny of following the lead of Republican contender Donald Trump by painting Ms Harris as 'crazy, cackling Kamala', ignoring her record as a prosecutor and attorney-general in California. Sky News host Chris Kenny has hit back at what he labelled 'disgusting smears' made against him by Media Watch host Paul Barry On Media Watch, Paul Barry speculated that Sky News commentators were getting their cues from Donald Trump Kenny returned serve to accuse Barry of being 'deliberately deceptive' by 'selectively' using clips to create create misleading impressions. 'Paul Barry is supposed to be an objective observer but he just uses the weekly program to promote his green left political causes and slam his perceived ideological enemies at News Corp and especially here at Sky News,' Kenny said. 'He does it every week and to start with in this latest piece of publicly funded fake news he pretended people like me were taking our cues to criticize Harris now from Donald Trump or from Fox News. 'When in fact Barry must know, because he and his team watch us closely, they must know that plenty of us have criticized Harris for four years since she was first chosen by Joe Biden.' Kenny played old clips of him criticising Ms Harris and saying she was picked on 'identity grounds' and backed this contention up by showing clips of Mr Biden saying how inspiring Ms Harris would be to 'little black and brown girls'. 'Paul Barry seems to recognize Harris as an identity pick but he verbals others doing the same,' Kenny said. He played a clip from Media Watch where Barry said 'before choosing Harris to be his running mate Joe Biden said he would pick a woman and would prefer a person of color cue Chris Kenny on Sky to imply that is her only qualification. Kenny said while he maintained Ms Harris was a diversity pick, what Barry failed to mention were the numerous criticisms he had made of her behaviour and performance as vice president. The Sky News host accused Barry and the ABC of 'censoring' the failures and awkward inappropriate giggling that Ms Harris used to disguise her lack of substance. 'The ABC have censored all these (embarrassing incidents) over the years, just like they also failed to show their viewers the inane set piece speeches from the vice president,' he said. Kenny and Barry were in war of words over the way Sky News has portrayed Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris Kenny claimed that the ABC was running protection for Ms Harris and 'riding shotgun for her'. 'We all know how dishonest this leftist media is because they all tried to hide the feebleness of Joe Biden,' Kenny said. 'They either didn't show you his brain fades and embarrassing episodes, they deliberately censored them or they made excuses for them.' 'Just as they ran protection for President Joe Biden they're now running protection for Kamala Harris. Shocking surveillance footage captured the moment Florida rapper Julio Foolio was executed in an 'ambush' style attack - as police announce the arrest of four suspects. Julio Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was celebrating his 26th birthday at an Airbnb with friends before he checked into a Home 2 Suites hotel, where he was killed on June 23. Security camera footage shows three armed shooters firing at Jones in the parking lot while he was sitting in the passenger seat of a car attempting to flee the scene. Police said five suspects from rival gangs conspired to commit the first-degree premediated murder of the up and coming rapper. Three of the suspects - Alicia Andrews, 21, Isaiah Chance, 21, and Sean Gathright, 18 - were arrested in the middle of a storm in Jacksonville on Saturday. Security camera footage shows three armed shooters firing at Florida rapper Julio Foolio in the parking lot while he was sitting in the passenger seat of a car attempting to flee the scene Julio Foolio, whose real name is Charles Jones, was celebrating his 26th birthday at an Airbnb with friends before he checked into a Home 2 Suites hotel and was murdered A fourth suspect, Rashad Murphy, 30, was arrested just after midnight on Tuesday following a dramatic standoff with police. Police are working to track down a fifth suspect, Davion Murphy, 27, who is still at large. 'All five suspects traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa on June 22, 2024, in two separate vehicles to locate and kill Jones in retaliation for an ongoing Jacksonville rival gang feud,' Tampa police said. Jones is said to be a member of the '6 Block' gang in Jacksonville which has a long ongoing feud with two other allied street gangs known as 'ATK' and '1200.' Police said Chance is a documented ATK gang member, and Rashad Murphy and Davion Murphy are documented 1200 gang members. Police said five suspects from rival gangs conspired to commit the first-degree premediated murder of the up and coming rapper Isaiah Chance (pictured), 21, who police said is a documented ATK gang member and one of the shooters, was arrested on Saturday Alicia Andrews (pictured), 21, was arrested at the same location as Chance in the pouring rain Chance and Andrews allegedly tracked down Jones and his entourage to two separate locations on the night of June 23. At each location Chance got out of the car and used his cell phone, then a second suspect vehicle arrived at each location. Both vehicles then followed the victim and his entourage to the Home 2 Suites located at 11606 McKinley Drive where the shooting occurred. At the hotel one vehicle drove by Jones parked cars twice and left, then video shows three armed shooters getting in position to execute Jones. The three shooters - identified by police as Rashad Murphy, Sean Gathright, and Davion Murphy - are seen firing at Jones car as he tried to flee the scene. Sean Gathright (pictured), 18, was arrested a local Jacksonville shopping center on Saturday as a thunderstorm rolled in A fourth suspect, Rashad Murphy (pictured), 30, was arrested just after midnight on Tuesday following a dramatic standoff with police Rashad Murphy was tracked down to an apartment complex off Collins Road where police had to use tactics such as setting off smoke in his unit (pictured) to get him to come out Gathright was arrested a local Jacksonville shopping center on Saturday as a thunderstorm rolled in. Andrews and Chance were arrested outside of a residence in the pouring rain by the Jacksonville Sherriff's Office SWAT Team. 'Isaiah Chance, this is the Jacksonville Sherriff's Office. We are here in your driveway. We have a warrant for your arrest. Come to the front door with nothing in your hands, we are not going away,' police said. Footage of the arrests show Chance coming out of the house first wearing a red hoodie, black pants and white slides. Police are working to track down a fifth suspect, Davion Murphy (pictured), 27, who is still at large The up-and-coming rapper, who had one million followers on Instagram, has been a target of numerous shootings in the past Andrews came out after and was arrested without shoes on as the rain continued to come down. Rashad Murphy was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff Office and U.S. Marshals Service who tracked him down tp an apartment complex off Collins Road. Police evacuated nearby residents and spent hours trying to talk him out of the complex. Eventually they had to use tactics such as setting off smoke in this unit to get him to come out. The Secret Service's now-top leader Ronald Rowe admitted he had no defense as for why the rooftop where Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots toward former President Trump was left open. Crooks fired eight rounds toward Trump from a nearby unsecured rooftop, killing firefighter veteran Corey Comperatore, critically injuring two and grazing Trump with a bullet in his ear. 'I went to the roof of the AGR building where the assailant fired shots, and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight. What I saw made me ashamed as a career law enforcement officer and a 25 year veteran with the Secret Service. I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,' he told Congress on Tuesday. 'When I laid in that position I could not, will not understand why there was not better coverage or at least somebody looking at that roof line when that's where they were posted,' Rowe said, noting that Crooks' head would have been clearly visible from the unmanned rooftop. Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle had been criticized for not visiting the rally site prior to her hearing on Capitol Hill last week, which prompted her resignation. Rowe said when he traveled to Butler he reenacted the shooting to see how well a sniper should have been able to spot Crooks based on the sloping of the roof. Reenactment of shooter on roof by Secret Service Acting Director Rowe and Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate testified in a rare joint Senate hearing on Tuesday. Thirty seconds before Crooks fired his shots, local law enforcement had radioed to Secret Service warning about a man with a rifle on the roof. Around three and a half minutes before that, he'd been 'observed on the roof.' Law enforcement 'should've been on that roof and the fact that they were in the building is something that I'm still trying to understand,' Rowe said when Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pressed him on whistleblower reports that law enforcement was supposed to be stationed on the roof but was not up there because it was 'too hot.' Acting Director Rowe and Deputy Secret Service Director Paul Abbate testified in a rare joint Senate hearing on Tuesday Abbate revealed that the FBI had identified a social media account they believed belonged to the shooter. 'In about the 2019, 2020 time frame, there were over 700 comments posted from this account. Some of these comments, if ultimately attributable to the shooter, appear to reflect anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant themes to espouse political violence and are described as extreme in nature,' Abbate said. Rowe said that since the shooting he'd implemented a number of changes at the Secret Service, including having security plans go through multiple supervisors before implementation, expanded use of drones, more resources for protective site communications and 'expeditious' approval of requests for personnel at protective sites with heightened security environments. Rowe and Abbate spoke to the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees after their boss, Cheatle submitted her resignation last week after a six-hour-long hearing where Republicans and Democrats accused her of stonewalling. Trump assassination attempt timeline, according to Secret Service acting director July 7: Crooks travels to rally site to spend 20 minutes doing reconnaissance July 12: Shooter visits Clairton Sportsmen's Club to practice shooting July 13, 10 a.m.: Shooter visits rally site again 90 minutes before shooting: local law enforcement 'suspicious' of Crooks 20 minutes before Trump takes stage, 30 minutes before shooting: Secret Service made aware of an individual with a rangefinder 10 minutes before Trump takes stage, 20 minutes before shooting: Secret Service counter sniper team given photograph of the 'suspicious subject' 3.5 minutes before shooting: Crooks spotted on the roof 30 seconds before shooting: Crooks seen with a gun Advertisement In his opening statement the Homeland Security Committee's top Republican Rand Paul revealed that local law enforcement had told his office they'd warned the Secret Service about the vulnerabilities of the rooftop where Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots at the president. 'Local law enforcement told my staff that they specifically flagged the vulnerability of the building to the Secret Service, and were told that it would be taken care of. Clearly, these vulnerabilities were not addressed.' Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., asked why more action wasn't taken when Crooks was seen to be holding a range finder 30 minutes before the shooting. 'I thought I had read that it was a golf range finder. Nonetheless, it still would have provided him the ability to provide the distance that he was away from his intended target.' 'Wasn't that enough?' Durbin asked. 'As far as raising suspicion, yes I think.' In another heated moment, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pressed Rowe on why no one had been fired for the security breach yet. 'Has the Person who decided, who made the decision to send Donald Trump on stage knowing that you had a security situation. Has that person been relieved of duty?' Hawley asked. 'No sir they haven't,' said Rowe. 'Has the person who decided not to pull the former president off of stage when you knew that in your work the locals were working a serious security situation? Has that person been relieved of duty?' 'No, sir. Again, I refer you back to my original answer that we are investigating this through a mission assurance' Rowe said. 'What more do you need to investigate? To know exactly what you need to investigate to know the failures that something ought to be held accountable? What more do you need to know?' Hawley interjected. 'What I need to know is exactly what happened ... I will not rush to judgment. People will be held accountable and I will do so with integrity, and not rush to judgment and put people like unfairly persecuted.' On Monday new text messages revealed local law enforcement officers working former President Donald Trump's Butler, Pennsylvania, rally were severely understaffed ahead of the attempted assassination. During the tragic rally, Trump was shot in the ear and a former volunteer firefighter lost his life after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from the roof of a nearby building just outside the security perimeter. Bombshell new text messages between the Beaver County emergency services team from the days leading up to the rally show that there was a staffing shortage. On July 8, five days before the rally, an unnamed team leader officer wrote in a text chat that they had been 'requested by Butler to assist' with Trump's rally and needed six people to step up for the 12-hour detail. Two offered to do so for the whole time, and two more offered to split the Saturday shift. The law enforcement leader wrote in the thread that he only had a few people available to work the event because 'everyone else is either working, on vacation or hurt.' The never-seen-before messages also lay out a timeline of nearly 90 minutes from between the identification of Crooks and his deadly fire. New messages, bodycam footage and law enforcement debrief were obtained by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who is conducting oversight of the event. The messages showed that law enforcement were aware of Crooks, whom they spotted more than an hour and a half before Trump took the stage. At 4:26 p.m., a Beaver County sniper finished his shift and departed the AGR building, where Crooks was able to access and take his shots from. As the sniper left the building, he texted a chain about a suspicious person he'd spotted - which turned out to be Crooks. 'Someone followed our lead and snuck in and parked by our cars just so you know,' read one message. 'I'm just letting you know because you see me go out with my rifle and put it in my car so he knows you guys are up there.' The officer noted that he was sitting at a picnic table 'about 50 yards from the exit.' 'That bike was not there when I pulled out. Maybe have them check that car,' they went on. Later on, officers exchanged photos of Crooks, who had then been marked a 'suspicious person,' at 5:38 p.m., over 30 minutes before Trump was shot. 'Kid learning (sic) around building we are in. I did see him with a range finder looking towards stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS snipers to look out. Another officer asked what direction Crooks was headed, to which an unnamed officer replied, 'if I had to guess toward the back. Away from the event.' It comes after a whistleblower last week revealed Secret Service stood in the way of using drone technology to survey the scene of the Butler rally where an assassin tried to shoot former President Donald Trump. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., revealed last week that one whistleblower had told his office the night before the rally Secret Service 'repeatedly denied offers from a local law enforcement partner to utilize drone technology to secure the rally.' The whistleblower alleged that after the shooting Secret Service 'changed course and asked the local partner to deploy the drone technology to surveil the site in the aftermath.' A New Jersey mom accused of drowning her two daughters appeared emotionless as she faced murder charges in court this week. Naomi Elkins, 27, allegedly told police she stabbed her one-year-old child before drowning her and her three-year-old sister in the Orthodox Jewish community of Lakewood. Elkins was seen in court on Monday and waived her right to a bail hearing, agreeing to stay in custody as she awaits trial on two counts of murder. Police say Elkins said she felt she 'needed to kill the children for religious purposes' after she returned home from working at a day care last month. Elkins's attorney Mitchell Ansell has said that Elkins 'has a well-documented history of severe mental illness, which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events.' Naomi Elkins, 27, told police she stabbed her one-year-old child before drowning her and her three-year-old sister in the Orthodox Jewish community of Lakewood A pretrial hearing was scheduled for October 7. Elkins admitted 'that she knew that it was illegal to kill her children and that what she did was wrong,' arrest documents said. She allegedly brought one of the children into a bathroom at her home, and held her underwater for about two to three minutes. At that point, the arrest documents say, the other child ran into a second bathroom, screaming. Elkins is then accused of following that daughter into the bathroom, and running a bath before holding the child underwater. The mother allegedly claimed she felt she 'needed to kill the children for religious purposes' after she returned home from working at a day care last month Elkins is said to have told the officers she realized she had done something wrong, and called Hatzolah Medical Services 'She said that she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time,' an affidavit says. Elkins allegedly told cops she stabbed and 'slightly punctured' one of the daughters with a knife before running the bath - with cops later finding a serrated knife with a red handle in the hallway bathroom sink. She is then accused of following that daughter into the bathroom, and started running a bath - before holding the child underwater. 'She said that she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time,' an affidavit says. Elkins is said to have told the officers she realized she had done something wrong, and called Hatzolah Medical Services - a Jewish volunteer ambulance program - telling dispatchers there she had hurt her children. Elkins called Hatzolah Medical Services - a Jewish volunteer ambulance program - in the aftermath telling them she had hurt her children A children's tricycle and a swing set was also seen outside of the home where the children had been murdered First responders who rushed to the scene found the one year old with a 'deep laceration in the middle of her stomach and superficial wound on the left side of her back,' arrest records show. EMTs desperately tried to give the children lifesaving aid, but they were both eventually pronounced dead on the scene. Elkins' family has said she has a history of mental health issues. 'The Elkins family is deeply saddened by the tragic events that have occurred involving Naomi Elkins and her two young children,' they said in a statement provided by her defense team on Thursday. 'The sad truth is Naomi Elkins has a well-documented history of severe mental illness, which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events. 'While we acknowledge the seriousness of the charges that she is facing and respect some [sic], we also believe it's important to recognize the incredible complexities presented by mental health challenges. 'We are committed to pursuing the most just and fair outcome through the legal system, taking into account all of the circumstances involved,' they concluded. Taylor Swift fans have raised more than 100,000 for the children's hospital where the young victims of the Southport stabbing were rushed to yesterday afternoon. Three little girls have now died while five others remain in a critical condition following the horrific attack that took place as they attended a dance class themed around the American superstar's songs. Merseyside Police confirmed this morning that a 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident. Reacting to the news, Swift posted an emotional message this morning where she said she was in complete 'shock' over the 'loss of life and announce, and the horrendous trauma on everyone who was there'. Now her fanbase, known as Swifties, have begun a fundraiser for Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where many of the youngsters were airlifted to after yesterday's tragedy. Earlier today, 'happy smiley' Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday following the attack Mourners lay followers in Southport after three little girls died and others were injured 'Swifties for Soutport' has raised more than 131,000 by 3.30pm today on a Just Giving Site More than 131, 000 had been raised at 3.30pm today on a Just Giving site called 'Swifties for Southport', which was created for those affected. It comes as the three young girls who sadly died have been named. Bebe King, six, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack. Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday. And earlier today, 'happy smiley' Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. Cristina Jones, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire and Holly Goldring from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, started the JustGiving page to ease the 'financial burden' on the families involved. 'What compelled us was we were thinking about the fact that these families are going through just unimaginable hell right now,' Ms Jones said. 'It feels really nice we've done something really positive. 'I firmly believe there's nothing we can do to make the families feel better because of what they're going through right now, but if we've taken some sort of burden from them, financial or whatever, it's nice to know that we've done what we can do.' Ms Jones added she is 'thinking of them and we're praying for them' and confirmed all proceeds will go directly to Alder Hey Children's Charity, in honour of the hospital where the victims are being treated. 'We just couldn't sit back and allow more stress onto two families that are going through the worst possible thing you could go through,' she explained. 'We have no intentions of reaching out to the families ourselves - it will be Alder Hey who will help in terms of the family getting money, we will keep a respectable distance.' Swift posted an emotional message this morning where she said she was in complete 'shock' over the 'loss of life and announce, and the horrendous trauma on everyone who was there' Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday Ms Jones said it was 'really lovely' to see Swift share a statement: 'She's bringing it to attention and letting the families know she's well aware and is thinking of them.' Meanwhile, Ms Goldring, 27, said it is 'within Swifties nature to care and love and support each other'. The sales manager hopes the fundraiser can offer the family 'an ounce of comfort' through the 'utter turmoil' of losing their children to Monday's knife attack. 'The last thing a family should be worrying about is the how they're doing to pay for the funeral of their little girl,' Ms Goldring said. 'It's giving the families that relief in a time of complete and utter turmoil. It's their living nightmare and just knowing they have an entire community standing behind them. 'We are just sending all of our love, and we are so incredibly sorry for what has happened. Nothing can change what happened , but we just hope that this provides even an ounce of comfort.' Responding to the stabbing, Swift took her social media accounts to share her condolences to the family's of the children who lost their lives and those injured. 'The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and I'm just completely in shock,' she wrote on Instagram today. Cristina Jones, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire and Holly Goldring (pictured) from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, started the JustGiving page to ease the 'financial burden' on the families involved 'What compelled us was we were thinking about the fact that these families are going through just unimaginable hell right now,' Ms Jones (pictured) said Ms Goldring, 27, (pictured at a Swift concert) said it is 'within Swifties nature to care and love and support each other' Taylor Swift said she is 'completely in shock' after the 'horror' of the Southport knife attack The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop 'The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. 'These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.' Along with the children who were harmed while attending Swift themed yoga and dance workshop two women were also injured after bravely trying to protect them. Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the yoga and bracelet making class is among the victims fighting for her life in hospital after the 'ferocious attack'. She helped save 16 children from the 25-strong class alongside her co-organiser Heidi Barlow. The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something 'like a horror movie', witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said. Today, flowers, cuddly toys and cards were left at the scene on Hart Street in tribute to the victims. Amongst those were Swift themed friendship bracelet - often traded at her concert - with the names of her songs written on them. Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack Firefighters from Merseyside joined members of the public in paying tribute to those killed and injured in the stabbings As well as the Swift fundraiser, children's entertainer Richard Townes, from Southport, has set up a GoFundMe for families affected by Monday's knife attack. A father to a young child, he said parents in the area are now 'terrified' of sending their children to summer groups. 'This is the worst tragedy to happen in Southport's history, as far as I'm aware,' the 39-year-old born in Southport said. 'Everyone has been affected in some way, shape or form - everyone knows someone impacted. 'This is supposed to be the start of the summer holidays and parents in WhatsApp groups are now terrified of sending their children to summer clubs. 'I have a five-year-old daughter who could have just as easily been at the class - I feel helpless and like I can't do anything. 'This fundraiser is the only thing I can do to help, I want to raise some money to help reduce the financial implications for the families involved.' Another GoFundMe has also been set up for the family of little Alice, raising 2,360 so far. Donald Trump would 'absolutely' change Air Force One's colors to his preferred dark blue and red scheme, according to a new report on Tuesday, even if it would have a dangerous side effect on the presidential plane. A former White House official told Politico that 'absolutely; 100 percent' that Trump would change the plane's light blue and white color design to the one that mimics his private plane Trump Force One. Trump made much fanfare of his plan to change the colors of the iconic presidential plane to ones that he preferred. The government, during his administration, contracted with Boeing for two new 747-8s to replace the existing presidential aircraft. Then-President Trump bragged about his negotiating skills with company, saying that he said saved taxpayers money. And he was so proud of his plan he kept a model of the new Air Force One - painted dark blue, deep red, and pure white - on the coffee table in the Oval Office where it popped up in numerous photographs during his administration. He later took it with him when he left the White House and displayed it at his Palm Beach home, Mar-a-Lago. Then-President Trump with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seen with Trump's design for Air Force One - in the Oval Office in June 2019 But when Joe Biden became president, he reversed Trump's plans for the plane and reverted it to its classic light blue and white scheme, colors originally picked by Jackie Kennedy. Boeing, however, is still working on the two new aircraft, which are on track to be delivered in 2026 and 2027, years late and much over budget. But the delay means there is time for Trump, if he wins the White House in November, to change the colors on the aircraft back to his preference. Trump's original plan for the two planes called for the underside of the plane and its engine area to be painted dark blue. But that would contribute to excessive temperatures on the plane, which would require the plane to incorporate some modifications to cool some of its components. And Boeing would have to pay out-of-pocket to make the fix. The Biden administration said it changed the colors back to the original in order to avoid the problem. The former official said he expects Trump to change the colors back because of how proud the former president was of the design change. 'The model was on the coffee table in the Oval Office and he pointed it out many times to foreign and domestic visitors,' the person told Politico. 'He thought it represented America more and represented strength, the red, white and blue.' The model of Donald Trump's proposed revision of the color scheme of Air Force One that was once in the Oval Office on display on a coffee table in the lobby of Mar-A-Lago Trump revealed his redesign in 2019. The new color scheme resembled the color scheme of Trump's personal Boeing 757, which was dubbed 'Trump Force One.' The presidential plane is essentially a flying White House. It contains classified communication gear to allow the president to be in constant communication with the outside world and features special items like a surgery suite. Unlike a normal 747, the plane has its own retractable stairways, for the rear entrance and the front entrance. And its own baggage loader so it can be entirely self serviceable if it needs to be. It also has an in-flight refueling system that gives it the ability to stay up in the air indefinitely. President Joe Biden changed Trump's color scheme back to the classic blue and white Jackie Kennnedy, the first lady at the time, worked with an industrial designer on the look and feel of the jets that the last 11 presidents have flown on Trump's personal Boeing 757, dubbed 'Trump Force One' has a similar color scheme to what he wants for the new Air Force One The aircraft hadn't been upgraded in years, which is what led to the contract with Boeing. Trump's deal involved a fixed price of $3.9 billion, leaving Boeing to foot the bill for any design changes or ballooning costs. Now the program is already more than $2 billion over budget. Boeing blamed the COVID pandemic and supply-chain issues for the delays along with issues with contractors. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said in 2022 the company should have refused Trump's terms for building the planes. This is the bizarre moment a strange object flew into a home and sent a man flying out the entrance. The surveillance video, believed to be shot in Columbia on July 21, showed the individual walking up the steps and entering the residence. About 14 seconds elapsed when the object appeared out of nowhere in the camera and slammed into the door frame. The force of the impact knocked the man backwards and sent him crashing to the ground. A man approaches a home before a strange object slammed into the home and knocked him to the ground. The incident allegedly took place in Colombia, according to the reddit user who posted the surveillance video clip It's unknown what type of object was spotted on camera flying into a residence and knocking a man out. The incident occurred in the evening of July 21 in Colombia, according to a reddit user He lay motionless until two individuals walked over to check on his well-being. The incident took place in Colombia, according to a Reddit user to shared the video clip on Sunday. 'So this happened a few days ago in my hometown in Colombia. A really fast and strange object knocked a man down to the floor thru the stairs,' they claimed. 'He had 24 stitches at the hospital. I wouldn't classify this as an orb as some my friends think neither an animal, what do you guys think?' DailyMail.com reached out to the Colombia National Police, but has been unable to confirm it the incident in fact took place in the South American nation. Many Reddit users were left searching of answers in identifying the object. The man was lying motionless on the ground next to the steps of a home after he was strangely knocked out of the residence by an unknown flying object. A reddit user who shared the viral video clip claims the incident took place in Colombia. DailyMail.com reached out to the Colombia National Police for comment Bystanders check on the man moments after he was knocked out of a home by a strange flying object. The Reddit user who shared the video clip claimed the victim received 24 stitches 'Scrubbing this video has only made me more confused. I don't think it's a bug. It comes out from behind that round thing not from out of screen,' one person wrote. 'There is an odd light that shines to the right of the round object the moment before it appears and the door does not budge until the flying object arrives so coincidence seems unlikely. I need to know what this (guy's) memory of this moment is.' Another user questioned whether there the object was a bug and if the man was assaulted, while others wondered if the object was tied to a car accident. 'Does he have a mark from getting hit by anything? Honestly looks like a bug and like someone pushed him out the door,' the Reddit user said. 'My first thought was car accident or something nearby and something like flying off the car. Is there a busy road nearby? It's weird.' However, the person who shared the video claimed that the closest road to the home was about 1,300 feet away. A trio of fake spiritualists conned a pensioner out of 200,000 after convincing her to hand over all her cash and jewels for them to be 'cleansed' of evil spirts. The gang of three female charlatans allegedly duped the 73-year-old into stuffing all her money and jewellery in a bag so they could perform a 'protection ritual' on them under the guise it would keep her family safe. But unbeknown to the victim, the crooks swapped her possessions with a bag of flour and a bottle of water bought from a Sainsbury's shop. They then told the unwitting pensioner to meet them seven days later in Newport city centre, south Wales - a meeting the gang never turned up for. Now Welsh police have launched a manhunt to track down the trio of fraudsters - who are believed to be of Chinese descent and spoke Cantonese - and have released CCTV footage of one of the suspects. Police in Wales are hunting a gang of fake 'spiritual healers' after a pensioner was duped out of her money and jewellery. Pictured is one of the suspects The group of three crooks pledged to provide the woman, aged 73, a ritual that would protect her family. Pictured is one of the suspects entering a Sainsbury's shop 'Three unknown women are alleged to have tricked the victim into believing there were harmful spirits around her that would affect her family, and that an procedure had to be performed on all her cash and jewellery in her house to cleanse those spirits,' Police Staff Investigator Jay Clark told MailOnline. 'One of the suspects is alleged to have gone with the victim to her home to collect the money and jewellery where it was put into a bag; they both returned to Newport city centre. 'While the victim was distracted, one of the women is believed to have replaced the cash inside the bag with flour. 'The victim was then handed back the bag, told to take it home and wait for seven days before opening the bag to ensure that the harmful spirits were gone. As arranged, the victim returned to Newport city centre to meet the three women seven days later. When the victim arrived, none of the three unknown women were present to meet her. 'The victim returned home. She opened the bag to discover that the cash had been replaced by bags of flour and a bottle of water.' The CCTV video released by police shows one of the suspects walking into a Sainsbury's shop, carrying a pink bag and wearing a dark jacket. The suspect is seen at the till paying for what is believed to be a bag of flour and bottle of water used to trick the pensioner out of her treasures The alleged fraudster is caught flashing a smile while at the till of the retailer, where she is believed to have purchased the bag of flower and bottle of water. The three women allegedly involved in the heist are described as having short black hair, aged between 30 and 50, with the 'ability to speak Cantonese'. 'The three women allegedly befriended a 73-year-old woman while in Newport city centre and offered to organise the ritual to help the victim and keep her family safe in exchange for money,' a police spokesman added. 'Officers have carried out various enquiries and are now asking for help to identify this woman who was seen in the area and may be able to help.' Anyone with information or who recognise the wanted woman are urged to call police on 101 quoting reference 2400168940. A homeowner was left stunned after she arrived home to find a family using her private swimming pool. Maryse Chausse pulled up outside her home in Repentigny, Canada to discover the strangers taking a dip. They told her they had rented out the pool for an hour for $35 using the app Swimply. The pool had been listed by a former tenant who moved out of the property in 2022. 'Is this the first time she's done this? I can't say. We're not always at home,' she told Noovo Info. Homeowner Maryse Chausse was left stunned after she arrived home to find a family using her private swimming pool 'We arrived and there was a car in the parking spot. There was a little family swimming in the pool, with three cute little girls.' The listing stated that parties at the heated pool were not allowed, but permitted smoking, alcohol and loud music. Pets were allowed as long as their owners clean up after them. Chausse reported the ad to the app and it was swiftly removed, however she has raised concerns over the possible dangers. 'The ladder was removed because I had just done a major cleaning in the pool and they put it back,' she said. Chausse pulled up outside her home in Repentigny, Canada to discover the strangers taking a dip The pool had been listed on the Swimply app by a former tenant who moved out of the property in 2022 She reported the situation to the police but was told they could not do anything as there was no criminal intent on the family's part. Chausse is now eying up a locked fence to block of access to her yard. 'I don't want to spend my summer watching my yard,' she said. She is not the only homeowner to have found herself in the bizarre situation. Last year, Eric and Katalin Thune were left speechless after they were informed people were using their California home's pool while it was on the market. She reported the situation to the police but was told they could not do anything as there was no criminal intent on the family's part. Thune's pool cleaner informed him of the situation and put him on the phone with the family who said they had rented out the pool using Swimply. 'How could somebody post a listing without verifying that they actually owned the property?' Thune told NBC. Swimply is 'an online marketplace for hourly rentals of pools, courts, backyards, and more', according to the app. There are more than 25,000 pools listed for rental across the US and Canada. Hosts are given a $1 million insurance policy. The FBI revealed they found a social media account possibly tied to Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks that could shine light on the motive behind his assassination attempt. So far very little has been uncovered about Crooks and what led to his shooting of Trump, which injured others and fatally wounded former firefighter Corey Comperatore on July 13. The bombshell developments in the investigation into the assassination attempt at Trump's Butler, Pennsylvania, rally came during a Senate hearing Tuesday. Congress dragged in the Secret Service's new acting head Ronald Rowe and the number two at the FBI, Deputy Director Paul Abbate, to testify on the shooting. Abbate revealed that at least one social media account on an unnamed platform believed to be associated with Crooks was discovered by the FBI. That account posted over 700 comments between 2019 and 2020, he added. 'Some of these comments ... appear to reflect anti-Semitic and anti-immigration themes to espouse political violence,' Abbate said. Acting Director of the U.S. Secret Service, Ronald L. Rowe, Jr. and Deputy Director of the FBI Paul Abbate are sworn-in before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the attempted assassination of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 30, 2024 He wouldn't confirm the name of the social media platform until after his agents could prove with 100% certainty Crooks made the posts. Abbate said the posts were 'extreme in nature,' but that the FBI is still determining whether the account actually belonged to Crooks. He also disclosed that the agency is still working to identify and infiltrate Crooks's various 'encrypted' accounts that could shine light on his motive. That angered Sen. Lindsey Graham who wanted more information on his. motive. 'So you're telling me, the guy that took eight shots at the president, former president, has apps that we can't get into, that may if you could get into [them] reveal some relevant information.' 'That is correct, senator,' the officials responded. This concerned Graham who later pushed for better methods to infiltrate encrypted accounts. 'We need a solution that provides lawful access,' the officials noted, inferring current options only provide illegal entry into Crooks's suspected accounts. Thomas Crooks shown in his high school yearbook from 2020. Little is known about the reclusive shooter Images show law enforcement approaching the building from where Crooks shot just minutes before he opened fire at the rally Former President Donald Trump raises his fist after being shot in the ear by Crooks on July 13 In addition to the online account discoveries, the number two man at the FBI disclosed more about the timeline behind the assassination attempt. 'Approximately 25 minutes prior to the shooting, the U.S. Secret Service command post was notified of a suspicious person,' Abbate testified. The Secret Service acting director also admitted he had no defense as for why the rooftop where Crooks fired shots toward former President Trump was left open. 'I went to the roof of the AGR building where the assailant fired shots, and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight.' 'What I saw made me ashamed as a career law enforcement officer and a 25 year veteran with the Secret Service. I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured,' he told Congress on Tuesday. Crooks fired eight rounds toward Trump, grazing him with a bullet in his ear. 'When I laid in that position I could not, will not understand why there was not better coverage or at least somebody looking at that roof line when that's where they were posted,' Rowe said, noting that Crooks' head would have been clearly visible from the unmanned rooftop. Thirty seconds before Crooks fired his shots, local law enforcement had radioed to Secret Service warning about a man with a rifle on the roof. Around three and a half minutes before that, he'd been 'observed on the roof.' Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle appears before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on oversight of the Secret Service on July 23, 2024. She resigned the day after the hearing Trump assassination attempt timeline, according to Secret Service acting director July 7: Crooks travels to rally site to spend 20 minutes doing reconnaissance July 12: Shooter visits Clairton Sportsmen's Club to practice shooting July 13, 10 a.m.: Shooter visits rally site again 90 minutes before shooting: local law enforcement 'suspicious' of Crooks 20 minutes before Trump takes stage, 30 minutes before shooting: Secret Service made aware of an individual with a rangefinder 10 minutes before Trump takes stage, 20 minutes before shooting: Secret Service counter sniper team given photograph of the 'suspicious subject' 3.5 minutes before shooting: Crooks spotted on the roof 30 seconds before shooting: Crooks seen with a gun Advertisement Rowe said that since the shooting he'd implemented a number of changes at the Secret Service, including having security plans go through multiple supervisors before implementation, expanded use of drones, more resources for protective site communications and 'expeditious' approval of requests for personnel at protective sites with heightened security environments. Rowe and Abbate spoke to the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees after their boss, former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle submitted her resignation last week after a six-hour-long hearing where Republicans and Democrats accused her of stonewalling. The FBI and Secret Service officials also disclosed a more accurate timeline of events leading up to the shooting. Almost a week before the rally, Crooks scouted the site of the event, spending 20 minutes doing reconnaissance on the location, they shared. Just a day before the shooting Crooks went to a shooting range to practice his shot. The morning of the July 13 rally, Crooks again visited the grounds, the officials said. Abbate and Rowe also disclosed Crooks's activity on the day of the shooting and what authorities did in response. Local law enforcement marked Crooks as 'suspicious' 90 minutes before he opened fire, the officials shared. Secret Service was informed that the would-be assassin had a range finder 30 minutes before the shooting occurred. Minutes later, just 20 before the shooting, the Secret Service counter sniper team was given a photo of the 'suspicious suspect.' Then, 3.5 minutes before Crooks opened fire, he was spotted on the roof. The officials also disclosed that Crooks was seen with a gun on the roof 30 seconds before firing his first shot. 'Within 15.5 seconds of his first shot, hes neutralized,' Rowe testified about how quickly Crooks was killed after opening fire. Deputy Director of the FBI Paul Abbate testified that the agency is still working to crack encrypted online accounts related to Crooks But prior to his first shot Secret Service was unaware of his location, the Secret Service acting chief added. He noted that the counter snipers did not see him because he was initially hiding on the other side of the roof. 'I believe he was obscured by that roof,' Rowe testified. It's one of the wealthiest states in America, with residents of its fanciest zip code luxuriating in $3 million red-brick apartments. But the writing is on the wall for Massachusetts, says an alarming new study. The 50,000 non-legal migrants who've entered the state since Joe Biden became president are putting a costly strain on schools, healthcare, and other services. Jessica Vaughan, author of the report for the Center for Immigration Studies, says the state is destined for bankruptcy. That's because migrants will drain state coffers of a staggering $1.8 billion over the next two years. Migrants from Haiti and elsewhere load into a van in Boston headed to a shelter in Quincy, Massachusetts Even though some non-legal migrants will work and pay taxes, this revenue will not come close to the cost of social services for all 355,000 of them, says Vaughan. 'These migrants represent a looming fiscal disaster for taxpayers in Massachusetts,' Vaughan told the Mail. 'Even if they are working, they are not equipped with skills and education to avoid being a drain on public coffers.' Her report comes amid a testy 2024 presidential race, with Republican nominee Donald Trump using immigration as a weapon against his rival, the Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Migration expert Jessica Vaughan Republicans dub Harris a failed 'border czar,' as she was tasked with tackling the root causes of migration from Central America, even as illegal border crossings smashed records. Still, the number of illegal entries has dropped in recent months to levels not seen since the Trump administration, and it remains unclear how the issue will drive voting in November. Trump, for his part, has vowed to launch mass deportations if he returns to the White House. Though more than 2,000 miles from the southern border, Massachusetts has seen some 50,000 newcomer illegal migrants since January 2021, says the study. Some joined relatives, others sought jobs in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and other big cities. Some used buses provided by officials at the frontier, and a few dozen were controversially flown to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard by Florida's Republican Gov Ron DeSantis. They were at first greeted with open arms by a Blue state that affords 'sanctuary' protections to migrants. Hundreds rallied for an end to border crossings, sanctuary cities, and housing for undocumented immigrants in Boston, Massachusetts, in May Migrants are no longer allowed to sleep overnight at Boston's Logan Airport A taxpayer funded class in computer skills for the influx of migrants in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston More than half of Americans want to see mass roundups and deportations of undocumented immigrants In recent months, however, the mood has changed to frustration. Gov. Maura Healey recently announced that migrants would no longer be allowed to sleep overnight at Boston's Logan Airport, after dozens of families had been bedding down there for months. Migrants slept at the emergency department of Boston Medical Center until last year, when they were told to stop. Still, newcomers keep on showing up at the facility and have been seen resting outside on benches. Poll Does the Biden administration have a grip on immigration? Yes No Not sure Does the Biden administration have a grip on immigration? Yes 390 votes No 17480 votes Not sure 148 votes Now share your opinion Plans for a shelter for migrant families on Cape Cod have met stiff opposition from residents, who called the proposal a 'nightmare.' The Republican-led city of Taunton was so vexed by state officials sending migrants to an emergency shelter in its 155-room Clarion Hotel that it sued the owners for safety violations. Vaughan's report also documents the outrages committed by law-breaking migrants in Massachusetts. They include a cocaine-smuggling Dominican, a Russian fraudster, and a Guatemalan man who was arrested for child rape. But the most shocking case involves Haitian migrant Cory Alvarez, 26, who is behind bars fighting charges that he raped a disabled teen girl at his shelter in the Comfort Inn in Rockland. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, has called for action at the border and money to servuces running on in her cash-strapped state A few dozen migrants were controversially flown to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard by Florida's Republican Gov Ron DeSantis. Some 30 migrant families were bedding down in the Terminal E at Boston's Logan International Airport in January The influx of migrants has further strained social services in a state that was already battling troubling levels of homelessness Massachusetts already spends $1 billion each year on emergency shelters, but Vaughan says this masks the real cost on taxpayers. The influx of newcomers under Biden, including some 10,000 children, 8,500 of whom travelled without an adult, is further straining education, healthcare, and other social services, it adds. Over the next two years, the combined cost of food stamps, schooling, health care, and public safety could reach a jaw-dropping $1.8 billion, says Vaughan. That 'fiscal time bomb' represents a sizable chunk of the state's $58 billion budget. Gov. Healey, a Democrat, in January joined eight counterparts from other migrant-hit states, asked the White House and Congress for action at the border and billions of extra dollars to keep services running. But, according to Vaughan, even an emergency grant won't solve Massachusetts' spending woes over the coming years. Instead, state lawmakers need to cut welfare payouts to migrants and get tough with employers who hire those without papers, she said. They should also end sanctuary policies that stop immigration officers from launching deportation raids, and even 'tap into' the remittance flowers migrants send back to their families overseas, she added. The Governor's office did not answer our request for comment. The White House and other migration experts have argued that newcomers often work hard, pay taxes and help to grow an economy. The man who threw himself to his death from the deck of the Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas in May has been identified as a highly decorated retired military veteran with PTSD. Lieutenant Colonel James Bryan Wright, 53, was on the first day of a week-long cruise from Florida to the Caribbean with his wife Tracie when passengers raised the alarm about a man overboard at 7.50am on May 26. A newly-released incident report from the Miami-Dade Police department reveals that the couple from Gaston, South Carolina, had a fight in their cabin shortly before he disappeared 300 miles off the Florida coast. 'Contact was made with Mrs Wright who advised that her and her husband were involved in a physical altercation which prompted Mrs Wright to exit the cabin leaving Mr Wright inside the cabin,' it records. 'Shortly after the altercation Mr Wright exited the cabin at which point he made his way to Deck Five where he entered a secured gated area and proceeded to jump off the ship.' Lieutenant Colonel James Bryan Wright, 53, jumped from the fifth deck of the Icon of the Seas The world's largest cruise ship was on the first day of a week-long cruise from Florida to the Caribbean when passengers raised the alarm about a man overboard at 7.50am on May 26. The world's largest cruise ship was ordered to halt as a search began for the missing father-of-two. Passengers shared images of the rescue on social media as the search continued, with some saying he had been found alive. Two hours after he jumped he was found floating by one of the ship's rescue boats before being brought back on board where staff attempted unsuccessfully to resuscitate him before he was declared dead at 9.58am. An obituary reveals that he spent 30 years in the military after enrolling with the South Carolina Air National Guard in 1988. In 2012 he was stationed at the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan as Director of Manpower and Personnel for the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, and he retired in 2018 as Deputy Director of Human Resources-Joint Force Headquarters for the South Carolina National Guard. 'Bryan was compassionate about the men and women who served under him,' his obituary notes. 'During his tour in Afghanistan, Bryan flew into many combat zones visiting soldiers and personnel assigned to his command. 'He had the honor of presenting numerous Purple Hearts and other distinguished decorations to many heroes who served so selflessly to protect the freedoms we all enjoy.' Wright's son Nicholas, a law graduate of The Citadel Military College in South Carolina had only got married in January of last year Wright's daughter, Victoria, is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Batesburg-Leesville In a tragic twist it emerged that the veteran's younger brother William, 49, died just two days after Wright's death The cruise was thrown into chaos after the alarm was raised on board. Zachary Normand said his fellow passengers were informed that a rescue mission was to take place and that the ship would be turning around. He was in the dining room eating breakfast with some 300 others when the ship's captain made an announcement that the man had been found. 'Everyone in the dining room clapped and we're like 'yeah',' Normand told the New York Post. 'We assumed that the guy was fine.' It was only later they found out the passenger had died. To Normandin's surprise, he said the atmosphere onboard was entirely surreal as most people simply continued to enjoy their vacation as if nothing had happened. 'I don't think everyone knows about the guy dying. I think it's kind of purposely silenced,' Normandin added. Wright won a host of decorations during his decades in the military including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and Army Commendation Medal. The family were members of the Gantt Street Baptist Church in Gaston where his daughter, Victoria, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner plays bass guitar. His son Nicholas is a law graduate of The Citadel Military College in South Carolina and married his long-term girlfriend Emily in January last year. Wright was in critical condition when brought back to the ship where he was declared dead but passengers cheered and celebrated after he was found, not realizing he had died The vessel was stopped for two hours while crews helped with the search and rescue mission In a tragic twist it emerged that the veteran's younger brother William, 49, died just two days after Wright's death. The 1,200-foot-long Icon of the Seas only took its first voyage in January. The $2 billion ship holds 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, along with a 55ft artificial waterfall, 40 dining venues and bars, seven swimming pools including a 40,000-gallon 'lake', 50 musicians and comedians, and a 16-piece orchestra. In April, 20-year-old Levion Parker jumped overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in front of his horrified family. The 18-story Liberty of the Seas was traveling between Cuba and the Bahamas' Grand Inagua Island when the tragedy took place. Wright was buried with military honors at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina. Baby Reindeer's 'real-life Martha' sent a vile email appearing to threaten to 'buy a gun' if Sadiq Khan was elected as Mayor of London. Fiona Harvey, who believes she is the inspiration behind the woman portrayed in Richard Gadd's smash-hit Netflix show, allegedly wrote the message about Mr Khan back in May 2016. The email has come to light as part of the 58-year-old's 135million lawsuit against Netflix in America. She is suing the streaming giant for defamation, negligence and privacy violations. Now, as part of documents released in the case, an email allegedly from the Scottish lawyer has been revealed in which it's claimed she wrote 'if we get rid of that Khan everyone will sleep easy'. The diatribe, which was seemingly incoherent at times, also referenced concerns over terrorism should Mr Khan be elected as London mayor, with Ms Harvey allegedly writing 'we don't want ISIL (Islamic State) shooting us'. The woman claiming to have been the inspiration of Martha Scott (pictured) in the Netflix smash-hit show Baby Reindeer allegedly wrote an email saying she would 'buy a gun' if Sadiq Khan was elected as London mayor Fiona Harvey, 49, (pictured) claims she is the 'real-life' Martha portrayed in the Netflix show An email, which has come to light as part of Ms Harvey's 135million lawsuit against Netflix, Ms Harvey allegedly wrote 'If we get rid of that Khan everyone will sleep easy'. London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pictured Pictured is the alleged email sent by Harvey, which was revealed in American court documents In the email, Ms Harvey apparently wrote: 'Whacked out now just need to get directions to the gun shop in case mad khan wins. 'We are... buying guns to shoot each other with just in case. 'We don't want ISIL shooting us. 'If we get rid of that Khan everyone will sleep easy. 'He should never even have been allowed to stand.' It was signed off: 'Sent from my iPhone.' It is unclear who the email was sent to, as parts of the message have been redacted. Mr Khan's office has declined to comment about the message. MailOnline has approached the Metropolitan Police for comment. Ms Harvey, 49, is demanding 135million from the streaming giant, claiming they spread 'brutal lies' because 'it was a better story than the truth'. Ms Harvey is demanding 135million from the streaming giant, claiming they spread 'brutal lies' because 'it was a better story than the truth' Ms Harvey's US legal representative Richard Roth said she has a 'very, very strong case' and he expects Ms Harvey, Gadd and Netflix executives to testify in court in California. The show, which is said to be based on the real-life experiences of comedian and writer Gadd, sees character Martha Scott - played by Jessica Gunning - stalk him after he offers her a free cup of tea in a pub where he works. However, Harvey - who denies stalking Mr Gadd - reportedly wrote hundreds of emails to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. According to The Sun, Ms Harvey bombarded Sir Keir, describing him as a 'stupid little boy' and a 'useless barrister'. It was claimed 276 emails - from two separate email addresses - were among those forwarded on by Ms Harvey to The Scottish Sun over a period of several years. Ms Harvey allegedly bombarded Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) with hundred of emails years ago In one email she is alleged to have said: 'Keir cut the crap with me you stupid little boy. 'See from now on if l complain about the slightest little thing your life won't be worth living.' In another 1,420-word message during lockdown, she is alleged to have said Labour's shadow cabinet was 'full of imbeciles' and 'yes men'. She suggested a deal had been done where unions backed Starmer for leader 'and in return you get that imbecile Angela Rayner as depute'. The news comes amid her legal battle against Netflix. In a candid interview with Piers Morgan, Ms Harvey's US lawyer Mr Roth said the fallout from the Baby Reindeer case 'could be a watershed moment for streaming TV'. Speaking about why he had taken the case, Roth said: '[It] is really just reprehensible when someone says something's 'a true story' [...]. And if Netflix is going to say this is a true story, then it better well be true. And to do that is irresponsible of them.' The miniseries starring Richard Gadd (pictured) is billed by Netflix as a 'true story' He added: 'Fiona Harvey, you've had her on your show, she's been destroyed. She'd been shattered by this. She gets death threats, she doesn't want to leave her apartment.' In the show, Martha is convicted of stalking Donny following months of harassing him - during which time she sexually assaults him, waits at the bus stop outside his house and attacks his girlfriend. Following the release of Baby Reindeer, Ms Harvey was found by viewers of the show who traced her identity online. She later identified herself as the woman who was allegedly the inspiration for the stalker in the show. Mr Roth said: 'It's so irresponsible for him to testify under oath in front of Parliament saying she was convicted when it's clear she wasn't, that's the first thing. 'The second thing you raise is that, you know, you said the word 'internet sleuths'. I think that's sort of a loose term. I could get it [Fiona's identity] on the internet. You don't have to be a sleuth It was very easy for anyone and everyone.' Speaking of Ms Harvey, Mr Roth said: 'This is a woman who was really thrust into the limelight. This is not a situation where you have a public figure, who essentially was defamed. 'This is a situation where a woman lives her own life, and she all of a sudden, found getting death threats, can't leave her apartment. 'Really, really just inappropriate. Why is Netflix not calling her up and say, 'Listen, we're about to do this story, we'd like you to look at it. We'd like to fact check''. The lawyer added: 'Honestly, she's not well, she's clammed up in her apartment. She doesn't know what to do, doesn't know where to go. She's hurting. I mean, she really has been shattered by this.' An autistic woman was devastated after a server dumped an ingredient into her cocktail without asking. Nayeli, 28, revealed that a server ruined her experience in trying the Aussie Jawssie at Outback Steakhouse in a recent TikTok video. Nayeli, who has AuDHD and an interest in sharks, was excited to pour grenadine over her cocktail like the other customers who ordered the same drink. 'It happened so fast and I didnt plan on it. I had been anticipating this experience for a long while just to have it gone in an instant,' the TikToker wrote. Nayeli held back her emotions while drinking her Aussie Jawssie but began to cry after she couldn't hold back her tears. An autistic woman named Nayeli revealed a server ruined her experience in trying the Aussie Jawssie at Outback Steakhouse @lifebynayeli please no negative comments im autistic and sharks are one of my special interests, this is a popular experience i saw people doing last year and i unfortunately wasnt able to go before. but this year my dad & step mom took me & i was so so excited!! while waiting for my drink i kept getting more excited as i watched people in tables around me order & receive their shark drinks and pour the blood into their drinks on their own. when my drink came, the server poured the blood for me without asking. it happened so fast and i didnt plan on it. it was literally devastating for me, i had been anticipating this experience for a long while just to have it gone in an instant. i tried holding back my tears as long as i could because i didnt want to make a scene or hurt the servers feelings but it didnt last long. i eventually cried & daniel & my parents were supportive. i love them and my daniel, & i feel very lucky to have them in my life . #sharkdrink #aussiejawssie #latediagnosedautistic #autisticadult #audhd #sharks original sound - nayeli Nayeli revealed in the July 16 video that she was interested in trying the cocktail since it was featured on the restaurant chain's limited-edition menu last year. She was disappointed not to try it then, but her father and stepmother took her to an Outback Steakhouse after the drink was put back on the menu. 'While waiting for my drink, I kept getting more excited as I watched people at tables around me order and receive their shark drinks and pour the "blood" into their drinks on their own,' she wrote. Her partner Daniel surprised her later that night by purchasing ingredients to make a homemade Aussie Jawssie, complete with a toy shark and grenadine to pour into it. Outback Steakhouse gave Nayeli a gift card after the incident and informed her that the server was required to pour the grenadine into her drink unless she was asked not to. Nayeli has a particular interest in sharks, and was excited to try the limited time drink after it debuted at the restaurant chain last year Daniel, Nayeli's boyfriend, made a homemade Aussie Jawssie cocktail, complete with all ingredients need for her to have a positive experience Nayeli revealed in a July 25 TikTok video that she and Daniel returned to the restaurant and asked to pour the grenadine by herself in advance. All was going well until their server revealed the restaurant 'ran out of sharks.' 'They only had crocodiles left... I did have fun pouring the crocodile, but it just wasnt the same,' Nayeli wrote. 'Thankfully before the drink came I started reminding myself that if anything wrong happened I would be okay and so when the drink came out, I managed to keep it together.' Outback Steakhouse servers are required to pour grenadine into Aussie Jawssies unless told otherwise by the customer TikTok users left positive comments for Nayeli and praised Daniel for being a supportive partner. 'Honestly, I totally get it, and the one your partner made was probably 10x better anyway. Im glad you did get to experience exactly what you wanted,' wrote a commenter. At least three TikTokers claimed to be Outback Steakhouse employees, and one revealed that servers hardly pour the grenadine themselves. The alleged employee wrote: 'Im a waitress at Outback, and they told us were supposed to pour the grenadine into the drink for the customers, but most of us never do it for them because thats the best part.' Daily Mail has reached out to Outback Steakhouse for comment. A Utah airport notorious for plane crashes has sparked debate about the safety of its location, with local officials calling for the facility to be relocated. Roy Mayor Robert Dandoy is leading the charge to move the airport, after a series of plane crashes near Utah's Ogden-Hinckley Airport in recent years. The latest incident occurred just last Wednesday when a small plane crashed into the yard of a home in Roy, a suburb of Ogden. While both pilots survived with injuries, the close call has sparked concerns about the airport's safety record, due to its proximity to residential areas and challenging terrain. A Utah airport notorious for plane crashes has sparked debate about the safety of its location, with some local officials calling for the facility to be relocated (Pictured: A crash near the airport on Wednesday July 24) In 2017, another fatal crash occurred on one of the city's major roadways. In 2019, a small plane crashed on a Utah highway after it made an emergency landing on the same highway last year. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer says the single-engine plane hit a billboard and crashed near Ogden-Hinckley Airport on Interstate 15. Again in 2020, a plane crash damaged two homes in Roy, resulting in fatalities. The most recent crash happened just northwest of Roy High School. 'It was a miracle that those two pilots survived,' Dandoy told KSL, referring to the recent crash. 'And it certainly was a miracle that (the) aircraft didn't land on the top of one of those houses,' 'I can't even imagine how it was able to weave through all of that and those people survived it, but that's not always going to be the case.' The latest incident occurred just last Wednesday when a small plane crashed into the yard of a home in Roy, a suburb of Ogden Roy Mayor Robert Dandoy is leading the charge to move the airport, after a series of plane crashes near Utah's Ogden-Hinckley Airport in recent years The mayor is also concerned about the fact that three schools lie within the airport's flight path, putting hundreds of students potentially at risk. Dandoy suggests relocating the airport to 'west Weber,' an area with more open space and away from residential areas. 'Where we have wide open spaces lots of places, (we would) certainly be able to control encroachment, if it was moved out to west Weber,' Dandoy said. He mentioned the relocation of St. George Airport, which was moved to a more remote location after failing to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards. However, not everyone agrees with the proposed solution. In 2019, a small plane crashed on a Utah highway after it made an emergency landing on the same highway last year Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer says the single-engine plane hit a billboard and crashed near Ogden-Hinckley Airport on Interstate 15 Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer says the single-engine plane hit a billboard and crashed near Ogden-Hinckley Airport Erik Johanson, a pilot who regularly flies out of Ogden-Hinckley, argues against relocation: 'That's not a solution,' Johanson told 2KUTV. 'You can't move this airport. There are too many resources here, there's been too much invested in it.' 'Ogden Airport sees around 290 flights a day,' he added. A central California mayor has been accused of trying to meet with two teenagers for sex, but he claims he is the victim of a homophobic attack. Viral footage supposedly shows Wasco mayor Alex Garcia being attacked by a group of vigilantes after he tried to meet with a minor, as reported by The San Joaquin Valley Sun. The video was posted on by a Facebook page called 'Bakersfield Crime Watch' and shows at least two men pushing and slapping Garcia as they tell him they're going to call the police on him and to 'not touch little boys anymore.' Garcia is heard replying: 'Im sorry. Please no. I never will.' The posters claimed Garcia had been trying to meet with a boy and girl, both 15, and wanted to 'do horrific things.' Viral footage supposedly shows Wasco mayor Alex Garcia being attacked by a group of vigilantes after he tried to meet with a minor But Garcia's lawyer told the Wasco Tribune that the mayor may have been 'lured' into the meeting by people looking to attack him for his sexual orientation The anonymous group accused Garcia of claiming he was brining 'poppers,' condoms, marijuana and other sex toys. But Garcia's lawyer told the Wasco Tribune that the mayor may have been 'lured' into the meeting by people looking to attack him for his sexual orientation. Attorney Jared Thompson said: 'I advised [Garcia] not to make any statements because there are a few investigations that appear to be ongoing. 'Based on the information we have available right now, it appears to be a situation where two individuals tricked Alex and lured him to a location in Bakersfield and then attacked him. 'The video that is circulating shows felony conduct on the part of the individuals, not Alex. Based on Alexs sexual orientation, it appears that this could have been some kind of hate crime or homophobic attack. Essentially, we hope that any criminal investigation would focus on that.' The Bakersfield Police Department has reportedly put a request with the video's original posters but has not heard back The footage appears to have been taken in the city of Bakersfield, a 30 minute drive from Waco Garcia has deleted his social media account and is not responding to media requests. Wasco officials said they are 'very concerned' about the video and are cooperating with the the Bakersfield Police Department. The footage appears to have been taken in the city of Bakersfield, a 30 minute drive from Waco. The Bakersfield Police Department has reportedly put a request with the video's original posters but has not heard back. Garcia recently ran for Kern County supervisor but was voted a distant third place. He was arrested for driving under the influence in 2021 but the charge was dropped after a report showed his blood-alcohol content did not exceed the legal limit. Garcia was removed from office after the DUI charge but reinstated in December. Rebel Wilson has been branded a 'malicious bully' by producers of her new film The Deb as the fallout from the movie's bungled premiere continues to deteriorate. The actress, 44, was sued for defamation this month by the producers, Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden, in a scathing lawsuit. It came after Wilson shared an Instagram video berating the producers for allegedly blocking the movie from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. In response, the producers accused her of 'shirking her responsibilities' as a director by disappearing from set for extended periods, bullying staff, falsely claiming writing credits, and repeating a 'fictitious' claim Ghost had sexually harassed a lead actor in the film. In an amendment to the lawsuit obtained by DailyMail.com, the producers have now cited Wilson's allegations against Sacha Baron Cohen that she made in her autobiography earlier this year. They claimed the 'false' allegations were 'used to promote the sale of her book', as she 'hypocritically played the victim in order to elicit public sympathy in the hope that it would advance her professional self-interest.' Rebel Wilson, 44, has been accused of making 'false' allegations against actor Sacha Baron Cohen 'to promote the sale of her book' earlier this year, by the producers of her latest film who sued her for defamation In her memoir Rebel Rising, the Australian actress, 44, made shock claims about her experience filming The Brothers Grimsby with 'a**hole' comedian Sacha Baron Cohen - which he strenuously denied Wilson's sexual harassment allegations against Sacha Baron Cohen caused a media storm earlier this year as she claimed her experience with the actor triggered an eating disorder. She alleged that on the set of 2016 comedy The Brothers Grimsby, Sacha would ask her to strip off for scenes despite her 'no nudity' rule, in a string of claims which Sacha has strenuously denied. But in the updated lawsuit, the producers cited this episode as they countered her claims about The Deb, as they alleged Wilson has 'a history of fabricating false and malicious lies to hide her own lack of professionalism and advance her own self-interest.' 'This is par for the course for Rebel,' the lawsuit continued. 'In her autobiography, Rebel included false allegations about well-known actor Sacha Baron Cohens alleged inappropriate behavior. 'Due to these false allegations, portions of her autobiography were redacted when published in the United Kingdom and Australia. 'Nevertheless, Rebel successfully used the furor around such allegations to promote the sale of her book. As with this situation, Rebel hypocritically played the victim in order to elicit public sympathy.' They said that following the actress' latest allegations against the producers of The Deb, 'Rebel has run this playbook one time too many.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Wilson's representatives for comment on the updated lawsuit. The defamation suit against Wilson stems from her accusations that the producers of her new film The Deb blocked the movie from premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September Rebel in a scene from the musical comedy The Deb, which was filmed in Australia last year The lawsuit was filed by producers Vincent Holden (left), Gregor Cameron and Amanda Ghost (pictured together right), who branded Wilson a 'malicious bully' The trio of producers are being represented in their lawsuit against Wilson by Johnny Depp's former attorney Camille Vasquez, and are seeking more than $35,000 in damages. The legal battle was kicked off when Wilson alleged in an Instagram video that The Deb was set to close out the Toronto Film Festival, but it was blocked by Ghost, Cameron and Holden. She also accused the producers of 'bad behavior' on set, embezzling funds from the film and branding them 'vile and disgusting'. After the producers of Wilson's film have claimed the allegations are 'false' and launched their defamation lawsuit, Wilson again took to Instagram to scathe her former colleagues. She claimed that 'it's not defamation if it's the truth', adding: 'Let our cool movie play at Toronto and stop messing about with a rubbish defamation suit against me!' In the lawsuit against her, Wilson is accused of being a 'bully' on set who would make 'unreasonable demands.' When these demands weren't met, according to the lawsuit, the actress would 'spread vicious lies without regard for the irreparable damage her reckless words would cause on the hard-earned personal and professional reputations of Plaintiffs.' The legal battle was kicked off when Wilson accused the producers of her movie of 'bad behavior' on set, embezzling funds from the film, as she branded them 'vile and disgusting' 'For years, Rebel has played the affable funny girl on the big screen and, off screen, portrayed herself as a champion of other female artists and whistleblower against abusive conduct within the film industry,' the lawsuit continued. 'This public persona, however, is a farce. Rebel is a bully who will disregard the interests of others to promote her own.' Another shock claim levied by the producers is that Wilson hired a young writer - Hannah Reilly - to develop a screenplay for The Deb - before attempting to steal credit for herself. The suit reads: 'She granted a young artist a scholarship to develop a screenplay for The Deb (the Film), and then tried to claim writing credit for herself. 'And, when Rebel did not get her way in business negotiations with the Plaintiffs concerning The Deb (including the writing credit), Rebel tried to intimidate Plaintiffs into giving her what she wanted by leveraging her persona and platform, with many millions of followers, to spread malicious lies about the Plaintiffs.' The plaintiffs allege they 'took a chance on Rebel' who is a 'novice' to directing and producing but claim 'she flatly refused to collaborate with Plaintiffs' and exhibited 'reckless conduct.' Wilson's allegations against Sacha Baron Cohen came shortly before he announced his split from actress wife Isla Fisher (pictured together in 2022) The Deb, which stars Wilson and comedian Shane Jacobson, centers on a country school girl getting ready for her debutante ball. The film will also feature actress Natalie Abbott from the ABC series Aftertaste, as well as newcomer Charlotte McInnes. Locations include country towns such as Carcoar, Blayney, and Orange, as well as Sydney. Last October, Rebel revealed that she turned down major offers in the States, so she could make her directorial debut Down Under. 'If I was directing a movie it was only going to be in Australia because that's authentic to me,' Rebel told The Daily Telegraph at the time. 'I didn't want to do the studio ones I was offered in America because I didn't feel like I had that heart connection,' she explained. Wilson said that during filming, she 'discovered bad behavior' on the part of the producers, and after powering through to finish the film, she was told she couldn't release it at the Toronto film festival. 'This is work of hundreds of people and this behavior is absolutely vile and disgusting. 'I will speak the truth and warn people about people in the industry that are not behaving ethically. That is my dilemma if that movie doesn't play at Toronto, it's because of these absolute f**kwits,' she said at the time. Adorable Rottweiler puppies happily roamed wild inside a rescue helicopter after they were saved from a blazing California wildfire. Trevor Skaggs, a member of Butte County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue team, and pilot Conner Smith were sent into the depths of the raging blaze of the 383,000-acre Park Fire on Monday to save a momma Rottweiler and her four pups, the law enforcement agency said in a Facebook post. The owner of the pack of dogs was evacuating Cohasset on July 24 when their truck became disabled and they had to leave behind two adult dogs and four little puppies. The owner gave police the location of the truck, but rescue teams were unable to immediately access the canine family due to the massive fire, which is only 14 percent contained as of Tuesday, according to Cal Fire. Skaggs was dropped off about 1.5 miles from the truck's location and 'ran' there, BCSO said. He found the mother and the puppies alive, but 'tired and thirsty.' He gave them water and 'bites from his protein bar' to fuel them for the journey back. Trevor Skaggs, a member of Butte County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue team, and pilot Conner Smith were sent into the depths of the raging blaze of the 383,000-acre Park Fire on Monday to save a momma Rottweiler and her four pups The owner of the pack of dogs was evacuating Cohasset on July 24 when their truck became disabled and they had to leave behind two adult dogs and four little puppies The papa dog was found deceased. 'Trevor was able to get the five of them to follow him 1.5 miles back to the helicopter,' BCSO said. 'The puppies and their mother were then flown to the Chico Airport and are now being cared for by members of the North Valley Animal Disaster Group.' It is unclear if they will be reunited with their owner. Photos shared by the Sheriff's Office show the little pups roaming about the helicopter's cockpit, sleeping under seats, and embracing the safety of the aircraft after a long few days. One of the pups even acted as a copilot as he sat on Skaggs' lap throughout the ride. Many took to the comments to thank Skaggs for his bravery and hard work. 'Omg. This is making me tear up. My kids always ask about the animals. I tell them there are amazing people who go save them. You all are heroes,' Lauren Gibba Gillespie wrote. He found the mother and the puppies alive, but 'tired and thirsty.' He gave them water and 'bites from his protein bar' to fuel them for the journey back. The papa dog was found deceased The pups and their mother look happy to have arrived safely at the Chico Airport 'I can't stop crying... This is so bittersweet. Poor poppa, but glad momma and babies were rescued. Livestock, domesticated animals, and wildlife must be so hot, thirsty, lost, scared, hurt, omg I cannot even think about it. This man is a hero!' Andrea Santos wrote. 'What a hero! You made a horrific experience better,' Jill Paul wrote. The Park Fire has grown to the size of Los Angeles since starting on July 24 in Chico. It has grown into a raging 383,619 acres as Tuesday morning, making it the fifth largest the state has ever seen. The biggest fire was the August Complex in August 2020 that grew to over 1million acres. The fire is burning grass, brush, mixed timber and dead vegetation, Cal Fire said. More than 5,500 firefighters and personnel have been assigned to tackle the gigantic blaze, which 'continues to burn very actively,' Cal Fire said. One of the pups even acted as a copilot as he sat on Skaggs' lap throughout the ride 'With the steep terrain, wind activity and many inaccessible areas, the fire is making uphill runs and spot fires continue to occur,' it said. 'Critically low fuel moistures and high winds have caused difficulty in suppressing the fire spread. 'The perimeter of the Park Fire is 260 miles which means it has burned more than three times the surface area of Lake Tahoe.' The fire has burned through 53,000 acres in Butte County and more than 330,000 in Tehama County. Both areas have evacuation orders. California Governor, Gavin Newsom - who endorsed Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination - declared a state of emergency on Friday in Butte and Tehama counties and Pluma County for the Gold Complex Fire. '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. 'Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue.' The Park Fire (pictured on Monday) has grown to the size of Los Angeles since starting on July 24 in Chico. It is only 14 percent contained, as of Tuesday morning The fire (pictured on Monday) has grown into a raging 383,619 acres as Tuesday morning, making it the fifth largest the state has ever seen. The biggest fire was the August Complex in August 2020 that grew to over 1million acres A California sex offender was arrested for allegedly starting the Park Fire, the biggest this year The proclamation will ease access to unemployment benefits, and waive fees to replace driver's licenses and records, such as birth and marriage certificates. A California sex offender was arrested for allegedly starting the Park Fire, the biggest this year. Ronnie Stout II, 42, was caught pushing his burning car into a gulley in upper Bidwell Park near the city of Chico on Wednesday, the Butte County District Attorney's Office said. The vehicle then tumbled 60 feet down an embankment, sparking the fire. Stout was reportedly seen leaving the scene by blending in with parkgoers as the fire quickly spread. Authorities ultimately identified the suspect early Thursday morning, and took him into custody. Both were on board the helicopter when it crashed into a farm building Two men in their 40s have been killed when the helicopter they were flying in crashed into a farm building in Co Westmeath in Ireland. The incident happened near the village of Killucan at about 3.30pm on Tuesday. One of the men who died was from Ireland and the other is understood to be from eastern Europe, the Garda said. Both were on board the helicopter when it crashed into the farm building. They were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies have now been taken to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post-mortem examinations will be arranged. On Tuesday evening, Gardai were liaising with the family of the Irish man who died. Emergency services in Ireland are responding to a helicopter crash in Killucan, County Westmeath which has reportedly left several people injured The scene of a helicopter crash into a building in Joristown Upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath A hearse leaves the scene in Joristown Upper townland in Killucan, Co Westmeath, after a helicopter crashed into a building However, officers at that point were still working to establish contact with the next of kin of the second man and may request the assistance of Interpol. Gardai, Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service and Ireland's National Ambulance Service were involved in the emergency operation. The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), which is the lead agency in investigating the fatal incident, deployed a team to the site. The scene was due to remain cordoned off overnight to facilitate the crash investigation. Two hearses were seen leaving the farm site on Tuesday evening. Politician Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed his concern. 'Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash,' he posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added: 'My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time.' The scene near Killucan, Co Westmeath, after a helicopter crashed into a farm building killing two men aged in their Two hearses were seen leaving the farm site on Tuesday evening Emergency services in Ireland are responding to a helicopter crash in Killucan, County Westmeath which has reportedly left several people injured The building that the helicopter crashed into is close to pitches used by Raharney GAA club. Killucan is approximately 15 kilometres from Mullingar. Ken Glynn, Mayor of the Mullingar-Kinnegad municipal district, expressed his shock. 'My thoughts and prayers are with those involved and their families,' he said. 'I also want to commend the emergency services for their rapid response.' A Garda car and officer at the scene near Killucan, Co Westmeath, after a helicopter crashed into a farm building killing two men aged in their 40s A hearse in a convoy leaves after attending the scene near Killucan, Co Westmeath, following a helicopter crash which killed two men aged in their 40s Councillor Denis Leonard represents the area where the crash occurred. 'Locally, people are shocked and stunned, but also their hearts just go out to the families of all those involved at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,' he told the PA news agency. 'I want to thank the emergency services in Westmeath because they were very quickly on the scene and a huge operation took place straight away. 'They responded extremely quickly and I want to thank them for their service today.' Mr Leonard noted the incident had come after a 'horrific' weekend of tragedy on the roads in Ireland, particularly in the Midlands, with three men killed in two separate collisions in Co Meath. 'You don't expect to hear of a helicopter crash,' he added. This is a breaking news story. More to follow. Newly released body camera footage revealed the shocking words an Arizona mother told police when they discovered the murdered bodies are her three young children. Rachel Henry, then 22 years old, was arrested in January 2020 for smothering her kids while singing them lullabies. Investigators said the mother confessed to killing her one-year-old daughter, three-year-old son and seven-month-old baby girl. Police body camera footage from the fateful night obtained by AZ Family shows Henry telling officers she was planning for her family's future and tried to blame the kid's father for their deaths. 'He could never handle the babies, but no one would... I just thought they were sleeping,' Henry said. Police body camera footage showed Arizona mom Rachel Henry tried to blame her kids father for their deaths Henry, then 22 years old (pictured), was arrested in January 2020 for smothering her kids 'I put them down to take a nap and I didn't check on them and I thought they were sleeping.' Officers were called to the Phoenix home near 24th Street and Baseline Road on January 21, 2020 when a relative found the kids unconscious. 'They're saying the mother put the kids down for a nap with some sort of medication, all under three years old,' the operator said. At the scene, Henry told police she thought the kids were sleeping and that she had been planning for their future. 'I was going to get my driver's license, I was going to get a job so I could get my own place so the babies would be fine,' she said. Police said the mother confessed to killing her one-year-old daughter (right), three-year-old son (left) and seven-month-old baby girl (center) Henry - now 26 years old - has pleaded not guilty to murder charges with a trial scheduled for March 2025. If convicted, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. According to police, Henry admitted smothering the children starting with her one-year-old daughter by placing her hands over the girl's mouth and nose until she stopped moving. Henry said the girl kicked while she was being smothered in front of her three-year-old brother, who screamed 'no' and punched her but to no avail. She told officers that she left the girl's body at the back of the house and chased her son around until two relatives arrived at the property. As they sat in the living room, Henry caught the boy and took him upstairs on the pretense of putting him to bed before also smothering him. Henry - now 26 years old - has pleaded not guilty to murder charges with a trial scheduled for March 2025 where she faces the death penalty Investigators say the boy pinched and scratched her as he died, but was unable to save himself. She then went to find the seven-month-old girl, gave her a bottle to feed on until she fell asleep, then smothered her as well. Henry claimed she sung lullabies to all three children while they were dying. She then placed all three bodies on the couch 'as if they were sleeping'. Police were called to the property some time later to reports of unspecified 'trouble'. The full extent of Labour's building blitz has been laid bare as new figures revealed how one Tory-controlled council in England will be told to build nearly seven times as many houses. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, today confirmed the Government will revive top-down housing targets for local councils. She revealed the collective total for these local targets would be just over 370,000 homes a year. Prior to the general election, Labour pledged to deliver 1.5million new homes over the next five years. Ms Rayner told MPs her proposed new method for calculating local housing targets will include 'an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes'. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, headed by Ms Rayner, later released figures showing the expected new targets for each local council. These were compared to existing targets under the current method, first introduced in 2018, as well as the average number of new homes that have actually been built in recent years. In Fareham, Labour's new method would require the local Tory-controlled council to build 794 new houses - up from a target of 498 when calculated by the current method. This is also nearly seven times the average number of new homes built in the Hampshire town - where Tory ex-home secretary Suella Braverman is the local MP - in 2020/21 and 2022/23 of just 115. Your browser does not support iframes. Angela Rayner , the Deputy Prime Minister, today confirmed the Government would revive top-down housing targets for local councils Labour's proposed new method for calculating local housing targets will include 'an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes' Similarly, nearby Portsmouth City Council will be told to build 1,098 new homes under Labour's new target, up from 897 using the current method. This is also a huge increase from the 132 new homes that have actually been built, on average, in recent years. North Yorkshire, where Tory leader Rishi Sunak is a local MP, will be ordered to build 4,232 new homes. This is up from the 1,361 homes under the current target, although an average of 3,150 new homes were built annually across 2020/21 and 2022/23. Cornwall will be told to build 4,454 homes under Labour's target, up from 2,707 using the current method and more than the 2,681 homes built, on average, in recent years. The Isle of Wight will be told to build more than double the average number of new homes it achieved in those two years (499) under a proposed new target of 1,104. Overall, the South East will be required to build almost 70,000 new homes a year under the proposed new method for determining housing targets. This was up from 51,251 under the current method and second only to London (80,693) under the proposed new method. It was higher than the East of England (45,858), South West (40,343), North West (37,817), West Midlands (31,754), East Midlands (27,382), Yorkshire and The Humber (27,433), and North East (12,202). Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary and a Tory leadership candidate, questioned why Labour was reducing the overall housing target for London from nearly 100,000 to around 80,000. She asked Ms Rayner: 'Can she explain why she is reducing the need for cities like London to build more housing when they have the infrastructure to support it? 'Why is she forcing suburban and rural areas to take more housing when there are schoools in Hackney... that are shutting down because they don't have enough pupils?' Ms Rayner earlier denied Labour was lowering its ambition for London, saying: 'The target we're now setting for London roughly 80,000 is still a huge ask but I know it's one that the mayor is determined to rise to and I met with him last week about this.' In a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon, the Deputy PM also set out Labour's plan to release parts of the protected green belt for development. These 'low quality' areas will be rebranded 'grey belt' and include land on the edge of existing housing or roads, as well as disused petrol stations and car parks. The Government is prepared to 'step in' and take over an authority's local plan in order to 'drive progress', the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government warned. This would ensure local communities 'get a say on how, but not if, homes are built', it added. Angela Rayner today unveiled a 'radical' shake-up of planning laws as she announced the most unaffordable areas will be required to build a higher number of new homes The Deputy PM revealed the collective total for local targets would be just over 370,000 homes a year - as she bids to deliver 1.5million new homes over the next five years Your browser does not support iframes. Ms Rayner told MPs there were 'simply not enough homes' across the country as she blasted the previous Tory government's record on housebuilding. 'They failed to get anywhere near their target 300,000 homes a year and, in a bid to appease their anti-housing backbenchers, they made housing targets only advisable,' she said. 'They knew that this would tank housing supply, but they still did it. And as I stand here today, I can now reveal the result. 'That the number of new homes is now likely to drop below 200,000 this year unforgivable.' She added: 'Decisions about what to build should reflect local views well, that should be about how to deliver new homes, not whether to. 'Whilst the previous government watered down housing targets, caving into their anti-growth backbenchers, this Labour Government is taking the tough choices putting people and country first. 'For the first time we will make local housing targets mandatory, requiring local authorities to use the same method to work out how many homes to build. 'But that alone is insufficient to meet our ambition, so we're also changing the standard method used to calculate housing need so it better reflects the urgency of supply for local areas. 'Rather than relying on outdated data, this new method will require local authorities to plan for homes proportionate to the size of existing communities, and it will incorporate an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes.' Ms Rayner, pictured arriving in Downing Street this morning, told MPs new local housebuilding targets would include 'an uplift where house prices are most out of step with local incomes' In her Commons statement, Ms Rayner also set out Labour's plan to release parts of the protected green belt for development Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Ms Rayner's reforms make explicit that the default answer to brownfield development should be 'yes' and promote homebuilding at greater densities in urban centres, like towns and cities. But because there is not enough brownfield land in the country to meet housing needs, the Government will allow the targeted release of 'grey belt' land. Any green belt land released will be subject to 'golden rules' to ensure the development delivers 50 per cent affordable homes and has access to green spaces and infrastructure such as schools and GP surgeries. The method for local authorities to calculate how much land they must allocate for new housing, which relied on data from 2014, will be updated to ensure stock is boosted in every part of the country. Labour are also laying the groundwork for universal local plan coverage across England. With only a third of councils currently having a plan that is under five years old, ministers will be ready to intervene to ensure they all have one in place by a specified point next year, taking over a local plan if insufficient progress is made. Ms Rayner also unveiled immediate measures to counter the decline in the number of social and affordable housing through new flexibilities for councils, including allowing them to use their right-to-buy receipts to build and buy more social homes. 'Today I'm calling on local authorities, housing associations and industry to work with me to deliver a council house revolution,' Ms Rayner told the Commons, promising the 'biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation'. Details of Government investment in the form of direct grant funding for social and affordable housing, as well as on rent stability, will be brought forward at the autumn spending review. Labour also intends to drop the requirement for new homes to be 'beautiful', introduced by the Conservatives, arguing it is subjective, difficult to define and leads to inconsistent decision-making on applications. The ruling party's manifesto used different language, outlining instead its aim for 'exemplary' development to be 'the norm not the exception'. A new draft National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out planning policies for England, will go out to consultation for eight weeks from Tuesday. Cllr Richard Clewer, housing and planning spokesman for the County Councils Network, said: 'The CCN will be consulting with its members on the new methodology for housing numbers, but we have always been clear that local authorities know their areas best and that housing should be fairly distributed across the entirety of the country. 'County areas have delivered 600,000 homes in the past five years higher than the rest of the country combined. 'However, on face value, this new methodology assigns more to rural areas that currently do not have sufficient infrastructure and less to urban locations that have more readily available infrastructure.' The owner of a 100,000 Range Rover was stunned to discover that airport parking staff took his car out for a spin while he was on holiday. Guy Adams only discovered what the joyriding staff were up to thanks to a sophisticated tracking and communication system which let him track the car's movement. Mr Adams dropped his car off at the Parking 4 You 'meet and greet' service at Bristol Airport last month ahead of a holiday to Spain. In what he has described as 'everyone's worst nightmare' Mr Adam was awoken on holiday by notifications on his phone at 4am that his Range Rover Sport was on the move. Thanks to the car's state-of-the-art tracking and communications system Mr Adams was able to not only tell where it was, but also how fast it was going. A Range Rover Sport similar to Guy Adams's vehicle. In what he has described as 'everyone's worst nightmare' Mr Adams was awoken on holiday by notifications on his phone at 4am that his Range Rover Sport was on the move (stock image) Thanks to the car's state-of-the-art tracking and communications system Mr Adams was able to spy on his car. The car was driven around the car park as well as to a field near Winscombe, Somerset, around eight miles from the airport For the next 40 minutes, the car was driven around the car park next to the A38 near Bristol Airport until it finally stopped moving. But it was left unlocked with the windows open. His car was also driven to a field near Winscombe, Somerset, around eight miles from the airport. Shocked at what he was witnessing, Mr Adams tried calling the firm in the middle of the night, but no one answered. In the morning, when it was still left unsecure and he still couldn't make contact with the firm, he used his phone in Spain to trigger the car's alarm - and kept doing it while trying to get someone at the parking lot to answer the phone. Eventually, he got through told the staff that he would keep setting off the alarm until they could provide photographic proof that it was locked, with the windows up. Mr Adams said: 'These people didn't realise there's a tracking system on the car, which lets me know if it's moved, someone's tried to get in, anything. Mr Adams demanded picture proof from the car parking company that his 100,000 vehicle was in fact secure 'I'd been away for a week when suddenly my phone starts going mad in the middle of the night. The car was being driven around. 'You hear about cases where that happens, but I thought that was with those airport parking places away from the airport - I thought this one was reputable, it's a meet and greet service from the airport itself. 'It never left the car park at all, but it's more the fact that they left my car open and the windows open. He added: 'I couldn't get through to anyone and this felt like everyone's worst nightmare. The last resort was to set the alarm off - I thought "at least that will get their attention back in Bristol".' A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed after gunmen riding jet skis opened fire on a rival drug dealers on a beach in Cancun, Mexico. The child, who was identified as Santiago, was with his family sitting on a chair at Caracol Beach next to the Riu Cancun when he was struck by multiple stray bullets on Sunday. Santiago was treated on the scene by paramedics and rushed to an area hospital, where he later died. The Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office said the assailants were targeting rival over a dispute of drug sales. Paramedics provide aid to a 12-year-old boy who was shot multiples at a beach in Cancun and later died at a hospital on Sunday afternoon. The child was sitting on a chair when gunmen riding jet skis began firing at rival drug dealers Authorities are searching for the suspects linked to a shooting a Caracol Beach near the Riu Cancun hotel in Cancun on Sunday. The assailants approached the beach on jet skis and began firing on rival drug dealers. A 12-year-old boy who was at the beach with his family was shot and killed 'We will not rest until we clarify this tragic incident and ensure that those responsible pay for their actions,' the Quintana Roo Department of Public Security said. Local outlets reported that the boy and his family were originally from Mexico City and resided in the municipality of Benito Juarez. 'They went to spend a Sunday at the beach, because that child loved the beach. It is sad that these things happen,' a friend of the family told El Universal newspaper. Territorial disputes between drug dealers have cost the lives of several tourists in the resorts along Mexico's Caribbean coast in recent years. Cops guard a perimeter next to the Riu Cancun hotel, near the spot on the beach where a 12-year-old was shot and killed in a dispute between rival drug dealers In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs. In November 2021, several assassins marched across the Hyatt Ziva Riviera in Puerto Morelos, south of Cancun, and executed two drug dealers before they fled in speedboats. An October 2021 shooting claimed the lives of 25-year-old Anjali Ryot, a resident of San Jose, California, and 35-year-old Jennifer Henzold, of Germany, after gunmen opened fired as they chased a rival drug dealer near a Tulum bar. In June 2021, a 30-year-old Kentucky residents was shot and wounded and two workers were shot dead at a Cancun beach gift shop. Two suspects fled in two jet skis. Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann's estranged wife wore her engagement ring for the alleged six-time murderer's latest court appearance. Dressed casually in a white blouse, light blue trousers and pink-colored sneakers, Asa Ellerup, 59, appeared calm as she entered the Suffolk County Criminal Courthouse in Riverhead. She was accompanied by her attorney Robert Macedonio, another member of her legal team, and her emotional support dog, Stewie 'Stuart' by her side. Her daughter Victoria was not present. The court hearing was a procedural one and outlined new data and information set to be submitted as evidence against Heuermann, who was also present for Tuesday's hearing. Heuermann, 60, did not speak during the hearing as his defense attorney Michael Brown stood at his side. He appeared older and grayer than at the time of his arrest. At one point, the former architect was seen nodding his head as he appeared to look in the direction of where his ex-wife was seated in the back of the courtroom. The mother-of-two had her trademark dark sunglasses over her eyes, and after Judge Timothy Mazzei ended the day's proceeding, Ellerup rushed out of the courtroom with Stewie as a swarm of photographers and reporters tried to speak with her. She smiled at one point, but did not respond to anyone's questions. Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup was seen wearing her wedding band as she walked Stewie, the family's service dog. Her attorney Robert Macedonio, and another person from her legal team walked nearby on their way to the entrance of the Suffolk County courthouse on Tuesday Ellerup sported her gold diamond engagement ring for the court hearing Rex Heuermann, 60, inside the Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on Tuesday did not speak during the court proceeding as he stood next to his defense lawyer Michael Brown Ellerup had been married to Heuermann for 27 years. The couple had a daughter together Victoria, 27. Heuermann was also the stepfather to Christopher Sheridan, 33, who was Ellerup's son from a previous marriage. Ellerup filed for divorce days after his July 2023 arrest. In March, she sent a statement through her attorney that stated that she 'still maintains that Rex is not capable of the crime he is accused of,' as per ABC 7 New York. 'I will listen to all of the evidence and withhold judgment until the end of the trial,' the statement continued. 'I have given him the benefit of the doubt, as we all deserve.' The headless and handless body of Jessica Taylor, 20, was discovered in the woods of Manorville, New York in 2003 Sandra Costilla, 28, was tied to the Gilgo Beach investigation after an April search the property were her remains were found. Unlike the other victims in the case, Costilla has never been described as a sex worker by law enforcement Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney held a press conference after the hearing reviewing what was provided to the defense followed by a Q&A. He explained some of the discovery in detail. 'We have six murders which are alleged to have been made by this defendant so we look forward to doing that so all of the underlying case work for each of those murders,' he said. He explained how comprehensive the task is going back to the first murder in 1993, 2003, 2007, 2009 and two in 2010. Then providing missing persons files, phone work, lab work, underlying data, forensic and electronic evidence. 'All the work of investigation teams - all of those notes all of those notebooks, the detectives worked on it. Maine, Connecticut where missing persons first originated. The NYPD. Under our NYS Discovery Law we have to provide every single piece of paper. We have to do that and we have to prove we have every single piece of paper. The first victim, 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, from Maine, was found two days later Heuermann is also charged with killing Amber Costello (left) and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (right) A trial date has not yet been set. Heuermann's attorney Michael Brown also spoke outside the courthouse. He said his client 'wants his day in court.' 'I stood in front of you folks a year ago and I said he wants his day in court. He still wants his day in court and he wants his trial,' Brown said. 'He is dealing with it as best as he can. He understands he can't change the circumstances of his environment for now but wants his day in court. When Brown was asked what Heuermann does all day, he responded that he fills his days by reviewing the discovery that he has been allowed to view on a computer. He also spends time in the law library and has an hour a day outside in the yard. He said his client and his ex-wife communicate often and that his daughter Victoria has visited him in prison. Heuermann's next court date is scheduled for October 16 Though Ellerup shook her head and did not want to talk about her ex-husband or the case she did tell DailyMail.com that Stewie had been a rescue from a shelter out in the Hamptons. Her attorney chimed in that Stewie is her son Christopher's dog. Over the last year, Christopher has been pictured several times walking the Labrador Chihuahua mix by DailyMail.com outside his Massapequa Park home. During the chaos of today's court proceeding, Stewie did not seem to mind the fuss that everyone was making over him - in and outside the court building - and was well-behaved, well-adjusted and smiley. Ellerup's team even joked that he is going to be Instagram famous. 'We are training him to be a service dog,' Ellerup said, who shared that they got a 'trainer for the house.' Macedonio intervened 'they have to have a specific task.' He added: 'Now he can go to hotels and we don't have to board him anymore. The Marriott wouldn't take him in the last time they went to Florida and it cost them 800 to 1,200 to board him for the weekend.' Though Ellerup remarked that Stewie 'does have a lot of fun at the boarding place,' and seemed amused when a member of her legal team asked if he had a 'girlfriend.' Asa Ellerup told DailyMail.com that Stewie was a rescue from a shelter in the Hamptons Ellerup pictured walking into the courtroom to see her ex-husband accompanied by her lawyer and a member of her legal team Heuermann was arrested in July and initially charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello 27. In February, he was also charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25. The women were found wrapped in burlap and buried along the remote stretch of Ocean Parkway on Long Island's South Shore over a decade ago. Heuermann, an architect, has pleaded not guilty to all counts and currently remains in jail awaiting trial. In April, officials searched a Manorville area where the partial remains of Gilgo Beach victims Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack were found more than 20 years ago. State and county police officials descended on Heuermann's family home in Massapequa Park, Long Island and executed a second search warrant in May. A month later, he was indicted by a grand jury for the murders of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor in 2003 and 28-year-old Sandra Costilla in 1993. Investigators linked him to the two victims by DNA evidence after the second search warrant. Thousands of heartbroken mourners tonight gathered for a vigil to remember the three young girls who were killed in the Southport rampage on Monday. Tearful locals laid flowers outside the Merseyside town's grand Atkinson building after falling silent to remember six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. They were among 11 children stabbed during a 'ferocious' knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop in Southport on Monday lunchtime. Five further children, aged between six and 11, are in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who 'bravely tried to protect them'. In the first week of the summer holidays, the seaside town should be bustling with happy families and tourists. But at 6pm on Tuesday, more than 5,000 people stood in silence outside the Atkinson building amid an outpouring of grief and shock. In front of the Grade II-listed building, which comprises a theatre, museum and library, is the Town Hall Gardens, where a sea of floral tributes built up. One heartbreaking poster surrounded by candles and flowers said 'never stop dancing'. The children had been enjoying a summer holiday dance workshop when a knifeman entered the studio and launched a frenzied attack. Among the bouquets, there were also a number of Taylor Swift-style friendship bracelets. 'Thinking of you all,' a row of four of them spelt out. Many of those in attendance wept and embraced each other as civic leaders spoke of the 'life-changing tragedy'. Heartbroken mourners have gathered for a vigil to remember the victims of the Southport knife rampage Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital Another of the children killed in the horror Southport stabbing attack was today named as Alice Aguiar, nine Devastated Southport families attend a vigil outside the Atkinson venue in central Southport which is being held for the child victims of a knife attack Parents hugged their children tightly as they paid their respects to those lost in the tragedy Floral tributes, cuddly toys and balloons were left at the heartbreaking vigil in Southport Members of the public take part in a vigil near to the scene in Hart Street, where the tragedy unfolded Crowds of mourners left flowers as they tried to take in the horror that unfolded Members of the public take part in a vigil near to the scene in Hart Street, Southport, to remember the three girls who lost their lives There was an outpouring of grief and emotion at the vigil held 24 hours after the tragedy Heartbreaking floral tributes and teddy bears were left at the scene of the attack on Tuesday afternoon A tribute to 'the lost angels' sits alongside a fluffy teddy bear in a heartbreaking message for the little children Leading the vigil, the Reverend Martin Abrams, the chaplain of Southport hospital, said: 'Southport is not used to global attention. To be known around the globe for a defining incident that has shook us all to the core. 'Taylor Swift, who herself has commented on events and her bracelets of friendship which people are encouraged to make and swap and share, remind us we should never feel alone. 'Clearly the crowds tonight show we want to stand together.' He added: 'Tonight is not about levels or creed but it is about standing in solidarity together in the face of life changing events. We share our common humanity and we weep together.' Mayor of Sefton, Jane Burns, said: 'Its hard to find to the correct words to say at such a horrible, dreadful time. When I went over to lay some flowers it hits you, you cant help but cry. The outpouring of grief, the sadness. 'Actually having to go and lay flowers because some little children wanted to dance at the beginning of their school holidays. Its just unbelievable. 'I hope all of you here find some comfort from somebody, even if it's somebody you meet here today, a stranger that you see needs help. 'Reach out and help. Be kind. Let's allow them families to grieve in the way they wish to grieve. I ask for calm and respect at this time.' Dignitaries, including the Mayor of Liverpool, Richard Kemp, and Southport MP Patrick Hurley, then laid flowers alongside dozens of other bouquets by the Princess Diana fountain. Emotional members of the public react at the vigil for the three young girls who died in Southport There was a visible outpouring of grief as families paid tribute to those caught up in the violence A local dignitary places a floral tribute near to the scene in Hart Street, Southport A heartbreaking poster surrounded by candles and flowers said 'Never stop dancing' Flowers lie on the ground as people attend a vigil for the victims of the knife attack Pink balloons and flowers are left for the three girls who tragically lost their lives Many were in tears as they left candles and flowers at the fountain The horrific knife attack has sent shockwaves through the whole country Martin Abrams, the Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Lead at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals, speaks during a vigil Friends console one another at the vigil in Southport, Merseyside, on Tuesday Members of the public take part in a vigil near to the scene in Hart Street, Southport, People hug as they attend a vigil for the victims of the knife attack in Southport Parents and children gather to pay their respects during a vigil for the victims of a stabbing attack Friends hug as they attend a vigil for the victims of the knife attack in Southport Thousands of Southport locals turned up for the vigil for the victims on Tuesday evening Heartbroken friends and families hold hands as they listen to speakers at the vigil Many were overcome with emotion as they paid tribute to the young girls who lost their lives Rev Abrams concluded: 'The best advice I can give to anyone is dont feel alone. There is a lot of support out there feel free to use it.' Among the many locals who attended the event was grandmother of nine Brenda Jones, 77, who said: 'It was important to be here to show solidarity with the families of those children who died and were injured. 'I was in hospital today for a blood test and some of the staff I spoke to had actually been on duty yesterday and you could see it was still traumatic for them. One nurse had treated one of the little girls who was injured. 'I'm glad that so many people came out tonight to prove that Southport is really united as one now. 'It's a quiet, gentle town. It's close to Liverpool - where I'm from originally- but in many ways the locals are more reserved, so it's been really heartening to see so many show their emotions openly and prove to the country and the world that we are all standing together in the face of such an awful tragedy.' Kath Perry, 73, who has two daughters and three grandchildren, said: 'The last 24-hours has really hit me, I woke up this morning and thought "Oh my God" because what has happened is so horrific and it's the first thing that came to mind. 'It's very close to home, my daughter lives very close to the venue but fortunately she is on holiday. I would have been beside myself with worry had she been there. 'But tonight is showing the families who have gone through such a tragedy that we are with them fully. 'What happened yesterday is perhaps the most traumatic event this town has ever suffered but tonight was to show what our community is all about. 'Everyone has come together, there's been little gestures like a local cab firm offering to drive parents to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool free of charge if they have a child being treated there. 'This will never be forgotten in Southport, I think it will change the town.' Also attending the vigil were a couple whose eight-year-old daughter attended the same dance workshop during the Easter Holidays. Clutching a bouquet of red flowers, the mother, who asked not to be named, fought back tears as she said: 'It could have been my daughter. She'd gone to the venue, she'd been at a similar workshop during the Easter holidays. That thought keeps swirling around my head. 'The last 24-hours have left me shaken to the core and feeling sick. At least this evening we were able to show the families we are one hundred per cent behind them.' Another mum, who gave her name only as Mary, added: 'We can't fix what happened. We can't make things better. But we can show we care. 'This is something that just doesn't happen in Southport so for so many of us to show solidarity to the victims and their families was precious.' Ahead of the vigil, the families and schools of the innocent girls who were fatally attacked by a crazed knifeman also released tributes. In a statement, Bebe's family said: 'No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.' The family of Alice Dasilva Aguiar added: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.' And the headteacher of Farnborough Road Infant School said they were 'heartbroken and devastated' by the death of pupil Elsie. Jennifer Sephton said: 'Elsie has been a loving and bright member of our wonderful community since first being brought here on her father's shoulders, and even at her early age she was such a caring and charismatic young lady who loved to please. 'Elsie was a kind and caring friend to all who met her and was adored by everyone in our community. Our hearts and most deeply-felt sympathies go out to Elsie's family, friends and our Farnborough community who have been left numb by what has happened. 'It is immensely difficult to put into words how amazing Elsie was and the impact she had on those around her. We will miss you dearly Elsie. You were one of a kind.' A 17-year-old boy remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned following the incident in Southport, Merseyside. Alder Hey Children's hospital this afternoon released a statement confirming that seven children had been taken to the site for treatment. One of those was Alice, and of the others, two remain in a critical condition, a spokesperson said. The head of the school trust attended by Alice and Bebe said the girls 'will be in our hearts forever'. Endeavour Learning Trust chief executive David Clayton said 'no words can do justice to what has happened here in Southport. The trust contains Churchtown Primary School in Southport, which Alice and Bebe had both attended. Churchtown Primary headteacher Jinnie Payne said the school had heard the 'tragic news' with 'great sadness', describing the stabbings as an 'atrocity'. In a statement, Mr Clayton said: 'No words can do justice to what has happened here in Southport - and our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their children. 'No one should ever have to experience horror like this. 'Our immediate focus now is on providing support to the community as we start to understand what has happened. The death of a child is always a desperate tragedy for a school, and particularly so under such circumstances. 'We will come together as a community, offering each other support and care as we work through this difficult time. 'Alice and Bebe will be in our hearts forever.' Ms Payne said Alice, a Year 4 pupil at Churchtown, was the 'happiest of souls, a true ray of sunshine'. The Churchtown Primary headteacher added: 'She was known and loved by everyone in our school community of 700 children, a testament to her unique ability to connect with others. 'Alice's radiant smile brightened our days, and she embraced every aspect of school life with enthusiasm and joy. 'Her kindness, playful nature, and zest for trying new things will forever be remembered. Alice, you will always hold a special place in our hearts at Churchtown.' Ms Payne said Bebe, a former pupil at the school, was a 'joyful girl' whose 'kindness radiated through the entire Churchtown community'. The headteacher added: 'During her time at the school, Bebe's considerate nature and her love of learning shone through in everything that she did. 'Each day, she would come into school ready to grasp every opportunity available to her and fun and laughter were never far away whenever Bebe was involved. 'Her considerate nature meant that she had many friends and she always ensured all children felt included, whether that was through play or working together in the classroom. 'Bebe's memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.' The headteacher added: 'We know that a number of other children from Churchtown were also involved in the attack, along with much-loved colleagues. 'We extend our heartfelt wishes to all those families affected by this horrific incident, including those currently in hospital or continuing to receive treatment.' Devastated relatives of Alice said she had been taken by a 'despicable human being.' Her mother Alexandra Aguiar is understood to be originally from Caracas in Venezuela and her dad David Aguiar is from the Portuguese island of Madeira. Relative Carina Aguiar, a hotel worker who lives in Camara de Lobos in Madeira, posted a link on her social media to news Merseyside Police had confirmed a third child' had died following the attack and wrote tear emojis beside it. Earlier she posted a photo of a black ribbon on her Facebook alongside Alice's name after writing in an emotional tribute: 'Princess Alice. In this moment of great pain my soul hurts, my body hurts, my mind hurts. I have a lump in my throat. 'You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason.' Firefighters from Merseyside joined members of the public in paying tribute to those killed and injured in the stabbings Forensic officers were seen at the scene in Southport on Tuesday as investigations begin Floral tributes pile up by the side of the road as locals flock to share their sympathy after the tragedy Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack Liliana Soares wrote: 'What a huge tragedy. My pretty and innocent angel. Such tremendous pain. My sincerest condolences Carina to the whole family.' Another family friend, Henrique Drummond, wrote on social media in a direct message to Alice's parents: 'David Aguiar, Alexandra Aguiar. Life is so cruel that an animal takes the life of children, especially our Alice. Lots of strength in these extremely difficult moments.' Father John Heneghan, who led Alice Aguir's first communion service, described her as a 'beautiful girl from a lovely family' - adding that they had only been to mass on Sunday morning, 24 hours before the tragedy. Describing Alice at her First Communion, Fr Heneghan, parish priest at St Patrick's for eight years, said he remembered 'little Alice' having the most beautiful smile, a radiant smile, if you'd say the epitome of happiness that day, she was it.' 'We can't make sense of it,' he added. Portuguese Foreign Ministry sources confirmed today a Portuguese girl had died. One said: 'Portugal's Consul General in Manchester is assisting the family, having spoken to her parents, and is continuing to offer them all the support they need.' Police say they are not looking for anyone else and do not believe the incident is terrorism related. Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat The local teacher saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11, while nine children were taken to hospital. One has since died, with five still in a critical condition She organised the dance, yoga and bracelet making workshop in Southport with Heidi Barlow, also 35, a fellow dance teacher, (pictured) who advertised the event as being for 'Swifties' The attack happened at a Taylor Swift-themed workshop on Hart Street in Southport. Police later swooped on a property in Banks, five miles away Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited Southport this afternoon and thanked emergency service workers who responded to the knife attack, telling them: 'I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives.' He added: 'It is sometimes really important in life just to come and say a simple thank you to all of you, so let me do that, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the country - thank you.' The fully-booked club for children, which was advertised as a dance and yoga workshop as well as bracelet-making, quickly became something 'like a horror movie', witnesses to the deadly stabbings have said. Locals said the alleged knifeman arrived at the dance studio wearing a black hooded top and facemask in a taxi and got out without paying. They said the suspect then walked into the studio through a front door that was unlocked for fire safety reasons. Emergency services said the scene was 'horrific' and 'chaotic' as they arrived at the children's club. Police said the suspect, who was born in Cardiff, is from the village of Banks, just outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by detectives on Monday afternoon. All the casualties are being treated in hospital, including children's hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester. The attack happened at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop Taylor Swift said she is 'completely in shock' after the 'horror' of the Southport knife attack Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Southport MP Patrick Hurley embrace as they pay tribute to those injured and killed in the horror attack At the scene today, flowers and teddies were left by the police cordon. One message in a 'Thinking Of You' card said 'thoughts and prayers' are with those affected and was signed: 'Love - Southport.' Another said: 'Fly high with angels little ones.' Prime Minister visits Southport and thanks emergency services Visiting Southport on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer told emergency service workers: 'I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives.' 'It is sometimes really important in life just to come and say a simple thank you to all of you, so let me do that, on behalf of myself, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the country - thank you.' He added: 'I came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine - I can't imagine, as a dad myself. 'To get a briefing from the chief constable and the emergency services about the ongoing investigation but, also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say to those that were responding yesterday from emergency services, say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand, and to say that as Prime Minister on behalf of the country, we are grateful for what they did. 'They, of course, say that they will respond, they're professionals, to anything, but there's no pretending that what they had to respond to yesterday was ordinary. 'It was very, very difficult. They were absolutely professional. And it was important for me to come and say simple words - thank you.' Advertisement In a social media post, Taylor Swift shared her horror at the 'loss of life and innocence' at the workshop. She wrote: 'The horror of yesterday's attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I'm just completely in shock. 'The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. 'These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.' A JustGiving page - set up by Taylor Swift fans - has already raised more than 100,000 to help families affected by the tragedy and pay for the two funerals, with more than 6,500 donations. Sir Keir Starmer today opened Cabinet by acknowledging the 'truly horrific' event in Southport. 'He said the thoughts of the whole Cabinet and the entire country would be with those who were attacked and their families who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. 'He added that it was hard to find words to express what the grieving families and community must be going through.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon on Hart Street in Southport this morning. Ms Cooper, Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and Merseyside police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell walked to the cordon together, each holding a bouquet of flowers. Ms Cooper described the stabbing in Southport as an 'unspeakable tragedy'. In a House of Commons statement, she told MPs: 'It's difficult to comprehend or to put into words the horror of what happened. 'These were young children, dancing to Taylor Swift and celebrating the start of the school holidays. 'What should have been a joyful start to the summer turned into an unspeakable tragedy. 'Three young children have lost their lives - Bebe King, age six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, age seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine.' Ms Cooper also read a tribute by Alice's family: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our princess.' A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were 'thinking of everyone involved'. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack An aerial view of Hart Street, where a horrifying knife attack took place just before midday Emergency crews and forensic teams descended on the scene after 13 people were stabbed The Home Secretary stood for a few moments looking at the tributes before laying her flowers and reading some of the messages left by others. She and Mr Hurley hugged. She is understood to have met with first responders in the town earlier. Speaking to the media today, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: 'The town is in mourning, the town is in shock this morning. The incident that took place yesterday was uniquely horrific. 'Southport's a quiet seaside, coastal town. This has just sent shockwaves through the whole community. 'It's a very small town, Southport, and a lot of families across the area will be impacted directly. 'I think at this stage we need to just reach out, make sure that there's a level of community healing going on and make sure we give voice to the solidarity that people need right now.' Police screens up at the scene of the tragic stabbing incident in Hart Street in Southport Southport locals have also rushed to leave their kind words, with one saying their 'thoughts and prayers are with you' Alongside the bouquets of flowers are stuffed toys for the children, including a panda and a rabbit Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, of Merseyside Police, said those injured had all suffered stab wounds in the 'ferocious attack'. She added: 'We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked. 'As a mum and a nana, I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this moment in time. 'I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to them.' Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the yoga and bracelet making class is among the adult victims fighting for her life in hospital. The primary school supply teacher - who now teaches children's yoga workshops - suffered stab injuries after a man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat, and started attacking children. Ms Lucas and her co-organiser and dance teacher Heidi Barlow, also 35, saved 16 children as the 25-strong class aged between six and 11. Ms Barlow was also injured in the attack, although not seriously, MailOnline understands. Two female adults were rushed to hospital after police say they 'bravely tried to protect them' from the attack at the Hart Space Studios on Hart Street. Ms Lucas, who's also a qualified primary school teacher, is the owner and founder of Enlighten, planned the two-hour session to coincide with the start of the school holidays. Floral tributes near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where two children died and nine were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack A person leaves flowers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, where the event took place Police officers near the scene in Hart Street, Southport, this morning following the stabbing yesterday She was hailed today by relatives who paid tribute to her bravery and love for her students. Pauline Bennett, 64, said: 'She's only tiny, she wouldn't have stood a chance against a man with a knife, but she just wanted to protect those children. 'I can't imagine what she would have been thinking when he came through the door. It all happened so quickly, she just did what she could. 'Her sister stayed at her bedside all night and her parents are with her now. We're just hoping and praying that she's going to be ok. 'Leanne loves teaching children, it's all she's ever wanted to do. She just loves children. 'It's just heartbreaking that someone could do something like this.' A former school friend said: 'To my knowledge she organised it, she used to be a primary school teacher at a local school. Ms Lucas - who taught in China and Dubai before the Covid pandemic hit - is a big fan of Taylor Swift, her aunt said. A little girl is helped as she takes flowers to leave with the line of floral tributes North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent 13 ambulances, specialised resources of its Hazardous Area Response Team, Air Ambulance and Merit Doctors to the scene Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing spree 'Then she came home in Covid and now this happens. She went to the Taylor Swift concert and she got a big poster of her for the kids.' Posting a photo of Ms Lucas on Facebook, Sunshine Yoga wrote: 'I'm absolutely devastated. Please please pray for Leanne. 'Leanne came on my training course in December. A beautiful young creative girl who was so passionate about helping children. 'I just can't believe it. Please pray.' Others described the news as 'devastating' and 'heartbreaking'. One Facebook user wrote: 'I'm in shock. Thinking of you Leanne and everyone involved, love and prayers go out to you all.' Another added: 'Thank you for your bravery in defending your class. I pray you get to see how proud the whole town is of your actions today.' According to Leanne's Facebook page, she had only recently returned to the UK after a holiday in Italy that included a trip to Venice and the Dolomite Mountains. Ms Barlow was a dance teacher at Southport Dance Academy, where she had recently taken time off to have a baby girl. Wishing her luck last year, the school said: 'We are sending you lots of love and hope you are enjoying all the quality time together.' Reacting to the tragic news today, the academy posted on Instagram: 'Thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by today's shocking events. Southport together.' Photos from her social media show her celebrating marriage two years ago and her paying tribute to her 'gorgeous' students as her classes were halted over lockdown. A road rage incident in California ended in gunfire as two men died while young children watched the horrific incident from a car. Johnathan McConnell of Corona, 38, and Aaron Harris of Highland, 37, got into a violent confrontation that initially started as a hit-and-run on the 210 Freeway before tragically ending in a bar parking lot, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office. Around 8pm Saturday McConnell was weaving in and out of lanes on a motorcycle when he collided with a sedan driven by Harris. Harris then followed the motorcyclist into the parking lot while his two children, two and five, rode in the backseat. The two men then fatally shot each other. 'It could have been so incredibly simple. Unfortunately, we have two people who lost their lives instead,' Mara Rodriguez, a spokesperson with the San Bernardino County sheriff's department told Abc 7. Johnathan McConnell of Corona, 38, and Aaron Harris of Highland, 37, shot and killed each other in a parking lot in front of Joy's Lounge bar (pictured) on Saturday after colliding with each other the freeway Harris (pictured) followed the motorcyclist into the parking lot while his two children, two and five, rode in the backseat Harris' children were not physically harmed but a man at the scene was injured after being shot in the hand. At the time of the accident, instead of pulling over after clipping the sedan, McConnell continued to drive. Once he reached Joys Bar and Lounge on Baseline Street, McConnell 'met with several people known to him' in the parking lot. Harris soon pulled into the same lot after following McConnell from the Freeway. The father then started to yell at McConnell as the pair became 'confrontational,' Rodriguez said. 'They were both armed, and a shooting occurred, and the two of them both ended up deceased at the end of the night,' she added. When officers arrived at the scene they attempted to save the men before they were rushed to the hospital where they were later pronounced dead When officers arrived at the scene they attempted to save the men before they were rushed to the hospital where they were later pronounced dead. Footage of the grim scene showed crime scene investigators sectioning off the parking lot with yellow tape. A GoFundMe page was created by Harris' sister Crystal to raise money for his funeral. 'My brother was silly but also a great father, family man and always willing to be of help if needed,' Crystal said. 'This incident has left our family hurt and saddened by his loss.' Other friends and family members of Harris shared their heartbreak as his cousin Quinten Carr told KTLA: 'He was a father, cousin, brother, a loving friend.' 'He was a playful person and the life of the party. He kept everyone laughing for sure.' Other loved ones took to Facebook and honored the late father. 'I wish I could go bacc [sic] to this day... I was on the phone with u when u posted this...I'm lost out here bro,' one said under a post Harris made on the morning he died. Another said: 'Not Aaron Harris I will miss you soooo much.' McConnell has not yet been pictured. DailyMail.com contacted the San Bernardino Country Sheriff's Office. A GoFundMe page was created by Harris' sister Crystal to raise money for his funeral. He was described by his sister as a 'family man'. (pictured: Harris and his family) Harris' cousin Quinten Carr said he was a 'playful person and the life of the party' On May 31, a road rage brawl between two men outside the Los Angeles International Airport left an elderly woman unconscious on the ground and in critical condition. Appalling surveillance footage showed the victim checking on her luggage curbside as the two men fighting run towards where she's standing. As the men ran off the sidewalk and into the street during the brawl, one of them is seen hitting the woman on the head, knocking her unconscious. Officials told KTLA the woman was rushed to the hospital with major injuries. She has since recovered and has been released from the hospital. California recently came in as one of the worst states for road rage in the country, according to Forbes. It ranked third (47.5%) in terms of being cut off by other people, fourth (32%) in insults and seventh (60.5%) in tailgating. California also has the eighth-highest (11%) percentage of drivers who say another person sharing the road has exited their vehicle to fight or yell with them. A Democratic Alabama lawmaker targeted GOP Representative Katie Britt with a sex slur as she attempted to defend Vice-President Kamala Harris. Juandalynn Givan lashed out at those suggesting that Harris had slept her way to success. 'You have fools out there that think this woman got to where she is by laying on her back,' Rep. Juandalynn Givan said of Harris. 'Did Katie Britt lay on hers to get to the (U.S.) Senate?' No way has (Harris) had to lay on her back to get to where she is.' Britt is a US Republican senator from Alabama. There's no suggestion she owes her career to anything other than hard work, with Givan likely just using her name to prove a point. Her comments came amid reports the Vice-President was romantically involved with a married politician who was separated from his wife while she was single. Democratic Alabama lawmaker Juandalynn Givan targeted GOP Representative Katie Britt as she attempted to defend Vice-President Kamala Harris Her comments came in response to published reports that Harris romanced a married male politician decades ago when she was single and he was separated from his wife. Harris dated San Francisco's first black mayor Willie Brown in the 1990s. He is 31 years Harris' senior and she was his 'constant companion' on the campaign trail. They met while he was 60 and Harris was 29. Harris has struggled to shirk her association with Brown, whom she has described as 'an albatross hanging around my neck'. She has been married to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff since 2014. Givan also defended the Vice President against critiques about her past relationships. 'At the end of the day, words matter,' Givan said during her News4 interview this week. 'Don't let (words) be anything you don't want your mother, sister, or auntie to be.' Katie Britt, pictured, is a US senator from Alabama who's a member of the Republican party Her comments came amid reports Vice-President Kamala Harris was romantically involved with a married politician who was separated from his wife while she was single Married mom-of-two Britt, 42, became the youngest woman elected to the Senate in 2022. Givan did not suggest Britt had done anything untoward to earn her success. The Alabama junior senator has long been viewed as a rising star in the Republican party. She rose to new prominence after delivering the response to the president's State of the Union speech. However her performance was savaged on SNL, where actress Scarlett Johansson ridiculed her as the 'craziest b**** in the Target parking lot.' Baltimore Mayor Brandon Lewis is facing calls to explain himself after announcing that the city's top health official is leaving her $230,000 job with immediate effect. Health Commissioner Ihuoma Emenuga boasts a host of qualifications from universities on three continents, and a storied history of senior management positions in public health. But the Democrat mayor announced she had stepped down just seven months into the job, with a brutally terse notice on the council website. 'Ihuoma Emenuga will no longer serve as the Baltimore City Health Commissioner and is no longer employed by the City of Baltimore, effective immediately,' it told voters. A source told the city's capitalgazette.com that she was sacked ahead of a 'pending investigation', but a spokesman for the mayor said he could not comment further. Baltimore Health Commissioner Ihuoma Emenuga is waving goodbye to her job just seven months after being sworn in by Mayor Brandon Scott Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott promised she would bring 'extensive experience, dedication to public health and innovative thinking' when he hired her on $230,000 a year The city claims to have 'America's oldest, continuously-operating health department', but one of its shortest-serving bosses has left residents demanding answers. 'Seven months into a contract and they're terminated means two things, they weren't properly vetted or they weren't properly vetted,' wrote Ellan Johnson. 'Pending investigation? Public official so citizens have a right to know,' wrote Copper2029. 'No paid admin leave? No golden parachute? It must be bad?' added CharmCityMadMan. The Mayor was effusive about his new hire when he announced her appointment in December. 'She will bring her extensive experience, dedication to public health and innovative thinking to her work on behalf of Baltimoreans in every neighborhood,' he predicted. 'As we safeguard all types of health in our communities, Dr Emenuga will be critical in helping us build a healthier, more equitable Baltimore.' A healthier Baltimore was certainly wanted when her predecessor resigned after a NYT investigation found the city had a drug death rate nearly twice that of any other US city for most of Letitia Dzirasa's four-year term. Dzirasa denied her resignation was connected with the report before taking up a post as deputy mayor for Equity, Health, and Human Service. But it was just another two months before she announced her resignation from that post. Emenuga qualified from the University of Nigeria with a medical degree and holds graduate degrees from the University of London and the University of Maryland, College Park. She is licensed as a doctor by the Maryland Board of Physicians and previously served as managing partner for the health care consultancy, Vie Health. She has held roles with Chase Brexton Health Care, and as chief medical officer for Park West Health System and Family Health Centers of Baltimore. And the tri-lingual physician was already serving as a medical director for the Health Department's Youth Wellness and Community Health Division by the time she was appointed to the top job. The mayor said the city would begin a 'nation-wide search for its next Health Commissioner', and that Deputy City Administrator Simone Johnson would step into the role for the time being. A source told the city's capitalgazette.com that she was sacked ahead of a 'pending investigation', but a spokesman for the Mayor said he could not comment further Mayor Scott's latest recruitment headache comes after the departure of his police commissioner, public works director, the city's top attorney, the city administrator and two chiefs of staff. His office pointed out that the new health stand-in has 'more than two decades of local and state government experience', including stints in the Housing and Transit authorities. But that did not reassure some on social media 'He's replaced her on an interim basis with someone with no health care expertise but a lot of agency crisis management expertise,' wrote Ronald Stubblefield. 'Must be an investigation.' A Texas man is being kicked out of his lake house after his neighbor purchased the underwater land that his residence encroached on. Art Burnevik, 75, purchased a piece of land off Lake Buchanan and spent the last six years hand-building his dream home. Part of the retiree's home extends onto submerged land - that is land below the lake's contour line which is the elevation level of the lake when it is full. However, the submerged land is owned by Burnevik's neighbor who took him to court and had him evicted for building on the underwater property, reported KXAN. 'This is my little dream. This is all I could afford. After all the years that I worked, this is all I could manage. But this was all I ever needed,' Burnevik said. Art Burnevik (pictured), 75, is set to be evicted from his dream home over an underwater property dispute Burnevik purchased a piece of land off Lake Buchanan (pictured) and spent the last six years hand-building his dream home Property records show Underwater Land LLC obtained the deed to a 46-acre tract of submerged land on the lake in 2021, including where Burnevik build his house His neighbor Brad Beneski is listed as the only member Underwater Land LLC, according to the local news station. Beneski sued Burnevik Burnet County court claiming his construction crossed into his land. A justice of the peace ruled in Beneski's favor in March 2024. Then on appeal, a judge sided with Beneski again and signed a writ of possession, giving Beneski the right to evict Burnevik in June. Burnevik's neighbor purchased the underwater land that that 75-year-old built a portion of his home on and a court ruled he could be evicted 'My client has given him ample opportunity to move off the property, but he has refused and forced our hand,' Beneski's lawyer Austin Shell told KXAN. 'We've been as courteous as we can.' Burnevik said he offered to buy the land underneath his home, but Shell said 'under no circumstances' would his client sell. The 75-year-old feels he was not given a fair shot but had started moving out of his house. Pointing to his car, Burnevik said: 'That was going to be my new home right there.' His neighbors have stepped up and offered him a place to stay. 'It wasnt until they said, "Youre not going to live under a bench." Thats when I broke down,' Burnevik said. A man plunged 50 feet inside a well in Georgia while looking for his cell phone. The individual, who has not been named, was trapped for eight hours as rescuers battled to save him. The father disappeared after venturing out into the woodland in Cobb County to try and retrieve his lost phone. He managed to track the device to the remote location using his wife's phone but was last heard from at 10pm on Thursday. His frantic family raised the alarm at 4am on Friday and he was rescued around two and a half hours later USA Today reports. A man who plunged 50 feet inside a well in Georgia while looking for his cell phone was rescued after a harrowing eight hour ordeal The man was using his wife's phone to track the location of his own cell when he disappeared on Thursday night A major rescue mission was launched with multiple teams scrambled to the scene. Rescuers followed the sound of the trapped man's cries and located him inside the structure. 'Cobb Police responded, saw his car in the road and started searching and calling his name,' Stephen Bennett, a spokesman for Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services said. 'One officer found the spouse's phone and then heard the subject and located him in the bottom' of the well. Dramatic video shows the moment the man was winched out of the well using ropes and a bipod 'At night in the darkness, if you don't have a good flashlight it is very easy to accidentally find a hole, fall down a slope. 'You know, the woods are not kind if you don't have a flashlight.' Dramatic video shows the moment the man was winched out of the well using ropes and a bipod. Miraculously, he was alive and conscious amid the rescue. He was then transferred to a stretcher and raced to the hospital. He is expected to make a recovery. The Prime Minister was repeatedly asked 'how many more children will die?' as he placed flowers at the scene of the Southport knife rampage today. Sir Keir Starmer placed his own floral tribute among hundreds of others as he visited the seaside town in Merseyside to offer his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. The three girls stabbed to death were today named by police as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. A vigil was attended by thousands of mourners in Southport on Tuesday night. The Labour leader's brief visit, which lasted around two minutes, was interrupted by some members of the public heckling him. As the Prime Minister walked past, one man declared: 'Here's your photo opportunity.' Another shouted: 'How many more children? Our kids are dead and you're leaving already?' Other furious onlookers shouted 'scumbag', 'time for change' and 'go away, you're not wanted'. Another woman said: 'I've just found out my friend's nine-year-old daughter was killed, the person I've held as a child, and you can't do s***.' And a different man shouted: 'Get the truth out!' It comes after Merseyside Police issued a warning after an 'incorrect' name for the alleged Southport attacker was widely circulated online. A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but from the Banks area of Merseyside, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder. Inaccurate posts by social media sleuths about the identity of the perpetrator have received millions of views and engagements. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives with a floral tribute to the child victims of a knife attack A note from Sir Keir Starmer left at the scene of the 'ferocious' knife attack: 'There are no words for such profound loss. The nation's thoughts are with you' Earlier today, 'happy smiley' Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday following the attack Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also confirmed to have died on Monday as nine other children and two adult women were rushed to hospital Six-year-old Bebe King was pronounced dead shortly after the attack in Southport on Monday Downing Street also warned against 'unhelpful' speculation amid concerns that misreporting online could inflame community tensions. Officers should be given the space to probe the case without people guessing at the possible motive or circumstances, No 10 said. The 17-year-old suspect is from Wales, Merseyside Police has said, but false claims that he was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat have spread online. The force is now understood to be monitoring a potential far-right rally in the area. Sir Keir laid a wreath of pink and white flowers in front of dozens of locals, journalists and photographers. He said the horrific attack 'touches a nerve' with the whole country as he lay his floral tribute at the scene alongside a note telling the victim's families 'the nation's thoughts are with you'. After visiting Hart Street, Merseyside he went on to meet the emergency service workers who responded to the horrific tragedy praising the 'incredible' paramedics, firefighters and police officers for 'saving lives'. 'I hope you feel proud of the part that you played in the most difficult circumstances, to do what you could for those young lives,' Sir Keir told them. The PM's visit comes as the young girls who died in the attack were named and pictured. Bebe, six, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack while Elsie, seven, was also died on Monday. And earlier today, 'happy smiley' Alice Aguiar, nine, was named after she died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. Five other children, aged between six and 11, remain in a critical condition alongside two female adults, including hero teacher Leanne Lucas, who 'bravely tried to protect them'. A teenager, born in Cardiff, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder. Detectives are probing him on the incident. The Labour leader went on to visit Southport Police station where he shook hands with the dozens of firefighters and police officers involved, telling them children are 'alive today' because of their brave work. He told them: 'I know you would go and face any situation that was put in front of you, you do it every day. 'But there's no pretending that what you dealt with yesterday was ordinary or just a usual response. It was really, really difficult. I just wanted to say a personal thank you to each of you, that's why I wanted to shake each of your hands, for what you did yesterday. 'I'm incredibly proud of what you did. I'm amazed, but not surprised, that you're in today, carrying on with your duties. I really want you to focus on the fact that there are children today alive because of what you did yesterday. 'That is incredible. It's what you do every day but it's the most difficult of circumstances. I don't want you to think for a minute the rest of the country has not seen that.' Sir Keir Starmer shakes hands with emergency workers who responded to yesterday's knife attack in Southport Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer leaves a floral tribute to the child victims of a knife attack on Hart Street Sir Keir said he made the visit to the shocked community to pay his respects to the victims and families who are going 'through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine - I can't imagine, as a dad myself'. The PM had a briefing with Merseyside Police's chief constable and emergency services about their ongoing investigation. He added that he wanted to make the trip to thank emergency workers in person for their bravery. 'It was very, very difficult,' Sir Keir said. 'They were absolutely professional. And it was important for me to come and say simple words - thank you.' The Prime Minister's visit to the scene is reported to have been marred by hostile shouts from some members of the public, who called for action on knife crime. The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also visited the town to lay flowers at the police cordon in Southport this morning. She was accompanied by Southport MP Patrick Hurley, Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan and police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell who walked to the cordon together. A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also paid tribute. About a dozen firefighters walked together to the cordon on Hart Street and laid flowers, with a message to say they were 'thinking of everyone involved'. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pays tribute to the child victims of the horror knife attack Brave Leanne Lucas, 35, (pictured) who organised the Taylor Swift-themed workshop, suffered stab injuries after the man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the scorching heat Floral tributes near the scene in Southport today after three children died and nine were injured The Home Secretary stood for a few moments looking at the tributes before laying her flowers and reading some of the messages left by others. She and Mr Hurley hugged. She is understood to have met with first responders in the town earlier. Speaking to the media today, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: 'The town is in mourning, the town is in shock this morning. The incident that took place yesterday was uniquely horrific. 'Southport's a quiet seaside, coastal town. This has just sent shockwaves through the whole community. It's a very small town, Southport, and a lot of families across the area will be impacted directly. 'I think at this stage we need to just reach out, make sure that there's a level of community healing going on and make sure we give voice to the solidarity that people need right now.' Alder Hey children's hospital confirmed today that seven children were taken to their A&E following the stabbing. Following the announcement of little Bebe's death, her family said in a statement: 'No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.' Churchtown Primary School released a statement this afternoon and said: 'Our whole Churchtown Primary School community is utterly heartbroken by the tragic events that have taken place. 'We stand united with all of our families and the wider Southport community during this incredibly difficult time.' The family of Alice also paid tribute to their 'princess'. They said: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.' Heartbroken relatives of Alice said she had been taken by a 'despicable human being.' Her mother Alexandra Aguiar is understood to be originally from Caracas in Venezuela and her dad David Aguiar is from the Portuguese island of Madeira. Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro issued a statement following the death of three children. He said on X: 'It is with deep sadness that I received the news on the attack that took place yesterday in Southport in the United Kingdom, for which I have no words to describe. 'On my behalf and that of the Portuguese government I express heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the British government and people.' Huw Edwards has split from his TV producer wife and moved out of the family home ahead of his court hearing over child pornography images, it was reported tonight. Edwards, 62, is understood to have left the couple's home in Dulwich, south London, which he shared with Vicky Flind. The ex-News at Ten presenter has been dividing his time between a home in Wandsworth, south-west London, and his native Wales. Edwards is due in court in central London tomorrow, having been accused of child pornography offences after 37 indecent images were allegedly shared on a WhatsApp chat. He got engaged to Vicky in 1993, and the couple share three sons and two daughters. Speaking of their split, a source told The Sun: 'They separated quite a long time ago but have not announced it publicly.' The source added: 'Huw has been living elsewhere for a while.' Huw Edwards and his wife Vicky Flind, pictured in South London in 2018. They have five children Edwards is seen walking through London's Marylebone on June 17 last year with his ID tag Edwards faces three counts of making indecent images of children relating to offences said to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, Scotland Yard revealed yesterday. One former colleague and friend told MailOnline: 'Huw kept his arrest completely secret.' They said that like everyone else they had seen the statement from the Met Police in July 2023 that said detectives had not found any evidence of criminal activity when the scandal broke and he was suspended from his job. 'It turns out he was arrested four months later and nobody knew. I had no idea until he was charged', the friend from the BBC said. Another former colleague of the star said: 'It's a mess - and tragic for all concerned'. The BBC was also blindsided by the criminal charges against its former star presenter Huw Edwards, with bosses only told of the allegations a few hours before they were made public, an insider has claimed. In April, Edwards resigned from the BBC on medical grounds and left without a payout. He then moved in with his mother in Wales. Edwards got engaged to Vicky in 1993, and the couple share three sons and two daughters Edwards is due in court in central London tomorrow, having been accused of child pornography offences after 37 indecent images were allegedly shared on a WhatsApp chat But it has emerged that Edwards was arrested on November 8 last year and charged just over a month ago on June 26 following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service. A BBC insider reportedly said the corporation only found out Edwards was facing criminal charges hours before it was made public, according to The Times. Members of staff were rocked by the news, which they said senior management must have been unaware of. A senior source told The Times: 'The BBC was informed by the Met Police when a call came through [on Monday].' Scotland faces a growing population crisis as the number of births and the fertility rate both plunged to new record lows. Official figures show the number of live births fell to its lowest ever figure of 45,935 in 2023, which was down by two per cent on the previous year. At the same time, the fertility rate - the average number of children a woman is expected to have - fell to a new low of 1.3, compared to 1.33 the previous year. It is far short of the fertility rate of 2.1 needed for a population to be able to replace itself. There were 63,445 deaths registered in Scotland last year, which was 1 per cent more than 2022, and the number of deaths have now been higher than births for nine consecutive years. Scotland's birth rate tumbled to its lowest level on record last year Economists warned that the declining natural population will put pressure on public finances and is likely to lead to tax rises or spending cuts. Joao Sousa, deputy director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said: In a context where low birth rates are here to stay, providing a decent standard of social protection and of living to those in retirement is likely to be linked with somewhat higher taxes and somewhat less spending in some areas. Figures in a new report by the National Records of Scotland show that the 45,935 live births registered in 2023 was the lowest annual total since records began in 1855. The report said that births have been falling over the long term and hit a previous low in 2002 before increasing to a high of 60,041. Since then, the number has decreased most years. Just over half of live births - 53 per cent - were to unmarried parents, while the most common age group for mothers giving birth has increased to 30-34. The fertility rate was even lower than the national average of 1.30 in Scotlands cities. Edinburgh had the lowest rate, at 0.98, followed by Glasgow, at 1.12. The highest fertility rates were in the most deprived areas, at 1.42, while the lowest rate of 1.12 was in the least deprived areas. Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Liz Smith MSP said: These alarming figures point to a demographic timebomb in Scotland. The plummeting birth rates have sparked fears of a 'demographic time bomb' in Scotland We already have an ageing population, and declining birth and fertility rates raise questions over whether we will have a big enough working population to support their pension and healthcare needs in the years to come. To offset this worrying trend, the SNP Government need to do more to attract working-age people to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, but thats not going to happen while taxes are higher here than south of the border. Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: Making sure every place in Scotland has the population it needs to thrive is key to ensuring the sustainability of our communities. Lower birth rates are a trend across a number of higher income countries, and while deciding to have a child or not is obviously a matter for individuals, we are identifying and addressing barriers to people starting or expanding families through the delivery of Scotlands Population Strategy. Inward migration is also key and while immigration is a reserved policy matter, we hope to work collaboratively with the new UK Government to support people to move to Scotland. Phillipa Haxton, head of vital events statistics at the NRS, said: The publication of these annual figures for 2023 gives us an opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture. Were seeing the number of excess deaths falling after three years when they were higher due to the impact of the pandemic. The number of births has fallen, and the total fertility rate is the lowest ever recorded reflecting the move towards smaller families. A Washington state couple are desperately searching for their 13-year-old cat, Feefee, after security footage appeared to show an Amazon delivery driver taking the beloved pet from their driveway. Ray and Karin Ishak last saw Feefee on July 21, when their motion-activated security camera captured the driver petting the cat. Moments later, both the driver and Feefee had vanished. 'We saw when the driver was leaving. She was petting the cat and playing with the cat, which is not abnormal,' Ray Ishak told KKTV. 'The driver driving away, and there's not a cat in sight. It's pretty obvious the cat disappeared in those seconds,' he added. A Washington state couple is desperately searching for their 13-year-old cat, Feefee, after security footage appeared to show an Amazon delivery driver taking the beloved pet from their driveway Ray and Karin Ishak last saw their beloved pet Feefee on July 21, when their motion-activated security camera captured the driver petting the cat The Ishaks have been in communication with Amazon, who confirmed in emails that the driver had in fact taken Feefee. The company claimed the driver had contacted local police to return the cat, but Ray Ishak has claimed that this isn't true. 'I talked to the sheriff's department again, gave them the case number, asked if anybody brought the cat in. They haven't heard from anybody. I called the Everett PD and nothing,' he said. Feefee's disappearance occurred the same weekend as their son's wedding. Ray Ishak described the heartbreaking moment when his grandchildren learned of the missing cat. 'The emotional distress for me having to lie to my grandkids that the cat is safe and fine. Then, watching my granddaughters cry after they found out because they heard us talk about it. It was a double whammy from every single front,' he said. The Ishaks have been in communication with Amazon, who confirmed in emails that the driver had in fact taken Feefee The company claimed the driver had contacted local police to return the cat, but Ray Ishak has claimed that this isn't true The Ishaks have filed a report with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and are pressing Amazon for more information about the driver's location. However, the company has so far refused to provide these details, and have instead recommended the family file a theft report with law enforcement. While the Ishaks want to believe the driver had good intentions, possibly mistaking Feefee for a stray, they are pleading for the return of their beloved pet. Ray Ishak directed an appeal to the driver. 'Maybe you did this out of the kindness of your heart. I appreciate it, but bring me my cat back,' he said. Ealier this month, a FedEx driver in North Carolina was arrested after stealing a $5,500 French Bulldog during his delivery route and leaving it to perish in his sweltering truck. Kimani Joehon Marshall, 44, from Fayetteville, allegedly stole the dog named Tori on July 3 while delivering a package in the area of US 421 South. Ealier this month, a FedEx driver in North Carolina was arrested after stealing a $5,500 French Bulldog during his delivery route and leaving it to perish in his sweltering truck The beloved pet was left in Marshall's FedEx truck as he continued his deliveries. Tori tragically died due to reported heat-related issues as temperatures that day soared into the 90s. A week after her disappearance, Tori's remains were discovered on the side of the road on July 10. SNP ministers have dropped their promise to give all Scots pensioners a new devolved winter fuel payment after Rachel Reeves slashed the UK version. The Scottish Government is due to replace the Winter Fuel Payment with its own universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) within months. Ministers said the like-for-like swap this winter would give 1million Scots between 100 and 300 depending on age and insisted the benefit would not be means tested. But the pledge is now under review after the Chancellor axed the Winter Fuel Payment for 10million pensioners UK-wide, cutting up to 160million from Holyroods budget. SNP Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said he wanted the PAWHP to be universal but we need to look at the numbers very, very closely. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is cutting the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners Ms Reeves is limiting winter fuel payment to the poorest 1.5 million pensioners on pension credit to save 1.5billion and help plug a 22 billion black hole in public finances. Age Scotland called on the Chancellor to rethink her decision and urged the SNP Government to make PAWHP a universal benefit if she did not. Mr McKee told BBC Radio Scotland that Holyrood would lose most of the 180million grant it had expected to get from Westminster to pay for the devolved scheme. We only got told about this 90 minutes before it was announced, which is really concerning given Labours grand talk about resetting the relationship with the Scottish Government. Asked if his Government might mitigate the UK cuts to maintain a universal benefit, Mr McKee said: Who knows? We need to look at the data very, very closely. We think there will be at least 100 million... that well need to find from somewhere else if we want to continue to pay that winter fuel payment, which we absolutely want to do. The Scottish Government later said it would lose up to 160 million. Age Scotland chief executive Katherine Crawford said the charity was already getting calls from distressed older people. She said: The winter fuel payment is due to be devolved to the Scottish Government and our hope is that it will be restored as a universal benefit. Scotland does generally experience worse weather than other parts of the UK and more than half of those who receive it use it as an important part of winter budgeting. Keeping or reinstating the winter fuel payment will also ensure that money is going to those who need it most, when they need it most. Former Tory pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann told the BBC she was shocked the chancellor had chosen to take money away from some of the poorest people in this country. Ms Reeves said she had to fix the mess left by the previous government, accusing the Tories of covering up their deeply irresponsible overspending. SNP Public Finance minister Ivan McKee said he was unsure where the Scottish Government would find the cash to continue the scheme north of the border They were not decisions I wanted to make, they were not decisions I expected to make, but when confronted with a 22billion black hole, I had to act, she said. The Scottish Governments own advisers on poverty opposed a universal PAWHP. The Poverty and Inequality Commission warned it was extraordinarily poorly targeted and would represent inefficient spend on reducing poverty across society. It said help should be targeted, not universal to have the most impact. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said SNP claims that Labour knew before the election that immediate spending cuts would be needed were completely and utterly wrong. He said: This is a 22billion in-year overspend by the previous government that they hid from the Office for Budget Responsibility. He said the SNP Government only got 90 minutes notice because of market sensitivities in the Chancellors statement, adding: Theres no wholesale cuts here. Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs denied the Tory administration had left financial problems behind and predicted Labour would hike taxes in the October 30 budget. That was something they werent willing to say before the election, he said. Rioters chanting 'English till I die' last night clashed with police outside a mosque in Southport, near to where three girls were killed in a horrific knife rampage on Monday. Police condemned the 'sickening' violence which broke out amid speculation over the identity of the suspect arrested in connection with the savage attack on a group of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The angry mob - who police 'believe to be supporters of the English Defence League' - began to launch items towards a mosque barely an hour after thousands gathered for a vigil at 6pm to remember the victims of the holiday club outrage. The three girls have been named by police as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar. Just yards away from the emotional vigil, a 32-year-old man was separately arrested after being caught carrying a flick knife on Eastbank Street at 6.55pm. On nearby St Luke's Street, a crowd of men surrounded the Southport Mosque amen Islamic Cultural Centre and began hurling rubble at police officers who had formed a protective line around the building. The thugs, many wearing masks and hoodies, were seen targeting the Muslim place of worship at around 7.45pm - including shattering windows - after police issued a warning over an 'incorrect' name for the alleged attacker being widely circulated online. A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but from the nearby Lancashire village of Banks, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder. The violence appears to have been fuelled by false claims online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat. Merseyside Police said: 'We would urge people not to speculate on details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.' Local mosque groups condemned the violence aimed towards Muslims, adding: 'We must not let those who seek to divide us and spread hatred use this as an opportunity.' Police said that a number of officers were injured, while cars were set alight and shops were broken into and looted during the disorder. In a desperate bid to protect themselves, officers put on helmets and riot gear after stones and bottles were launched at them. One officer has suffered a suspected broken nose and police vehicles have been damaged and set on fire as around 400 people gathered to watch. Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out in Southport A police van was set on fire near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening as riots broke out Smoke is seen billowing from a police van which was set ablaze. The mosque is seen on the right Tensions have flared in Southport last night, with police saying members of the EDL were targeting the mosque Chaotic scenes erupted near to where the knife rampage took place in Southport yesterday A traffic cone is hurled by a masked man at a police officer near to a mosque in Southport Around 200 protesters were seen taking to the streets. Police believe many are EDL supporters A burnt out police van near a mosque in Southport as shocking riots broke out on Tuesday Riot police vans were damaged amid the chaos near the Southport Mosque The violence was condemned by the Liverpool Region Mosque Network on Tuesday night Three girls were killed in a bloody rampage on Hart Street on Monday. On Tuesday, a vigil was held for the victims on Lord Street. While it was going on, a man with a flick knife was arrested on Eastbank Street. On St Luke's Road, riots erupted outside a mosque - also on Tuesday Footage showed a man, dressed in all black, being arrested near the vigil for the three girls who died The three girls who died were among 11 children stabbed during a 'ferocious' knife attack which left mothers picking up their children screaming in horror. Five further children, aged between six and 11, are in a critical condition alongside two female adults, among them hero yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who 'bravely tried to protect them'. As thousands of mourners attended an emotional vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, protests broke out on the streets surrounding Hart Street, where the attack took place. Furious demonstrators tore down garden walls to use as missiles to pelt at police, with wheelie bins also thrown during the mayhem. A police van was set on fire by protesters. Angry mobs chanted 'Stop the boats' and kicked out at police vans sent to restore order. Some threw smoke bombs, with men wearing caps and shorts charging at outnumbered police. Scores of riot vans and patrol cars raced to the scene as a police helicopter hovered overhead as the violence spread out of control. Huge crowds of men, many masked and wearing hoodies, were seen clashing with police - as stones, bottles, bricks and fireworks were launched. Demonstrators could be heard shouting 'No surrender' and 'English till I die'. One police officer was seen being helped into a van by his colleagues with blood streaming down his face and a heavily bandaged head. A female officer was also seen with a cut cheek. By 8pm, around 500 rioters had massed in two streets outside the mosque - Sussex Road and St Luke's Road - trapping around 40 police officers in the middle. Missiles were hurled at riot officers and dog handlers from both sides. Bottles, bricks, fireworks and lumps of concrete were thrown to cheers from the rioters, who goaded police and eyes each other on. At about 8.15pm a crowd surrounded three riot vans and began rocking one to try and flip it over. Moments later a small explosion was heard and a mini-fireball erupted in the air as the van went up in flames. One man shouted: 'We're doing this for our girls!' as officers drove the other vans away from the fire to stop them also being set alight. In a desperate attempt to quell the disorder, a charge from riot police brandishing batons sent around 300 of the rioters fleeing down the street as reinforcements flooded the area. But violence continued into the night, with rioters forming a burning barricade of wheelie bins as they hurled bricks and lumps of concrete at riot police. Mobs chanting 'save our girls' clashed with police until 10.30pm outside the Southport Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre. A nearby corner shop looked to have been broken into and looted. Rioters set alight at least five wheelie bins in the middle of Sussex Road sending flames and toxic black plumes of smoke shooting up into the night's sky. With officers unable to charge due to the burning barricade, a volley of missiles was hurled from behind the makeshift bonfire. At one point the ferocity of the violence sent the line of police retreating slightly. Officers in a Merseyside Police helicopter continued to monitor events from the air. The crowd began to thin out around 11pm with reports of disturbances - including cars being torched - breaking out across Southport. Merseyside Police tweeted: 'A number of officers have been injured, cars set alight & a shop broken into & looted in Southport this evening. This is completely unacceptable. We're gathering evidence & those responsible will be brought to justice.' During the demonstration, several people carried placards with slogans about stopping the boats. One read: 'Stop the boats! Send them back! Fight for our kids! Let's stand together! Riot police try to control the angry mob who have taken to the streets of Southport Police try to regain control of the situation. Merseyside Police have condemned the 'sickening' violence The aftermath of the riots, where police vans were burnt and rocks were launched Rioters wearing masks launch missiles towards police officers in Southport Riot police with shields and helmets hold back protesters after disorder broke out Protesters cheer as they launch bins at riot police vans amid ugly scenes in Southport Rioters were seen jumping on police vans as things got out of control Smoke billows behind riot police officers amid riots in the seaside town A wounded police officer with blood pouring down his head after being caught up in the riots Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle A police officer holding a baton with a cut on her face after rioters stormed the area near the mosque Riot police intervene as activists cause chaos in Southend as rumours circulate over the suspect's identity Hundreds of protesters, many masked, battled with riot police officers Thugs, many hooded and wearing masks, launch wheelie bins at a riot van England flags were on display at the far-right protest in Southport A protester walks away holding his head as activists clashed with police on Tuesday Clashes between protesters and police can be seen breaking out in the far distance Some held placards saying 'stop the boats'. This is despite police issuing a warning after an 'incorrect' name for the alleged attacker was widely circulated online Wheelie bins and bricks were thrown at police, while a police van went up in flames - as police warned people not to speculate about the identity of the suspect Huge crowds have clashed with police in Southport as tensions boil over following the knife rampage Activists were seen launching missiles at police and attempting to damage riot vans One woman carrying a placard said the disorder was because the knife man who attacked the children 'was a Muslim.' She said: 'We are saying enough is enough. Why are they not stopping the migrants coming in? 'How many more children will be killed because they are letting them all in? They should be at the borders stopping them.' Her comments came after inaccurate posts by social media sleuths about the identity of the perpetrator have received millions of views and engagements. Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future, said a bogus news channel seemed to have invented a fake name for the suspect and run a false story that was shared online. Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss: 'There has been much speculation and hypothesis around the status of a 17-year-old male who is currently in police custody, and some individuals are using this to bring violence and disorder to our streets. 'We have already said that the person arrested was born in the UK and speculation helps nobody at this time. 'It is sickening to see this happening within a community that has been devastated by the tragic loss of three young lives.' The riots went on late into the evening, with police officers desperately trying to regain control Riot police wearing helmets and shields try to defend themselves near the mosque Riot police officers storm into the area to try and disperse the growing crowd Also on Tuesday evening, officers were called to reports of a man carrying a weapon at around 6.50pm, during which time the vigil was taking place at the Atkinson venue. Police swooped on the scene and detained the man minutes later before seizing the flick knife. A 32-year-old man dressed in all black, from Standish, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, and taken into custody. There were no reports of any injuries during the incident. Detective Inspector Gavin Mulcahy said: 'We know too well the devastating impact knife crime can have for victims, their families and friends, and those who carry them. 'This week has seen an unspeakable tragedy unfold in Southport, and this incident occurred a short distance from where a vigil had been happening where the community was paying their respects to all those affected. 'Officers made a swift arrest and have seized a knife that could have been used to cause harm in our communities. 'Those offenders who carry them have no place whatsoever in our communities. 'Every day we are carrying out stop checks, warrants and land searches to take knives off our streets, but as this incident shows, the assistance of members of the public in telling us where they are stored and who is carrying them is vital to ensure the safety of families and residents.' Reacting to the riots, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy posted on X: 'I am incredibly proud of my officers and staff who have worked so hard to save the lives of children, investigate the horrific incident from yesterday, working with partners to provide reassurance to our communities and now they are facing this level of violence from these thugs 'Over 1000 residents from Southport came together this evening to remember the little girls who have died, those who are still critical in hospital and all those who witnessed & are traumatised by the events from yesterday. This is where all of our focus should be.' Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: 'It's distressing to see people from outside our Southport community attacking our police and local people. 'I want to make it clear that I fully condemn any attack on our emergency services, these are the same services that responded to the tragic attack yesterday. 'I appeal to local people to avoid the area and stay safe, to allow the police to do their job.' Mr Hurley continued: 'I want to thank our community for pulling together and supporting every person who has been affected by Monday's tragic attack. 'Nowhere was this more evident than the solidarity, remembrance and sympathy heard at today's vigil. 'To those who laid flowers, candles, toys, thank you. I was deeply saddened to hear the news today of the death or a third child. Bebe, Elsie and Alice are in all of our thoughts and hearts today.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said scenes of thuggery' on the streets of Southport 'bear no relation' to the community which had been coming together. The three girls stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class were yesterday named by police as nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and six-year-old Bebe King (L-R) Away from the protest, a vigil was being held for the three girls who died in the tragic incident In stark contrast to the riots, there was a sense of tranquillity around the site of the vigil The vigil was held at the Atkinson in Southport at around 6pm on Tuesday evening The Home Secretary told broadcasters: 'I think everyone should be showing some respect for the community that is grieving and also for the police who are pursuing an urgent criminal investigation now, and who showed such heroism and bravery yesterday in the face of these horrific attacks. 'I think everyone needs to support the police in that work, and frankly the scenes of thuggery that we have seen on the streets of Southport this evening bear no relation to the way in which the Southport community has been coming together to support each other and to support grieving families. 'We need to see some respect for the grieving community and for the police in their urgent work.' And the Southport Mosque said it was 'truly shocked and saddened to hear about the events that unfolded today'. They added: 'We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of all affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.' The Liverpool Region Mosque Network said it was 'shocked and horrified' by the knife rampage on Monday. But it added: 'A minority of people are attempting to portray that this inhumane act is somehow related to the Muslim community. Frankly it is not, and we must not let those who seek to divide us and spread hatred use this as an opportunity. 'This evening, we have seen distressing scenes outside Southport Mosque with angry protesters, gathering outside. This is causing further fear and anxiety within our communities. We must all unite and stand together against all forms of hate, violence and division.' Downing Street also warned against 'unhelpful' speculation amid concerns that misreporting online could inflame community tensions. An aerial view of Hart Street on Monday, where a horrifying knife attack took place just before midday Officers should be given the space to probe the case without people guessing at the possible motive or circumstances, No 10 said. Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister was repeatedly asked 'how many more children will die?' as he placed flowers at the scene of the attack. Sir Keir Starmer's brief visit, which lasted around two minutes, was interrupted by some members of the public heckling him. As the Prime Minister walked past, one man declared: 'Here's your photo opportunity.' Another shouted: 'How many more children? Our kids are dead and you're leaving already?' Other furious onlookers shouted 'scumbag', 'time for change' and 'go away, you're not wanted'. Another woman said: 'I've just found out my friend's nine-year-old daughter was killed, the person I've held as a child, and you can't do s***.' And a different man shouted: 'Get the truth out!' Ms Cooper has said social media companies 'need to take some responsibility' for some activity in the aftermath of the attack. Responding to shadow home secretary James Cleverly, she said: 'I agree with him too about the responsibility on every one of us. The police do need to be able to pursue this investigation. 'There will be wider questions for other days, but the most important thing is that every one of us supports the police in their investigation now. 'I agree with him too about the responsibility on social media companies, because we do need to recognise there are things that are taking place on social media that go against their terms and conditions, and their commitments as well. They need to take some responsibility for that. 'Above all, this is about young children. This is about children and their families who will be grieving, and the many other children who were involved yesterday who will be facing great trauma as well.' Her counterpart Mr Cleverly called for people not to 'get involved in the grief of others' by sharing misinformation relating to the Southport attack on social media. 'Enough people are already distressed without their distress being amplified by speculation and gossip online,' he added. Ahead of fears mounting over a far-right rally, Sir Keir's official spokesman said: 'Of course, people should listen the police, they should not do anything that is going to make the police's job harder to manage the situation, to conduct their investigations. 'It is unhelpful to speculate on things like the motive and the circumstance around this.' Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related. Israel launched a targeted airstrike on the Lebanese capital tonight in a dramatic bid to eliminate a senior Hezbollah commander. The missile attack at 7.40pm local time followed a terrorist attack on the Golan Heights on Saturday which killed 12 children. An Israeli attack on Beirut had been anticipated following the Hezbollah strike on a playground. Tonight, video footage showed an apartment block ablaze and a sense of panic in the southern suburb of Haret Hreik. Tensions were extremely high as paramedics were seen removing casualties from several damaged buildings, including a hospital. Sky TV journalist Alex Crawford was confronted by angry locals while she attempted to broadcast live from the scene of the blast. The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike launched on the Lebanese capital tonight in a dramatic bid to eliminate a senior Hezbollah commander People walk near the building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut An ambulance makes it way through the crowd. Tonight, video footage showed an apartment block ablaze and a sense of panic in the southern suburb of Haret Hreik According to Lebanons state-run National News Agency, there is a Hezbollah headquarters, a Shura Council, in Haret Hreik. Unconfirmed reports suggested the specific target of the Israeli strike was Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. An Israeli attack on Beirut had been anticipated following Hezbollahs rocket attack at the weekend. The rocket was thought to have been fired by mistake. Even so, as children had lost their lives, Israel said the group had crossed a red line. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant repeated the phrase in a message posted on X just minutes after yesterdays airstrike. Earlier this week, the UK issued a plea for Britons to leave Lebanon urgently - over fears of a wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. In the event UK citizens remain stranded there, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are expected to lead a maritime evacuation mission. As the Mail has previously revealed, UK commandos have conducted reconnaissance operations along the Lebanese coastline to aid such an operation. Medical staff in Beirut attend to an injured man after Israeli strike. Tensions were extremely high as paramedics were seen removing casualties from several damaged buildings, including a hospital An Israeli attack on Beirut had been anticipated following the Hezbollah strike on a playground in the Golan Heights over the weekend which killed 12 children Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a low-scale conflict since the Hamas attacks of October 7th last year. Tit-for-tat attacks have continued since then. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said repeatedly that Israels strategic priority remains the eradication of Hamas Tonight, it remained unclear how many casualties had resulted from the Israeli airstrike, likewise the fate of Shukr. As US diplomats have pleaded with Israel not to escalate the conflict, last nights strike could prove a one-off by Israel. However, should Hezbollah respond by striking the northern Israeli city of Haifa, which is within range of its rockets, then a wider war could start. Israel is considered reluctant to take on Hezbollah while it remains entangled with Hamas in Gaza. Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a low-scale conflict since the Hamas attacks of October 7th last year. Tit-for-tat attacks have continued since then. The last time Israel targeted Beirut was in January, when an airstrike killed a top Hamas official based in the city, Saleh Arouri. That strike was the first time Israel had struck the Lebanese capital since the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said repeatedly that Israels strategic priority remains the eradication of Hamas. A young English bulldog has tragically died days after the pup was found sealed in a plastic container next to a dumpster in Las Vegas's 100-degree temperatures. Reba was discovered whimpering and crying for help on July 25 by a passerby who quickly rescued the animal and began trying to cool her down as help arrived. She was taken to the Veterinary Emergency Group as staff members worked to revive her from the brink of death. At the time, a veterinarian who treated Reba noted that she was suffering from heat stroke and severe dehydration - indicating that she may have suffered abuse. At the time, a veterinarian who treated Reba noted that she was suffering from heat stroke and severe dehydration - indicating that she may have suffered abuse She was discovered dumped in a sealed plastic container next to a dumpster Dr Jessica Dowling, medical director of the group, told Fox 5: 'She wasn't able to breathe because her lungs had filled with fluid from trying to breathe so hard. 'Dogs just don't have a good way of losing that heat like we do. So they're trying desperately to breathe. And it's just a vicious cycle that just keeps getting worse.' Two days later, Reba died due to a cardiac arrest caused by a blood-clotting condition she developed as a result of the severe heat stroke and shock, Vegas Pet Rescue announced. Carlos Herrera, a member of Paws Patrol, a non-profit group that helps animals in need, also revealed that Reba suffered a seizure while she was being taken to the hospital. Reba was discovered whimpering and crying for help on July 25 by a passerby who quickly rescued the animal and began trying to cool her down as help arrived She was admitted at the Veterinary Emergency Group as staff members worked to revive her from the brink of death Two days later, Reba died due to a cardiac arrest caused by a blood-clotting condition she developed as a result of the severe heat stroke and shock, the Vegas Pet Rescue announced 'To know that somebody had the audacity to put the dog in there, tape that shut, and leave the dog there and just walk away, you know when it's 110 degrees outside, it just doesn't make sense,' Herrera said. The Las Vegas Police Department has launched an investigation and is currently on the lookout for the person who threw Reba in the bin. The Vegas Pet Rescue Project has also announced a $25,000 reward fund for anyone who can provide information about the incident. Megan Tomlinson, a volunteer rescue coordinator for the Vegas Pet Rescue Project, requested: 'Please call in if you saw even anything. Even the smallest detail might help us find who did this.' A long-awaited reunion route for families separated during the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan has been opened. Many parents and children were broken up following the Taliban coup and the chaotic international airlift from Kabul airport. People who were able to escape to the UK under legal routes previously set up by the government can now apply for their partners and children to join them. The new pathway for separated families to reunite is part of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The scheme was introduced following the Mails multi-award winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign, which has forced several changes in government policy. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a long-awaited reunion route for families separated during the 2012 evacuation of Afghanistan Taliban members are seen near Hamid Karzai International Airport as thousands of Afghans rush to flee the Afghan capital of Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 16, 2021 The Mail demanded ministers offer sanctuary to Afghans, such as interpreters, who risked their lives to assist British forces and to other vulnerable persons. Last night, the Refugee Council said the move was hugely welcome and would be life-changing for Afghan families separated for so long. Children who arrived in the UK from Afghanistan without their parents can apply for their mothers and fathers to join them. While Afghans over the aged of 18 who travelled alone, can apply for siblings and partners to come here. The pledge had been made by the previous Conservative government. Labour said it was implementing that commitment. The Home Office said additional family members may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Due to the speed and the circumstances surrounding the evacuation, a number of families became separated, and some individuals were evacuated to the UK without all of their immediate family. The Government pledged at the time that there would be a route for separated families to reunite under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme. This Government is implementing that commitment and providing a means for families who were separated by the military evacuation from Kabul in August 2021 to be reunited in the UK. Afghan families are pictured boarding a military evacuation flight at Hamid Karzai Airport as the US prepared to withdraw from the country British armed forces work with the U.S. military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families out of the country on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan The ACRS separated families route officially opened yesterday (Tues). Applications must be submitted in the next three months. Figures published in May indicated that in the previous 12 months almost as many Afghan nationals arrived in the UK having crossed the Channel as through the Governments legal routes. A total of 5,662 Afghan nationals came by boat, including 758 lone Afghan children. Some 6,012 came through legal routes. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: Over the last three years weve worked with many families who were torn apart in the chaos of evacuating Kabul. They will now have a way to be safely together again. For the children who have been apart from their parents for far too long, we know this will be life-changing. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure they are now reunited with their loved ones as quickly as possible. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme, separate from ACRS, was put in place for Afghans who had worked with the UK government, and their families, prior to the Taliban takeover. Royal Mail has launched a new stamp scanner on its mobile app that allows customers to check for themselves if a stamp is genuine or not. The postal service has stepped up its fight against rising stamp fraud and has promised to extend its pause on 5 fines for those who use a fake stamp. From today, customers can use the Royal Mail smartphone app to scan a barcoded stamp before they post it to confirm that it is not a known counterfeit. If the stamps were not bought from Royal Mail, the Post Office or another reputable High Street shop, then customers should scan them before use, according to the postal service. Royal Mail has previously charged recipients 5 to collect post sent with stamps that it deemed counterfeit but this was paused in April following pressure from this newspaper. From today, customers can use the Royal Mail smartphone app to scan a barcoded stamp before they post it to confirm that it is not a known counterfeit The postal service has stepped up its fight against rising stamp fraud and has promised to extend its pause on 5 fines for those who use a fake stamp Royal Mail has faced heavy criticism after its move to use barcoded stamps only led to a surge in the number of customers receiving a 5 penalty, with claims the stamps were fakes The postal service today confirmed that it would extend this suspension and vowed to charge the sender instead of the recipient for using a fake stamp where possible. Letters and cards which are sent with a counterfeit stamp will still be marked with a yellow sticker. Royal Mail has faced heavy criticism after its move to use barcoded stamps only led to a surge in the number of customers receiving a 5 penalty, with claims the stamps were fakes. Earlier this year the Mail warned that fake stamps were entering Britain from China on an industrial scale. The investigation led to a crackdown by UK Border Force, which said it would seize goods and work with police to stop criminals smuggling stamps into the UK. Royal Mail said that since it introduced barcoded stamps in February 2022 the number of counterfeits in its network has fallen by around 90 per cent. Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, said: We continue to do all we can to protect our customers from the scourge of counterfeit stamps. The new counterfeit stamp scanner on the Royal Mail app will help prevent customers inadvertently falling victim to stamp fraud. More than half of young people watch no traditional broadcast TV at all in a typical week, the media regulator has revealed. Figures from Ofcom signal the slow demise of live television viewing, with only 48 per cent of 16-to-24-year-olds tuning in to broadcast channels - or even their 'catch-up' services - in an average week last year. This is down dramatically from the 76 per cent of this age group that were watching in this way in 2018. Ofcom's Media Nations report found these Gen Z viewers watched just 20 minutes of live TV each day on average. Instead, the study said this same age group spent more than an hour-and-a-half watching video-sharing platforms such as TikTok and YouTube each day. Figures from Ofcom signal the slow demise of live television viewing, with only 48 per cent of 16-to-24-year-olds tuning in to broadcast channels (stock image) Instead, the study said the age group spent more than an hour-and-a-half watching video-sharing platforms such as TikTok and YouTube each day Children aged between four and 15 were 'tuning out at a similar rate' with only 55 per cent of them watching traditional TV each week last year, as compared with 81 per cent in 2018. Ofcom said younger people were 'used to swiping and streaming' rather than 'flipping through broadcast TV channels' and liked the 'flexibility and immediacy' that on-demand viewing gives. The report said: 'For the first time, a quarter of individuals and half of 16-24-year-olds do not watch broadcast TV on a weekly basis.' Ofcom classifies broadcast TV as the viewing of scheduled 'linear' channels on a TV set, but also includes catch-up viewing within 28 days of it being broadcast. The report also showed that New Year's Eve Fireworks on BBC One was the most watched show last year, attracting 12.1 million viewers, followed by the final episode of Happy Valley, also with 12.1 million and then BBC One's coverage of The Coronation of The King and Queen Camilla with 12 million. Six of the top ten most watched streaming video-on-demand shows in 2023 were films. The most watched show was Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, with an average audience of 7.5 million on Netflix. It was followed by the animated film Elemental on Disney+ with 6.5 million and the first episode of Netflix's David Beckham documentary series, which pulled in 5.8 million. The study makes sober reading for traditional broadcasters as they try to compete with video-sharing platforms and US streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. The media regulator said the overall proportion of people that were accessing broadcast TV in a week had fallen from 79 per cent in 2022 to 75 per cent last year. Around 7.5 million viewers watched the climax to Happy Valley, which saw James Norton's escaped convict Royce set himself ablaze in the kitchen of the embattled officer played by Sarah Lancashire (pictured) making it one of the most-watched single shows of 2023 King Charles and Queen Camilla sit together and chat in the Gold State Coach as they prepare to set off for Buckingham Palace following their coronation ceremony in May 2023 Viewership among Gen Z was down dramatically from the 76 per cent of this age group that were watching in this way in 2018. Ofcom's Media Nations report found these Gen Z viewers watched just 20 minutes of live TV each day on average Research also showed middle-aged viewers (45 to 54) were also starting to desert traditional TV, with those using broadcast TV dropping from 89 per cent to 84 per cent in a single year. But Ofcom pointed out the 'enduring importance of linear TV to older audiences', with 76 per cent of viewing by over-74s done through live TV. It added that broadcast TV was 'developing an ever-ageing profile' with 22 per cent of all broadcast viewing last year by over 75s. The media regulator did report that daily viewing to the broadcaster's video-on-demand services, like BBC iPlayer and ITVX, grew by 29 per cent in 2023. But Ofcom said it was not enough to compensate for the decline in viewing on their linear channels. Despite this decline in traditional viewing, Ofcom said overall people watched more TV and video content at home in 2023, averaging four hours and 31 minutes a day. It said this was driven by increased viewing to video-sharing platforms such as YouTube and to broadcaster's on-demand services. The research also showed that radio is having a major resurgence with its highest amount of weekly listeners in 20 years, with just below 50 million tuning in. Streaming services saw a small rise in viewing with a six per cent increase last year from the year to 38 minutes per day. The fastest growth is among 55- to 74-year-olds and children, both up by 10 per cent. Netflix is still the most popular streaming service in the UK, as viewers spend an average of 21 minutes per person per day with the service. It accounts for more than half of subscription video-on-demand viewing. Netflix is still the most popular streaming service in the UK, as viewers spend an average of 21 minutes per person per day with the service. It accounts for more than half of subscription video-on-demand viewing Despite this decline in traditional viewing, Ofcom said overall people watched more TV and video content at home in 2023, averaging four hours and 31 minutes a day But Ofcom revealed that nearly half of adults and teens felt there were too many video-on-demand services and 42 per cent found the amount of available content 'overwhelming'. Speaking about the figures, Ian Macrae, Ofcom's director of market intelligence said: 'Gen Z and Alpha are used to swiping and streaming, not flipping through broadcast TV channels. 'They crave the flexibility, immediacy and choice that on-demand services offer, spending over three hours a day watching video, but only 20 minutes of live TV. 'It's no surprise that the traditional TV is fast becoming a device of choice to watch YouTube. 'But while live TV may not have the universal pull it once did, its role in capturing those big moments that bring the nation together remains vital.' The report said the money being spend on new shows by public service broadcasters, which includes BBC, ITV and Channel 4, was down by more than five per cent. The media regulator also reported that the spend on 'physical music formats' had grown by 10 per cent with growth in spend on vinyl and CD. Buy any hopes of a revival in cassettes seem dashed with sales down by 30 per cent. It added that 41 per cent of households now own a smartspeaker. An animal-loving dad was nearly killed when he tried to rescue what turned out to be a very dangerous animal from the middle of a busy road. Joey Ricciardella, of Connecticut, was on his way back to his home in Torrington after dropping his four-year-old daughter off with her mother in New York on Sunday when he came across a snake lying in the middle of the road. Ricciardella, who has a soft spot for animals, stopped his vehicle and grabbed a shirt from the backseat, placed it over the snake's head and picked it up to move it, WFSB reports. But the animal in peril was a venomous Timber rattlesnake and when Ricciardella went to grab it, the lethal reptile bit his hand. Joey Ricciardella, of Torrington, was on his way home from dropping his four-year-old daughter off with her mother in New York on Sunday when he came across a Timber rattlesnake lying in the middle of the road 'It sounded like he was almost trying to make a funny voice, like at first I thought he was messing with me,' Brittany Hilmeyer, the mother of his four-year-old, said of her conversation with him afterwards. She explained that she is used to Ricciardella being a jokester, but soon realized something was seriously wrong. 'He was getting to the point where he really couldn't talk. You couldn't understand him,' she said. 'It was like trying to talk to someone with a mouth full of marbles.' Hilmeyer did not know at the time, but the venom from the snake bite was affecting his ability to breathe. She added that she was not surprised when she later found out Ricciardella went out of his way to help the snake. 'He's had a bat in his house with a broken wing at one point that he was trying to fix,' she recounted. 'Last week, it was a baby bunny.' The venomous snake bit his hand, causing him to have trouble breathing Ricciardella tried wrapping the snake's head in a shirt from his car and tried to move it out of the way of the busy street Ricciardella somehow was able to make it back to his car and drove himself to the nearest hospital - where doctors determined that his respiratory system was failing and he went into cardiac arrest. But due to a short supply of anti-venom at the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, he had to be moved to Hartford Hospital in the state capital. 'A lot of hospitals, I guess it's not common to carry large amounts of anti-venom,' Hilmeyer said. 'So that was part of the problem when he went to the first hospital. The second hospital was having more flown in.' Ricciardella is an animal lover who once tried to help a bat with a broken wing There are only two venomous snakes that live in Connecticut: the Northern Copperhead and the Timber rattlesnake, whose bites could be fatal. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection recommends that anyone who encounters either species, observe it from a distance and back away slowly. But Ricciardella was lucky, and is said to be doing well in the hospital after suffering from not only the venom, but also a life-threatening allergic reaction that caused him to be placed in a medically induced coma, according to an online fundraiser set up to pay for his medical bills. 'There have been improvements, but the medical bills are piling up and he has no insurance as he's self-employed as a landscaper,' the fundraiser says, noting that he has four children - three of whom are under the age of 16. Ricciardella is now expected to recover in the Intensive Care Unit for at least another week. 'They're waiting for the swelling to go down,' Hilmeyer said. 'Then he won't be sedated so heavily anymore. 'That's when he'll be able to talk.' Xi meets Italian prime minister, calls for upholding Silk Road spirit Xinhua) 08:12, July 30, 2024 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is on an official visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, July 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni here on Monday. Noting that China and Italy are at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road, Xi said the time-honored friendly exchanges between the two countries have made significant contributions to the overall exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, and to the progress of humanity. The Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is a shared treasure of China and Italy, Xi said. He said that amid accelerating global changes unseen in a century, countries will either progress together through connectivity and unity, or retreat separately through closure and division. China and Italy should uphold and promote the Silk Road spirit, view and develop bilateral relations from a historical dimension, strategic height and long-term perspective, and push their relations to go steady and far. Xi said the healthy and stable development of China-Italy relations is in line with the common interests of both countries and their peoples. Despite the ongoing profound changes in the international landscape, China's commitment to valuing and developing relations with Italy has not changed, the nature of win-win cooperation of China-Italy relations has not changed, and the friendship between the two peoples has not changed, he added. Xi called on both sides to carry on the tradition of friendly exchanges, and continue to understand and respect each other's development paths. Noting that China and Italy have complementary industrial advantages and represent opportunities for each other, Xi said both sides should adhere to mutual openness and cooperation. The third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has just concluded, and China will continue to promote high-level opening up, inject strong impetus into Chinese modernization, and bring new opportunities for expanding cooperation with Italy and other countries, he added. Xi said China is willing to work with Italy to optimize and upgrade traditional cooperation in trade and investment, manufacturing, technological innovation and other fields, and to explore cooperation in emerging areas such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. He noted that China welcomes Italian companies to invest in China and is willing to import more quality products from Italy. It is hoped that Italy will also provide a fair, transparent, secure and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies to develop in Italy, he added. Both sides should cherish the achievements of cultural exchange and mutual learning, promote cultural inheritance and innovation, and enhance amity between the two peoples, he said. Xi said China supports Italy in hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics and hopes that Italy will provide convenient visa measures for Chinese citizens traveling to Italy. Xi stressed that in a world of economic globalization, only by upholding openness and cooperation in global industrial and supply chains can win-win development be achieved. China adheres to the path of peaceful development and never seeks hegemony, and is willing to share development opportunities with other countries, he added. It is hoped that Italy understands and supports China's development concept and plays a constructive role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between China and Europe, and in actively promoting the positive and stable development of China-EU relations, said Xi. Meloni said that as countries with an ancient civilization, Italy and China have always appreciated and learned from each other. The current international situation is undergoing profound changes, and China -- as an important major country -- plays an irreplaceable role in addressing global challenges. Italy attaches great importance to China's international standing and role, and is willing to carry forward the time-honored Silk Road spirit, foster a closer and higher-level partnership with China, open up a new chapter for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and make new contributions to world peace and progress, she said. Meloni said Italy adheres to the one-China policy and hopes to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China, tap the potential for cooperation, deepen bilateral cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and encourage more Italian products to enter the Chinese market. Italy opposes decoupling and protectionism, and is willing to play a positive role in further deepening and consolidating EU-China relations, Meloni said. The two sides issued a 2024-2027 action plan on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is on an official visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, July 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) China Opportunities | China crucial to rebounding global economy: M Moser founder (People's Daily App) 16:24, July 30, 2024 M Moser Associates, a global architecture and interior design firm that creates and delivers workplace environments in 30 locations across four continents, has observed significant changes in China's business environment since establishing its first office in Hong Kong in 1981. The company's clients are primarily foreign enterprises. Founder and chairwoman Moira Moser shared her insights on China's investment opportunities, the perspective of multinational companies on the Chinese market, and her company's commitment to continuous growth and expansion in China. She believes that global companies recognize China's increasingly innovative talent pool and its transformation into a knowledge economy, which is significant not just for China but for the world. Moser stated her optimism about China's economic outlook and her company's continued growth in the Chinese market. "If China doesn't grow, the world won't grow. I see the world rebounding, and I see that China is a significant player in that," she noted. (Produced by Han Xiaomeng, Song Ziyu and Wang Ziyi) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) 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) A man who stalked a woman back to her New York City apartment before brutally murdering her has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Assamad Nash, 27, followed Christina Yuna Lee back to her Chinatown apartment in February 2022 where he 'butchered' her by stabbing her over forty times. Nash had earlier pleaded guilty on June 18 to one count each of murder and burglary as a sexually motivated felony in the murder of the 35-year-old. He appeared in court on Tuesday in an orange prison jumpsuit and wore a surgical mask while his hands were restrained. The judge acknowledged that Nash was mentally ill and imposed the maximum sentence saying 'there are no medications available that can protect society'. Assamad Nash, seen here in court on Tuesday, followed Christina Yuna Lee back to her apartment in February 2022 where he 'butchered' her by stabbing her over forty times Lee had been returning from a club when Nash followed her inside her Chinatown home and murdered her Lee, who worked at the music streaming platform Splice, had been returning from a club when Nash followed her. Security tapes show Nash creeping into her building behind Lee, who didn't notice her stalker had slipped in before the front door had closed behind her. Nash kept his distance as the digital producer climbed the six flights to her apartment, climbing up one floor below as she went. He rushed her as Lee unlocked her front door and entered her apartment, police at the time said. Neighbors were awakened at 4:20 a.m. to Lee's blood-curdling screams of 'Please, help me. Call 911,' and one of them immediately summoned police. Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yorna said: 'As the defendant tried to rip off Ms. Lees clothes, Ms. Lee managed to grab a knife from her kitchen block and slash the defendant in the shoulder and torso. 'She ran into her bathroom to get away from him. He followed her and butchered her, stabbing and cutting her over 40 times.' Officers responded within minutes, but Nash had barricaded himself inside the apartment and tried to get them to leave. Nash was heard telling officers: 'I am alone in the apartment. We are ok. No one is bleeding. We don't need help. Go away. We don't need the police, I am fine.' Security tapes show Nash creeping into her building behind Lee, who didn't notice her stalker had slipped in before the front door had closed behind her Nash, seen here in 2022, rushed her as Lee unlocked her front door and entered her apartment, police at the time said He then attempted to flee through a fire escape but went back inside after seeing a police officer on the roof above him. When officers broke down the door to Lee's apartment, they found her partially naked body with 40 wounds to her torso, head and neck inside the bathtub. Nash was discovered hiding under a mattress inside Lee's apartment. A bloodstained yellow-handed knife from Lee's kitchen set was found stashed behind a dresser. According to the New York Daily News, Lee's father Sungkon Lee told the court: 'Christina had a good nature and was considerate. 'She was a truly good daughter who always treated her family, friends, and people around her with a smile and kindness. 'She worked hard at her company with a sincere attitude. After Christina died, the remaining family members have been having a hard time living each day, feeling overwhelmed with longing and regret. Outside of court on Tuesday, Lee's father said he would be suing the city for negligence, believing the police response was inadequate 'Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen to our family? I just feel resentful that God is giving my family this ordeal.' While District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement: 'Christina Yuna Lee was killed in an unthinkably horrific manner in her own apartment at the hands of Assamad Nash. Bragg said Lee's death 'not only devastated her family but left a lasting impact on an entire community.' Outside of court on Tuesday, Lee's father said he would be suing the city for negligence, believing the police response was inadequate. He told reporters: 'While the police first arrived in front of the building in two to three minutes after the call, the police did not gain entrance to the scene of the crime until about an hour and twenty minutes had passed since arriving at the scene. In the meantime, Christina suffered a cruel death. 'Now that the criminal case against Nash has been concluded, the police must disclose all information regarding the incident, and if there was an incorrect or inadequate response, the relevant person must take appropriate responsibility.' 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic admitted that he wanted his rival Carol Baskin gone during an exclusive jailhouse interview in the midst of his 21-year murder-for-hire sentence. The 55-year-old told NBC's News Channel 8 he is still hoping for a new trial, on a phone from a Florida Panhandle prison. 'I just wanted her out of my hair and to leave me alone,' he said about anti big cat owner activist Carole Baskin. The zookeeper said he has prostate cancer and possibly cancer of the lung as well, and is also pining for a presidential pardon. His alleged mark, Baskin, was not interviewed, but her third and current husband, Howard Baskin, was. Exotic has accused Baskin of killing her second husband, Don Lewis, and feeding him to her own tigers - accusations he maintained Tuesday in his filmed phone call. Scroll down for video: 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic gave an exclusive jailhouse interview to a Tampa news station Tuesday in the midst of his 21-year murder-for-hire sentence. The 55-year-old told NBC's News Channel 8 he is still hoping for a new trial, on a phone from a Florida Panhandle prison 'I still think that she is bats**t crazy and that she killed her husband,' Exotic said of his tiger-loving rival. 'But me and Carol, me and Carol made money off of each other for years,' he quickly added. He of course was referencing the Netflix film that became the guilty pleasure for more than 30 million Americans, where onlookers got a glimpse of the tiger owner's unconventional life. It also imparted how multi-millionaire Lewis, who co-owned a Florida wildlife sanctuary with Baskin, vanished without a trace in August 1997 at age 59. He has never been found, nor has any evidence to suggest he was murdered, but authorities have stated they don't believe he disappeared on his own. Shortly after his disappearance, Baskin - his wife at the time and the last known person to see him alive produced his will and his power of attorney that gave her complete control of his $5 million estate. Baskin was never charged in relation to Lewis' August 18, 1997 disappearance, but the case remains open and gained global notoriety following the release of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness in March 2020. The series focuses on the long-running feud between the self-proclaimed animal activist Baskin and Exotic, a flamboyant polygamist and then-owner of a private petting zoo in Oklahoma. The zookeeper said he has prostate cancer and possibly cancer of the lung as well, and is also pining for a presidential pardon His alleged mark, anti big cat owner activist Carole Baskin , was not interviewed, but her third and current husband, Howard Baskin, was Amid the heated fallout that later saw Exotic arrested for an alleged hit he took out on Baskin, he repeatedly accused the sanctuary owner of killing Lewis and feeding his body to one of her tigers. After Lewis was reported missing, deputies found his van abandoned at a nearby airport, where he had allegedly planned to take a trip to Costa Rica. Police found no signs of a struggle or blood inside - nor did they find proof that Lewis ever left the country. He was pronounced legally dead in 2002, and the case was put to rest. Baskin, the owner of Big Cat Rescue, was never declared a suspect. She later married Howard Baskin, both of whom were featured in the popular Netflix series. She maintains she was misled by producers about what the show would be about, as it framed her and Exotic's feud with intrigue and flare. Her husband Howard has thus never done an interview, until News Channel 8 tracked him down Tuesday . He declined to talk about Exotic but did speak out about his wife's activism that got her wrapped up with the con in the first place. Exotic has accused Baskin of killing her second husband, Don Lewis, and feeding him to her own tigers - accusations he maintained Tuesday in his filmed phone call After Lewis was reported missing, deputies found his van abandoned at a nearby airport, where he had allegedly planned to take a trip to Costa Rica. Police found no signs of a struggle or blood inside nor did they find proof that Lewis ever left the country In 2004, Baskin refused to take a polygraph test related to the investigation. She later married Howard Baskin (left) 'It was just a horrible industry,' he said or roadside petting zoos like the one Exotic had in Oklahoma. 'The cubs would be taken away from their mothers at birth, which that's a torment for any mama.' He added that he and his wife have now sold the property where they built 'Big Cat Rescue' in Florida's Citrus Park, and have since transferred the animals to another facility. He also touted the 'Big Cat Rescue Public Safety Act' he and his wife are working to pass in Congress, which seeks to shut down all unsanctioned petting zoos. Exotic - who was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison in 2019 - previously worked with attorney John Michael Phillips to file a motion for a new trial. On July 15, 2021, a U.S. appeals court ruled the convictions for the two murder attempts were wrongly treated as separate and reduced his sentence by a year. On Tuesday, Exotic revealed he is not satisfied with that outcome, and seeking an appeal in the entire case. 'Im actually appealing my whole case, to overturn my conviction,' he told News Channel 8 from prison. Her husband Howard has thus never done an interview, until News Channel 8 tracked him down Tuesday He declined to talk about Exotic but did speak out about his wife's activism that got her wrapped up with the con in the first place On July 15, 2021, a U.S. appeals court ruled the convictions for the two murder attempts were wrongly treated as separate and reduced his sentence by a year. On Tuesday, Exotic revealed he is not satisfied with that outcome, and seeking an appeal in the entire case Of the past five years, he said, 'Its jail, you know,' while letting out a laugh. 'Its been rough, it really has.' Adding how he has prostate cancer and what he believes is lung cancer, he said he never offered $3,000 friend Allen Glover to have Baskin killed. Prosecutors proved this during his trial, and that he offered money to an undercover FBI special agent to have Baskin killed. Exotic continued to deny it all happened , saying Glover made it all up to get back at him. 'In my trial they showed the undercover video and Joe never offered him anything,' Exotic said, referring to himself in the third person. 'Joe just finally asked a question out of the blue, to get him out of my office. 'Well how much do you charge? And he said $10,000 and if you watch the video that played at my trial, then Joe says, well Joe doesnt have $10,000.' Exotic announced his candidacy for president as a Democrat from prison last year. Anita Dunn, who has served as a top advisor to President Biden during his presidency and his campaigns, is leaving her White House perch to advise a super PAC backing VP Kamala Harris. Dunn was part of a core group of longtime aides advising Biden as he decided to end his presidential campaign, and was reportedly one of the few who got a heads up a minute before the president blasted out his decision. Now shell be guiding the Future Forward PAC, which says it plans to spend $300 million bolstering Harris, although campaign rules will limit coordination with the campaign itself. Biden gushed about Dunn in a statement confirming her exit. I deeply value her counsel and friendship and I will continue to rely on her partnership and insights as we finish the job over the next six months,' he said in a statement released by the White House. Dunn, whose title is senior advisor and who is married to the presidents personal lawyer Bob Bauer, popped in and out of the White House, eventually pulling back from her SKDK firm (she was one of the Ks along with Bill Knapp) in 2022 to counsel Biden full time. Dunn's influence inside the West Wing isn't disputed, although she was accused following Biden's debate disaster of failing to properly prepare the president for his contest with Donald Trump or anticipate the attendant risks. White House senior adviser Anita Dunn is leaving her post to advise a pro-Kamala Harris super PAC. Dunn, who also did stints in the Senate and advising Bill Bradley's presidential campaign, has been a fixture in the Biden White House and his campaigns And Dunn, like other top aides and Vice President Kamala Harris, faces questions about whether she knew about the deficiencies that ultimately led Biden himself to decide to 'pass the torch' to the younger Harris, who is now improving on his poor poll performance. The Washington Post reported her departure. John Morgan, a top Democratic donor and ally of Biden's younger brother, Frank, accused Dunn of cashing in on Biden and failing to avert the disaster. He identified as 'grifters' Dunn and former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, along with Bob Bauer, amid criticism that Biden was getting advice only from a narrow circle. 'Biden's advisers failed him,' Morgan posted, asking about how Biden's team had negotiated a debate format that ill-served him. Tens of millions of Americans saw Biden look weak and raspy on stage at the event with Donald Trump John Morgan (pictured), a top donor to Joe Biden has slammed three of the president's most trusted aides after the president's horror show at the first debate in Atlanta Thursday night The PAC plans to spend millions boosting Harris 'Format was a disaster for him and a plus for Trump. He over practiced and was drained who wouldn't be,' he added. 'Biden has for too long been fooled by the value of Anita Dunn and her husband. They need to go TODAY. The grifting is gross. It was political malpractice,' he wrote last month. Morgan kept up his attacks in comments to the New York Times. 'It would be like if you took a prizefighter who was going to have a title fight and put him in a sauna for 15 hours then said, 'Go fight,' he said. 'I believe that the debate is solely on Ron Klain, Bob Bauer and Anita Dunn.' Biden family members also privately blamed Dunn and Bauer for the debate disaster. Dunn advised Biden during his 2020 run, and also advised Barack Obama during his 2008 and his 2012 campaigns. In a sign of her continued sway within the White House, a series of aides were quoted on the record in the Post singing her praises. Biden said in a statement released by the White House, 'Four years ago, when I launched my campaign for the battle for the soul of our nation, I was grateful Anita Dunn was right there with me. 'Ive known Anita throughout my career. Shes served our nation through three Administrations and countless campaigns for candidates at every level. Shes not only a key senior member of our team that helped us win a historic election in 2020 shes also been an invaluable part of our White House. Shes tough and tested, and her experience and intellect have helped us deliver historic results for the American people. I deeply value her counsel and friendship and I will continue to rely on her partnership and insights as we finish the job over the next six months. Terrifying dashcam footage caught the moment a four-year-old in just a diaper and tank top ran into a busy intersection. The recently-released footage shows cars whizzing down a residential street in Staten Island, New York on June 19 - with a small figure clutching an iPad running behind them, directly in the middle of the road. There were no parents running after the boy as he made his way into the intersection of Harold Street and Sunset Avenue. Fortunately, a quick-thinking Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver came to the young boy's rescue. Peter Warner stopped the bus and was seen in the dashcam footage stepping out of his vehicle and scooping up the child in his arms. Dashcam footage caught the moment a four year old ran down the middle of a busy street in Staten Island, New York Cars whizzed down the street as the boy ran, without any parents following him 'I actually blocked the intersection with the bus,' Warner recounted to ABC 7. 'I got out, secured my bus, took the baby in my custody. 'If the kid was running down the sidewalk, I would figure that the parents would be chasing him, but he was in the middle of the street - dead smack in the middle of the street,' he added. Warner was then seen trying to make phone calls on his cellphone in an apparent attempt to summon emergency assistance, while holding the child in one arm. As he waited for help to arrive on the scene, Warner carried the toddler inside the bus and sat him down in front of the vehicle. Meanwhile, a good Samaritan could be seen outside the bus directing traffic around the stopped vehicle. The video ends with the arrival of a marked NYPD car at the scene. Peter Warner, an MTA bus driver, sprang into action, stopping his bus and grabbing the child Warner, a father-of-two himself, said he tried to use the boy's iPad to contact his parents - but found that it was restricted, according to the Staten Island Advance. He then attempted to hold the child's hand to see if the boy would lead them to his house, but to no avail. Police, meanwhile, circled the area to see if they could find any distressed parents searching for their son - but they too came up empty. In total, Warner maintained custody of the boy for 45 minutes before NYPD officers took the boy to a local precinct. But before he left, the boy wanted another hug from Warner - a tender moment that was captured by one of the passengers on the bus. He was seen trying to call for assistance with the young boy still in his arms Warner said he tried to locate the boys' parents - but to no avail It was about an hour later that police said the parents picked up the boy from the precinct, with Warner saying he believes a post on a community Facebook page played a major role in notifying the boy's mother that her son was on the loose. It turned out that the boy was four blocks from his home, and had managed to wander off while his father was asleep and his mother was at work, ABC 7 reports. 'She gave me a big hug and thanked me up and down, and she messages me all the time,' Warner said of the mother's response. 'Every time I post pictures of my kids now, we're friendly on Facebook, and she comments on my kids' pitches and stuff like that,' he said. 'So we made a friendship out of it.' Warner, a father of two himself, said he and the boy's mother have since become friends Daniel Casella, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726, applauded Warner's efforts in the aftermath. 'A lot of things go on during the day that doesn't get noticed,' he told the Staten Island Advance. 'The drivers, they do a lot everyday to help people, and every once in a while, then you get one like this, where it's really a miracle nothing happened to this kid. 'Thank God he [Warner] came upon him and thank God he stopped and did what he had to do because, you know, I don't know that everyone would do that,' Casella added. Ministers were accused of trying to cover up details of Sir Keir Starmers Brexit negotiations last night, after they moved to scrap the Commons committee which monitors relations with the EU. In a surprise move, the Government announced it was abolishing parliaments European Scrutiny Committee, despite Sir Keir Starmers pledge to oversee a reset in relations with Brussels. Former chairman Sir Bill Cash said the dangerous and undemocratic move would push scrutiny of Sir Keirs new deal into a black hole. He warned that other committees had neither the time nor the expertise to monitor progress on the negotiations. This is a real red flag, which underlines the determination of the Remainers and re-joiners in government to avoid scrutiny of their plans at all costs, he said. Labour ministers have moved to scrap the Commons committee which monitors relations with the EU (pictured: Sir Keir Starmer) Labour ministers are accused of trying to 'cover up' details of Keir Starmer's Brexit negotiations amid the move. (Pictured: An EU flag flies outside the UK parliament in London) It raises real concerns that they are planning to do an unsatisfactory deal in Brussels knowing there will be no scrutiny at home. 'It will push the whole issue into a black hole in a way that is both dangerous and undemocratic. Downing Street defended the move, saying that other bodies, such as the foreign affairs committee, could still look at European issues. The PMs official spokesman said: Its a matter for Parliament as to how it scrutinises the work of government committees, and this will continue via a range of committees and, as you know, the Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations faces regular scrutiny of the UKs EU relations in Cabinet Office oral questions. Sir Bill Cash said the dangerous and undemocratic move would push scrutiny of Sir Keirs new deal into a black hole' A Government source said the European Scrutiny Committee had outlived its original purpose, which was to monitor EU laws being adopted in the UK. As weve left the EU the committee hasnt got that clear function, the source said. Rollercoaster victim Shylah Rodden's mother has given a rare update on her daughter's recovery after the young woman's gruesome accident shocked the world. In a recent photo released to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Ms Rodden can be seen with a beaming smile while seated inside a cafe. Ms Rodden, then aged 26, suffered critical injuries after being struck by the Rebel Coaster after she walked onto the tracks to retrieve her phone at the Melbourne Royal Show. Shocking footage of the incident was later posted to social media and became worldwide news. In another image released by Ms Rodden's family, Ms Rodden is seen fighting for life in hospital in the days after the September 2022 incident. The disturbing photo shows Ms Rodden in a neck brace with a tube placed in her throat. Various injuries to her face are also visible, including a black eye and large gash to her forehead. A third photo shows Ms Rodden with short hair shortly after the accident. The photos were released a day after Daily Mail Australia revealed WorkSafe Victoria had decided not to push forward with charges against the ride operator or the Melbourne Royal Show. Shylah Rodden's mother has given an update on her daughter's recovery after her horror accident at the Melbourne Royal Show. This is a recent image of Ms Rodden Shylah Rodden pictured shortly after the rollercoaster crash that ought to have claimed her life Ms Roddens mum, Kylie Rodden, said her daughter, now aged 28, could walk and talk, but remained blind in her right eye and deaf in her left ear. 'She has progressed but she still has a long way to go,' she told the Herald Sun. 'Sometimes she needs the support of a walking frame and a wheelchair, she can only go a limited time before she has to rest.' The decision by WorkSafe came as a shock to Ms Rodden's long-suffering family, who were notified of the decision by a letter. 'I dont know what happened, I havent seen any reports, so Im not at peace with it,' Ms Rodden said. Arnold Thomas & Becker lawyer Sharlene Mehta, who is representing Ms Roddens family, told Daily Mail Australia that they were 'understandably disappointed' to hear that the WorkSafe investigation had been closed. 'At this stage we have only received a letter from WorkSafe advising that their investigations are complete and that they have decided not to bring a prosecution against the ride operator,' Ms Mehta said via a statement on Tuesday. Ms Rodden's family remain in the dark about the decisions that led to the near two-year investigation amounting to nothing. 'We have not received a copy of WorkSafes report so we have no knowledge of what their investigations covered, or who was interviewed as part of their investigations,' Ms Mehta stated. Shylah Rodden was critically injured in the tragic accident in September 2022 The scars of Shylah Rodden's accident remain visible today Shylah Rodden hangs onto life in hospital in 2022. She is now back on her feet It was further revealed WorkSafe did not interview Ms Rodden or any of her family members in relation to the incident. 'We have requested a copy of the findings of the investigations, but this will take six to eight months to get to us. Until then, we have little information about their findings,' Ms Mehta stated. 'The letter our client received outlined the option to request that WorkSafe reconsider its decision and undertake further investigation. 'There was no further information provided. Once we have received a copy of the WorkSafe findings, we will decide whether we wish to make such a request to WorkSafe.' Ms Mehta said while the incident had far-reaching impacts on Ms Rodden, her hopes for the future remained positive. 'Whilst her recovery has been miraculous, Shylahs injuries will carry lifelong impacts,' she stated. It is understood the WorkSafe decision rested in the hands of lawyers tasked with assessing whether any charges could be successfully prosecuted at court. Decisions on whether to commence a prosecution are made and authorised by WorkSafes Executive Director of Health and Safety, under delegated powers, and informed by legal advice. The Royal Melbourne Show refused to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. Shylah Rodden (pictured) suffered 'life-changing' injuries after being hit by the rollercoaster Horrifying footage shows Shylah Rodden (pictured in black) moments before being hit by the Rebel Coaster at the Melbourne Royal show Sources told Daily Mail Australia that Worksafe officers carried out an exhaustive investigation into the incident. Much of that investigation centered around establishing whether any duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act had been breached. 'Enforcement decisions must take into account WorkSafe's General Prosecution Guidelines, which require consideration of the available evidence, the particular elements that must be proved in order for a prosecution to succeed, and the evidentiary burden that applies in criminal proceedings,' a source close to the investigation said. It is understood WorkSafes investigation found insufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt any breaches under the OHS Act. Ms Rodden faces years of rehabilitation after suffering a massive brain injury when she was flung nine metres into the air by the fast-moving ride. She was hit while trying to retrieve a mobile phone she dropped on the tracks. Under Victorian law, WorkSafe has two years to press charges against companies and individuals it believes have broken the state's rigid workplace laws. While the results of that toxicology report from the time of the accident have never been made public, police sources suggested Ms Rodden may have been under the influence of some form of medication. Shylah Rodden faces a long battle to recovery after being hit by a rollercoaster in September 2022 A Melbourne Royal Show spokeswoman claimed 'the safety and well-being of our visitors to the show continues to be our number one priority' (pictured, the Royal Melbourne Show) Another well-placed source said that whatever prompted Ms Rodden to jump onto the tracks was not a concern of the safety watchdog, which was focused only on whether precautions were in place and being followed. It is understood WorkSafe's investigation focused on what the ride's operators were doing when she made her way onto the tracks. 'Her toxicity levels are not relevant to the investigation into whether the duty holder was doing everything reasonably practicable to provide a safe and healthy workplace,' the source said. A WorkSafe inspection concluded that the Rebel Coaster was 'safe' to re-open just days after the accident. A Show spokeswoman, who asked not to be named, defended its safety procedures at the time of the incident. 'The safety and well-being of our visitors to the show continues to be our number one priority,' she said in a statement at the time. 'Strict safety protocols are upheld in line with Victorian WorkSafe regulations. All rides on site have undergone stringent compliance inspections and have passed all the required safety documentation.' Ms Rodden's release from hospital in January last year to the family home at Craigieburn was heralded as a major step in her long road to recovery. However, a spokesperson from her legal team said in January that year Ms Rodden would never fully recover. 'Whilst this indicates that her condition has stabilised, the injuries she has sustained remain life-changing,' it was stated at the time. Her father Alan Rodden told Daily Mail Australia soon after the incident that his daughter had suffered life-changing injuries. 'I can't talk to my daughter. She's going to be in a coma for quite a while,' he said. 'The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She's brain damaged. It's pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck - there's hardly a thing that's not broken. I just can't work out how the hell so much damage has been done. 'Even the doctors have said they haven't seen anything as bad as this for a long time.' On the day she was struck by the rollercoaster, Ms Rodden had been working at a friend's stall at the Melbourne Royal Show. The pair had been on a break when they decided to go on a few rides to kill time. It is understood she dropped her phone while on the rollercoaster and police believe she walked onto the tracks of the high-speed ride to retrieve the device. Shocking footage of the incident was shared on TikTok just days after it happened. A Venezuelan migrant who shot a female police officer in Texas had been set to be deported back to his home country, it has been revealed. Jorge Chacon-Gutierrez, 25, illegally crossed into Eagle Pass, Texas in November 2023 with nearly 600 other migrants. At the time, border agents were processing him for 'expedited removal,' but he argued he feared persecution if he were to return to Venezuela - so he took his case to an asylum officer, an unidentified Homeland Security source told the New York Post. The asylum officer rejected his claim and continued to process him for removal. But Chacon-Gutierrez then asked to make his claim before an immigration judge, who quickly vacated his order of removal and let his case continue. Jorge Chacon-Gutierrez, 25, has been identified by San Antonio TV station WOAI as the illegal immigrant who opened fire on three police officers Sunday morning Chacon-Gutierrez had crossed into the US illegally at the Eagle Pass crossing in Texas (pictured) in November 2023 The Homeland Security source said the case highlights how the US immigration system has 'so many loopholes,' as police say Chacon-Gutierrez opened fire on three police officers who responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment in San Antonio. Police said they responded to the apartment around 3 a.m. Sunday after shooter's girlfriend had been assaulted by him, the police department said. 'When officers went in to the apartment, (the shooter) was lying in bed with a rifle by his side, and he started shooting at the officer,' Police Chief William McManus told reporters. 'The officers returned fire. They exited the apartment.' SWAT officers later made entry into the apartment and 'saw the suspect was deceased,' however McManus couldn't say whether it was a self-inflicted wound or whether the shooter had been hit by police rounds. Officers responded to a domestic violence call in San Antonio at around 3am Sunday The wounded officer has not be identified by the department, but is expected to survive Following Chacon-Gutierrez's death, Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales said: 'These are the consequences of failed catch & release policies' The wounded officer has not be identified by the department, however, the chief added that she has been on the force for less than three years. She underwent surgery on Sunday morning, and is expected to survive. Police have not officially named the shooter, either. Meanwhile US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told DailyMail.com it is awaiting official confirmation of the shooter's identity before it can release any details about how Chacon entered the country. ICE is the federal agency responsible for tracking migrants in the US. Police Chief William McManus confirmed the female officer shot had been hit several times and underwent surgery Sunday An armed police officer stands guard after three cops were shot while responding to a domestic violence call in San Antonio Sunday morning Chacon was released into the US after he was given a notice to appear before a federal judge in April 2026, according to Fox News. Following Chacon-Gutierrez's death, Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales said: 'These are the consequences of failed catch & release policies. 'I am thankful the injured SAPD officer is stable & I pray she makes a full recovery soon,' he added. From the Jetsons to Blade Runner, flying cars have long been a classic trope of science fiction blockbusters. But science fiction has officially become reality, as a real-life flying taxi has completed a record 561-mile (902km) test flight over California. To put that into perspective, that's about two times as long as The Grand Canyon. The flying car is the brainchild of Joby Aviation and is fueled by hydrogen, meaning it produces no emissions other than water vapour. JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said: 'Imagine being able to fly from San Francisco to San Diego, Boston to Baltimore, or Nashville to New Orleans without the need to go to an airport and with no emissions except water. That world is closer than ever.' A flying taxi designed by Joby Aviation (pictured) has beaten its own record flight distance by travelling 561 miles (902km) on a single tank of hydrogen From the Jetsons (pictured) to Blade Runner, flying cars have long been a classic trope of science fiction blockbusters The air taxi, which has been partly funded by the US military, is powered by six propellers, which give it the ability to take off and land vertically like a helicopter. Once airborne these propellers rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position, allowing the taxi to fly forward like a traditional fixed-wing aircraft. That adaptable capacity allows the craft to carry four passengers at top speeds of 200 miles per hour (322kmph) or fly within urban areas. This is not the first time an aircraft with this design has been flown, but what makes Joby's aircraft unique is what powers these propellers. The craft is a modified version of an original all-electric aircraft designed by Joby which has already completed 25,000 miles (40,000 km) of test flights. Rather than using fossil fuels or a purely electric system, Joby has now created a hydrogen-electric power system to provide clean energy over longer flights. Joby Aviation announced it had set a new record just weeks after tripling its previous distance by travelling 523 miles (842 kilometres) on a single charge The craft's batteries have been replaced with a fuel cell capable of holding 40kg (88 lbs) of liquid hydrogen which can be converted into electricity, heat, and water vapour in flight. However, the taxi still retains a few onboard batteries to give additional power during takeoff and landing. The advantage of using hydrogen is that it allows the aircraft to travel much further without refuelling. A version of the flying taxi fitted with batteries was able to fly for 100 to 150 miles (160 to 240 km) before needing to recharge. This hydrogen-powered design, however, would enable the taxi to make runs between cities and even countries without the need to refuel. The new model of the flying taxi uses hydrogen rather than electricity to increase its range while producing no emissions other than water vapour After completing a 523-mile flight, the company revealed that it still had 10 per cent of its fuel left over. Pushing the limits of the design further, the company announced in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that it had subsequently travelled 561 miles on a single fuel tank. Mr Bevirt said: 'Traveling by air is central to human progress, but we need to find ways to make it cleaner.' With a range of 561 miles, a passenger starting in London would be able to comfortably travel as far as Paris, Zurich, and Edinburgh without needing to pause. And, travelling at its top speed as the crow flies, you could make the 332-mile (534km) journey to Edinburgh in well under two hours. With an extended range, Joby says it could create an air taxi network capable of flying between various cities without the need to refuel Joby says that its battery-powered aircraft (pictured) will be available for sale by 2025 While Joby cannot confirm when it expects the hydrogen-powered model to be available, the purely electric version may be closer than you expect. Joby says that it is the first Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (EVTOL) aircraft to complete three of the five rounds of Federal Aviation Authority certification. The original test craft has now made 25,000 miles (40,000 km) of test flights in Marina, California and New York. Joby says it will now focus on securing the fourth stage of certification and expects the battery design to be on sale by 2025. Joby Aviation has previously claimed its flying taxi trips will be available in Dubai from early next year. The original air taxi design has completed 25,000 miles (40,000 km) of test flights and has passed three of the five FAA certification rounds Joby Aviation is bringing flying taxis to Dubai as soon as 2025 and will ferry passengers from the Dubai Airport to the tourist hotspot of Palm Jumeirah in just 10 minutes The firm has signed a deal with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services there by early 2026, with Joby targeting initial operations as early as next year. The proposed route would ferry passengers from Dubai Airport to Palm Jumeirah, the city's archipelago of artificial islands and tourist hotspot, in just 10 minutes. The company also points out that the progress made in launching the battery-powered flying taxi should pave the way for the hydrogen-cell version to follow. However, Joby Aviation has not commented on how much either the battery or hydrogen-powered model would cost. Mr Bevirt says: 'The vast majority of the design, testing and certification work we've completed on our battery-electric aircraft carries over to commercializing hydrogen-electric flight. 'In service, we also expect to be able to use the same landing pads, the same operations team, and Joby's ElevateOS software that will support the commercial operation of our battery-electric aircraft.' Many scientists believe that the one thing that separates humans from our primate relatives is our unique ability to speak. But new research suggests that the Planet of the Apes could be just around the corner, as scientists claim that chimpanzees can speak after all. An international team of scientists reviewed footage of chimps who had been raised by humans in conditions which would now be considered unethical. Their analysis of this footage, filmed in 1962, suggests that chimpanzees are capable of saying simple human words such as 'mama'. This discovery could overturn old assumptions about ape psychology and show that the neural 'circuitry' of language evolved earlier than previously thought. Researchers now believe that chimpanzees (stock image pictured) and potentially other apes are capable of human-like speech The question of whether apes are capable of speech is a topic that has divided generations of scientists. Perhaps due to the importance of language in our sense of what makes humans unique, either side of the debate has attracted strong advocates. Beginning in the 1900s, this debate culminated in a series of extremely unethical experiments in which people tried to raise chimpanzees like humans. For example, the researchers reference the case of Keith and Catherine Hayes who adopted a chimp to raise in 1947. The couple later claimed that the chimp, which they named Viki, had learned simple words like 'mama', 'cup' and 'up'. However, very little direct evidence from these early trials survived and due to the trauma of separating chimps from their families, the results have largely been dismissed. Some scientists believed that chimpanzees lacked the brain circuitry to combine jaw and voicebox control in a way that can produce speech sounds (stock image) In their paper, published in Scientific Reports, the researchers argue that a lack of analysis of these older cases has led to a belief that apes are incapable of speech. Lead author Dr Axel Ekstrom, of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, told MailOnline: 'There has been an idea floating around neuroscience for a couple of years, that the chimp cortex might have been holding them back.' The basic idea, Dr Ekstrom explains, is that humans have an overlap between the area of the brain responsible for moving the jaw and the region which controls the voice box. 'So, the idea was that this overlap unlocks syllabic speech of the kind we see in infants ("ba-ba-ba"), and which transitions in development to adult speech patterns,' says Dr Ekstrom. The so-called 'Kuypers-Jurgens hypothesis' then suggests that since chimpanzees don't have this overlap they simply cannot produce speech like a human can. Starting from the 1900s some chimpanzees were raised alongside humans in attempt to teach them language. However, evidence from these older cases has widely been dismissed by scientists. Pictured: a grab from a film titled 'Now Hear This! Italians Unveil Talking Chimp', which was released in 1962 as part of Universal Studios series of newsreels By looking back at old footage of chimpanzees that have been raised around humans, Dr Ekstrom thinks he and his colleagues have found good evidence against this idea. Specifically, the researchers uncovered two videos of chimps which appear to be capable of saying 'mama'. The first shows a chimpanzee named Johnny who lived at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida. In the comments of the video, the original poster wrote: 'Johnny called everyone Mama. He was a marvelous animal and lived to 63 years of age.' The second video shows a clip from a film titled 'Now Hear This! Italians Unveil Talking Chimp', which was released in 1962 as part of Universal Studios series of newsreels. In the clip, a chimpanzee named Renata is tapped on the chin by a handler, who appears to prompt her to say something which sounds like 'mama'. By analysing the sounds in older videos of captive chimpanzees like Johnny (pictured) the researchers found that the animals are capable of producing sounds which were very similar to the word 'mama' To test whether these utterances came close to human words, the researchers designed an online listening experiment. The chimpanzee utterances were mixed in with clips of humans who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Participants were told that all the clips were from speakers diagnosed with speech pathologies and asked to phonetically write down the sounds that they heard. The researchers discovered that most of the participants agreed that Johnny and Renata were saying mama. While Renata's vocalisations were generally clearer, a large number of participants still recorded Johnny making a sound featuring an 'a' sound. The recordings of two chimpanzees (top) were played alongside recordings of humans with Parkinson's disease. Most participants in a blind listening experiment recorded that the apes were saying 'mama' However, the researchers say apes won't be able to speak like in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (pictured) since they are learning to make sounds rather than learning a language with meaning The researchers argue this is clear evidence that chimpanzees do in fact have the jaw-voicebox 'coupling' required to make syllabic speech with consonants and vowels. Dr Ekstrom says: 'The downstream conclusion from that is that either the cortical overlap is not crucial, or that chimpanzees possess it too.' However, the researchers also point out that we are not likely to end up with the kind of talking chimpanzees you might recognise from 'Planet of the Apes'. Even if chimpanzees do have the right kind of brain to learn new sounds, their tongues are long and flat which makes it difficult to move between speech sounds. Researchers have argued that various great apes might be able to produce language, recent studies have shown the orangutans have a level of 'complexity' in their calls (illustrated left) that had not previously been expected There is also a significant difference between learning to hear and repeat sounds and learning to speak a language. Dr Ekstrom says that his paper shows that chimpanzees have this ability, known as 'vocal learning'. But he adds: 'In our case, there is no evidence the chimpanzees understood the "point" of the word mama. 'That is, as far as we know, they weren't asking for their "mama", or addressing someone as "mama". These were sounds that to us carries a deep symbolic meaning, but it doesn't appear the chimpanzees were aware of that.' Whether it's a traditional name or a wackier option, many expectant parents spend months deciding what to name their child. Now, a study could make that decision even harder. Researchers from Reichman University claim that your child's face will evolve to match their name. 'Social structuring is so strong that it can affect a person's appearance,' said Dr Yonat Zwebner, who led the study. 'These findings may imply the extent to which other personal factors that are even more significant than names, such as gender or ethnicity, may shape who people grow up to be.' Whether it's a traditional name or a wackier option, many expectant parents spend months deciding what to name their child. Now, a study could make that decision even harder Previous research has found that most of us can guess the name of a stranger with up to 40 per cent accuracy. However, until now, why this is the case has been unclear. Some experts suggest that parents choose a baby's name based on what seems fitting for the baby's appearance. Others believe that the process is the other way round, and that a person's face changes to match their name. In their new study, the researchers set out to determine which process it really is. 'Our given name is a social tag associated with us early in life,' they wrote in their study, published in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences. 'This study investigates the possibility of a self-fulfilling prophecy effect wherein individuals' facial appearance develops over time to resemble the social stereotypes associated with given names.' The team enlisted 9-to-10-year-old children and adults, who were asked to match faces to names. The findings revealed that the participants - both the children and adults - correctly matched the adult faces to their names. However, the participants were not as successful when it came to matching children's faces to their names The team enlisted 9-to-10-year-old children and adults, who were asked to match faces to names. The findings revealed that the participants - both the children and adults - correctly matched the adult faces to their names. However, they were not as successful when it came to matching children's faces to their names. In a second part of the study, the researchers fed a machine learning system images of human faces and their names. An analysis of the faces revealed that those of adults with the same name were significantly more similar to each other. In contrast, the computer found no similarity among children with the same name. Overall, the researchers say the findings suggest that people's faces evolve to match their names. 'Children do not look like their names yet, but adults who have lived with their name longer do tend to look like their names,' the team concluded. 'These results suggest that people develop according to the stereotype bestowed on them at birth. 'We are social creatures who are affected by nurture: One of our most unique and individual physical components, our facial appearance, can be shaped by a social factor, our name.' SC grants bail to ex-Maha Minister Nawab Malik in money laundering case The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail on medical grounds to former Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, an accused in a money laundering case, valid till the Bombay High Court decides his plea for regular bail. A bench presided over by Justice Bela M. Trivedi passed the order after NCP leader Malik's lawyer submitted that his lung had collapsed and required medical treatment. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said that the anti-money laundering agency has no objection if Malik's interim medical bail is made absolute. Senior advocate Arunabh Chowdhury, assisted by advocate Jayant Mohan, appeared on Malik's behalf in the matter. Malik was ordered to be temporarily released on bail by the Supreme Court in August last year solely on medical grounds for a term of two months on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the trial court. Later, it extended the interim relief for three months noting that Malik was suffering from chronic kidney ailments and his medical condition had not improved. In January this year, the top court had ordered that the temporary bail granted to Malik on medical grounds be extended for six months. The ED had arrested the senior political leader of the state in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a money-laundering case arising out of an alleged under-valued property deal with underworld links. Starbucks is down for Americans nationwide, leaving them unable to grab a coffee before heading to work. DownDetector, a site that monitors digital issues, shows the app went down around 8:30amET. Other fans have reported issues with the coffee giant's website, suggesting mobile orders cannot be taken. People have shared their frustrations on social media as they head into work without their caffeine fix, with some saying it is 'absolute mayhem.' Starbucks has been hit by an outage plaguing the US and other parts of the globe DownDetector's outage map shows issues in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa and other major cities. Approximately 91 percent of the issue stems from the app, with seven percent of people citing they cannot log in to their accounts and two percent cannot checkout. At least 33 million Americans use the app, but the number of users impacted is unknown. The app offers mobile ordering, payment and rewards that can be redeemed for free food and drinks. And 25 percent of Starbucks's transactions are completed through mobile orders. Social media is flooded with posts about issues with the app, as people are panicking. 'Starbucks app is down, corporate America found SHAKING,' an X user shared. Other users are left even more disappointed due to it being their birthday and were looking forward to their free drink. 'Its my birthday and the Starbucks app is down. This feels like a terrible conspiracy,' X user 'Maureen Van Nest' shared. DownDetector's outage map shows issues in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa and other major cities Social media is flooded with posts about issues with the app, as people are panicking Users have also shared screen shots from the app, showing they have been kicked out of their accounts and the app is in a reloading loop Users have also shared screen shots from the app, showing they have been kicked out of their accounts and the app is in a reloading loop. Another X user joked saying they had to order their coffee in person and pay with a physical credit card. 'The app being down is major drama,' they continued. What caused the app outage is unknown. It's a piece of scientific myth so well-known that it has become a common insult. But scientists now say that the 'three second' goldfish memory is a myth. Professor Culum Brown, an expert in fish cognition from Macquarie University in Sydney, argues that goldfish, and almost all other fish, have impeccable memories for places and even the identities of their friends. In a series of trials, Professor Brown found that rainbow fish were able to remember a path through a simulated trawl net for up to a year. Professor Brown told BBC Radio 4's Naturebang programme: 'I dare say that any animal that doesn't have that sort of capacity, fish or otherwise, would not last long in the real world.' Professor Culum Brown, an expert in fish cognition from Macquarie University in Sydney says that goldfish actually have excellent memories Goldfish are often maligned for their poor memory and cognitive skills, but Professor Brown says the reality could not be more different. He says: 'No matter where you go in the world, people have a very, very low expectation about a goldfish's memory. 'And I don't think it's goldfish in particular - I think goldfish are symbolic of fishes in general. There's this general tale that fishes have this awful capacity for memory.' As Professor Brown points out, if this were true, fish would be unable to learn any new behaviours or learn how to adapt to changes in their environment. But despite how common this belief may be, scientists have known for years that fish have impressive learning abilities. To highlight this point, Professor Brown designed an experiment to demonstrate how fish learn to escape the clutches of fishing vessels. Unlike Dory in Finding Nemo (pictured), real fish are able to remember routes they have taken for up to a year He placed rainbow fish in a tank with a miniature model of a trawler net in which he had cut a single hole to act as an escape route. As he ran the experiment again and again, he noticed that the fish became faster at finding the escape hole. Professor Brown says: 'By the end of four or five trials, they would basically be swimming calmly in front of the net. 'And about halfway down the aquarium, they would literally do a U-turn and swim directly through the hole. And I was just like, wow, this is incredible.' Most surprisingly, when he returned the fish to the apparatus 11 months later, they were still able to find the hole on their first try. In an experiment designed to simulate how fish escape trawl nets, Professor Brown found that fish could remember how to find a single hole in the net up to 11 months after they last saw it This is not the only study to demonstrate that fish have a far better memory than their reputation would suggest. In 2022, researchers from Oxford University trained nine Goldfish to swim exactly 70cm through their tank before stopping to receive a treat. The researchers found that the fish were able to use stripes on the walls of the tank to map out their environment in the same way that fish would use rocks and seaweed in the wild. Likewise, Professor Brown points out that many fish are able to return to their breeding grounds despite having spent years away at sea. In a 2022 study, researchers from Oxford University trained goldfish to swim exactly 70 cm in a tank, showing they were able to remember and map out their environment He says: 'We all know about trout and salmon coming back to exactly the same place to breed every year. And that's actually commonplace amongst many territory fishers. 'There's some fantastic evidence of the migratory patterns and spawning behaviour and foraging grounds of fishers being culturally passed from individual to individual across generations.' For instance, the UK is home to the Atlantic salmon which lays its eggs in the gravel of freshwater streams along the west coast of Scotland. After hatching, the young salmon spend between months and years in freshwater before making their way to the sea. Atlantic Salmon like these in the river Etterick, Scotland, are able to remember the way back to their spawning grounds after spending up to six years at sea The salmon might remain at sea for up to six years as they mature into adults before swimming back up the stream in 'salmon runs' during the autumn. Professor Brown says: 'In actual fact, if you break it down, most of the behaviours that most animals do are adapted and fine tuned by learning a memory.' Fish, Professor Brown argues, even have the ability to recognise each other and preferentially choose to hang out with fish they have met before. He adds that, in hindsight, looking back, the belief that a fish's memory is short is 'just a nuts idea'. 'It kind of gives us an excuse to treat them poorly, because if we have a low opinion of their intelligence, then perhaps we can abuse them and get away with it,' Professor Brown concludes. Thousands of of people in New Mexico have been told to monitor the forecast as the state prepares to be hit with another flash flood. The National Weather Service (NWS) said there is a 50 percent chance the 'watch' could turn into a warning for at least four counties in the central part of the state, including Albuquerque, until 8:00pm MT 'A warning is when you must act quickly as flash floods are an imminent threat to you and your family,' according to the NWS. A storm is predicted to bring up to two inches of rain per hour, combined with already saturated grounds from rainfall the last two days, and it could lead to excessive runoff and flash flooding. It marks the 29th Flash Flood Watch for the year, but the state has issued 189 warnings that were followed by the destruction of at least 200 homes and hundreds of people rescued. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the warning for residents in a portion of central New Mexico , including Albuquerque with more than 560,000 people, until 8:00pm MT Andrew Mangham, senior service hydrologist, told DailyMail.com: 'This is going to be an ongoing problem through the monsoon season. '[Ruidoso] is facing hurricane level impacts every week, every day.' He continued to explain that New Mexico is well on its way to beating the 2021 record of Flood Warnings, which was 250. New Mexico's monsoon season started on June 15 and will continue until September 30. But the rainiest months are July and August that see up to 40 percent of the year's total precipitation. The National Guard was deployed to New Mexico at the end of June to help rescue residents of Ruidoso, which was under a Flash Flood Emergency Monday. Soldiers were seen crossing rising waters to evacuate elderly residents in the small town. Minutes after they were brought to safety, waters rose by six feet and flooded their homes, KOAT reported. As of now, residents are urged to 'monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. 'A Flood Watch for flash flooding is in effect this afternoon and evening over and downstream of the burn scars in Lincoln County,' the NWS Albuquerque shared in an X post. 'Heavy rainfall and slow storm motions expected. Elsewhere, hot temperatures are in store. Triple-digit heat expected for the plains.' Evacuations were ordered last month in the New Mexico village of Ruidoso amid wildfire Since 1959, 65 New Mexicans have lost their lives in flash floods. The flash flooding is due to heavy rain falling over a burn scar near Brady Canyon and Ruidoso Downs. A burn scar is left behind by a wildfire, which appears as a charred and barren strip of land, does not absorb precipitation as typical soil and leads to major flooding. And just a quarter to half an inch of rainfall can lead to major flash flooding on these burn scars. The last fire broke out in June, leading to an evacuation of Ruidoso. 'Wildfires are very common in New Mexico, but the latest was particularly fast developing, said Mangham. The location of the wildfire was problematic. It happened on urban area and situated in a way that ran through Ruidoso.' He continued to explain that the NWS will be watching radar to estimate rainfall rates, plus ground rate precipitation collectors. The town experienced another flash flood over the weekend when the National Guarded reported it had rescued or evacuated at least 12 people and two dogs, 'Once we see rain passes a threshold we will issue a warning,' Mangham said. 'When we say there is a flash flood warning, we mean do not go out looking for trouble. 'When there is an Emergency, it means do not go outside because trouble will find you.' The flood that hit Ruidoso on Monday collapsed part of the town's racetrack and created a impromptu dam of debris that blocked a river. 'I dont know the extend of clean up, but they are working on that and we can expect to get hit again today,' said Mangham. The town experienced another flash flood over the weekend when the National Guarded reported it had rescued or evacuated at least 12 people and two dogs, FOX Weather reported. . Microsoft was thrown into chaos today after suffering a second global outage in less than two weeks. The issue is impacting 'multiple Microsoft 365 services and features,' the company said in a post on social network X Tuesday morning. Microsoft 365 includes common productivity applications like Outlook, Word and Excel, leaving many Americans unable to perform daily work tasks. On top of office outages, the issues have also taken down Starbucks' mobile application and Xbox Live. Microsoft has been thrown into chaos again due to its second global outage in less than two weeks. The issue is impacting 'multiple Microsoft 365 services and features,' the company said in a post on social network X Tuesday morning Reports about the outage surfaced around 9:15am ET, impacting Microsoft's 'network infrastructure,' which is critical for connectivity and communication between users, apps, devices and the internet. The previous outage, on July 19, was triggered by a cybersecurity update glitch but the source of the current issue has not yet been revealed. Starbucks The coffee giant's mobile app was also hit by the outage plaguing Microsoft. Users reported problems logging into their accounts and checking out at around 8:30am ET, according to DownDetector. DownDetector's outage map shows issues in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa and other major cities. Approximately 91 percent of the issue stems from the app, with seven percent of people citing they cannot log in to their accounts and two percent cannot checkout. At least 33 million Americans use the app, but the number of users impacted is unknown. The app offers mobile ordering, payment and rewards that can be redeemed for free food and drinks. Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is a cloud-powered productivity platform, which includes Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneDrive. The services are offered through subscriptions, starting a $69.99 a year or $6.99 a month. Users can sign in to their accounts on up to five different devices, including PCs, Macs, phones and tablets. Microsoft 365 also includes Skype for Business, antivirus software and a corporate video-sharing service. Microsoft also reported that its Intune platform - which manages companies' organizational resources - and Entra have been impacted. Entra is a cloud-based identity resource that provides authentication and authorization services for Microsoft Azure, 365 and other third-party services. The company added that its Power Platform has also been implicated, which helps businesses build applications, analyze data and automate workflows. This service also includes GitHub, a developer platform, and Microsoft Teams, which is widely used by companies across the globe. Starbucks app users Users reported problems logging into their accounts and checking out at around 8:30am ET, according to DownDetector Xbox Live Xbox Live allows you to access online content and play with friends for a monthly fee. Then there is Xbox Live Gold, which is a premium subscription that offers online matchmaking with other strangers and playing with friends. DownDector received hundreds of issue reports for the popular video game Minecraft, signaling Xbox, which is owned by Microsoft was impacted by the outage. Azure Azure, also known as Microsoft Azure, is a cloud computing platform and a suite of cloud services offered by Microsoft through an Office 365 subscription. It provides a wide range of cloud-based services and solutions that enable organizations to build, deploy, and manage applications and services through Microsoft's global network of data centers. Microsoft said on the administration center that its Azure services are down and 'a subset of customers may experience issues connecting to ... services globally.' 'We have implemented networking configuration changes and have performed failovers to alternate networking paths to provide relief,' reads the Azure status page. They're the pubs that put the boo into London's boozers - five of the UK capital's spookiest inns. And I've bravely visited each one to find out which is the most chilling. London has dozens of supposedly haunted pubs - but this quintet of eerie inns have built up renown as being particularly hair-raising hotbeds of paranormal activity. I enter a world of ghost cams, hanging nooses, stalking grounds for Jack the Ripper's victims and hear about a ghost said to have awoken barmaids by ripping off their bedsheets. Read on for my spook-factor scores. Would YOU be brave enough to follow in my footsteps? The Prospect of Whitby - Wapping The Prospect of Whitby (above) sits on the banks of the Thames in a Grade II listed building and has a history so disturbing it was once called The Devil's Tavern Pictured is a noose that swings at the back of The Prospect of Whitby as a homage to 'the hanging judge' The Prospect of Whitby claims to be London's oldest riverside pub, dating back to 1520. Inside, there's an original flagstone floor, a pewter top bar and old barrels and ship masts built into the ceiling. It sits on the banks of the Thames in a Grade II listed building and has a history so disturbing it was once called The Devil's Tavern. Cut-throats, pirates, smugglers and thieves all chose to drink here, as did Judge George Jeffreys - a 17th-century judge who is said to have sentenced hundreds of people to death by hanging. His ghost is rumoured to haunt the pub, along with several others, including Mary Frith, a notorious pickpocket, also known as Moll Cutpurse. Now, I discover it's frequented by American tourists who flock there for its 16 steak and ale pie, and its atmosphere is more soothing than sinister. Reminders of its history, however, are plastered throughout, from models of ships to informative plaques. But perhaps its most hair-raising memento is the noose, which swings out back as a homage to 'the hanging judge'. Spook-factor: 2/5 The Viaduct Tavern - Holborn The Viaduct Tavern sits opposite the Old Bailey and is built on the site of Newgate Prison. The pub retains many Victorian features, including an ornate beaten copper ceiling, cast iron pillars and an old ticket booth station Pictured above are the 'cells' located in the Viaduct Tavern's basement. Inside the dark space is a hanging noose and rusty metal cages The Viaduct Tavern, opposite the Old Bailey, has spooky pub credentials by the coffin load. In the main bar area, the Victorian drinking hole features cast iron pillars, an ornate beaten copper ceiling and an old ticket booth. So far, so mildly eerie. Venture below, though, and matters get seriously spine-chilling very quickly. The pub is built on the site of Newgate Prison and downstairs are old 'cells' where prisoners are said to have been kept. These cells are free for customers to explore, and minutes after finishing my drink, I reluctantly follow the barmaid down a set of creaky, steep stairs to a small brick room. Inside the dark, damp space is a hanging noose and rusty metal cages - terrifying enough to make me want to go upstairs in seconds. Staff are reportedly apprehensive about going down alone. Understandably so, as in 1996, the landlord allegedly found himself locked in the cellar after the door slammed shut for no apparent reason. Spook-factor - 4/5 The Rising Sun - Smithfield Inside The Rising Sun in Smithfield there's a 'dated wooden interior' and an 'absence of TVs and music', Jess writes - as well as a 'pervy' ghost This pub, next to St Bartholomew's Hospital, was thought to be the playground of body-snatching gangs back in the early 19th century. These criminals supposedly drugged and murdered punters before selling their bodies to the hospital for medical research. Unsurprisingly, paranormal activity has since been reported. One notable case is the so-called 'pervy' ghost. A former landlady reported being interrupted by a presence while in the shower - it pulled back the shower curtain and placed an icy hand on her back. Barmaids who lived upstairs would wake to find a spirit sitting on the end of their bed, slowly tugging their bedcovers off. Whether it's the mixture of these horrifying tales, the dated wooden interior or the eerie silence due to the absence of TVs and music, I find the atmosphere of this pub somewhat unsettling. As I walk to the upstairs loo, I notice the cold temperature and creaky floorboards. On my way back down, a fire alarm suddenly blares, and the doors slowly close. A ghostly presence or just pure coincidence? Either way, I leave the pub in a flash, feeling shaken. Visit risingsunfarringdon.co.uk. Spook-factor - 5/5 Morpeth Arms - Millbank Underneath Morpeth Arms are cells leftover from the former Millbank Prison. The pub is supposedly haunted by a former prisoner who died underground A live stream of Morpeth Arms' cells is displayed on a TV next to the bar (pictured) At first glance, this 19th-century tap house seems bright, airy and not at all spooky. However, lurking beneath the surface are tunnels and cells left over from the former Millbank Prison, which opened in 1816 and closed in 1890. The tunnels served as the 'final walk' for prisoners before being deported to Australia. One convict is said to have died in a tunnel beneath the pub while trying to escape - and now haunts the pub, according to local legend. Reminders of the pub's history are scattered everywhere, from framed photographs of criminals to a sign above the bar, that reads 'some of our spirits you can't see'. There's even a live stream of the cells, displayed on a TV next to the bar. While the cells were unavailable to view on my visit, the pub welcomes customers downstairs 'from time to time'. Although rich in history, the upstairs area appears incredibly modern, and if it weren't for the historical knick-knacks and creepy ghost cam footage, there's a fairly light and un-spooky atmosphere. Visit www.morpetharms.com. Spook-factor: 1.5/5 The Ten Bells - Spitalfields The Ten Bells (pictured) is renowned for its connection to London's most notorious serial killer, Jack The Ripper and is said to be haunted by one of his victims Follow the hoards of tour groups to East End pub The Ten Bells, renowned for its connection to London's most notorious serial killer: Jack The Ripper. The pub is associated with two of Jack the Ripper's victims. Unconfirmed reports claim Annie Chapman was drinking at the pub before being killed. Her mutilated body was found on nearby Hanbury Street. Mary Kelly - the Ripper's final victim - is linked to the pub as the street outside is allegedly where she picked up her clients. Rumour has it that Chapman's ghost still haunts the pub, alongside several other ghoulish figures. Staff are said to have encountered the ghost of a past landlord named George Roberts, who was reportedly murdered with an axe. There are also gruesome tales of the murder of a baby in one of the rooms upstairs, with psychic mediums apparently too terrified to enter it. Despite its entanglement with such a grizzly past, the pub's atmosphere is surprisingly lively. Small, but vibrant, the pub draws in a young crowd. However, if it was less crowded, I would be apprehensive to visit alone. Spook-factor: 3/5 Advertisement Escape the hustle and bustle and let these stunning photos of Mother Nature transport you to a calmer realm. Award-winning photographer Prashant Naik, from Georgia, has shared a selection of his images exclusively with DailyMail.com, with his favorite subjects being sweeping rural landscapes and dazzling night skies. The cameraman, who works in the IT sector when he's not snapping away, has traveled across the U.S. to explore national parks and rural areas to achieve a portfolio of breathtaking shots. One striking image captures a collection of hoodoos in the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness in New Mexico, with a small slip of moon shining above, while another photo shows the Milky Way shimmering through Double Arch in Arches National Park in Utah, which Prashant said was one of the 'most thrilling' trips of his life. Another of Prashant's favorite spots to shoot has been the Pacific Coast in Oregon where eroded rock formations line the beach. He says of the scene: 'The shapes and contours of these geological structures that grace the Oregon shores are simply phenomenal. They appear as sentinels of Earth guarding the shoreline.' Scroll down to soak up these images and more. Prashant said he was 'astonished' by the sight of these otherworldly sandstone formations at the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness in northwestern New Mexico. Detailing the scene, he said: 'In this remote wilderness there's a field of hoodoos that have been sculpted by relentless forces of wind and rain for thousands of years. The vast expanse of this desolate landscape takes one's breath away, evoking Mother Nature's artistic prowess. This is the valley of dreams with what I think looks like an alien throne at its heart. I long to return someday, to once again immerse myself in the otherworldly splendor of this wilderness' One of the photographer's favorite spots in the U.S. to snap away is the Pacific Coast in Oregon for the 'breathtaking' and 'phenomenal' rock formations dotting the shoreline. The above image was taken at Face Rock Beach in Bandon, South Oregon This otherworldly image was captured at Double Arch within Arches National Park in Utah. Prashant said of the shot: 'It was one of the most thrilling moments of my life. It opened my mind to look at things with a different perspective. Arches after arches, they are spectacular structures of natures own creation. Watching the world, through its window was more captivating than camera's viewfinder. I spent lot of time contemplating rather than photographing at this place' Prashant said he was 'astonished' to see the Delicate Arch in Utah with his own eyes and 'it was a different world all together.' Describing what the route to the popular photo spot was like, he said: 'The trail that leads you to the arch, obscures any distant views of its grandeur. Like as if it was hidden in Nature's pristine shore. Upon reaching, a monolith arch reveals itself against the setting sun. Something I've never experienced before. I felt I belonged to something bigger than the world' LEFT: The cameraman took this pink-hued shot at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, which straddles eastern California and Nevada RIGHT: This golden shot was snapped by Prashant 'on the way down hill form Brasstown Bald Observation Tower in Northern Georgia. He explains that it is 'a road known to many but few people stop there to look where else it leads to... apparently, to paradise a place lit by shimmering stars of our Milky Way galaxy' Prashant named this motion photo, taken at the Grotto Falls in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park between North Carolina and Tennessee, 'Time The Beginning' A peaceful sunset captured by Prashant on the shores of Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts LEFT: This waterfall, located close to Prashant in Georgia, is named 'Trahlyta' after a local Cherokee woman RIGHT: A starry night sky captured by the cameraman in Zion National Park, Utah. He says of the shot: 'The view from the canyon junction bridge overlooking the Virgin River is probably the most photographed place at Zion but there is irrefutable pleasure in being there at the right moment before sunset or at dark when the stars and shooting stars shimmer across the night sky' In the heart of Arizona's Coconino National Forest, Prashant says 'there's a place fully surrounded by pine trees on one side and on the other side it opens wide to the spectacular views of the world.' To capture this shot, he said he 'stood there for long hours right at the edge of the Mogollon Rim, watching in awe the mysteries of the cosmic world' 'Canyonlands National Park in Southern Utah really is something entirely different,' says Prashant. He continues: 'It is absolutely stunning when it is all covered with snow. Towering pinnacles and cliffs, plus the winding Colorado River. When I got there early, it was too dark and icy to wander around. One wrong step, and I would be rolling 2,000ft below. As the sun rose, I was transfixed in wonderment of the dramatic scene that started to unfold in front of me' LEFT: At Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley, Prashant said he was hoping to find dunes free of any footprints but they are 'all over the place' RIGHT: At Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia, Prashant says you can find 'some of the most interesting natural structures in the world, formed due to constant strong ocean currents and wave action' To capture this breathtaking shot of the night sky, Prashant had to brave the cold for several hours. He recalled: 'I remember the night I spent photographing the night sky at Monument Valley, it was freezing. Winters can be overly fierce at the Navajo Tribal Park. In the chill of the night, all one could see was darkness in every direction with sky lit by thousands of blazing stars' The Thor's Well sinkhole on the Oregon coast is 'one of the most enigmatic geological marvels,' Prashant says. He explains: 'When the waves roll in, water spurts out from the well, floods the rock and then flows back into the well. This is most spectacular to watch at high tide. I was fascinated by the rhythmic dance of the ocean waves and spent hours capturing the natural wonder' This stunning motion shot shows the McKenzie River in Oregon in full flow. The U.S. Forest Service notes that the waterway is popular for fishing, rafting, drift-boating, and kayaking The photographer said he was grateful to have captured 'arguably one of the best meteor showers of the year' in Flagstaff, Arizona. He said of the event: 'Snow covered sunset crater shimmered with silver light of the moon just when it was 10 degrees above the horizon. And when it got completely dark, the sky was lit up with meteor shower in all directions. It was non-stop. It was incredible. The finest meteor shower I've ever seen' The photographer ventured to Brasstown Bald, which is the highest point in Georgia, to capture this colorful shot of a starlit sky twinkling above the observation tower Tammy Hembrow has been praised for a kind act during a night out with girlfriends on the Gold Coast. An anonymous tipster told influencer.updates.au the fitness influencer's friends once put on a less-than-classy display at the Burleigh Pavilion. Posting a photo of Tammy and her gal pals at the venue, the tipster revealed that the blonde beauty went above and beyond after her girlfriends rudely pushed in front of her while waiting in the bathroom line. 'Tammy Hembrow's friends pushed in front of me at the bathroom at the pav,' they said. 'Her friends were very snobby but she said "omg so sorry" and made them come back.' 'She was very nice,' they concluded. Tammy lives on the Gold Coast with her fiance, Love Island star Matt Zukowski, and her three children. Tammy Hembrow has been praised for a kind act during a night out with girlfriends on the Gold Coast. An anonymous tipster told influencer.updates.au the fitness influencer's friends once put on a less-than-classy display at the Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast The Tammy Fit founder shares son Wolf, eight and daughter, Saskia, six, with her first ex-fiance Reece Hawkins. She also welcomed her third child, a daughter named Posey, with her latest ex-fiance Matt Poole in June 2022. The 30-year-old recently wowed fans after revealing the gruelling exercise routine she is currently undergoing ahead of her impending nuptials. She took to Instagram to share a jaw-dropping clip showing her heard at work in the gym. She looked focused as she worked up a sweat by lifting weights and performing a variety of lunges and lower body exercises on a Seated Leg Press. The tipster revealed that Tammy went above and beyond after her girlfriends rudely pushed in front of her while waiting in the bathroom line Tammy and Matt were engaged in December after three months of dating and are set to tie the knot in Byron Bay later this year. Tammy recently addressed the online backlash she received after her wedding invitation was leaked by a handful of influencers. 'You guys might know that recently my wedding details were leaked online accidentally,' she said in a TikTok video. 'This has caused a few issues for me, I have had to change a lot of the details because we want it to be very private and it's been a bit frustrating.' Hunter Talent, a management firm which represents some of Australia's biggest social media personalities, recently shed a light on the impressive earnings of some of Australia's top social media influencers. Tammy boasts more than 17million followers on Instagram and her shock salary certainly reflects her huge rise to fame on the platform. Her huge earnings for just one post are the same as the average Australian's annual salary, which is estimated to be around $89,000 per year . 'Tammy Hembrow's friends pushed in front of me at the bathroom at the pav,' they said. 'Her friends were very snobby but she said "omg so sorry" and made them come back' . EXCLUSIVE Veteran weatherman Paul Burt was sacked because focus group research found he was unpopular with audiences, according to an insider at the Seven Network. Burt, who worked at Seven for more than a decade, referred to his sudden exit in his last broadcast on Saturday at the end of Queensland's 6pm news bulletin. 'If I'd had the opportunity I wouldn't have wanted to go this way - it's what happens when you get sacked,' the 51-year-old said in his final appearance. But a senior source inside the network told Daily Mail Australia the reason for Burt's dismissal was simple: he turned off too many viewers. 'Paul Burt was sacked after extensive audience research across the Queensland market that identified he was one of the least-liked presenters on-air, with the dreaded 'switch-off' factor,' the source said. That research had been conducted in the first quarter of 2024. The source said perceived audience appeal was an important consideration when deciding which 'talent' would be let go from a program and 'it's not like names were picked out of a hat'. 'Networks spend a fortune on polling and focus groups to identify emerging talent and test long-serving presenters,' they said. 'The audience decides who reads the news.' Veteran weatherman Paul Burt was sacked because focus group research found he was unpopular with audiences, according to a senior Seven Network insider. Fans are pictured holding signs supporting Burt Burt, who has been inundated with online messages of support since his departure, did not accept the research. 'I mean, these people are going to try and cover their backs,' Burt told Daily Mail Australia. 'I think if they're looking at numbers like that, they might want to change the people who are giving them those numbers. 'Because I'm on the ground, I hear what people say and I understand what they want. I've been doing it now for 28 years.' Daily Mail Australia has obtained a farewell email Burt sent to Seven colleagues on Monday afternoon. 'Hey everyone, never thought I'd be writing this email anytime soon, but here we go,' he wrote. 'First and foremost, I want to say thank you to everyone who I have worked directly with, you have all been incredibly awesome and do sensational jobs and deserve far more recognition than you get. 'Secondly, those who reached out to me after the news over the weekend and today to 'check in' on me and pass on your kind words, wow, it's been very humbling so thank you.' Seven's Brisbane news director Michael Coombes told Burt (far right) last month his contract would not be renewed. Word of his sacking was leaked before Burt could tell his wife and kids Seven's Brisbane news director Michael Coombes told Burt last month his contract would not be renewed. Word of his sacking was leaked before Burt could tell his wife and children. 'It feels horrible,' Burt said. 'It makes you feel sick in the stomach. 'Sometimes you just want to sit down and talk to the big, big bosses because they probably don't know what we do up here.' The night before Burt delivered his last report, he did a live cross from Surfers Paradise for the Gold Coast 5.30pm bulletin. As he gave the weekend weather outlook, fans held placards declaring 'Burty's a legend', 'Qld's favourite weatherman' and 'Bring back Burty'. 'We basically turned up and there were a couple of hundred people with banners and everything,' Burt said. 'I think that says it all. 'All those people who turned up with banners, they're our customers. They're the customers who watched - past tense - and were loyal to me and the network. 'They're our ratings. They're the ones who are going to bring money in for the advertisers. They're our viewers and the people that we have to listen to.' Burt had invited locals to the Surfers Paradise beachfront in a video thanking them for their loyalty, which was posted on the I Love Robina Facebook page and has received 60,000 views. He also used that television opportunity to endorse Liberal National Party candidate Hermann Vorster for the seat of Burleigh at the Queensland state election. 'Elect this guy,' the presenter said. 'Or it just won't happen at Burleigh in future.' Burt began his television career at Seven in 1996, before being poached by Ten then Nine, and returned in 2013 to the network where he got his start in the industry. 'Seven brought me back for a reason,' he said. 'So if the numbers aren't there, well I don't see how that adds up, in my view.' Seven West Media, which also owns the West Australian newspaper, is slashing 150 editorial staff in a round of redundancies which has claimed other big names including Brisbane newsreader Sharyn Ghidella. 'You look at people like Sharyn Ghidella - staunch Channel Seven,' Burt said. 'When you see people like that being moved on, it kind of says something. 'I understand business is business. We are going through cutbacks across the board. 'Unfortunately it's not a nice feeling for us and her and everyone else who got the flick as well.' Seven West Media is slashing 150 editorial staff in a round of redundancies which has claimed other big names including Brisbane newsreader Sharyn Ghidella (above) Ghidella, who got her 'tap on the shoulder' while at the hairdressers getting ready for work after 17 years with Seven, has made clear her feelings about Burt. 'All the best, Burty for what lies ahead,' the 58-year-old wrote on X. 'You are so good at what you do I'm sure there are many exciting adventures ahead for you. Good luck, not that you'll need it, at all. Bet the offers are already rolling in. Xx.' Seven's recently appointed news and current affairs boss Anthony De Ceglie has been replacing sections leaders across the country with younger managers. He has also introduced a Friday night comedy spot and astrology to the news. Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide all have fresh news directors, and new executive producers have been put in charge of Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and Spotlight. Burt's final segment on Saturday was followed by a montage of on-screen moments from his 11 years with Seven played to a soundtrack of the Crowded House classic Weather with You. Among those scenes was footage of Burt cutting short a weather report to help save a 10-year-old boy being sucked into a rip at Surfers Paradise in May 2022. Newsreader Samantha Heathwood thanked him for his 'passionate weather reporting over the past decade and a bit' but the senior Seven source said Burt did not go gracefully. 'He didn't show up to his own farewell that had been organised with a cake and missed some of his last shifts without notifying managers, leaving them scrambling,' the source said. Burt agreed that he did not attend his farewell last Friday and had told management he would not be going the week before it was to be held. 'I'm not that kind of guy,' he said. 'I don't want there to be any hoo-ha. I don't need a cake. I'm not interested.' Burt, who wrote his own weather reports, said he also had not wanted to cut into his work schedule on a busy Friday evening when he did about 10 live crosses to the newsroom. 'I don't want to give up my time to get back to the office when I'm on location,' he said. Burt posted a video thanking viewers for their loyalty which was posted on the I Love Robina Facebook page and has received 60,000 views. He is pictured in his last weather report 'I didn't want to stand there and get, 'Here's a cake, congratulations, goodbye and thank you for your time'. I never asked for it.' As for skipping shifts, Burt said he had missed his first cross on Friday and another the previous week when he was filming vision of a capsized boat at Tweed Heads. Both times he had notified management. 'Don't get me wrong, I really admire the network,' Burt said. 'I love the network. I truly do. 'Unfortunately, I just think at this point in time, things could have been handled a bit differently in certain sectors of the newsroom. 'If you have three of your best-selling items in a shop, do you get rid of those three and just deal with what's left over? As a business person, I don't think you do.' It's fair to say that Simon Cowell propelled Gareth Gates to stardom after he came in second place in Pop Idol back in 2002, losing out on the top spot to Will Young. And while Gareth, 40, has nothing but nice things to say about Simon, 64, it's fair to say he might leave him a little red-faced after letting one of his beauty secrets slip. Speaking on the My Dirty Laundry podcast, Gareth said he was shocked to discover the one item Simon has in his office in order to boost his confidence. He said: 'The first time I went into his office, I walked in and there was a mirror on the wall and it said: "Yes Simon, you are the most beautiful in the land". 'I swear this is true. And I was like, "Wait a minute, is that real?" And he replied: "Yes darling, it's real." Gareth Gates revealed his shocked after discovering the top secret beauty item Simon Cowell keeps in his office to boost his confidence (pictured; talking on the My Dirty Laundry podcast) Gareth said: 'The first time I went into his office, I walked in and there was a mirror on the wall and it said: "Yes Simon, you are the most beautiful in the land". 'I swear. And I was like, "Wait a minute, is that real?" He was like, "Yes darling, it's real"' 'I have no idea if it was a joke gift or not but I can imagine him looking at himself in it every day.' Talking about his past mentor, Gareth said: 'I owe a lot to Simon Cowell. You know, I was his sort of boy from the start in Pop Idol. 'And I was obviously with his label. We got on really, really well. We bump into each other, every now and again, but he's a great guy. You know, and the annoying thing is about Simon is that he's always right.' During the interview, Gareth also revealed he still keeps in touch with his pop-rival Will and that they might be going head-to-head in the charts again. Will has just released his anthemic pop single Light It Up, from his forthcoming studio album of the same name. And Gareth said: 'Actually, I've recently signed a new record deal. It's extremely early days, but at the end of the year I'll be working on new material and hopefully releasing next year. 'Will is a great guy. We went through a hell of a lot together. Pop Idol was the first of its kind, well before X Factor. 'It was a sort of unknown territory. We were both kind of thrown into this thing and we actually only had each other to turn to, really. And yeah, it was, you know, as a result of that, we became really, really good friends. 'He's great, he has a great voice. The best man won, I guess.' Gareth is about to start his Gareth Gates sings... Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons tour which he produced himself. He said: 'These songs I'm doing, you know, they're so great to sing. I always put Frankie Valli songs in all my sets wherever I'm touring. 'And you know, the reaction that I get from these songs are great. You know, and so this tour that I'm doing starts on the 29th of September, runs for three weeks in October. We go to all the sort of major cities around the UK. 'I'm really looking forward to it. To anybody who wants to come and see the show, if you go to www.garethgatessings.com - all the dates and all the tickets are on there.' Listen to the interview in full on the My Dirty Laundry podcast. Out now. Follow @mydirtylaundrypodcast on Instagram for more updates. Talking about his past mentor, Gareth said: 'I owe a lot to Simon Cowell. You know, I was his sort of boy from the start in Pop Idol' pictured celebrating his 40th this week Simon as he looked as Gareth's mentor back in 2002 on Pop Idol The 27-year-old has also slammed his mother Dru for defending her son Effie Angelova says Hammer's interviews are 're-traumatizing' her and others The woman who was the first to speak out over disgraced Armie Hammer's disturbing sexual proclivities has slammed his attempts to relaunch his Hollywood career, telling DailyMail.com: 'Rapists don't deserve a platform'. Effie Angelova, 27, publicly accused the actor in 2021 of violently abusing and raping her in 2017, in a scandal that saw multiple other women come forward with similar claims and ultimately ended his acting career. Hammer, 37, was revealed to have had a four-year affair with the Bulgarian-born brunette beginning in 2016, during which he sent her hundreds of sickening texts about his violent fantasies, including one that infamously read: 'I am 100% a cannibal'. Three years later, the Call Me By Your Name star has returned to the spotlight with a recent round of media interviews addressing the allegations - which Angelova now says has left her re-traumatized, struggling with insomnia, and feeling nauseated. She also hit out at Hammer's socialite mother Dru for coming to her son's defense which Angelova branded 'disgusting' and claims prove 'she's an enabler'. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com she said: 'Armie is a rapist and society needs to stop forgiving rape and stop welcoming rapists back. He is depraved and sick in the head. Effie Angelova, 27, was the first woman to come forward with allegations of rape and cannibalism fantasies leveled against Armie Hammer in early 2021 after they had a four-year affair Three years on, the disgraced actor, 37, has recently given a string of interviews, including one with Piers Morgan that saw him quizzed about being a cannibal, in an attempt to rehab his image 'He has not apologized to me. He has not taken accountability for everything he's done to me. He should stop lying and victim-blaming, and apologize and go away.' Hammer had been one of Hollywood's golden boys until Angelova went public about suffering rape 'and other acts of violence' at his hands in January 2021. The former film star, who has not had an acting job since 2022, has recently made a series of public appearances in interviews, including one on Friday with Piers Morgan in which he was quizzed about being a cannibal. 'You know what you have to do to be a cannibal? You have to have actually eaten somebody,' Hammer responded on air, as he confirmed he has never consumed human flesh. He also denied abusing the women who came forward with claims about his sordid sexual behavior, insisting: 'None of those people were hurt or upset because I pushed any sexual boundaries.' Addressing his relationship with Angelova and her claims, Hammer described it as a 'very intense affair, very sexuality charged, between two people with very similar proclivities and kinks,' at one point conceding that his conversations would seem troubling when taken out of context. He also claimed that Angelova was more experienced in the world of kink than he was. But speaking to DailyMail.com, Angelova poured scorn on Hammer downplaying his alleged assault on her as mere sexual 'fantasies', and claimed his disturbing messages were actually admissions of rape. Angelova has shared a previously unseen photo which she says is 'extremely difficult' for her to look at of the bruising and red marks she sustained on her neck after an April 2017 incident in which she claims Hammer assaulted her with a belt The Bulgarian-born brunette also slammed Armie Hammer's mother Dru Hammer for coming to her son's defense amid his return to the spotlight Angelova first came forward with the allegations in 2021, when she filed a complaint alleging that he raped her in 2017, however, prosecutors would ultimately decide against pursuing charges years later 'They were events he was recounting, not just ''fantasies". He was recounting events that occurred,' she claimed. 'He keeps causing me more trauma and harm with his disgusting video interviews where he smears me and blames me.' Messages sent by the actor during their four-year affair that began when Angelova was just 20 included ones that read 'I need to drink your blood' and 'I am a 100% cannibal'. A newly revealed cache of messages and photos sent to Angelova by Hammer also reveal how the actor's sick desires were at the forefront of his mind, even while he was caring for his daughter, Harper, nine, and son, Ford, seven. One exchange sees Hammer tell Angelova about Ford falling asleep on his chest before segueing into a sordid string of revolting fantasies, with the actor saying: 'I can't stop thinking about your mouth. 'Your lips How soft the inside of your cheeks feel. Your tongue. I want to lick your f***ing tongue. And your lip god dammit [sic]. I want to bite it so hard,' he goes on in a series of consecutive messages. The one-sided conversation then takes a twisted turn with Hammer adding: 'How are you even real? Your brainwaves? Show me. 'I want to see. I want to see everything. I want to see your brain, your blood, your organs, every part of you. 'I would definitely bite it. 100%. Or try to f*** it. Not sure which. Probably both. If I f***ed you into a vegetative state, I'd feed you, wash you and keep f***ing you,' he wrote. A newly revealed cache of messages and photos sent to Angelova by Hammer also reveal how the actor's sick desires were at the forefront of his mind, even while he was caring for his kids Harper and Ford The one-sided conversation then takes a gruesome turn with Hammer adding: 'How are you even real? Your brainwaves? Show me' At one point, Hammer warns he has to go, but adds 'all I will be thinking about is raping' The messages get increasingly more graphic and violent with Hammer fantasizing about 'breaking' her ribs The messages get increasingly graphic and violent, with Hammer adding: 'My c**k is in my hand. And I'm thinking of breaking your ribs. Cutting you in to pieces and f***ing the pieces.' 'Those are my bones. And if I want to break one to prove it I will. 'Fingers, toes. And if you still need more proof...your f***ing neck. In my bare hands.' At one point, Hammer mentions he has to go and 'will check in when I can,' before firing off even more disturbing messages. 'All I will be thinking about is raping. Ha,' he adds. 'I want to feel that again. That sensation, that power, that lust. Lust and desire so strong it needs raping to satisfy.' Angelova also shared a photo which she says is 'extremely difficult' for her to look at of the bruising and red marks she sustained on her neck after an April 2017 incident in which she claims Hammer assaulted her with a belt. 'The marks around my neck are from his belt he strangulated me with during the attack while I was already incapacitated and sobbing uncontrollably he'd been raping me,' she claimed. 'This is how much he tightened his belt around my neck that it left all these on my neck.' Angelova said she has since been diagnosed with C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) a severe form of PTSD, as a result of her experience with Hammer. 'I'm diagnosed with C-PTSD because of him. All the trauma has damaged my physical health too,' she said. Hammer and ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers were married for ten years before announcing their divorce, which was finalized in June 2023 Hammer's former girlfriends Paige Lorenze (left) and Courtney Vucekovich came forward after Effie Angelova first made her allegations. Both said the actor was fixated with eating parts of their body 'Do you know what it's like to live with complex post-traumatic stress disorder? It's hell, every day.' She added: 'The hardest thing is just the fact that you have to see your rapist's face and your rapist being platformed when the victims are still struggling and suffering from the trauma. 'I'm going to be suffering from this trauma from him for the rest of my life.' For Angelova, who was also on the receiving end of some disturbing voice notes too graphic to publish that involve him masturbating while fantasizing about breaking her bones, the texts are yet more evidence that her story and those of fellow accusers Courtney Vucekovich and Paige Lorenze are accurate. Lorenze, who briefly dated Hammer in 2020, accused the actor of branding his initial 'A' into her pubic area with a knife, and of bruising and sexually coercing her. Vucekovich, a Texan businesswoman who dated the 37-year-old following his divorce from Elizabeth Chambers in 2022, also advanced a number of disturbing claims, including telling how 'he said to me he wants to break my rib and barbecue and eat it.' Compounding Angelova's distress over Hammer's current media blitz is that of his mother Dru who has given a string of interviews defending her son and saying her world fell apart when the allegations emerged. In an interview with DailyMail.com's You magazine published over the weekend, she said: 'Obviously, I am his mother. I would never say that Armie did everything right, because he didn't. Morally, he was wrong. 'But I do know my son was not out eating people. That I know. And Armie did not rape anybody. I knew that he was not morally right, but that was insanity.' For Angelova, her comments have proved yet another trauma. Effie shared screenshots of messages from the actor, some too disturbing to publish, in which he expressed his dark, sadistic fantasies He told her he wanted to 'devour' her and 'eat her alive' and underlined just how literally he intended those statements to land, by claiming to have once eaten the 'still warm' heart of a deer 'It makes me feel angry and also disgusted,' she told DailyMail.com. 'It makes me feel exploited because I don't know this woman. Why is she going out there talking about - she's denying my lived experiences that I lived. 'It makes me feel very disgusted and she's just gross. She's so gross. And instead of holding him accountable, she's enabling him and she's supporting him, a rapist. 'Her saying that he didn't do anything, giving her opinion on whether he abused us or not well she wasn't there. 'So she doesn't get to have an opinion.' Angelova likened Hammer's attempts to rehabilitate himself with the ongoing furor over the inclusion of Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde in the Olympics. Van de Velde, now 29, is a convicted pedophile who was handed a four-year jail sentence in 2016 after being found guilty of traveling to the UK to have sex with a 12-year-old girl when he was 19. Angelova said: 'It is so disgusting these abusers should not be given a platform. They're doing the same thing at the Olympics. 'We have a guy who was convicted of child rape and now he's playing at the Olympics. There are plenty of men out there who are not rapists, who are actually talented. 'So, give them the chance to be in a movie or be at the Olympics or whatever. It's so disgusting and it's extremely distressing for me.' Furious at Hammer's behavior, Angelova's heartbroken parents, both 58, have also spoken to DailyMail.com describing the 'torment' she suffered at his hands and likening it to a 'crucifixion'. Armie Hammer took his image rehabilitation tour to the basement of Bill Maher's $20M Beverly Hills mansion on Sunday where they discussed cancel culture on his podcast Club Random Referring to her son's recent interviews with Bill Maher and Piers Morgan, Dru Hammer said: 'He was not criminally wrong, he was morally wrong but it's changed his life forever and he's sober and he's happier than he's ever been ' - pictured 2017 with Armie's now ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers Her schoolteacher mother said: 'I, as Effie's mom, can share with you the tremendous pain and suffering my daughter has been through and is going through because of Armie. 'That tormentor's cruel treatment towards my daughter, which he continues to put her through, is like a crucifixion of my daughter and his other victims. 'The inner wounds which Armie has inflicted on her are so deep, they're still bleeding. How much longer is he going to keep tearing at her wounds?!' Meanwhile, Angelova's businessman father has described the 'negative impact' of the scandal on his family and told DailyMail.com they were forced to scour their native Bulgaria for specialist treatment after she returned from the US with 'broken dreams'. The devastated dad, who DailyMail.com has agreed not to name, said: 'I am the father of a traumatized Bulgarian girl, who became a victim of a man who thought that everything is allowed because he is rich and famous. 'Unfortunately, our radiant daughter who was following her dreams came back from the USA completely different Suffering, fearful and with broken dreams. 'That spirit of hope was gone. Hope for the future. Her deteriorated health as a result of the trauma from the abuse from Armie Hammer, has been forcing us for years to look for specialists and suitable doctors And given the nature of the traumas from him, it's not easy.' He added: 'Armie Hammer's abuse of our daughter Effie has left a heavy negative imprint on our family's life. 'Every day we pray to God to help us minimize the damage to her, and to bring the smiles back to her face. We pray that our daughter's health will improve and that joy will return to our home.' The San Mateo County Coroners Office has released the identifications of three people who died July 26 when their car plunged off Highway 1 at Devils Slide. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The San Mateo Coroners Office has identified three people killed after their car plummeted hundreds of feet off Devils Slide on Friday. The victims were Mohammad Noory, 29, of South San Francisco; Angelica Gacho, 28, also from South San Francisco; and Brylyn Aroma, 36, from Fort Riley, Kansas. A family friend of Noory started a GoFundMe on Saturday to raise money for the funeral. By Monday, more than $11,000 had been raised. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Noory was an interpreter for the U.S. Military in Afghanistan before he immigrated to the United States in 2021. He was an Uber driver at the time of the accident, according to the GoFundMe, which said he was the only supporter of his family. With the loss of him, his parents and siblings back in home country Afghanistan are not in a good emotional and physical state. Any contribution to support this family in the toughest moments of their life is greatly appreciated, the GoFundMe read. The incident was still under investigation Monday. California Highway Patrol officers responded to a report of a vehicle on the side of Highway 1 at Devils Slide at 11:20 a.m. Friday, the agency said. The vehicle, a two-door sedan, fell 300 to 400 feet down an embankment. Investigators confirmed two people were dead at the scene. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Travis Barker is selling off his boarding pass from his recent trip in Australia for $8,000. The document, along with other memorabilia from Barker's 2023 World Tour and recording of his latest Blink-182 album, is now available for purchase on the Trophy website, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the non-profit Lost But Not Forgotten. For Barker fans, the boarding pass represents a meaningful obstacle the rocker has famously had to overcome. In 2008, Barker survived a deadly plane crash that claimed the lives of four people. He was unable to fly again for 13 years. But now Barker is flying again - and the boarding pass he used during his recent flight in Australia appears to give a nod at the challenges he conquered following the crash. Travis Barker is selling off the boarding pass from his recent trip in Australia for $8,000 The document, along with other memorabilia from Barker's 2023 World Tour and recording of his latest Blink-182 album, is now available for purchase; seen 2023 Barker drew a cross at the bottom center of the document and wrote in all caps, 'I know I got angels watching over me.' The number 7 is seen by many as an 'angel number' and the musician's ticket showed both the date February 7 and the seat number 7. The pass was for his February 2024 trip on Qantas Airlines from Sydney, Australia to Perth. A description of the product reads: 'A true one of a kind item for the ultimate Travis Barker collector. Having not flown for over 13 years following his near fatal plane crash, he was finally able to tour again overseas recently. This extremely rare commercial boarding pass is not just a piece of music memorabilia, it's a true piece of Travis himself, complete with original hand-written note and cross drawing.' The blink-182 drummer had jetted Down Under with his wife Kourtney Kardashian and their family for his band's first tour in the country in a decade. The pop-punk band last toured Australia in 2013, but Travis did not join them due to his fear of flying, which stemmed from being a passenger in a 2008 plane crash. Travis has previously credited 'the power of love' from his wife Kourtney Kardashian, 44, - who he shares a son Rocky, eight months, with - for helping him overcome his fear of flying. Speaking to the LA Times, he said: 'I think the power of love really helped me. Kourt made it so I fly, my kids fly now. She healed us. Barker wrote 'I know I got angels watching over me' as well as a cross on the boarding pass Barker was on a plane in South Carolina with his assistant, bodyguard and friend Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein when a tire blew during takeoff (the aftermath of the crash in 2008) He has previously credited 'the power of love' from his wife Kourtney Kardashian, 44, for helping him overcome his fear of flying; pictured January 2024 'It takes a little piece of my life every time I fly. The amount of stress and anxiety it causes is just unbearable. It brings up all this old trauma, and sometimes I'm like, 'Is this worth it?' 'But I don't like anything having a hold on me, either I don't like being afraid, and I don't like having things from my past control my future.' Travis shares Alabama, 18, and Landon, 20, with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, while he is also stepfather to Shanna's daughter Atiana de la Hoya, 25. In August 2021, Travis successfully took his first ride on an airplane for the first time in 13 years when he jetted to Cabo San Lucas with Kourtney. In September 2008, Travis boarded a private jet in South Carolina to head to Los Angeles following a show, while accompanied by his friend Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein, his security guard Charles 'Che' Still, and his assistant Chris Baker. 'I think the power of love really helped me. Kourt made it so I fly, my kids fly now. She healed us,' he previously said of his wife As the small plane was attempting to take off, one of the tires suffered a blow out, causing the craft to overshoot the runway, burst through the airport's fence and over the nearby highway, and finally crash into the embankment on the side of the road. The pilot, Sarah Lemmon, and the co-pilot, James Bland, were killed within minutes from smoke inhalation and burns as the plane erupted into flames on impact, according to the Chicago Tribune. Still and Baker were also killed on impact. Travis had third-degree burns over 65 per cent of his body and had to spend three months in the hospital while having skin grafts and 26 surgeries to repair the damage. After the crash, Travis was overcome with a debilitating fear even at the sight of an airplane. Cardi B addressed allegations that she was attempting to sell one of her homes to cope with a 'secret' financial crisis. The 31-year-old WAP rapper who recently slammed Popeyes over a chicken wing flavor took to her X on Monday to hit back after Icy Scoop News claimed she was 'facing foreclosure' and 'fighting to make payments' on her Atlanta mansion in a since-deleted post. 'LMAOOO You bum btches wish me and offset bought that house in 2019 for 5 million now its worth 7, check the Atlanta market,' Cardi B wrote, referencing her rapper husband. She added: 'And no, we not selling it and if I ever sold it I would just sell my part to Offset since he loves Atlanta. Throwing salt on my home? Hating bad.' Icy Scoop News original tweet read: 'Cardi B's secret struggle: She's allegedly trying to sell one of her homes but is deeply upside down on it. Facing foreclosure, the pressure is mounting as she fights to make the payments. The stakes have never been higher.' Cardi B addressed allegations that she was attempting to sell one of her homes to cope with a 'secret' financial crisi; (pictured June) The 31-year-old WAP rapper took to her X on Monday to hit back after Icy Scoop News claimed she was 'facing foreclosure' and 'fighting to make payments' in a since-deleted post The Grammy winner and Offset purchased a $5.8million mansion in Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta, in December of 2019. The home boasts 22,000 square feet with five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and four half-baths at the couple's disposal. The entire property sits on 5.84 wooded acres, according to Realtor.com The clap back comes after Cardi B opened up about her finances to Complex in March, addressing her rumored $80M net worth. 'I feel like I actually passed almost doing $80 million,' she admitted. 'I make a lot of money. I make a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of money.' In August, Cardi and Offset were targeted in a swatting hoax at the Atlanta home. In a dramatic incident recorded on police bodycam footage, officers responded to their home in the early hours of August 10, 2023, following reports of a shooting. According to the police report, a caller claimed that shots had been fired at the residence of the famous rapper, sparking immediate concern. The caller even suggested that Cardi B herself might have been struck by a bullet, prompting officers to approach the scene with sirens blaring and weapons at the ready. Upon their arrival, however, police quickly determined that the alarming report was nothing more than a hoax. 'LMAOOO You bum btches wish me and offset bought that house in 2019 for 5 million now its worth 7, check the Atlanta market,' Cardi B wrote, referencing her rapper husband She added: 'And no, we not selling it and if I ever sold it I would just sell my part to Offset since he loves Atlanta. Throwing salt on my home? Hating bad' Major: The WAP rapper and her husband Offset purchased a $5.8million mansion in Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta, in December of 2019; Offset and Cardi B giving tour of their house in December 2019 The home boasts 22,000 square feet with five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and four half-baths at the couple's disposal The musical stars were the latest victims of a swatting hoax, where a malicious individual falsely reports a violent incident at a celebrity's home to trigger an emergency response from authorities. Notable names who have past been targeted in similar hoaxes include Pharrell, Nicki Minaj, Paris Hilton and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as the Playboy Mansion. Cardi and Offset's Atlanta purchase came after two-years of house hunting, which the female MC blamed on her and her husband's differing tastes. 'Houses that [Offset] liked there was always a room I didnt like that we couldnt agreed on. And a couple houses that I liked [Offset] said NO because the areas they [were] in are not [too] good,' she explained via Instagram Story in 2019. Home and Away star Nicholas Cartwright recently blasted a former producer of the show with a foul-mouthed rant on social media. But not all experiences with the show's stars have been negative, with viewers recently flocking to a Home and Away Facebook fan page to discuss their best - and worst - encounters with cast members over the years. Summer Bay stalwart Ray Meagher, 80, who plays Alf Stewart on the long-running soap, was one cast member who fans appeared particularly fond of. One poster described a chance breakfast meeting in Canberra with the Home and Away icon, revealing that the actor was a delight. 'Meeting Alf was awesome,' the fan said. 'He was sitting directly behind me at breakfast at the Park Hyatt Canberra. I still remember my wife saying to me: "Now I want you to stay very calm but please turn around." 'We had a great chat.' Lynne McGranger, 71, Emily Symons, 54 and the late Johnny Ruffo were other stars that fans were more than willing to sing the praises of. Fans have flocked to a Home and Away Facebook fan page to discuss their best and worst encounters with cast members and the responses were overwhelmingly positive. Pictured: Ray Meagher in 2023 'Johnny Ruffo and Lynne McGranger at a DMD fundraiser many years ago, loved them both,' one fan reminisced. Ruffo, who played Chris Harrington on the show from 2013 to 2016 was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017 and went into remission after treatment. He announced in 2020 that the cancer had returned before revealing in 2022 that it was terminal. He passed away on November 10 2023 at the age of 35. While they weren't keen to drop any names, one fan revealed they spent a night out on the town with cast members. 'I have met 20 of the cast from Home and Away and I have to say theyre pretty funny when you have a night out with them," they said. It wasn't all positivity, though with one fan admitting that an encounter with Darryl and Casey Braxton left them feeling a little cold. Lynne McGranger, 71, (pictured) Emily Symons, 54 and the late Johnny Ruffo were other stars that fans were more than willing to sing the praises of 'Johnny Ruffo (pictured with Tahnee Sims) and Lynne McGranger at a DMD fundraiser many years ago, loved them both,' one fan reminisced 'I enjoyed meeting Lynne and Emily and Dan Ewing,' the fan said. 'I wasn't keen on Stephen Peacocke (Darryl Braxton on the show) or Lincoln Younes (Casey).' The praise comes after Home and Away heartthrob Nicholas Cartwright lashed out at the show's former boss after he sent 'rude' messages about a gritty, new storyline involving his character. Dan Bennett, who ran the Seven soap staple as Network Script Executive between 2016 and 2017, says he unexpectedly provoked the ire of the Summer Bay star on Friday after responding to one of his posts of social media. It wasn't all positivity, though with one fan admitting that an encounter with Darryl and Casey Braxton left them feeling a little cold 'I'd seen him promoting an upcoming (Home and Away) storyline about the River Boys coming back,' Bennett told Daily Mail Australia. 'The show's trying to re-energise that whole crime tone - the drugs and the devilishness - and all I've done is send him a message saying, 'zzz' - as in, 'that's a bit boring, we've seen all that before'. 'Of course, that's just my view; I'm just a fan these days. But next thing you know, I've got Nicholas Cartwright - one of the supposed stars of the show - sending me DMs and calling me 'a c**t'. 'I don't know Nicholas, I've never met him... so to think that's how he talks to fans is deeply concerning.' The praise comes after Home and Away heart-throb Nicholas Cartwright lashed out at the show's former boss after he sent 'rude' messages about a gritty, new storyline involving his character In excerpts of the fiery exchange seen by Daily Mail Australia, Bennett sparks the row with a number of 'zzz' messages. Cartwright, who plays Summer Bay's resident cop, Cash Newman, then replies by saying: 'Rude response from someone in the industry'. Bennett then hits back, saying: 'Or perhaps an informed response from someone who knows that show better than anyone else on the planet and is bereft to see it reverting to River Boy nonsense. 'The notion that we should support productions simply because we're in the 'industry' as opposed to supporting them because the quality is A+ is nonsense. 'How does anyone fair (sic) by applauding mediocrity as opposed to excellence?' Cartwright responds: 'Okay mate try not to be a c**t about it next time.' Bennett said he had since raised the exchange with Cartwright's bosses at Home and Away and considered the matter closed. 'I don't want to p*** on anyone's career, or get anyone in trouble, but I've messaged his seniors and been told that it's been dealt with and I'm happy with that,' he said. 'He was probably just having a bad day, and p***ed off about something else. But it wasn't a nice experience and I would hate to think he'd message anyone else something like that.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Seven for comment. Phaedra Parks confirmed she is making her long-awaited return to the Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Bravo vet, 50, announced the peachy news that she would be rejoining the show for the upcoming sixteenth season as a full-time cast member on Monday. In the triptych of photos she shared on Instagram, Parks was seen descending the steps of a private jet with a lavish fur coat in one hand and a Georgia peach in the other. 'You called. I answered,' she wrote alongside a peach emoji as well as the hashtags '#RHOA' and '#S16.' Fans can also anticipate seeing an exciting reunion as Parks' longtime friend Porsha Williams will also be rejoining the show. Parks' announcement comes amid drama involving her ex-husband Apollo Nida who was arrested for allegedly assaulting his current wife Sherien Almufti. Phaedra Parks confirmed she is making her long-awaited return to the Real Housewives of Atlanta; seen in March The Frick and Frack duo's return comes just after Kandi Burruss left the show along with Marlo Hampton, Sanya Richards-Ross, Sheree Whitfield and the firing of Kenya Moore. The practicing attorney previously starred on the hit Bravo series from 2010 until her departure in 2017. Earlier this month, it was reported that Parks was 'negotiating' her return to the show. Parks joined the Real Housewives of Atlanta in season three and exited the series after season nine amid drama with Burruss. At the time, she admitted to spreading rumors about her castmate, which led to her six-season hiatus from the show. In 2022, she returned to Bravo and appeared on The Real Housewives Ultimate GIrls Trip: Ex-Wives Club. She joined the Atlanta-based reality show Married to Medicine in 2023 and is set to appear on the upcoming season as well. Earlier this year, she appeared on The Traitors and nearly won at the end of the show. Production for the upcoming 16th season RHOA is ongoing, and a release date has not yet been announced. ; season five RHOA castmates Kandi Burruss, NeNe Leakes, Phaedra Parks, Cynthia Bailey, Kenya Moore and Porsha Williams are seen from L-R Fans can also anticipate seeing an exciting reunion as Parks' longtime friend Porsha Williams will also be rejoining the show; Frick and Frack were seen reuniting on WWHL's 15th anniversary, June 30th episode The Frick and Frack duo's return comes just after Kandi Burruss (seen on far left) left the show along with Marlo Hampton, Sanya Richards-Ross, Sheree Whitfield and the firing of Kenya Moore. Parks (seen on far right) joined the Real Housewives of Atlanta in season three and exited the series after season nine amid drama with Burruss In 2022, she returned to Bravo and appeared on The Real Housewives Ultimate GIrls Trip: Ex-Wives Club. She joined the Atlanta-based reality show Married to Medicine in 2023 and is set to appear on the upcoming season as well; seen in October 2022 Earlier this year, she appeared on The Traitors and nearly won the show. Production for the upcoming 16th season RHOA is ongoing, and a release date has not yet been announced; seen in December 2022 Parks' exciting news comes shortly after an alleged domestic dispute between her ex-husband Apollo Nida, 45, and his current wife made headlines. The reality TV personality and her ex-husband finalized their divorce in 2017 after nearly a decade together and tying the knot in 2009. Nida was reportedly arrested for assault after his wife Sherien Almufti allegedly accused him of putting his hands on her during a domestic dispute in March. According to In Touch, a site that has claimed to have seen the court papers, Nida was charged with domestic violence and simple assault. Following Apollo's alleged arrest, he was reportedly taken to a local jail, where he posted a $3,000 bond and was released within hours. In March, Almufti reportedly called the police on her husband, telling law enforcement that she had come home from a bar when an argument about infidelity broke out between them, the site claimed. Parks' exciting news comes shortly after an alleged domestic dispute between her ex-husband Apollo Nida , 45, and his current wife made headlines; seen in June The 50-year-old Real Housewives of Atlanta star and Nida, 45, finalized their divorce in 2017 after tying the knot in 2009; pictured in 2013 Almufti reportedly said Nida presented a video of her kissing another man, then 'pulled her by the hair' and 'pushed' her 'against a refrigerator.' She ran outside to seek help and when she returned to retrieve her phone, Apollo had left the scene, the site added. Police viewed surveillance video of the confrontation, but it did not show a physical altercation, the site claimed. The mother-of-one, who has a daughter from a prior relationship, declined medical attention. The report also noted that she did not have any visible marks or bruises from the alleged interaction. Nida later spoke with police and admitted that he tried to take his wife's phone from her during the argument, according to InTouch. He explained that when he tried to get the mobile device, she 'turned into a ball' on the ground in an effort to keep the phone, but he retrieved it from her, it was also alleged. Nida reportedly confirmed that Almufti went outside for help, but said he followed her to give back the phone. According to In Touch, which claims to have seen the court documents, Nida was charged with domestic violence and simple assault; pictured with wife Sherien in August 2023 It comes one month after Nida reportedly was charged with a single misdemeanor count of simple battery. A hearing followed, with court records not revealing whether or not he entered a plea or hired an attorney. According to In Touch, the court document stated, 'I, Keith E. Gammage, Solicitor General for the County of Fulton, State of Georgia, in the name and on behalf of the citizens of Georgia do hereby charge and accuse APOLLO EDWARD NIDA with the offense of SIMPLE BATTERY FAMILY VIOLENCE, a misdemeanor, for that said accused in the County of Fulton, State of Georgia, on or about March 11, 2024 did intentionally make physical contact of an insulting and provoking nature with the person of Sherien Copes, who is the present spouse of accused, by pulling her by the hair and pushing her.' Almufti later told the publication the incident 'was a huge blow out between a married couple that has brought us much closer since then. We have worked through our issues and have been going to couples therapy.' Parks and Nida share two sons, Ayden, who was born in 2010, and Dylan, born in 2013 Apollo's new wife Sherien has one daughter from a previous relationship Parks is reportedly 'negotiating her return' to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which is in production on its 16th season Parks is reportedly 'negotiating her return' to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which is in production on its 16th season. LoveBScott.com reported earlier this month that Phaedra was not able to iron out the details of her contract before Bravo cameras began rolling at Cynthia Bailey's event at Lake Bailey. The day of the soiree, Phaedra posted a BTS snap of herself via Instagram getting her makeup done. It was captioned: 'I stay ready, so I never have to get ready.' Vick Hope flashed her abs in a revealing gold dress in London on Monday. The radio host, 34, looked sensational in the knitted Prada look. To style out the look, she carried a YSL canvas bag and secured her dark locks up into a bun with a dramatic floral scrunchie. In terms of makeup, the Radio 1 star opted for a natural look and accessorised with a series of beaded necklaces. The presenter kept cool in a pair of sandals and looked in good spirits as she strutted to her car after her day at work. Vick Hope flashed her abs in a revealing gold dress in London on Monday The radio host, 34, looked sensational in the knitted Prada ensemble Vick then turned around to give a flash of her pert behind as she concentrated on her phone. Just days ago, Vick looked more loved-up than ever with husband Calvin Harris, as she shared a glimpse into her summer so far with a number of leggy snaps. One snap saw her putting on a racy display in a plunging gold mesh dress, with a fringe skirt and halterneck design, showing off some major sideboob. Vick cosied up to Calvin, who flashed a glimpse of his toned chest in a patterned shirt, left partially unbuttoned. And the couple could be see mixing with some fellow famous faces, including rapper Flavor Flav, fellow Radio 1 DJ Arielle Free and Love Island star Olivia Attwood. Vick also shared photos of her giggling while presenting a birthday cake to her youngest brother Gabe, 26. Showing off her jetsetting lifestyle, she included snaps of her in Paris, as well as watching Calvin perform in Ibiza. Vick Hope looked more loved-up than ever with husband Calvin Harris, as she shared a glimpse into her summer so far with a number of leggy snaps The BBC Radio 1 presenter, 34, took to her Instagram on Monday to post fun-filled photos hanging out with her DJ husband, 40, and her friends One snap saw her putting on a racy display in a plunging gold mesh dress, with a fringe skirt and halterneck design, showing off some major sideboob, alongside Calvin and Flavor Flav Vick and Calvin are approaching their first wedding anniversary, after tying the knot in a lavish Glastonbury-themed wedding in September 2023. After their wedding, the newlyweds jetted off to Brindisi in Italy on a 25million private jet for their romantic honeymoon. In February, Vick opened up about her decision to professionally drop the Nigerian Igbo 'Nwosu' from her double-barreled surname Nwosu-Hope. She told Mixed Messages: 'My name has always been double-barreled. When it came to deciding to drop Nwosu for work, it was a really hard decision that I agonised over for a long time. ' Paul Mescal's mother Dearbhla is in remission two years after being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. The Hollywood actor's family was plunged into crisis in 2022 when Dearbhla, 55, was told she was battling multiple myeloma and needed to undergo treatment, but she's now in remission and doesn't have to undergo any more gruelling chemotherapy sessions. Paul's sister Nell told Sunday Times: 'She's currently in remission but the cancer that she has is never going to be gone, which is something that you have to learn to be OK with. 'But, for now, she doesn't have to do any more chemo. You have to feel grateful and I do.' Dearbhla also gave an update on her condition in a candid post on Instagram, revealing she feels 'lucky' and 'excited' about the future. Paul Mescal 's mother Dearbhla is in remission two years after being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer The Hollywood actor's family was plunged into crisis in 2022 when Dearbhla, 55, was told she was battling multiple myeloma and needed to undergo treatment She wrote: 'I AM IN REMISSION!!! I am blessed. Yes I will continue to take tablets, have blood tests but I am Dearbhla, just Dearbhla not Dearbhla with Cancer and I am lucky, joyous and feeling very, very excited about where my life will take me and oh the places I will go ... ' She added: 'Gratitude does not encompass all I feel for [the doctors and medical staff]. 'The love of my children, my husband, my family and dearest friends, the audience of you, the prayers of so many, the vibes sent out to the universe carried me through the hard times and lifted me when I truly felt done in. 'My cup runneth over and my heart will forever hold yours. Thank you now guys what's next ???' Normal People star Paul previously admitted he had a panic attack on set when he found out his mother had been diagnosed with cancer. The actor, 28, was in the middle of shooting 'All of Us Strangers' with Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell and he struggled to cope with the news. Normal People star Paul previously admitted he had a panic attack on set when he found out his mother had been diagnosed with cancer Speaking to Esquire UK, he explained: 'I think I kind of pushed it under the carpet for a bit when we found out. Then there was a bad old day when we were setting up to do a shot and I had a panic attack, and I haven't had one of those in f****** years. 'That was probably the biggest one I've had, to be honest. It's embarrassing - not that I think they are embarrassing - but there was just something very public about it. 'I think I was like, 'I just don't have the space to feel anything now, and I'm probably feeling it in the work itself', but then there's only so much of that that's healthy. I think my body was like, 'No. You've got to feel something here that's your own'.' Radio star Ali Clarke has given fans an update after undergoing surgery following her shock cancer diagnosis. The Adelaide radio presenter, who co-hosts Max & Ali in the Morning with Max Burford, broke down last week when she revealed she had breast cancer. Ali called into the radio show on Tuesday morning and revealed she underwent a mastectomy a few days ago and was doing well. 'The doctor says it all went so well and so amazingly, so much so, that I'm actually home now,' she said. Ali said the surgery took several hours and she will need to wait for results to see whether any more treatment is needed. Hayley Pearson, who is currently taking her position while she is on leave, then asked: 'Have you been able to have a look at it yet? Or was it all wrapped up?' 'We're all wrapped up but it wasn't as confronting as I think I had it in my mind,' Ali responded. 'My biggest relief was when the kids came in and I asked them if they wanted to have a look and they all said yes, and they didn't recoil.' Radio star Ali Clarke (pictured) has given fans an update after undergoing surgery following her shock cancer diagnosis Ali also thanked friends and fans for reaching out and offering their support over the past week. 'To everyone that has reached out I cannot thank you enough, and to everyone that is going through this journey I am thinking of you,' she said. Ali shocked listeners last Tuesday when she announced she will take a break from radio as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer. 'I thought it was very small and manageable. But found quite a lot of small little cancers. And so that means that I'll be going in for some pretty big surgery later this week, and I'll have to take some time off to recover as you can imagine,' she said. 'You know, you know me it's I've never dressed skimpily like I've never put my boobs on display. They've absolutely been functional. In fact, when I was growing up, you know, they almost got in the way of playing sport.' Ali called into her radio show on Tuesday morning and revealed she'd surgery and it had taken a couple of hours but she was doing well The radio host then broke down in tears as she emotionally opened up about 'losing a part' of herself. 'I've really battled with myself, between being angry at myself for almost feeling vain about losing a part of me,' she said. 'But when I sit back and try to reason with it, I'm about to lose a part of me that society has forever told me actually makes me a woman and it's absolutely necessary, and the other biggest part of my brain knows that this is really what needs to happen for me to be good.' Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Ali admitted she is 'so freakin' lucky' regarding the quality of healthcare she's received so far. 15 years after an iconic crossover of three hit Disney Channel shows, details about some drama between Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus has surfaced. Back in 2009, Disney Channel put together a crossover of three of its hit shows - Wizards of Waverly Place starring Selena Gomez, Hannah Montana starring Miley Cyrus and The Suite Life on Deck starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse. The three-part special found Hannah Montana booking a teen cruise to get to a Hawaii concert, the same cruise that Alex Russo (Gomez) and her siblings won a trip on from an essay contest, the same cruise ship - the SS Tipton - that Zack (Dylan Sprouse) and Cody Martin (Cole Sprouse) live on. There was one episode in the three-part special where both Gomez, 32, who recently opened up about the one cosmetic surgery procedure she's had, and Cyrus, 31, appeared on, but they shared no scenes together, which, turns out, was by design. Wizards of Waverly Place stars Jennifer Stone (Harper Finkle) and David DeLuise (Jerry Russo) took a listener question on their Wizards of Waverly Pod rewatch podcast about the special. 15 years after an iconic crossover of three hit Disney Channel shows, details about some drama between Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus has surfaced. The three-part special found Hannah Montana booking a teen cruise to get to a Hawaii concert, the same cruise that Alex Russo (Gomez) and her siblings won a trip on from a contest When DeLuise was trying to explain, he caught a look from Stone and told her to 'spill,' asking if they didn't get along during the shoot. 'They intermittently got along. I mean, come on. It was, like, high school. Like, they both dated Nick (Jonas),' she said. She added 'I think Miley dated him first and then Selena dated him, and then it was it was just messy high school nonsense.' 'They're fine now. They're all good now. But, yeah, it was high school just BS,' Stone insisted on the podcast. Cyrus did in fact date Nick Jonas first, from 2006 to 2007, while Gomez and Jonas dated on and off from 2008 to 2010. Gomez insisted in a 2016 interview with W that she 'never 'feuded' with Cyrus, adding, 'We both liked the same guy when we were 16.' Two years later in 2018, Cyrus came to Gomez's defense when Dolce & Gabbana's Stefano Gabbana called Gomez, 'so ugly.' 'Well what that dick head said (if its true) is f***ing false and total bulls**t. Shes fine as f**k!' Cyrus said in an Instagram comment. When DeLuise was trying to explain, he caught a look from Stone and told her to 'spill,' asking if they didn't get along during the shoot 'They intermittently got along. I mean, come on. It was, like, high school. Like, they both dated Nick (Jonas),' she said She added 'I think Miley dated him first and then Selena dated him, and then it was it was just messy high school nonsense' Cyrus did in fact date Nick Jonas first, from 2006 to 2007, while Gomez and Jonas dated on and off from 2008 to 2010 They also reunited in 2020 on Cyrus' Bright Minded podcast, where Cyrus said they reconnected after a simple gesture: Gomez sending a butterfly emoji through DM. 'Im just really happy that we did this new DM. It was very sweet because you just sent a butterfly emoji, Cyrus said. 'And thats enough. Connecting with people and letting them know that youre there. A butterfly emoji is totally enough,' she added. The reunion over Instagram Live also found them both donating to non-profit organizations during the COVID-19 lockdown. Woody Cook has claimed his music filled childhood and parent's wild parties left him suffering from tinnitus from the age of 12. The 23-year-old son of Radio 2's Zoe Ball, 53, and Fatboy Slim DJ Norman Cook, 61, said he would also attend festivals and gigs at a young age to support his dad on stage. Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises, such as ringing, buzzing or hissing, that are not caused by an outside source, according to the NHS. He told The Mirror: 'I went to Glastonbury, Latitutde, Camp Bestival and a bunch of other festivals and gigs, so definitely I heard lots of loud music'. 'Because of the nature of my parents' lives all the parties were in our house and they would also be loud. It does mean I can now fall asleep anywhere, even with a fire alarm going off though'. Woody Cook, 23, has claimed his music filled childhood and parent's wild parties left him suffering from tinnitus from the age of 12 The son of Radio 2's Zoe Ball , 53, and Fatboy Slim DJ Norman Cook, 61, said he would also attend festivals and gigs at a young age to support his dad on stage (pictured) He said: 'Because of the nature of my parents' lives all the parties were in our house and they would also be loud' (Zoe pictured in 1998) Woody, who now DJs himself, also revealed how mum Zoe would warn him he'd damage his hearing after year's of playing music at full volume through earphones while he he slept. While not being officially diagnosed with the condition he said: 'There says, I've a continual electric buzz of high-pitched noise in my head which can be annoying or disruptive depending how bad it is' . According to the charity RNID, around one in seven UK adults has tinnitus. Currently, there is no cure, but there are ways to reduce symptoms such as therapy to to help people find ways of coping with their condition. Zoe, who also shares 14-year-old daughter Nelly with Norman, married the DJ in 1999 before splitting in 2016 and have confirmed they are still great friends It comes following reports that Woody could be set to host a show alongside his mum after appearing together on Celebrity Gogglebox. A source told The Sun: 'Zoe and Woody are in big demand and they would like to work on new projects together. A mother and son presenting team is fairly rare on British television so they can bring something different. Woody, who now DJs himself, also revealed how mum Zoe would warn him he'd damage his hearing after year's playing music at full volume through earphones as he slept While not being officially diagnosed with the condition he said: 'There says, I've a continual electric buzz of high-pitched noise in my head which can be annoying or disruptive depending how bad it is' Zoe, who also shares 14-year-old daughter Nelly with Norman, married the DJ in 1999 before splitting in 2016 and have confirmed they are still great friends 'They're bang up for it!'. The news comes just days after Woody was performing The i360 Brighton Seafront as he threw himself into his performance following his debut at Glastonbury. Stood at the back at the crowd Zoe beamed as she filmed the set while Norman was seen punching the air as he danced along. Woody also shared a sweet photo with his parents after his performance as he wrapped his arms around them looking slightly sweaty. The young DJ looked the part as he went topless underneath an open red shirt patterned with white flowers. Meanwhile Zoe kept it simple in a blue top, jeans and shades and Norman looked stylish in a black shirt patterned with different animal skeletons. The couple tied the knot in 1999 but sadly their marriage came to an end in 2016, when they announced they had 'come to the end of their rainbow'. Their appearance comes after Woody exclusively revealed to MailOnline that ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder] has helped him become a better DJ, following his Glastonbury debut last month. It comes following reports that Woody could be set to host a show alongside his mum after appearing together on Celebrity Gogglebox He said the condition has now become his 'unique selling point' as he moves around so much behind the decks, he stands out from other DJs. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Woody told MailOnline: 'Having ADHD has contributed to my style. I've always jumped around a lot as a person'. 'I was contemplating calling myself Monkey Man as a DJ, by me letting go, it allows the audience to feel it too'. A controversy over an old Walt Disney animated introduction has sparked debate for years. And now Kyle Sandilands' ex Imogen Anthony, 32, has weighed in on the debate, even claiming the famed company has 'gaslit' her childhood. At the centre of the speculation is the iconic Disney character Tinkerbell. The iconic fairy was seen in the short piece of film at the start of Disney productions flying over the Cinderella castle. As the name Disney is spelled out, many fans remember Tinkerbell using her magic wand to 'dot' the 'i' on the famous brand. However, TikTok users started to post videos in 2022 that claimed the intro, as people recall it, never really existed. Taking to the platform, a TikTokker announced: 'Is Tinkerbell in the beginning of Disney movies?' They continued: 'Fake. Based on everything that we know, this never actually happened. Disney did not release a video intro where Tinkerbell dots the I on the word Disney. Kyle Sandilands ex Imogen Anthony , 32, (pictured) has weighed in on an old internet debate over whether or not the Tinkerbell character ever appeared in Disney film and TV introductions. She now claims the famed brand 'gaslit' her childhood 'Instead, people are likely combining several memories into one.' Imogen shared the comment, first posted in September, 2022, to her Instagram stories on Tuesday after several users claimed they had 'evidence' that Tinkerbell did in fact 'dot' the 'i'. 'This is not fake, she does dot the i,' posted one user, while another fan shot back: I have a VHS that says otherwise.' At the centre of the speculation is the Disney character Tinkerbell. The iconic fairy was seen in the short piece of film at the start of Disney productions flying over the Cinderella castle, with memories of the footage sparking debate. Pictured: Tinkerbell Imogen then added: 'Gaslight'. The expression is used to refer to an experience in which a victim has been manipulated into believing in an event or experience that turns out to be fake. Meanwhile, many users differ with Imogen and are convinced the naysayers are wrong. 'I remember this intro from around 25yrs ago. It was on all the Disney videos not CD or Blu-ray...videos,' a Disney fan shared. Another contemporary of Imogen posted: 'It did happen, I saw this as a child, I'm 35 and I saw this when I was 5... before Google was born.' TikTok users started to post videos in 2022 that claimed the intro, as people recall it, never really existed. Imogen shared the two-year-old comment to her Instagram stories on Tuesday after several users claimed they had 'evidence' that Tinkerbell did in fact 'dot' the 'i' Imogen and her ex-boyfriend Kyle Sandilands, 53, were together for eight years but he never popped the question to the former model. The media titan announced his shock split from the Big Brother VIP star on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November 2019. She later married her boyfriend Harley Jones in November 2022 in Las Vegas. Corazon Dandan had finished her shift as a telephone operator and was taking BART home to Daly City on the night of July 1 when she was pushed to her death on the train platform. The man accused of pushing her made his first court appearance on July 30. Courtesy of Alvin Dandan The man accused of fatally pushing a 74-year-old woman into an oncoming train at BARTs Powell Street Station in San Francisco made his first appearance in court Tuesday after spending weeks hospitalized while receiving psychiatric care. Trevor Belmont, 49, is accused of murder and elder abuse in connection with the death of Corazon Dandan, who was waiting for a train after working a night shift at a Union Square hotel on July 1. Belmont also goes by the name Hoak Taing, records show. In court Tuesday morning, Belmonts attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bao Doan, said Belmont had been in the psychiatric area of the hospital for several weeks, which rendered him incapable of appearing in court. His arraignment was rescheduled for Aug. 16, six weeks after he was arrested. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mr. Belmont is a very vulnerable member of our San Francisco community, Doan said. Belmont, who police said was transient, was arrested on the station platform around 11 p.m. on the night Dandan was pushed into the oncoming train. While in police custody, he failed to appear in court several times while under medical evaluation at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Sitting next to his attorney in an orange jumpsuit, Belmont appeared stoic, surveying the courtroom before turning back to face San Francisco Superior Court Judge Kenneth Wine. Wine agreed to move the arraignment to give Doan more time to prepare. Dandan was waiting for a train to take her home to Daly City after working her night shift as a telephone operator in Union Square, family members said. Nephew Dr. Alvin Dandan described his aunt as a brave, independent woman who grew up in the Philippines and moved to the U.S. alone in the 1980s. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jessica Alba gave her 20.6 million Instagram followers a glimpse at her family vacation in Provence, France on Monday. The 43-year-old actress posed alongside two of her three kids in one beautiful snapshot. She was joined by daughter Haven, 13 in August, and son Hayes, six whom she shares with husband Cash Warren, 45. They also have daughter Honor, 16. Another photo showed her with Hayes as she modeled a white sundress and red shawl. Alba's post was accompanied by a lengthy caption filled with tidbits from the French holiday. It comes nearly four months after the businesswoman announced she was stepping down as Chief Creative Officer of the Honest Company to 'shift her creative energy to new endeavors.' Jessica Alba gave her 20.6 million Instagram followers a glimpse at her family vacation on Monday One photo showed her with Hayes as she modeled a white sundress and red shawl The Honest Company founder soaked up the sun in a white and red cherry-patterned bikini in one image. She looked ultra-relaxed as she added designer sunglasses and a cream-colored sun hat as she indulged in a poolside read. The Honey star tagged her location as Le Couvent des Minimes Hotel & Spa L'Occitane. 'Kicking off our fam summer vacay at the most magical place in Provence. Thank you @lecouventdesminimes for such an incredible stay - we couldnt have dreamt up a better week,' she began the caption. The mom-of-three gushed, 'The @loccitane spa was absolutely stunning. If youre looking for a 10/10 deep tissue massage, ask for Morgane. 'But make sure to explore the facility regardless - there are so many different sensory experiences.' The post has so far collected 90,000 likes from her attentive fans. Throughout the carousel, the fashionista displayed multiple stylish looks for each portion of the trip. The Honest Company founder soaked up the sun in a white and red cherry-patterned bikini Alba's post was accompanied by a lengthy caption filled with tidbits from the French holiday Throughout the carousel, the fashionista displayed multiple stylish looks for each portion of the trip 'Kicking off our fam summer vacay at the most magical place in Provence,' Jessica began her caption Earlier this year Jessica and Cash celebrated 16 years of marriage. She took to her social media platform to share throwback photos with her husband in a sweet tribute to their union. '16 years of marriage, 20 years together and forever to go Happy Anniversary @cash_warren,' she wrote in the caption. 'I'm proud of us for making it this far,' added Alba. 'There is no real set of rules or guidance that can ever prepare you for what it means to commit to another person and choose to be family.' The multihyphenate gave a shoutout to Le Feuillee's Chef Louis Alba shared some of her scrumptious-looking meals. Her rotation included sandwiches, salads, and chicken The star recommended getting a deep tissue massage at the resort Jessica and husband Cash Warren celebrated 16 years of marriage in May She continued, 'Through thick and thin we have continually found our way back to each other and have chosen one another. Cheers to us, I love you.' The two stars met on the set of the 2005 movie Fantastic Four, for which Warren served as director's assistant. In 2023 Alba opened up about the secret to their lasting marriage, sharing with ET: 'I think sometimes it's over-communication, sometimes it's under-communication.' 'Sometimes it's, "I need my space I'll talk to you [later],"' she explained. 'When I need [you, I'll say], "I miss you, will you come back?" [It's about] always communicating how you feel.' Actors Casey Affleck and Matt Damon showed off their dance moves in an appearance on the Univision talk show Despierta America on Monday in promotion of their upcoming Apple TV+ film The Instigators. In the appearance, which was filmed at Univision Studios in Doral, Florida, Damon, 53, was clad in a white button-up shirt with gray pants and white Nike sneakers. Casey, 48, donned a black polo shirt with green pants and white sneakers in the appearance, sporting a beard. The appearance was a bilingual one, as the pair were asked questions in Spanish and used a translation device to answer the inquiries. In one segment of the appearance, the actors were pictured dancing with the hosts of the chat program. Actors Casey Affleck, 48, and Matt Damon, 53, showed off their dance moves in an appearance on the Univision talk show Despierta America on Monday in promotion of their upcoming film The Instigators. Pictured with host Alan Tacher The actors showed off their steps alongside Tacher, Karla Martinez and Jessica Rodriguez The forthcoming crime comedy, according to a logline for the film, 'follows two robbers who must go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a theft doesn't go as planned.' Damon and Affleck are joined in the cast of the film by Hong Chau, Paul Walter Hauser, Michael Stuhlbarg, Ron Perlman, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina and Jack Harlow. The film is based in Damon and Affleck's native Boston, which both actors said made things more organic as cameras rolled. 'It's kind of the best part, being able to just openly be speaking your native tongue and not have anyone give you a hard time about it,' Casey told Access Hollywood as the pair continued to promote the motion picture Monday. Damon said speaking in his native Boston accent 'just feels pretty comfortable,' adding, 'It is fun to fall into it, because that's what it feels like - it doesn't feel like you're putting it on as much as you're falling into it.' The Instigators is slated to premiere in select theaters on August 12, prior to its worldwide debut August 9 on Apple TV+. Casey is the younger brother of actor Ben Affleck, 51, while Damon is a best friend of the Argo director/star, who has been in the headlines amid what looks to be an imminent split with wife Jennifer Lopez. A report from Radar Online Sunday indicated that Ben's recent purchase of a $20.5 million 'bachelor pad' in Pacific Palisades, California marks the final chapter in the high-profile relationship. The group was in rhythm for the chat show appearance, which was to promote the Apple TV+ movie The appearance was filmed at Univision Studios in Doral, Florida Casey, an Oscar winner for Manchester by the Sea, rotated his arms in rhythm as he danced The group looked to be in good spirits as they danced, with everyone smiling in the segment The appearance was a bilingual one, as the pair were asked questions in Spanish and used a translation device to answer the inquiries The actors have past worked together on films such as Good Will Hunting and the Ocean's 11 series A source told the outlet that Ben's acquisition of the home in the luxe Southern California enclave - and 'decision to move into his own home is the final insult' in the romance. Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance years back after dating in the early 2000s, tying the knot in multiple ceremonies in the summer of 2022. Ben's new abode includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms with amenities such as a guest home and media room. Ben and Lopez had put a home they shared in Beverly Hills, California on the market earlier this summer after buying it last year. Amid his marital woes with Lopez, Ben has been residing in a rental home near where his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 52, lives in Brentwood, California with their three kids: Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Samuel, 12. Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed the one sure-fire move guaranteed to get into her romantic good graces. The 49 year old was discussing the finer points of kissing with her radio co-star Kyle Sandilands on Monday when the subject of 'face cupping' was brought up. 'That's when a man puts his hand on her cheek as if he's so into kissing,' Kyle said. 'No, both hands around the face,' Jackie responded. Kyle untactfully responded with: 'No, one hand on the face, one hand on the [groin].' Clearly shocked at Kyle's romance skills, Jackie told Kyle his approach was a 'major red flag'. 'Kyle, you don't do that when you're doing your first kiss,' to which the 53-year-old replied: 'I do.' 'Well you'd be a major red flag then," Jackie said. Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed the one sure-fire kissing move guaranteed to get into her romantic good graces Jackie added that having a man gently cup and caress a love interest's face is almost guaranteed to make women swoon. 'When girls get that, they run back to their friends and they go: "And then he cupped my face", and everyone goes: "Ooooooh he cupped the face",' she said. Not willing to keep it above the belt, Kyle continued: 'What do you think my girls who I've cupped their face and cupped their [groin say]?,' the radio star asked. 'What do you think they've gone back and told their friends?' The 49 year old was discussing the finer points of kissing with her radio co-star Kyle Sandilands on Monday when the subject of 'face cupping' was brought up 'It's not like a date,' Jackie responded. 'It'll be just like that hook-up style thing. That's different.' Jackie was recently dealt a romantic blow after her 'toy boy tradie' Jack Tyreman debuted his new girlfriend on social media. Tyerman and the radio queen were spotted on a date as recently as May, going to dinner at popular French dining destination Restaurant Hubert. Jackie addressed the pair's relationship on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show when her co-host Kyle Sandilands questioned her about another recent date. 'We went together to the restaurant and I didn't want to drive and told him to drive [my car],' she explained, adding that Jack lives close by. 'He is cute but no there is nothing going on... We went out with his sister and her husband. We were just catching up.' More than 30 years after his iconic TV series Home Improvement debuted on ABC, Tim Allen is finally returning to the network. ABC has just issued a series order for the 71-year-old comedian's new comedy series entitled Shifting Gears, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While series orders are typically made at each network's upfront presentations in May, it was reported just before the upfronts that the pilot wouldn't film until June. Original creators and showrunners Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully (The Simpsons) have amicably departed the series, which will now seek a new showrunner. It's unclear when production on the series will begin, and when the network may be eyeing a debut, though it seems most likely to arrive at some point in midseason. More than 30 years after his iconic TV series Home Improvement debuted on ABC, Tim Allen is finally returning to the network ABC has just issued a series order for the 71-year-old comedian's new comedy series entitled Shifting Gears, according to The Hollywood Reporter The series will follow Allen's character named Matt, a widower who runs a classic car restoration business. His life is turned upside down when his adult daughter Riley (Dennings) moves back in with him, along with her teenage children. Also starring is Daryl "Chill" Mitchell as Ed, a former Marine and mechanic at Matt's shop, Froy Gutierrez as Nick, Matt's son and Riley's younger brother. Nick was said to have worked as a 'game coder,' although he, 'put his life on hold to come home and help his father at the shop.' The cast also includes Maxwell Simpkins and Barrett Margolis making her acting debut, who both play Riley's children. The Scully's will still serve as executive producers on the pilot episode, which was directed by John Pasquin. Allen will serves as an executive producer with Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina and Pasquin. Shifting Gears was one of only two comedy pilots that ABC was developing for the 2024-2025 TV season, along with Forgive and Forget. The series will follow Allen's character named Matt, a widower who runs a classic car restoration business His life is turned upside down when his adult daughter Riley (Dennings) moves back in with him, along with her teenage children Allen will serves as an executive producer with Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina and Pasquin Forgive and Forget, which starred Modern Family's Ty Burrell, also shot its pilot in June, though ABC will not be moving forward with that series. The show would have followed Burrell as a man who received an unexpected medical diagnosis and tries to reconnect with his adult son (Sean Rodriguez Marquette). When Shifting Gears ultimately joins the ABC lineup, it will be only the third comedy series at the network, alongside Abbott Elementary and The Conners, which will air its final season in 2025. Allen most recently starred in The Santa Clauses and the comedy series Last Man Standing, which debuted on ABC in 2011 and ran for six seasons before it was canceled, and ultimately saved by Fox, where it ran for another three seasons. Jono Castano confirmed his split from Simone Holtznagel on Tuesday just months after the couple welcomed their baby daughter Gia. The celebrity personal trainer revealed that he and Simone decided to go their separate ways nine weeks ago, around the end of May. But eagle-eyed fans may have noticed all was not well with the pair for quite some time. Simone hasn't posted any recent photos with Jono to her social media account, with the last image taken in April. At the time, the model shared a behind-the-scenes video of the pair during their first photo shoot with their daughter. She also celebrated her birthday on July 15th with a party, but Jono didn't appear in any photos taken at the event. Meanwhile, the last picture Jono shared of Simone was on May 12 to wish the model a Happy Mother's Day. Simone responded to the post with several heart emojis. The most telling sign that there was trouble in paradise was on Monday, when Simone posted a cryptic quote about 'moving forward' and being 'patient' for a 'long time'. The thinly-veiled message was also about prioritising her own happiness in what appeared to be a reference to their separation. All the telltale signs pointing to Simone Holtznagel and Jono Castano's split have been revealed The quote read: 'You shouldn't feel guilty for moving forward if you've given someone multiple opportunities to improve or change, but they didn't. 'Everyone has limits, and it's important to look out for your own well-being. If you tried to help or waited for them to change their behaviour, but things stayed the same, it's okay to choose what's best for you and move on. 'Prioritising your own happiness and peace is essential, especially when you've been patient and understanding for a long time.' Jono exclusively told Daily Mail Australia of the couple's break-up: 'We just decided it was best for her to spend time with her family in Wollongong. 'Who knows what the future holds our idea is just to be the best parents for Gia at this stage.' Simone hasn't posted any recent photos with Jono to her social media account, with the last image taken in April. At the time, the model shared a behind-the-scenes video of the pair during their first photo shoot with their daughter Simone is currently staying with her family in Wollongong, while Jono remains in Sydney running his gym Acero which he co-founded with his ex-wife Amy. The couple's separation came around nine weeks after they welcomed their first child into the world on Easter Sunday. Simone and Jono are believed to still be on amicable terms and are focusing on co-parenting their beloved daughter. Despite separating nine weeks ago, they proved they are still on good terms as they recently jetted off on an intimate family getaway to Tasmania with Jono's ex-wife Amy and her new partner Aaron Evans. During the trip, Jono shared a photo to Instagram of Simone reading a story to their beloved daughter. Before this, he hadn't posted any images of the model to his social media, with the last post being a Mother's Day tribute in May. Most recently, Simone posted a cryptic quote to her Instagram story on Monday about 'moving forward' and being 'patient' for a 'long time' The couple's separation came around nine weeks after they welcomed their first child into the world on Easter Sunday The couple first started dating back in 2022, months after Jono confirmed his split from his longtime partner Amy. Celebrity personal trainers Jono and Amy were high school sweethearts, but divorced in 2021 after 15 years together. Simone confirmed she and Jono were expecting their first child together in October last year, and welcomed Gia into the world on Easter Sunday, March 31. Just four months after the Oscars aired on ABC, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is already trying to lock down the 2025 host... to no avail of yet. The Academy reportedly presented a hosting offer to Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted four times including the last two years, though he turned it down, via Puck. Comedian John Mulaney, whose memorable recollection of Field of Dreams was one of this year's Oscar highlights, also turned down a hosting offer. This year's Oscars did enjoy a slight ratings bump this year with 19.5 million viewers, up just 4% from 2023's 18.7 million viewers, though it's still nowhere the all-time record of 57.2 million viewers in 1998, the year Titanic won 11 Oscars including Best Picture. While the ratings have been ticking up each year after a record low of 10.4 million viewers in 2021, they have yet to rise even close to pre-pandemic levels. Just four months after the Oscars aired on ABC, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is already trying to lock down the 2025 host... to no avail of yet Comedian John Mulaney , whose memorable recollection of Field of Dreams was one of this year's Oscar highlights, also turned down a hosting offer Kimmel has hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018, before the Academy experimented with running the show with no host in 2019, 2020 and 2021. A trio of comediennes - Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes - hosted in 2022, before they went back to Kimmel for 2023 and 2024. Aside from his memorable Field of Dreams presentation, Mulaney hosted the 14th Annual Governors Awards back in January. After Kimmel's third time hosting, he revealed in a Los Angeles Times interview that he didn't think he'd ever host again. 'I did not think I would ever do it again. I did two of them, and they went well something crazy happened at one of them with a story Ill have for the rest of my life,' he said, referring to the Best Picture gaffe where La La Land was announced as Best Picture instead of the real winner, Moonlight. 'I know how much work goes into [the Oscars], so I thought, "Yeah, I dont necessarily want to do this ever again,"' he added. However, when hit blockbusters like Barbie and Oppenheimer started getting awards buzz, he started having second thoughts. 'I knew there was a movie that people had seen, and it just makes the job easier. I am sitting in a movie theater watching Barbie and thinking, "Well, maybe Ill do this again, because at least I have a point of reference with everyone,"' he said. Kimmel has hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018, before the Academy experimented with running the show with no host in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Aside from his memorable Field of Dreams presentation, Mulaney hosted the 14th Annual Governors Awards back in January 'I did not think I would ever do it again. I did two of them, and they went well something crazy happened at one of them with a story Ill have for the rest of my life,' he said, referring to the Best Picture gaffe where La La Land was announced as Best Picture instead of the real winner, Moonlight 'We are lucky to have Jimmy [Kimmel], who helped create one of the best Oscars last year. John Mulaney also did an incredible job,' Kramer said 'I made a joke about Moonlight that made it clear to me that the vast majority of the room had not seen the movie, even though it won Best Picture,' Kimmel said of his first year hosting in 2017. Academy CEO Bill Kramer was asked about Kimmel's hosting duties and the possibility of Mulaney hosting in a June interview with Variety. 'We are lucky to have Jimmy [Kimmel], who helped create one of the best Oscars last year. John Mulaney also did an incredible job,' Kramer said. 'All I will say is, with whomever hosts the show moving forward, we want to continue with this tone of celebration, respect, humor, and a great love of movies. We have some great options,' he said. Samantha Armytage feasted on some delicious pastries ahead of her Logies dress fitting in Potts Point on Tuesday. The Farmer Wants A Wife host, 47, stopped at Cafe de la Fontaine where she shared a mouthwatering image of the treats to Instagram. Questioning whether it was the wisest decision to snack on food ahead of her gown-fitting, the television presenter settled on a simple chocolate croissant. The first of the pictures she shared saw a display case packed full of extravagant eclairs and savory toasted sandwiches. 'Would it be okay? Pre-Logies dress fitting?' she captioned the snap alongside a laughing-crying emoji. The former Sunrise host shared another photo moments later which showed her drinking a cup of tea as she took a bite out of a sweet croissant. 'It would be rude not to... In honour of the Paris Olympics,' she wrote. It comes just days after Samantha gave fans an update on her recovery after undergoing a hip replacement operation. Samantha Armytage, 47, (pictured) risked feasting on some delicious pastries ahead of her pre-Logies dress fitting in Potts Point on Tuesday The veteran journalist confirmed earlier this month she had the major surgery after suffering from a 'severe' case of osteoarthritis. Samantha was back on her feet a few weeks ago with the help of a crutch as she was spotted walking around a park amid her rehabilitation. She recently took to her Instagram Stories to confirm that she is nearly off her crutches as she proved her recovery is going well. The Farmer Wants A Wife host stopped at Cafe de la Fontaine where she shared a mouthwatering image of the treats to Instagram Questioning whether it was the wisest decision to gorge on food ahead of her gown-fitting, the television presenter settled on a simple chocolate croissant She shared a selfie of herself heading out for a morning walk near her parents' home in Wagga Wagga, explaining she was back home after her father Mac had a fall. 'Glorious day for a walk in Wagga. Dad's had another fall, so here I am,' she penned. She went on to assure fans that her father was doing well and gave an update on her her own rehabilitation as she shared a picture of herself walking on her crutches. 'I still take my stick even though I don't really need it these days (icy morning. And dad is healing well,' she added. Taylor Russell was seen for the first time on Monday since her split from Harry Styles three months ago. The Canadian actress, 30, stepped out for a casual stroll in Hampstead, north London, before relaxing in the heatwave with a woman thought to be her mum. The pair split in May after a year together following a 'make or break' holiday and haven't been seen together since. The pop star, 30, and Taylor had been last seen in public riding bikes together during a trip to Tokyo, Japan, in April. For her day out Taylor wore a stylish beige trench coat and white vest teamed with dark trousers and a red cap. Taylor Russell was seen for the first time on Monday since her split from Harry Styles three months ago For her day out Taylor wore a stylish beige trench coat and whit vest worn with dark trousers and a red cap The pair split in May after a year together following a 'make or break' holiday and haven't been seen together since (seen together last year) She added dark sunglasses to her look as she headed to the heath where she was joined by her pet pooch Root. As It Was hitmaker Harry and Bones and All star Taylor split in May after weeks of them not being seen together. Later in May Taylor appeared at the star-studded Met Gala in New York without Harry, who remained on the other side of the Atlantic in London. Friends since claimed the couple opted to end the relationship after spending time together in the far east. A source told The Sun: 'Harry and Taylor have ended their relationship. They went through a rough patch after their trip to Japan and are taking some time apart. 'He's been in America and she's been in London. They made a lovely couple and it was obvious Taylor made Harry happy. 'Things have become strained recently though and they've taken some time out.' The reported split came after a 'besotted' Harry was said to be ready to start a family with the actress. The Canadian actress, 30, stepped out for a casual stroll in Hampstead, north London before relaxing in the heatwave with a woman thought to be her mum She added dark sunglasses to her look as she headed to the heath where she was joined by her pet pooch Root She looked in good spirits as she stepped out in north London on Monday but covered up despite the heatwave She wore her beige trench coat buttoned up and completed the look with comfortable black and white trainers The woman with her believed to be her mum wore a stylish black summer dress which she wore with white trainers Speaking in March, a source told MailOnline: 'Harry feels as if he has lived ten lifetimes already, but one thing is certain his 30s will be nothing like his 20s. 'He has experienced all the fame anyone could ever want. He is now ready for the next chapter. 'He is in love with Taylor. He wants a family with her and this is the next phase of his life.' Harry and Taylor were spotted together for the first time last June as they exited a museum in London and at one point, also reportedly, held hands, per TMZ. When the two stars first crossed paths is still unclear, but both Harry and Taylor attended the 79th Venice International Film Festival last year in September 2022. Harry was notably promoting film Don't Worry Darling, while Taylor celebrated the premiere of Bones And All. The Grammy winner previously dated Olivia Wilde from January 2021 until their split the following year in November 2022. At the time of the break up, a source told People, 'He's still touring and is now going abroad. She is focusing on her kids and her work in L.A. It's a very amicable decision,' adding that 'they're still very close friends'. Harry has historically been linked with a string of A-list women from Taylor Swift to Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, French model Camille Rowe, Olivia Wilde and, most recently, Taylor. It was a case of when in Britain, do as the Brits for Kate Beckinsale as she ventured out in an affluent south-west London suburb with her mother on Monday. The actress was joined by mum Judy Loe while out for lunch in leafy Chiswick, but instead of visiting the areas finer the restaurants the pair opted for a local branch of Nandos. Kate, 51, caught the eye in a floral summer dress and knee-high leather boots as she documented their day out in a series of Instagram posts. The pair also paid a visit to Marks & Spencer, where they scoured the aisles in search of Skips and Quavers before returning to their car - where a parking ticket was waiting for them. Captioning the posts, Kate - who spends much of her time in Los Angeles - wrote: 'Going round Chiswick with my mama makes my solar plexus relax- also we got Quavers and Skips- look out America.' It was a case of when in Britain, do as the Brits for Kate Beckinsale as she ventured out in an affluent south-west London suburb with her mother on Monday The actress was joined by mum Judy Loe while out for lunch in leafy Chiswick, but instead of visiting the areas finer the restaurants the pair opted for a meal at a local branch of Nandos Kate has caused concern on social media over several unexplained health scares over the last year, including spending weeks in the hospital and dropping so many pounds that fans called her 'too thin.' Earlier this month, she revealed her weight loss is down to the 'stress and grief' of the death of her stepfather and her mother's cancer diagnosis as she hit back at trolls. The actress slammed some of her 'a**hole' followers, who told her she needed to put on weight in the comments section of an Instagram post. After sharing a video clip in a crop top and bikini bottoms, one follower queried where her 'a**' had gone and encouraged Kate to 'do some squats'. Another claimed her body had 'shrank' while another insisted that she 'seemed upset' in the video posted on Monday evening. However, Kate fired back at the cruel comments ands explained that there were several reasons for her changed figure, including a six-week hospital stint. She replied: 'No, actually, I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer and I lost a lot of eight from stress and grief... 'Quite quickly and then I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus, which made me vomit copious amounts of blood, and I found eating very hard... Kate caught the eye in a floral summer dress and knee-high leather boots as she documented their day out in a series of Instagram posts The pair also paid a visit to Marks & Spencer , where they scoured the aisles in search of Skips and Quavers 'And I just worked very very hard on a movie that was actually quite triggering because it also involved the theme of the death of my father so I'm not really concerned about what you think about my a**. 'Maybe you should worry about your own f***ing a**. I suggest shoving something up it, like a large pineapple or a brick.' Kate's stepdad died in January after suffering 'a massive stroke' while battling two forms of cancer. Shortly after his death, Kate also revealed that her mother had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. In recent months, the actress had been caring for her mother and late stepfather after flying them out from the UK to stay with her in Los Angeles. 'Kate has been caring for her parents, who both have serious illnesses, for most of the year,' a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com late last year. Gordon Ramsay has been showing off his impressive fishing skills on social media after enjoying a week away in Iceland. The celebrity chef, 57, took to Instagram on Monday to give fans a glimpse into his Scandinavian getaway. The Kitchen Nightmares host posted a series of photos to his social media showing him in full waterproof gear and holding a large salmon as he grinned at the camera. Gordon also posted two beautiful landscape shots of a waterfall and a long open road next to a lake. He was clearly very pleased with his fishing abilities as he posted a second picture donning a cap and sunglasses and holding another large fish. Gordon Ramsay, 57, has been showing off his impressive fishing skills on social media after enjoying a week away in Iceland where the TV chef enjoyed some salmon fishing in a series of Instagram snaps, The Kitchen Nightmares host posed in full waterproof gear and held up a large salmon as he grinned to the camera, knee deep in the water Gordon enjoyed a meal at Oto Restaurant and posed with the team in a picture shared to his Instagram Story on Monday after praising the Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine He captioned his post: 'An amazing week in Iceland ! And yes I caught the biggest Salmon this year !!'. Fans flooded to the comments to praise his fishing abilities including adventurer Bear Grylls who simply posted a shocked emoji below the snaps. The television chef has been enjoying a week away in Iceland and taking advantage of the culinary scene in Reykjavik. Gordon enjoyed a meal at Oto Restaurant and posed with the team in the kitchen in a picture shared to his Instagram Story on Monday after praising the Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine. He wrote: An amazing meal with the team @otorestaurant!! Some of the best food in Reykjavik!!' as he posed dressed in a black t-shirt and black leather jacket with his arms around two of the chefs. In another snap posted to his Story, the chef shared a picture of his meal to his 17.9million followers. He wrote: 'This Lobster Cappelletti was stunning @otorestaurant' alongside the picture of the pasta dish in a creamy foam with sprigs of green herbs sprinkled over it. While Gordan has been enjoying his getaway to Iceland, his daughter Holly has been pool-side supporting his boyfriend, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty who won silver in the 100m Breaststroke final on Sunday. The influencer gushed over the swimmer on Monday after he finished in second place. Bear Grylls showed off his surprise at the famous chef's fishing abilities, simply posting a shocked face emoji under the snaps showcasing Gordon on his Scandinavian holiday As well as proud snaps of himself holding his catch, Gordon also posted two beautiful landscape shots of a waterfall and a long open road next to a lake for his 17.9million followers Gordan has been enjoying a week away in Iceland and took advantage of the stunning scenery and food and has been keeping his fans up to date on his activities via his Instagram The television chef has been enjoying a week away in Iceland and taking advantage of the culinary scene in Reykjavik by enjoying a meal at Michelin-starred Oto restaurant The daughter of the famous TV chef , 24, took to Instagram to tell fans just how much he means to her and their family. Holly shared a series of loved-up snaps with Adam following the race, and said she is 'in awe of him' and 'could not be prouder'. Holly wrote: 'These pictures say it all. You are our world and I could not have been prouder of you last night. What you have accomplished is truly incredible. I am totally in awe of you and your faith. 'Its impossible to describe the sacrifices that you have made to get here, and for it to be your third games, that takes so much. 'Getting here has been a journey and I am so thankful to be part of your team. @adam_peaty & @melmarshallmassive you are a force to be reckoned with Congratulations to you both.' 'To think that when we first met 15 months ago, you werent in the pool. Watching you get back into the water and fall in love with your gift again has been the most inspiring journey. It comes after Adam's ex girlfriend Eirianedd Munro shared a sweet supportive message after the swimmer won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics on Sunday night. She was watching the event at home as Italian underdog Nicolo Martinenghi beat Adam, 29, in the 100m Breaststroke final by just 0.02 seconds. While Gordan has been enjoying his getaway to Iceland, his daughter Holly has been pool-side supporting her boyfriend, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty (the pair pictured on Sunday) Holly was watching and cheering Adam on in the breaststroke final alongside his three-year-old son George with former partner Eirianedd Munro and his mother Caroline The pair's three-year-old son George was in the stands with Adam's new girlfriend Holly Ramsay, 24, - the daughter of TV chef Gordon. And while Eiri - who split from the swimmer in 2022 - wasn't in Paris she took to Instagram with a kind message saying George was 'so proud of him'. She wrote: 'Congratulations, Adam. George is so proud of you! He doesn't see the worth of a medal, but the absolute strength and determination that got you it.' 'These are the qualities I pray he inherits. This moment will inspire him and drive him for the rest of his life. Thank you for giving him that.' While Holly and Gordon have been jet-setting, the rest of the Ramsay clan have been settling back into normal life after moving back in to the family home in Wandsworth. The 7million mansion had undergone two years of extensive renovations but at the end of May, the celebrity chef and his wife Tana, 49, were spotted returning to the south London pad. During renovations it was said that Gordan and his wife were staying at a luxury flat in the new Battersea Power Station development costing about 12,000 a month with their youngest children, Oscar, 5, and Jesse James, eight months. Longfin smelt from San Francisco Bay are studied by researchers from UC Davis in 2023. The tiny fish received federal endangered species status on Monday. Clara Mokri/Special to the Chronicle After decades of advocacy by environmental groups, a tiny silver fish is finally getting federal protection in San Francisco Bay. On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the bays population of longfin smelt is now on the federal endangered species list, 12 years after the agency first deemed the fish threatened or endangered. Once so abundant that it was fished commercially, the fish has plunged in numbers by over 99% since the 1980s. The roughly 4-inch fish joins five other San Francisco Bay species on the federal endangered species list a dubious distinction that should offer it better protections. Longfin smelt, which also spend time in the ocean, do not spawn as much in years when there is not enough freshwater flowing into the bay during winter and early spring, scientific studies have found. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Paul Souza, a regional director at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said that the hotter and drier climate has contributed to the longfins decline. The species needs our help, Souza said in a statement. We are dedicated to working with others to conserve longfin smelt while recognizing the importance of wetlands in our refuges and conservation areas, the benefits of agricultural lands, and the critical water resources that sustain Californias communities. Reestablishing the population of longfin smelt will require fewer diversions of Sierra Nevada water from Central Valley rivers to farms and other human uses, said Jon Rosenfield, senior scientist at the nonprofit organization San Francisco Baykeeper. Im glad that the federal government has finally done what its responsible for doing, which is acknowledging that longfin smelt are endangered and working to protect them based on the best available science, said Rosenfield. Rosenfield first petitioned to have the bays longfin smelt protected in 1992; he is one of several environmentalists who have lobbied on behalf of the tiny fish over the years. In 2007, the Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups petitioned the wildlife service to list longfin smelt as endangered, which it denied at first. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2012, however, the service declared the fish warranted but precluded meaning it agreed that the fish deserved to be listed as threatened or endangered but that it wasnt as crucial as other species for federal protection. In 2021, S.F. Baykeeper sued the service after it never provided such protection. The states large water districts have fought state and federal protections for longfin smelt. In 2021, Westlands Water District, the states largest agricultural water district, attempted to intervene in S.F. Baykeepers lawsuit, claiming that the case presented significant risk to Westlands contractual rights to water. Federal Judge Emmet G. Sullivan denied the motion, saying it would cause undue delay. Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands, said that the district has longstanding concerns about how data was interpreted in the decision to list the fish as federally endangered. Perhaps more concerning is the piecemeal species-by-species approach to managing ecosystem-wide issues, which has failed to provide meaningful results, she said in a statement. With the increasing pressures of a changing climate, we need a more holistic approach for both the survival of sensitive species and a sufficient water supply for Californians. To help longfin smelt recover, U.S. Fish and Wildlife said it will encourage innovative approaches to managing water resources for both human and wildlife needs in its statement, without naming specific examples. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The decline of the longfin smelt is one of many signs pointing to imbalances in the San Francisco Bay estuary, the statement said. The tiny fishs situation echoes that of other endangered fish like green sturgeon and chinook salmon that depend on the health of the bay, Rosenfield said. Its heartbreaking and its terrifying that this massive, abundant ecosystem is disappearing before our eyes, he said. Because these things take a certain amount of time, most people arent aware of whats being lost. Pip Edwards flaunted her toned figure on Tuesday as she rugged up in warm activewear with very form-fitting tights. Decked out in her own P.E Nation clothes, the fashion designer showed off her long slender legs in a set of black leggings paired with a white jacket. Throwing another black jacket on over the top, she accessorised with a practical pair of sneakers before slipping on a set of $699 Sonos headphones. 'Morning movement ready,' Pip captioned the mirror selfie as she pulled her blonde locks back into a half-up hairdo. Pip, 44, isn't shy about showing off her incredible figure as she flaunted her frame yet again last week while modelling her own P.E Nation activewear. She took to her Instagram Stories to give fans an update on her retreat to the luxury Osborn House in the Southern Highlands on Thursday. She shared a gallery of snaps of herself posing up a storm in ab-flashing items from her own athleisurewear brand P.E Nation while relaxing in the sauna. Pip showed off her toned physique in a black halter neck bralette and matching bike shorts as she lounged next to the heaters amid the chilly climes. Pip Edwards, 44, (pictured) flaunted her toned figure on Tuesday as she rugged up in warm activewear with very form-fitting tights She swept her golden tresses back into a ponytail and showed off her fresh-faced beauty while indulging in some self-care. Pip then posed up a storm while enjoying a dip in the outdoor hot tub, which boasted gorgeous views of a vineyard. She was joined by the likes of Michael Lo Sordo, Mikey Nolan, Millie Gattegno and Tom McKeown, Kristina Mendonca, Luke Sales and Jess Engels on the trip. Decked out in her own P.E Nation clothes, the fashion designer showed off her long slender legs in a set of black leggings paired with a white jacket Pip is now P.E Nation's sole creative director after co-founder Claire Greaves' shock exit, and has proved to be her own best advert for the brand amid the big changes. She has notably shed P.E Nation's famous bright colours and clashing prints in favour of outfits with much more muted tones in a huge creative overhaul. Claire's exit from the company marked the end of one of Australian fashion's most enduring relationships. The co-founder will 'pursue other creative endeavours', while Pip wiped all traces of Claire - who she worked with for 10 years - from P.E Nation's social media. Bianca Wallace has hit back at Alice Evans' claims that Ioan Gruffudd is spending all of his money on 'Rolexes for her,' sharing a cryptic Instagram post on Monday. In her latest legal filing, Alice claimed that the Fantastic Four star had stopped paying him child and spousal support, and was instead splashing out on expensive accessories for his bride-to-be Bianca. Now, Bianca has hit back in a post where she proudly shows off her 169 art deco watch from the high street brand Olivia Burton. In what appeared to be a dig at Alice, Bianca was also sported a gold bracelet with the slogan: 'Remember who the f**k you are.' She captioned her post: 'How cute are Mums with the critical life reminders: Remember who the f*ck you are' Bianca Wallace has hit back at Alice Evans ' claims that Ioan Gruffudd is spending all of his money on 'Rolexes for her' by sharing a snap flaunting her high street watch on Monday Alice claimed that the Fantastic Four star had stopped paying him child and spousal support, and was instead splashing out on expensive accessories for his bride-to-be Bianca Several of Bianca's followers also appeared to spot her dig at Alice, with comments including: 'I'd say we both love bracelets and cool non-Rolex watches. I love Swatch. Hit a bunch of them bc watches are the new accessory. 'I also think everyone needs reminders on their wrists. Mine say ''take a deep breath and let that s**t go'';' 'Nice Rolex; Keep being you Bianca. Beautiful watch and so much nicer than a Rolex;' It comes after bombshell court papers revealed that Alice claims that Ioan stopped paying her either child or spousal support in April. According to a court filing on July 1 seen by MailOnline, Alice claimed was in a dire financial crisis, behind on rent and utility payments and struggling to put food on the table for their daughters Ella, 14, and Elsie, 10. She alleged Ioan and Bianca have been travelling the world and recently bought new Rolex watches. A page from the court filing appeared to show the $77,000 that Ioan is said to have paid out to Wallace in December last year. The biggest single payment is $53,760 - for a 'loan repayment'. Alice also said that Bianca made a 'completely false' and highly defamatory attack on her on Instagram in April this year. But in a new social media post, Bianca shared a snap that showed her watch was instead a high street purchase from Olivia Burton She shared a cryptic caption alongside the post, declaring: 'Remember who the f**k you are' Several of Bianca's followers also appeared to spot her dig at Alice In the post, aspiring actress Bianca said she had been contacted by thousands of people who claimed Evans had abused or threatened them - declaring that she was going to 'stand up' to 'bullies'. Alice's lawyers argue this means that Wallace was in breach of a custody stipulation, which forbids either of them from being negative about the others in front of the children. Because their eldest daughter, Ella, has Instagram, her lawyers said this was a breach. In the papers, Evans added that Ella was very upset when a school friend told her about the post and 'cried out she never wants to see Ioan again.' The documents say that Evans' lawyers emailed Gruffudd's lawyers to ask for Bianca's Instagram post to be removed, but received no response. They note that Bianca used the pronoun 'we' in the post, which implied that her fiancee agreed with her. It is also the case that Evans, after hundreds of outbursts on social media and elsewhere in the immediate aftermath of their separation in 2021, is subject to a restraining order which means that she was not able to respond at the time. The filing is an urgent request for funds. In it, Evans, who met Gruffudd on the set of the film 102 Dalmatians, said: 'As it stands, I have very little money coming in each month. I earn approximately $300 per month in royalties. 'I have drained all of my personal savings paying my prior attorneys in this case and paying for my expenses. 'I have some personal property, such as vintage designer items, held in storage, that I could possibly sell, but they are in danger of being sold at auction because I cannot pay the monthly storage fee (Ioan stopped paying post-separation even though our daughters' childhood mementos are stored there.)' She added: 'As it stands, I am behind on rent and utility payments, and friends have started dropping off groceries and food so the children and I can eat. I will be applying for food stamps and welfare. 'While I am struggling to put food on the table for our children, Ioan is jet setting around the world. Ioan could not appear at his noticed deposition for custody issues because he travelled to the UK. 'Since April 2024, according to his Instagram page and press releases, he has been in the UK, Cardiff, Sardinia, Rome, Spain, and Seattle. 'Based upon stories in the media, Ioan purchased an expensive engagement ring for his fiancee and they recently purchased new Rolex watches. ' It comes after bombshell court papers revealed that Alice claims that Ioan stopped paying her either child or spousal support in April Ioan announced his engagement to Bianca in January She acknowledged she signed a prenuptial agreement in 2007 before marrying Ioan. It gives her 20 per cent of his earnings as spousal support in the event of a split, or 10 per cent if they have children. She noted: 'This provision punishes me for having children, which I contend offends the public policy of the State of California that both parents are to contribute to the financial support of the children, especially in this case where I now have 100% custody of the children.' At the time of the prenup, which is attached to the filing, Gruffudd said he had a net worth of 2million, and she had $40,000 in various accounts. The couple split up in January 2021, and in September of that year he went public with Wallace, who was an extra on the show Harrow which was filmed in Australia. It was only at the end of 2023 that some interim spousal and child support was settled. The agreed payment was $3,000 a month in interim child support and $7,000 a month in spousal support. Evans said that Gruffudd only paid the spousal support from December 2023 to April 2024 and has paid nothing since. Her lawyers say that he earned on average $21,000 a month in 2023, but during the marriage had earned between $500,000 and $1million a year. They claimed that Gruffudd earns tens of thousands of dollars a month, per his tax filings, and that he also received 'approximately $390,000 from the sales proceeds of the home just in December 2023'. 'In this case, a disparity in access to funds to pay fees exists because Alice earns only a few hundred dollars per month, while Ioan's self-reported average monthly income on his Income and Expense Declaration filed January 24, 2024, is $21,023 for the 36 months ending December 31, 2023 and $18,264 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2023,' the legal filing states. 'Moreover, Ioan continues to get roles in movies, such as Bad Boys 4, which was just released this year. Ioan also received approximately $390,000 from the sales proceeds of the home just in December 2023.' Alice asked the court to pay her attorneys and alleged that he has been paying two different law firms and a forensic accountant. It was initially understood that the financial issues would go to trial by April 2024 but that has now been put off to August. 'Alice is applying for public assistance because she is unable to support herself and the children,' her lawyer states in the latest legal filing. 'It appears that the financial trial will be several months away and Alice will not be able to survive without the receipt of guideline spousal support. 'Ioan has the ability to pay spousal support based upon his greater ability to earn income and his ongoing lavish lifestyle. For these reasons, Alice requests guideline child and spousal support.' The issue of custody has been settled, with both parties signing a stipulation two months ago. Following an evaluation by a child custody expert, which took several months, Evans was granted 100 per cent custody. Gruffudd had wanted a 50-50 arrangement. Her lawyer Janina Verano also says that since May 2023, Gruffudd has not seen the children outside of reunification therapy nor has he 'exercised his court ordered right' to have a telephone call with them three times a week. Reunification therapy ended in February this year. 'Ioan has not telephoned the children or returned their text messages since May of 2023,' Evans said. She added: 'The children have been left in limbo and are completely confused about when or if they will see Ioan.' Through an order filed by her lawyer, Evans says that she does not agree to the sealing or keeping private of their stipulation, or custody agreement in its entirety, which is what Gruffudd has requested - accusing him of being 'disingenuous' in his request to seal the legal proceedings in order to 'protect the children'. Alice's attorney noted that Ioan 'did not seek to seal any of DVRO [domestic violence] pleadings nor any of the custody pleadings wherein he falsely accuses Alice of abusing the children' - calling out the fact that he only wishes to seal those proceedings in which the allegations were resolved. Alice was made subject to a restraining order by her estranged husband in February 2022 after she posted a number of messages about him and his new girlfriend on social media and allegedly sent him over 100 texts. One suggested: 'You've got your nuts stuck in her veneers.' She denied abusing or harassing him. The order was extended for three years in August 2022, and Alice was forbidden from posting about either Gruffudd or Wallace. In June last year, elder daughter Ella, then 13, applied for a restraining order against Gruffudd after a custody visit ended in chaos. She said: 'I was so mad at my dad because this was an overnight visit, and I had told him in the past that I didn't want to meet his girlfriend who was now his live-in girlfriend.' Alice and Ioan (pictured in 2018) settled interim and child support last year, but she has now accused her ex of not paying spousal or child support since April She claimed that Bianca had slammed a door against her head as she was running from their apartment after pouring milk and mustard around in protest. In publicly available documents she said that she was 'afraid' of her father and said that he had threatened to 'call the police on her anytime she misbehaves' during visits. The request for a restraining order was dropped in court by Ella, who faced her father's legal team. The couple married in Mexico in 2007 after meeting on the set of the Disney film 102 Dalmatians. Gruffudd's representatives were contacted for comment. Good Morning Britain fans slammed host Ed Balls for his interviewing style during a discussion with former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday morning. Fans branded the GMB presenter, 57, a 'Pound Shop Piers Morgan' following his 'car crash' interview, claiming he constantly interrupted the politician. The conversation stemmed after Chancellor Rachel Reeves accused Jeremy of 'lying' about public finances under a Tory 'cover up'. She claimed there was a '22billion black hole' that Labour government now have to fix. During the chat, viewers criticised the host for not allowing Jeremy to speak and answer the questions put to him by Ed and his co-star Ranvir Singh. Good Morning Britain fans slammed host Ed Balls, 57, (pictured) for his interviewing style during a discussion with former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday morning Fans branded the GMB presenter a 'Pound Shop Piers Morgan' following his 'car crash' interview, claiming he constantly interrupted the politician (Piers, 59, pictured in 2020) Some fans even begged ITV bosses to 'sack him' after he attempted to mimic the former GMB presenter, 59. Taking to X, viewers wrote: 'You have to ask yourselves how long can Ed Balls remain on the program? Is he impartial?', 'Jeremy Hunt couldn't get a word in but RR was allowed to woffle on', 'Ed Balls - you are a rude, insolent piece of work, interrupting Jeremy Hunt, who doesn't like to hear the truth. I'd ask you to knock sense into your wife, but you don't have any yourself', 'interview with Jeremy Hunt let him speak', 'Ed Balls going full "Pound shop Piers Morgan " on Jeremy Hunt #GMB'. It comes after Ed and Gareth Gates sat down for a candid and heartfelt interview today where they discussed their personal battles with speech impediments. The former Labour shadow chancellor said he still sometimes struggles to get words out while he is hosting live television, but his GMB co-presenter Susanna Reid knows to give him the time he needs. The conversation stemmed after Chancellor Rachel Reeves accused Jeremy of 'lying' about public finances under a Tory 'cover up'. She claimed there was a '22billion black hole' that Labour government now have to fix Some fans even begged ITV bosses to 'sack him' after he attempted to mimic the former GMB presenter (Jeremy Hunt pictured right) During the chat, viewers criticised the host for not allowing Jeremy to speak and answer the questions put to him by Ed and his co-star Ranvir Singh Gates also described coping with a speech impediment and how he was inspired to try acting after learning that Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson also has a stammer. The Pop Idol winner was interviewed by Balls about his speech impediment during a previous appearance on GMB last year, which saw the former Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families welling up as he recalled his childhood battle. 'You inspired me. I thought, 'If Gareth Gates can do this, I can too. And if he can be public, I can be public too. It was really hard, but I did it because you showed me how to do it,'' Balls told him during the chat in November 2023. Gates has often spoken about his struggles with his speech impediment and said today that he was surprised when he found out that Atkinson faced the same challenge. He told GMB: 'I met the incredible Rowan Atkinson and he introduced himself and I could instantly see he had a really bad stammer. 'I was really amazed by this, he's a very well-known actor. We sat down and I chatted with him for hours, obviously, because we can't speak. 'He actually inspired me to act and, off the back of meeting him, I've done lots of West End shows, I've learned scripts and dialogue. I can now speak on stage, purely down to him, so we all inspire each other.' Their 2023 discussion about stammers struck a chord with Balls, who began crying. Susannah Reid told her co-host: 'Nothing to be ashamed of. It's to be proud of it's part of your identity, isn't it! [Gareth] broke the ground for you, didn't he, Ed? There we go, Gareth, that's what you did. Gates added: 'You're a role model for me now! For you to be doing this is really incredible. 'I've proved to people you can have an affliction and don't let it dictate who you are. You're able to achieve whatever you want in life. You just have to be strong. 'My speech is massively affected if I'm tired, stressed. Under pressure. That's the nature of the show [Celebrity SAS] - to push you to your limits. It was hard. I'm much more confident now. I got quite a lot out of the show'. Lorraine viewers have demanded that ITV rebrands the popular show after another 'genuine' and 'natural' presenter left them impressed. Christine Lampard has stepped in to front the breakfast programme over the summer, alongside other guest hosts such as Ranvir Singh and Louise Minchin, while Lorraine Kelly takes an extended holiday. And fans are delighted with the hosting shake-up, so much so that they want the show to be renamed 'Christine' while the Irish presenter is on our screens. According to the viral 'Where Is Lorraine?' X (formerly Twitter) account, Lorraine, 64, has hosted 99 episodes out of 150 (66%) this year, meanwhile Christine, 45, has hosted 29 episodes. Ranvir Singh has reportedly fronted 18, and Louise Minchin and Joel Dommett have both hosted two. Lorraine viewers have demanded that ITV rebrand the popular show after another 'genuine' and 'natural' presenter is leaving fans impressed Christine Lampard has stepped in to front the breakfast programme over the summer, alongside other guest hosts, while Lorraine Kelly takes an extended holiday Keen viewers of the ITV programme have flocked to social media to gush over Christine's 'honest' presenting skills, with others claiming the programme needs a rebrand: '#Lorraine Lovely woman Christine should be renamed this show and get rid of that Kelly.' 'TBH they might as well rename it Christine for as long as she's presenting! Imagine the opening credits...' 'I enjoy #Lorraine more when Christine hosts the show. She's more natural and comes across more genuine.' 'At this point you might as well call the show 'Christine' #lorraine.' '#Lorraine l do think Christine should host this show permanently. I always think she is honest, herself, interviews well and is sincere.' '#Lorraine This show needs a rename #Ranvir #christine #anyonebutlorraine.' 'It should be renamed Ranvir or Christine for Fridays, with both having their own titles #Lorraine.' Fans are delighted with the hosting shake-up, so much so that they want the show to be renamed 'Christine' while the Irish presenter is on our screens Keen viewers of the ITV programme have flocked to social media to gush over Christine's 'honest' presenting skills, with others claiming the programme needs a rebrand Ranvir Singh (pictured above) has also stepped in to front the morning programme Meanwhile, Louise Minchin has hosted two episodes so far this year The presenter shake-up comes after reports that Susanna Reid and Lorraine Kelly have allegedly been left fuming that ITV bosses are steering A-list guests to This Morning amid the show's plummeting ratings '#Lorraine Really think Christine should front the show permanently. She is natural, honest and a far better interviewer.' '#Lorraine should be renamed Christine/Ranvir.' The presenter shake-up comes after reports that Susanna Reid and Lorraine Kelly have allegedly been left fuming that ITV bosses are steering A-list guests to This Morning amid the show's plummeting ratings. According to The Sun Susanna, 53, and Lorraine, 64, have both 'been vocal' claiming they are missing out on interviewing top names. This Morning, which unveiled new presenters Cat Deeley, 47, and Ben Shephard, 49, in March, has interviewed the likes of Ryan Gosling, Meghan Trainor and Steve Carrell in recent months. A source claimed there was infighting between the production crews, telling the publication: 'Susanna has been vocal about wanting bigger names and is frustrated they're going elsewhere'. 'Lorraine has voiced the same view'. Before adding: 'It feels like big stars are being shipped to This Morning to try and pull them out of a hole.' MailOnline have contacted Lorraine and Susanna's reps, as well as ITV, for comment. In May This Morning was reportedly in crisis after 'viewing figures plummeted by half'. Since the new hosts took over Holly Willoughby, 43, and Phillip Schofields, 62, slot, half a million viewers have stopped tuning into the ITV Daytime show. With over a million viewers watching Ben and Cat's first day back in March, two months later figures currently stand at less than 500,000 - a dramatic drop. Twenty years ago I burst into a meeting of senior newspaper executives and announced to the group of mostly middle-aged males that I had just seen a programme that would change Saturday night TV viewing for ever. It was a ballroom dancing competition, I explained, in which novices were partnered with professional dancers and they all competed for a glitterball trophy. As I gushed about the shows other magical elements the sequins, the make-up, the live music, the gorgeous gowns I was greeted not with enthusiasm but a sea of bemused expressions Even when I mentioned that it would be hosted by the legendary Bruce Forsyth, complete with his new catchphrase Keeeep dancing!, I failed to make an impression. I was so entranced by Strictly's first episode, featuring Bruce Forsyth, pictured, I predicted that it would eclipse Simon Cowell s domination of Saturday nights, writes Amanda Platell Comparing it to The X Factor, I said there was a wonderful absence of malice on this show I had, of course, watched the first ever episode of Strictly Come Dancing and was so entranced that I predicted that it would eclipse Simon Cowells domination of Saturday nights. My rave review appeared in the Mail under the headline: Why Come Dancing has the X-Factor. At last it has come to pass, reality TV that is not rotten, I wrote. Step forward Strictly Come Dancing or quick-step or cha cha, it all works for me. The choice on a Saturday night between Simon Cowells The X Factor attempting the lifelong destruction of a human beings self-esteem and thats just his fellow judges and the gentle world of the waltz and Ill take Strictly any day. I even risked the ire of the sisterhood, writing that at a time when we are uncertain of our roles, it is refreshing to have them defined for us: boy grabs girl and they dance their hearts out. Part of Strictlys magic was that it harked back to a more innocent and straightforward age, when women could enjoy having a strong mans arm around them. Comparing it to The X Factor, I said there was a wonderful absence of malice on this show, its like a breath of fresh air. All of which is hard to reconcile with what Strictly has become, its very existence threatened by a series of rehearsal room bullying scandals as it gears up for its 20th anniversary series. It all kicked off in January, when Amanda Abbington asked to see footage of her rehearsals with pro dancer partner Giovanni Pernice before going on to accuse him of being unnecessarily cruel, abusive and mean in training, leaving her with Post Traumatic Stress disorder and rather pettily a bruised toe. In the intervening months, she has given so many interviews to such a wide range of media outlets that many fans now see her as being on a one-woman mission to destroy Strictly. Last week on Channel 4 News she tearfully told presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy how she suffered humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature at the hands of Giovanni. She has even hired top law firm Carter-Ruck and seems to be seeking damages for loss of earnings and compensation for the trauma she claims she suffered. Amanda Abbington, pictured with her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice, has accused him of being unnecessarily cruel, abusive and mean in training. He denies the claims Amanda tearfully speaks to Channel 4 News about her Strictly experience last week Giovanni, for his part, denies all the claims. He has retained lawyers of his own from Schillings, claiming the BBC failed in their duty of care by partnering him with a celebrity, who was clearly vulnerable. Amanda had given an interview saying that she had considered suicide following her split from Sherlock actor and partner of 16 years Martin Freeman. Part of the problem is that it is not just the dancers who have become more and more demanding over the years, the judges have, too. The original panel Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli were a benevolent bunch. Yes, they made great jokes about terrible dancers but it was never malicious and they were full of warm praise for the high achievers. Over time, the judges changed and the new ones were more critical than their predecessors. As they explained the intricacies of certain dance techinques and where the celebs were going wrong, it sometimes felt that the show had became a punishing exercise in ballroom technique, not a joyful celebration of learning to dance. And the pro dancers were becoming as famous if not more famous than the celebrities they partnered. Did this contribute to their burgeoning egos and supercharge their will to win? I fear it did. Footage of them putting their partners through the wringer as they honed their skills in rehearsals had the air of a bootcamp rather than a dance studio. In the early days of Strictly, scores of 10 from the judges were as rare as hens teeth, now theyre showered like confetti on even the most average dancers. Remember when Top Gears Quentin Wilson got two 1s on the first ever series in 2004 before he was eliminated. Or the time Susannah Constantines Foxtrot with Anton Du Beke was given 1 by judge Craig. And how can we forget John Sergeants tally of 1, 3, 4, 4 for his 2009 cha cha cha, during which he dragged literally pro partner Kristina Rihanoff across the ballroom floor. She tells presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy how she suffered humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature at the hands of Giovanni. He denies the claims These sorts of scores were entirely appropriate given that the original premise of the show was that the celebrity contestants all be amateurs. Last year, however, it was revealed that no fewer than eight of the celebrities had previous dance experience. I get it that 20 years is a long time in showbiz and programmes must move with the times. Thats why, as time went on, Strictly slowly became more woke, more inclusive, more box-ticking. But it became far more demanding of participants, too. Oh for the days back in 2004 when a real novice Natasha Kaplinsky took to the dance floor with Brendan Cole and won the first series, transformed from a rather uptight newsreader Id even nicknamed her Spangles into an elegant swan. Im afraid I truly lost my faith in Strictly when they recruited the celebrity Layton Williams last year. I understand the appeal to Beeb bosses of his moving back story: the gay son of an impoverished white mother and an absentee Jamaican dad. He seemed a lovely guy and was an exquisite dancer. And was paired with pro Nikita Kuzmin to be Strictlys first ever male same-sex couple. All great for diversity but a disaster for the show, as they are both professional dancers. What amateur celeb stood a chance against someone like Layton who had been a professional dancer since childhood, appearing as the West End star of Billy Elliot aged 12, before going on to star in the musicals Everyones Talking About Jamie and Hairspray! So whatever the verdict of the BBCs internal inquiry into the bullying claims, for me, Strictly has been tarnished for ever. The BBC has serious questions to answer about its handling of contestants and professionals alike. These will go all the way up to the door of its director general Tim Davie, who last week could only parrot corporate-speak, insisting the corporation will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour and that the line should never be crossed. Well, with this debasement of the jewel in the Beebs crown, that line has already been crossed and we fans are very cross. Amandas legal battle alone threatens to grind on for months, if not years, with all the lurid headlines that go with it. It all seems a million miles away from the original Strictly when Bruce Forsyth would greet us all with: Nice to see you, to see you and we would joyfully shout back at him Nice! She recently marked her 33rd birthday with a fun family lakeside getaway. And Scout Willis proudly showed off her toned abs in a blue striped bikini as she took to Instagram Stories to share another snap from her sunny break on Monday. The actress slipped into the colourful high-waisted two-piece as she made the most of the warm weather. Scout flaunted her svelte physique in the plunging blue bikini as she relaxed in the sunshine on her weekend break. She celebrated her 33rd birthday with her famous family last week, with her sister Rumer and mother Demi Moore sharing a slew of Instagram snaps from their fun family getaway. Scout Willis proudly showed off her toned abs in a blue striped bikini as she took to Instagram Stories to share another snap from her sunny break on Monday Demi who was in the front row of the Dior show in Paris recently looked decades younger than her 61 years as she wore a tiny white bikini in a new Instagram post shared by her eldest daughter Rumer, 35. She stood holding her 15-month-old granddaughter Louetta's hands as they walked on a dock together. Demi accessorised her vacation look with a navy blue ball cap and Birkenstocks. 'River Monsters for @scoutlaruewillis birthday,' Rumer wrote in the caption of the post. 'No place I would rather be than by your side,' she continued. 'My leg bruise is courtesy of my first time trick riding on a horse woohoo.' The toddler looked adorable in a long-sleeved pink swimsuit with darker pink zig zags and a polka dot bucket hat. Demi's first and so far only grandchild looked delighted to have grandma helping her walk. Rumer welcomed Louetta in April 2023 with partner Derek Thomas. The actress celebrated her 33rd birthday with her family last week, with her sister Rumer and mother Demi Moore sharing a slew of Instagram snaps from their fun family getaway Scout the birthday girl soaked up the sun on the family trip, in an Instagram post shared by her sister Rumer Rumer shared several more photos of the fun trip. Another image showed Scout and youngest sister Tallulah, 30, enjoying a splash on floating water mat while rocking bikinis. Rumer also shared a snap of her pert derriere in a lime one-piece swimsuit. Scout's pal, Fred Houston, also posted an image and a video of her and a female friend enjoying the river on a foam mat and donning a colorful floral bikini. Demi wrote a sweet message to the birthday girl on her Instagram, sharing four photos of her and writing, 'My sweet angel @scoutlaruewillis. Happy Happy Birthday! I am so privileged to be your mother and so grateful to be sharing this journey of life with you! 'The best is yet to come and I am so excited to see the magic that unfolds for you! I love you!' One image showed Scout in a flowing white cotton dress standing in the center of stone ruins. Another was a fresh-faced close-up of her, rocking a Halloween t-shirt. There was also a snap of Scout doing a cartwheel in a lime top and tiny shorts, as well as a matching bucket hat. The last photo showed Scout in a teal sweater and pink boots as she posed in front of a white background. Scout also shared her own birthday post on Saturday, featuring a photo of herself with a lion head. 'I AM 33! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! MY JESUS YEAR BEGINS! I AM SO HAPPY! I AM SO LUCKY! I FEEL SO GRATEFUL! I REALLY LIKE MYSELF AND I LOVE WHO I BECOME EVERY DAY! I LOVE MY LIFE! I FEEL SO INSPIRED AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE SO FAR!' she wrote in the caption. Demi shares Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with ex-husband Bruce Willis, 69, who has been suffering from frontotemporal dementia since around spring 2022. Rumer also shared a snap of her pert derriere in a lime one-piece swimsuit Demi shares Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with ex-husband Bruce Willi, 69, who has been suffering from frontotemporal dementia since around spring 2022; They are seen in 2015 In May, Rumer shared a rare health update about her father's battle with the rare and aggressive form of dementia. Rumer suggested her father is in good spirits, telling the Today show simply, 'He's so good.' She added that he remains a wonderful grandfather to her infant daughter Louetta, enjoys music, and spends quality time with his family. However, while the family has not said it publicly, doctors tell DailyMail.com that the tragic reality is patients with Willis' condition are usually mute within just two to three years of a diagnosis. FTD is different from the more well-known type of dementia, Alzheimer's disease. But unlike Alzheimer's, memory is not the first to go. Aphasia - difficulty speaking and putting thoughts into words - is the first symptom for most. Willis has been struggling with this for two years. Brynne Edelsten shared a very sweet picture of her daughter Starr on Tuesday as she gave a behind the scenes peek at the two-year-old's first photoshoot. The American socialite, 41, took to Instagram with the adorable snap which saw the tot drinking a bottle of juice with a lollipop in hand. She was garbed in a grey jumper and pink sweatpants, which were printed with a cartoon bird, as she posed on-set of a Haus of Dizzy photoshoot. Brynne accessorised her daughter's look with a pair of white sneakers and a pink beanie which had a First Nations flag on the front. Starr finished her look with a simple chain necklace. The Oklahoma-born television personality became famous in 2009 when she married Geoffrey Edelsten, who was 40 years her senior. However, the pair divorced in 2014 after Brynne alleged her husband had been unfaithful to her. Geoffrey died in Melbourne aged 78 in June 2021. Brynne Edelsten, 41, (pictured) shared a very sweet picture of her daughter Starr on Tuesday as she gave a behind the scenes peek at the two-year-old's first photoshoot The socialite welcomed her 'miracle baby', Starr Amari Gordon, on April 21 2022. She told The Herald Sun in 2022 providing for Starr has given her a new perspective on life. The SAS Australia contestant explained she originally thought motherhood 'was not on the cards' for her and she feels so blessed to have a perfect daughter to care for. The American socialite took to Instagram with the adorable snap which saw the tot drinking a bottle of juice with a lollipop in hand The socialite welcomed her 'miracle baby', Starr Amari Gordon, on April 21 2022 'I don't know myself anymore, everything is about her. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me,' she said. The identity of Starr's father has not been made public. However, Brynne confirmed to the publication the man had met his daughter twice. The pregnancy was delightful news for Brynne, who discovered during her high-profile marriage to Geoffrey it was unlikely she could ever conceive naturally. Anna Paul left her fans confused and amused as she showed off her new dress in an Instagram post on Tuesday. The TikTok and OnlyFans creator worked her angles in a slinky black frock as she crouched down in the street. The dress barely covered her ample assets, and the 25-year-old writhed and posed as someone filmed and took photos off screen. 'Me and my digital camera,' the busty brunette wrote in her caption on the video, which appears to have been taken during her recent European vacation. Fans in the comments were bemused, with many pointing out that Anna looked like she was crouching down to relieve herself in the street. 'Anna, you look amazing, that dress is simply stunning. But it looks like you're squatting to have a wee LOL,' wrote one person. 'I thought the same and then in one clip there's some liquid lol,' agreed another. Another said: 'I thought you did a wee wee to start with', while one more added, 'Did you just wee?!' Anna Paul (pictured) left her fans confused as she showed off her new dress in an Instagram post on Tuesday Many in the comments were bemused, pointing out that Anna looked like she was crouching down to relieve herself in the street 'Is she peeing or taking a s**t, shaking my head,' someone wrote with one joking, "'Hey can you take a photo of me pretending to take a dump on the sidewalk'". It comes after Anna hard launched her new boyfriend back in June during her summer holiday in Europe. Anna showed off her eye-popping assets in a skimpy G-string bikini as she stood on a high cliff above a cove in Mallorca, Spain. Her new beau Aymeric Urbain stood to her right, and together they jumped into the crystal clear water. Anna captioned her post with a celebratory note about her European summer getaway, writing 'It feels like summer'. The Paul clan have been travelling in Europe for the last few weeks and arrived in Spain after visiting Turkey. 'Anna, you look amazing, that dress is simply stunning. But it looks like you're squatting to have a wee,' wrote one person 'I thought the same and then in one clip there's some liquid lol,' agreed another Anna is riding off the incredible success of her Paulie skincare line, which sold out in minutes when it launched last year. Fans were initially shocked Anna created a beauty brand, as she already makes hundreds of thousands through her OnlyFans account where she posts explicit content. According to online sleuth account Dutch Minty, Anna makes a whopping $220,000 per month on OnlyFans before tax as she charges subscribers $9.99 per month for a subscription. Anna first found fame on TikTok by sharing lip-sync videos and vlogs documenting her life. She then moved into a lucrative career posting content on subscription-based site OnlyFans, where she charges fans a fee in exchange for raunchy, nude pictures and saucy strip videos. Disney+ has axed a fan-favourite blockbuster TV series after just one season, despite it garnering a slew of rave reviews. Fans of Renegade Nell have said they will be 'mourning' the loss of the show for the 'next six months,' after the streaming service controversially announced it was pulling the plug on Tuesday. A Disney+ spokesperson told Deadline: 'Disney+ original series, Renegade Nell, will not be returning for a second season on the service. We're incredibly proud of the world created by Sally Wainwright and lead director Ben Taylor... 'We'd like to thank them, our production partners at Lookout Point, the entire cast led by Louisa Harland and crew for their incredible work on this series, all of whom we hope to work with again in the future.' The popular show is a series set in the 18th Century about a young woman who finds herself framed for murder and subsequently goes on the run to become a highwayman and the most notorious outlaw in England. Disney+ has axed a fan-favourite blockbuster TV series after just one season, despite it garnering stellar five-star reviews Fans of Renegade Nell have said they will be 'mourning' the loss of the show for the 'next six months' after the streaming service controversially announced they were pulling the plug on Tuesday The popular show is a series set in the 18th Century about a young woman who finds herself framed for murder and subsequently goes on the run to become a highwayman and the most notorious outlaw in England Its stellar cast of Derry Girls' Louisa Harland, Alice Kremelberg, and Frank Dillane was led by Ben Taylor, who directed Netflix's smash hit Sex Education, and was written by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright. Daily Mail TV critic Christopher Stevens gave the eight-part series an incredible five-star rating, writing that Wainwright 'created an extraordinary English heroine, woven from tales of highwaymen, fairy stories, Gothic novels and a dash of Shakespeare'. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 87% score on the 'Tomatometer' and an 88% Audience Score, earning a 7.80 out of 10 rating on average. Harland plays Nellie, an innkeeper's daughter who returns home after her husband is killed fighting the French at the Battle of Blenheim. On the way, she is relieved of her horse, wedding ring and boots by a band of highwaymen. But when the gang's leader (Frank Dillane) whacks her across the face with his pistol, the series really kicks off and something supernatural happens. Despite only hitting the streaming platform on March 29, Renegade Nell has already earned a loyal fanbase. As the news broke that there will be no second season, distraught fans rushed to X (formerly Twitter) to beg other streaming platforms to pick up the story. Its stellar cast of Louisa Harland, Alice Kremelberg, and Frank Dillane was led by Ben Taylor, who directed Netflix's smash hit Sex Education, and was written by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright Harland plays Nellie, an innkeeper's daughter who returns home after her husband is killed fighting the French at the Battle of Blenheim As the news broke that there will be no second season, distraught fans rushed to X (formerly Twitter) to beg other streaming platforms to pick up the story 'I'll be mourning Renegade Nell for the next six months.' 'Renegade Nell is one of the best new fantasy series out there, Disney+ doesn't deserve the quality of that show.' 'Why am I not surprised? Disney should really stay away from series like Renegade Nell and Willow if they don't plan to give them a second season.' 'RIP Renegade Nell taken from us too soon.' 'They canceled Renegade Nell?!? Where were all the regency girlies? They would have loved it. How much do I have to pay to uncancel it? I can't be left alone with that ending. I need the gang back.' 'We really lost Renegade Nell...' '#RenegadeNell axed nooooo! Had great characters and each episode so much fun! Deserved another series! Wasted opportunity as so much potential! Tut tut @DisneyPlus hope another service gets the rights and makes more series.' 'Someone else pick it up! @PrimeVideo @Netflix ANYBODY! Please #renegadenell.' 'That's a shame, it was a good fun little fantasy series #RenegadeNell.' 'BOO! #RenegadeNell was great! Every week, the streaming era somehow sucks worse than the week before.' Renegade Nell series one is available to stream on Disney+ Sofia Vergara is continuing to post envy inducing photos from her trip to Europe. On Monday the Modern Family actress was seen in a strapless purple-and-white lilac print dress with beige and gold wedge heels and a cute gold handbag from Chanel. The 52-year-old pinup from Colombia posed next to her doctor boyfriend Justin Saliman, 49, and her son Manolo, 32. They were seen with friends by an outdoor fountain and a restaurant in a square in the heart of Monaco. 'Adios Monaco, France,' Vergara captioned a photo of herself with friends. Sofia Vergara is continuing to post envy inducing photos from her trip to Europe. On Monday the Modern Family actress was seen in a strapless purple-and-white lilac print dress with beige and gold wedge heels and a cute gold handbag from Chanel The 52-year-old pinup from Colombia posed next to her doctor boyfriend Justin Saliman and her son Manolo. They were seen with friends by an outdoor fountain and a restaurant in a square in the heart of Monaco. 'Adios Monaco, France,' Vergara captioned a photo Before France, Sofia and her entourage were in Italy. She posted several images from the country known as The Boot. She often wore strapless gowns as she displayed her incredible figure. In one post she was at lunch in a cute number. 'Gracias to the @brunellocucinelli_brand family for the perfect lunch!' she captioned the post. They were also seen by a swimming pool, on the beach, and walking on cobblestone streets. The Griselda star told People in May that she and Dr. Saliman are 'maybe' dating, adding: 'I think now that I'm older, it's great because you know exactly what you like.' Earlier she was seen at the La Colombe d'Or Hotel and Restaurant in the south of France The diva with two male pals on a side alley She reapplied her makeup with a brand she reps Her son Manolo was seen center in a pink shirt and blue jeans She was first romantically linked to the plastic surgeon last October, three months after she ex-husband Joe Manganiello announced their divorce. Following seven years of marriage, Vergara and Manganiello, 47, amicably settled their divorce in February. In January, Vergara admitted to El Pais that they divorced because he 'wanted to have kids' and she 'didn't want to be an old mom.' Manganiello has since refuted this claim, telling Men's Journal that they split up because 'two people grew apart, and sometimes that happens.' The Magic Mike's Last Dance star has since become involved with actress Caitlin O'Connor, 34. Vergara appeared on Watch What Happens Live that month, telling host Andy Cohen that she's sworn off younger men. 'They can't be younger than 50, I'm 51,' she said. 'Okay, 49.' In this image she had on a plunging red dress and rosary as she dined al fresco The former fashion model posed with a white purse as well And she also posted an image of her doctor beau in a white shirt and the same rosary necklace she had on earlier A source told DailyMail.com in November that things were 'moving fast' with Vergara and Saliman, and she is 'falling in love' with him. By January, another insider said that he was more of a 'rebound,' and despite the 'amazing connection,' Vergara 'likes being considered single and ready to mingle' and 'doesn't want to settle with anyone.' Vergara told DailyMail.com in February that she's 'open to having fun,' but she's steering clear of the dating apps. 'I'm bad with technology, so I'm sure I would click on the wrong ones,' said Vergara. 'I'm open to having fun and meeting people. It's only been six months.' Oakland firefighters battled a blaze they said started inside East Bay Booksellers on College Avenue in the citys Rockridge neighborhood. Oakland Fire Department A fast-moving fire ravaged a beloved bookstore in Oaklands Rockridge neighborhood on Tuesday morning, fire officials said. Oakland Fire Department crews responded to a report of a fire at East Bay Booksellers on the 400 block of College Avenue just before 5:30 a.m. Images posted to social media by the department showed firefighters putting out bursting flames inside the bookstore. Five tenants in a nearby building were evacuated and displaced. One person was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, fire officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oakland fire officials did not immediately disclose the cause of the fire. Brad Johnson, owner of the bookstore, told the Chronicle on Tuesday morning that he was devastated. He said his phone was buzzing all morning with calls from community members. Im still in a state of shock, Johnson said through tears. Its pretty bad, but Im happy no one was hurt. The fire appeared to result in a total loss, he said. The blaze also destroying the few offices that were located above the bookstore. Johnson said he would be surprised if anyone was inside the building when then the fire broke out early Tuesday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bookstore has been a neighborhood staple since 1989. Johnson was a bookseller there before purchasing it in 2017 and renaming it East Bay Booksellers. In addition to providing a wide selection of books, the store is known for hosting events with authors and local businesses. Its a landmark and icon of the neighborhood certainly, and I think of Oakland in general, Johnson said. Johnson said he and his staff were still processing what happened to think about the future of the bookstore. I dont know that any of us are even thinking about what happens next. Its just kind of like, What happened? What is happening? he said. Right now its sort of the very sad reality of it at the moment and then well figure out the rest. Fire crews temporarily prohibited traffic on College Avenue between Manila and Lawton avenues around 8 a.m. during the firefight and the subsequent mop-up. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fans of the bookstore were saddened to learn of the news of the blaze. Amanda Abbington appeared in high spirits as she arrived for theatre rehearsals in London on Tuesday amid Strictly's investigation into her allegations of 'abusive behaviour'. Amanda quit the show in October last year citing 'personal reasons' before reports quickly surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals, claiming the show and Giovanni Pernice had left her with PTSD. Giovanni, who has strongly denied any threatening or abusive behaviour, was later suspended, with the BBC later launching a probe over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda as well as other celebrities. But despite the ongoing investigation, Amanda remains upbeat as she flashed a smile and gave a thumbs while out in the sun. The sherlock star, 50, proudly showed off a ballet shoe keyring and a cryptic phone sticker which read: 'we all have to make sacrifices'. Amanda Abbington appeared in high spirits as she arrived for theatre rehearsals in London on Tuesday amid Strictly's investigation into her allegations of 'abusive behaviour' The sherlock star, 50, proudly showed off a ballet shoe keyring and a cryptic phone sticker which read: 'we all have to make sacrifices' Amanda cited 'personal reasons' for leaving the BBC show last October but it was later revealed she had demanded footage of her rehearsals after the experience with the show and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice left her with PTSD Amanda looked chic in a summery white and blue linen dress, teamed with matching trainers and a tote bag. Giovanni faces multiple accusations of unsavoury behaviour while working as a professional dancer on the show, with former celebrity partner Laura Whitmore recently admitting she too has spoken to the BBC. Although she hasn't made a formal complaint, Whitmore, 39, hopes to get 'just an acceptance' of what happened to her in the rehearsals room. The former Love Island presenter admitted she talked to six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC. In an Instagram post, she 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. Despite the ongoing investigation, Amanda remains upbeat as she flashed a smile and gave a thumbs while out in the sun Amanda looked chic in a summery white and blue linen dress, teamed with matching trainers and a tote bag Amanda 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 the actress, Ranvir Singh and Whitmore had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Pernice on the show '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.' Abbington - his 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 the actress, Ranvir Singh and Whitmore had an 'emotional summit' where they 'compared notes' about their time working with Pernice on the show - prompting the BBC to launch a probe into his conduct. The Italian ballroom specialist lost his place on the beleaguered show after former celebrity contestant Amanda Abbington accused him of 'bullying and abusive' behaviour In an emotionally charged interview, Abbington doubled down on her previous allegations of backstage abuse on Strictly Come Dancing In 2018, Whitmore claimed she didn't enjoy her time on Strictly, 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, she 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.' Strictly was plunged into further crisis on Wednesday after Abbington claimed that Pernice 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 '. Former celebrity partner Laura Whitmore recently admitted that she too has spoken to the BBC The former Love Island presenter admitted she talked to six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC '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.' Kristin Cavallari was seen getting intimate with her boyfriend Mark Estes for a steamy new campaign that she oversaw. The 37-year-old blonde bombshell and her 13-years-younger beau are shown getting close for her Hard Feelings fragrance campaign. 'I'm thrilled for it to be our first fragrance. It's sexy, moody, complex and embodies the duality of soft femininity and strong masculinity,' founder and CEO Cavallari told DailyMail.com. 'It's unlike anything you've ever smelled before, and I cannot wait for everyone to wear this,' she also said noting the scent went on sale Tuesday. 'I wanted to know what ingredients were in the fragrances I was using, but struggled to find a brand that offered that level of transparency,' The Hills veteran added. Kristin Cavallari was seen getting intimate with her boyfriend Mark Estes for a steamy new campaign that she oversaw. The 37-year-old blonde bombshell and her 13-years-younger beau are shown getting close for her Hard Feelings fragrance campaign 'When creating Hard Feelings I knew I wanted to tell our customers everything in it so they can feel confident about wearing it,' she also told DailyMail.com. The scent is from her lifestyle brand Uncommon James. This project is the couple's first time working together professionally. The commercial was shot in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico in February. That is the same resort destination where the couple first announced their relationship publicly. 'Their chemistry is definitely transparent in the sexy campaign video!' a press release shared to DailyMail.com on Tuesday said. A lot of fuss has been made about their age difference - she is 37 and he is 24 - but both have said they are fine with it. 'This alluring aroma opens with top notes of pink pepper and bergamot before flowing into a heart blend of rose, hibiscus, incense, and tobacco. 'I'm thrilled for it to be our first fragrance. It's sexy, moody, complex and embodies the duality of soft femininity and strong masculinity,' founder and CEO Cavallari told DailyMail.com 'It's unlike anything you've ever smelled before, and I cannot wait for everyone to wear this,' she also said noting the scent went on sale Tuesday 'Hard Feelings is clean, EWG Verified, vegan, Leaping Bunny Certified, gluten free, paraben free, petrolatum free, phthalate free, and is made without colorants and titanium dioxide,' it was added She called her new scent 'complex' and says it has both the feminine and masculine 'At the base, atlas cedarwood, sandalwood, and upcycled orcanox leave a lasting impression that is complex and sensual. 'Hard Feelings is clean, EWG Verified, vegan, Leaping Bunny Certified, gluten free, paraben free, petrolatum free, phthalate free, and is made without colorants and titanium dioxide. 'The fragrance is now available in 50mL, $72 at uncommonjames.com.' The reality star is loving life with her boyfriend Estes, while her three children - Camden, 11, Jaxon, ten, and Saylor, eight - are also doing great. Earlier this year, an insider revealed that Kristin is 'the happiest she's ever been'. The source told PEOPLE: 'Everything is so good with Mark and he's great with her kids. They have a lot of fun together. It's honestly the happiest her friends have seen her in the past ten years.' Montana Boyz member Estes, and the TV star previously rubbished criticism of their 13-year age gap. Speaking on her Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari podcast, she said: 'I want you guys to know that me dating a 24-year-old is not something that I was, like, searching out. On Instagram she was seen in a black minidress in Mexico 'I wanted to know what ingredients were in the fragrances I was using, but struggled to find a brand that offered that level of transparency,' The Hills veteran added 'If you guys listen to the podcast, you know, I thought 30-year-olds were too young for me. I understand what it looks like to the outside world, I really do. I get that.' Despite this, Kristin insisted that Mark isn't a 'typical 24-year-old' man. She added: 'When I met him, I was like, obviously I thought he was the hottest guy I've ever seen. There was ... that attraction was always there. 'But when I met him I was like, he's actually a really nice, good guy. He's very sweet - from the jump, he was so sweet to me.' Prime Video has unveiled a first look at Jack Whitehall in the new upcoming psychological drama Malice. The new series will star the comedian, 36, as Adam Healey a charming 'manny' who sets out to infiltrate the world of a wealthy family to reveal their secrets and destroy them. In the exciting new thriller series, Jack will also be joined by X-Files star David Duchovny, 63, and Game Of Thrones icon Carice van Houten, 47. David will play Tanner family patriarch Jamie while Carice will play his wife Nat. Harry Gilby, 22, Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen, 18, and Phoenix Laroche will also play the roles of their three young children. Prime Video has unveiled a first look at Jack Whitehall in the new upcoming psychological drama Malice (pictured with David Duchovny) The new series will star the comedian (second from left), 36, as Adam Healey a charming 'manny' who sets out to infiltrate the world of a wealthy family to reveal their secrets and destroy them Other cast members in the series include Christine Adams, 49, Raza Jaffrey, 49, Rianna Kellman, and Jade Khan. To mark the end of filming Prime Video released a first look at Malice by releasing a set of still images from the set. Jack, also known in the series as Adam, can be seen enjoying a sunny holiday in Greece with the Tanner family. While in another snap, he is spotted having a meaningful chat with David as the pair enjoy cocktails by the sea. Jack recently shared that the past 18 weeks of filming the show had been 'incredible'. He said: 'What an incredible 18 weeks its been from shooting in London in February to ending in 37-degree heat in Paros, the whole shoot has been an amazing experience and I couldnt be prouder of what weve achieved.' 'I feel so lucky to have been able to go to work every day with so many insanely talented people on this job.' 'I cant wait for you to see the end result when it launches worldwide next year on Prime Video!' In the exciting new thriller series, Jack will also be joined by X-Files star David Duchovny, 63, and Game Of Thrones icon Carice van Houten, 47. Jack has been enjoying his new role as a father after he and his girlfriend Roxy Horner welcomed their daughter Elsie last September. Jack and Roxy met during his trip to Australia and quickly fell into a relationship when the pandemic and lockdown hit. Long before Jack, Roxy had made a name for herself. Signed to Premier Management, she appeared in British Vogue at just 17. Jack has been enjoying his new role as a father after he and his girlfriend Roxy Horner (pictured) welcomed their daughter Elsie last September Elsie was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, famous for a host of Royal births, most recently The Princess of Wales' three children. Speaking of becoming a father on This Morning, Jack said: 'I still feel like I am very much in the trenches, my baby daughter is amazing and it's all so full on.' 'People do say there is a honeymoon period and the first week was so amazing and blissful, Then by the second week I was googling boarding schools, it happened that quickly.' Jack, Roxy, and Elsie live in a 12 million converted pub mansion - complete with a swimming pool, gym, and sauna. Malice will air on Prime Video in 2025. Reese Witherspoon appears to have a new man in her life as she was spotted with private equity financier Oliver Haarmann in New York City this week - one year after her divorce from second husband Jim Toth. DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal Reese, 48, has been seen out on a string of dates with Haarman, 56, - whose ex-wife - businesswoman Mala Gaonkar, 54, is now in a relationship with musician David Byrne, 72. Reese looked chic in a black dress and heels as she hopped into an SUV before a dinner date with Haarmann - who wore a white shirt and blue trousers. The pair looked in great spirits as they chatted during the day - marking the second time they have been seen together this week. They were also seen on Sunday arriving at a heliport together before heading to an apartment building. Reese Witherspoon appears to have a new man in her life as she was spotted with private equity financier Oliver Haarmann in New York City this week - one year after her divorce from second husband Jim Toth Reese and ex-Jim tied the knot in 2011, before announcing their split in 2023; pictured together in January 2020 DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal Reese, 48, has been seen out on a string of dates with Haarmann It is unclear how serious their relationship is. DailyMail.com has contacted Reese's representative for comment. Haarmann - who is German - is a founding partner of Searchlight Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm. He was previously a senior partner of the global investment firm KKR & Co. He shares two sons with Gaonkar. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and international relations from NYC's Brown University in 1990, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1996. The Morning Show actress and her ex-husband, 54, shocked fans in March 2023 when they announced they had separated and were getting a divorce after nearly 12 years of marriage. The actress officially filed for divorce from Toth in April 2023, a week after announcing the end of their marriage. She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split in court documents. Reese and her ex Jim were first romantically linked in 2010, before they became engaged later that same year in December. The former couple tied the knot during a romantic and intimate backyard wedding in 2011. Their split announcement was made just days ahead of their 12th wedding anniversary. Back in August, the pair reached a divorce settlement and agreed to continue to co-parent their 11-year-old son, Tennessee. Reese looked chic in a black dress and heels as she hopped into an SUV before a dinner date with Haarmann - who wore a white shirt and blue trousers Haarmann was seen smiling as he joined Reese for dinner It is unclear how serious their relationship is Reese was seen chatting with Oliver and friends at dinner The star looked typically glamorous as she stepped out The pair headed into an SUV together on the night Reese showed off her svelte frame as she stepped out The star looked giddy as she left the restaurant Haarmann was previously married to businesswoman Mala Gaonkar, 54 and the pair have two sons (pictured 2016) She is now dating musician David Byrne - pictured 2023 Reese smiled at Haarmann as the pair enjoyed the evening Reese was seen greeting a pal as she headed off on the night Reese also shares son Deacon, 20, and look-alike daughter Ava, 24, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 49. An insider told People about the split that it was 'very difficult' for the movie star to accept that she and her former partner were 'two very different people.' Someone close to the two noted that the ambitious producer 'has her hand in a lot of pots' and Toth 'prefers less frenzy.' It was added that, 'They've been spending less and less time together while she was working.' More than ten years after tying the knot, the longtime duo 'found themselves with fewer interests in common.' Reese is described by a source as 'headstrong and focused' and Jim is said to be 'more laid-back.' The Pleasantville actress spent more time in Nashville In 2022 as she worked on producing the Apple TV music competition show My Kind of Country. She also flipped a local house for close to twice the cost of what she paid for the home. They were also seen on Sunday arriving at a heliport together before heading to an apartment building The pair were seen heading out in the Big Apple They looked happy as they headed to look at an apartment Reese looked stunning a white outfit with blue cardigan as she headed off with Haarmann The mother-of-three's company Hello Sunshine also produced the Amazon series Daisy Jones & the Six. Per Reese's solemn divorce announcement, the twosome decided to go their separate ways with 'a great deal of care and consideration.' A source said the partners 'worked on' their issues and arriving at divorce 'took a long time.' A source previously told PageSix that the imminent divorce was a 'badly kept secret' in Hollywood for months. It was also shared that Reese is 'upset' over the marriage ending. One day after her date with Haarmann, she was seen filming scenes for her hit series, The Morning Show The performer looked effortlessly chic in a navy blazer and jeans As she prepared to step in front of the cameras, a makeup artist and hairdresser could be seen doing some last minute touch ups to the mother-of-three's look Witherspoon was shooting with costar, Mark Duplass, who portrays Charlie Black on The Morning Show The Big Little Lies actress and the talent agent's split announcement read: 'We have some personal news to share ... It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce. 'We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together. 'Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter. 'These matters are never easy and are extremely personal. We truly appreciate everyone's respect for our family's privacy at this time.' But there is no mess: 'There is no drama,' insisted People's insider. 'They love [their son] Tennessee and this is their focus. They will continue to co-parent amicably.' Reese recently discussed her first divorce from Cruel Intentions co-star Ryan Phillippe. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar in July, Reese said she felt very 'out of control' when her first divorce went public. 'When I was divorced before, the tabloid media got to tell people how I was feeling or how I was processing, and it felt very out of control,' Reese told the publication. The star is mom to Ava, 24, and Deacon, 20 with ex husband Ryan Phillippe and Tennessee,11, with ex Jim Toth (pictured together) The Legally Blonde star officially filed for divorce from Toth back in April 2023, a week after announcing the end of their marriage Reese and Ryan, who famously starred in the 1999 romantic drama Cruel Intentions, split in 2008 after a seven-year marriage; Pictured in 1998 The exes have maintained a famously amicable relation ship - pictured with son Deacon on his 18th birthday But this go around, the Hollywood star feels that she's able to be more 'authentic' as she navigates this 'vulnerable time' in her life. 'To be able to talk to people directly about what's going on in my life and just share it in the way that I share great professional experiences or personal experiences, it feels much more authentic to be able to say things in my own voice and not let somebody else control what's happening,' Reese explained. Despite going through a divorce a source close to The Last Thing He Told Me producer told People in April that she has 'no regrets' about ending the union and is 'doing much better now.' Advertisement Yellowstone has been filming in Montana this summer. And on Tuesday Ryan Bingham, who plays rebellious ranch-hand Walker, shared on Instagram his new wife Hassie Harrison will also be back on the series. They wed in May after dating for one year. On the Dutton ranch, she plays his on-screen love interest as well; her name is Laramie and she works as a barrel racer. Even if Kevin Costner has not returned to close out the end of season five, many others have saddled up again. Luke Grimes has his cowboy boots back on to star again as John Dutton's son Kayce Dutton. Keilly Reilly, who plays hellcat Beth Dutton, confirmed on July 20 she was on set with a video as she wrote, 'The group of people that continue to make this wild show make it with all their hearts and guts, Im so deeply proud to be running alongside them. The rawness and beauty of this year's season is really something. Cant wait to share it in November.' Others who are back on the ranch: Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, Jen Landon as Teeter, Jake Ream as Jake, Ian Bohen as Ryan, Denim Richards as Colby, Forrie J Smith as Lloyd Pierce, Dawn Olivieri as Sarah Atwood, and Finn Little as Rip's son Carter. The last few episodes of season five of Yellowstone kick off on November 10, 2024. Yellowstone has been filming in Montana this summer. And on Tuesday Ryan Bingham, who plays rebellious ranch hand Walker, shared on Instagram his new wife Hassie Harrison will also be back on the series. On the Dutton ranch, she plays his on-screen love interest as well; her name is Laramie and she works as a barrel racer Bingham was seen on set last month as well with Jen Landon (with her hair pink again) and Jake Ream Brecken Merrill, who plays the son of Luke Grimes' Kayce Dutton and Kelsey Asbille's Monica Dutton, is also on set shooting scenes, though Luke and Kelsey have not been spied yet. Brecken, 16, shared a photo of a director's chair that said Yellowstone on the back with a cowboy hat hanging off of it. 'Its a dirty job but somebodys gotta do it,' wrote Merrill in his caption. And last week he added, 'November premiere date - put it in your calendar and start planning the viewing party.' Gil Birmingham, who stars as Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater, will also be filming along with Mo Brings Plenty. Wendy Moniz, who played the Governor of Montana, is also shootings scenes. Scenes were shot at a home on East Beckwith and Gerald Avenue in Missoula, DailyMail.com has learned. There has also been filming at the Chief Joseph Ranch. The 2,500-acre working cattle ranch in Darby, Montana serves as the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in the show. Kevin Costner seen center with, from left, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley and Kelly Reilly Ian Bohen, who plays Ryan (the love interest of Lainey Wilson 's Abby), was seen on set while riding a horse Finn Little, who plays Rip's son Carter, was seen celebrating his 18th birthday on set Landon wears her hair pink again as she rides a horse with an instructor on the right The star was practicing lassoing a black calf in a pen Brecken Merrill, who plays Kayce Dutton's son, shared this image as he wrote, 'Its a dirty job but somebodys gotta do it' Many of the actors have been seen practicing lassoing and riding at Chief Joseph Ranch. Hauser has already shared photos from Montana where he has been filming the modern Western series since late May: 'Good morning Montana, Ive missed ya old friend! If you are going to rise, you might as well shine.' Smith, who plays a cattle hand on the show, is also back filming more scenes alongside Hauser and Bingham. He confirmed his return months ago. Wes Bentley and Kelly Reilly are also expected to be in the last few episodes of season five, but not Kevin Costner, who has said recently he will not film any more scenes. It is not yet known if Ryan's new wife Hassie Harrison, who plays barrel racer Laramie on the show, will have any scenes. Hauser has already shared photos from Montana where he has been filming the modern Western series since late May: 'Good morning Montana, Ive missed ya old friend! If you are going to rise, you might as well shine.' Lainey Wilson has said that she is not sure if she is going back to Yellowstone, where she played musician Abby. Her music was also used on the series. Wilson has said many times she would love to shoot more scenes for the series. Piper Perabo shared images from Montana earlier in June suggesting she will return as Costner's love interest Summer Higgins. But because Costner will not be shooting any more scenes for the show, it is likely Perabo won't either. Or she may just be accompanying her husband Stephen Kay, who is a writer on the show. The popular series will return on November 10, 2024. There has also been filming at the Chief Joseph Ranch. The 2,500-acre working cattle ranch in Darby, Montana serves as the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in the show Piper Perabo shared images from Montana earlier in June suggesting she will return as Costner's love interest Summer Higgins. But because Costner will not be shooting any more scenes for the show, it is likely Perabo won't either. Or she may just be accompanying her husband Stephen Kay, who is a writer on the show Lainey Wilson has said that she is not sure if she is going back to Yellowstone, where she played musician Abby. Her music was also used on the series. Wilson has said many times she would love to shoot more scenes for the series. Seen on June 25 in NYC Paramount Network announced on June 20 that Yellowstone will make its much-anticipated return on Sunday, November 10 at 8pm ET/PT. Internationally, Yellowstone will premiere on Paramount+ in Canada on November 10th, the U.K. on November 11th and in Latin America, Brazil and France later in November. Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton family who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and Americas first national park. Yellowstone is co-created by Sheridan and John Linson. In May Costner shared some insights into his role on the show to GQ. The Oscar-winning star maintained that he told creator Sheridan he would help end the series, but no scripts have ever come his way. And Costner also said that he and Taylor have a 'private' reason for not going forward, hinting they have disagreements over how the show should end. But the star, who is promoting his new movie Horizon, said that he wants to help end the Dutton saga for the sake of the 'audience.' Just hours after Kevin's GQ interview surfaced, Paramount Network announced that Yellowstone had already started production on the end of season five and was currently filming in Montana. Paramount announced on June 20 Yellowstone will make its much-anticipated return on Sunday, November 10; later Kevin said he was not coming back Seen from left, Pete Sands, Mo Brings Plenty as Rainwater's Driver, Gil Birmingham as Chief Thomas Rainwater, Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler, Costner as John Dutton, Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton Yellowstone premiered in 2018 and has since attracted as many as 10 million viewers. On the show, Costner plays John Dutton III, who fights to save his ranch; he has been compared to a Godfather character because he uses murder to keep his businesses and family together. The show needs an ending, but there has been talk that Kevin was too busy or wanted too much money or wanted too much say to get it done. He has told GQ that he has tried. 'That's kind of my Western ethic,' he said. 'I've been quiet about the whole thing and I've taken a beating out there. My castmates are confused. The crew was confused.' He shared that he only did Horizon because he wanted to work more, and he felt he could do Horizon and Yellowstone at the same time. 'I've always wanted to do this movie,' Costner said, 'and I was doing Yellowstone. I love Yellowstone.' Costner said he was so committed to Yellowstone that he renegotiated from his original three-season deal for as many as seven total seasons. But there were delays from COVID, the writers' strike, and 'further disagreements about scheduling,' said GQ. And Costner also said that he and Taylor have a 'private' reason for not going forward, hinting they have disagreements over how the show should end. But the star, who is promoting his movie Horizon, said that he wants to help end the Dutton sag a for the sake of the 'audience' 'We very rarely started when we said we would and we didn't finish when we said we would,' said Costner. 'And I was okay with that. I really was. I was okay with it, but it wasn't a trend that could continue for me.' So he worked on Horizon. Then Yellowstone proposed splitting the fifth season of the show into two parts. 'And their big plan was to suddenly do eight now and then in the fall do eight more,' Costner said. 'I said, "I have a contract to do Horizon, and I have people and money." I think there was a belief that I couldn't get it mounted, but I didn't really care what anybody believed.' Bella Hadid was spotted for the first time since breaking her silence on her controversial Adidas campaign as she stepped out in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday. The supermodel, 27 - who revealed that she was 'shocked' in a lengthy statement over the ad - put on a stylish display as she was seen exiting a pizza restaurant in the city. The pro-Palestinian star recently starred in a retro sneakers campaign for Adidas, but soon faced backlash due to the ad referencing the 1972 Munich Olympics that saw terrorists kill 11 Israelis. Hadid - who has since been dropped from the advertisement - could be seen sporting a blue and white-checkered shirt as well as a pair of classic, denim jeans on her latest excursion. Bella added a belt around her waist with a large, silver buckle and slipped into a pair of brown boots that were partially concealed by the hem of her pants. Bella Hadid, 27, was spotted for the first time since breaking her silence on her controversial Adidas campaign as she stepped out in Fort Worth, Texas on Monday She layered the outfit with a dark gray, leather jacket that was left unzipped at the front to show off the ensemble underneath. The media personality added a cream-colored, cowgirl hat on top of her brunette locks that were styled into a low up do, allowing loose strands to border the sides of her face. Hadid opted for minimal accessories during the outing, and added a few rings on each of her hands for a flashy flare. While strolling out of the eatery, the beauty easily carried her smartphone in her right hand as she prepared to head to her next destination. Bella notably moved to Fort Worth and purchased a home in a rural neighborhood, TMZ reported earlier this March, but is 'close enough to urban amenities.' The model is also currently dating cowboy Adan Banuelos - and the couple went Instagram official in February of this year. Banuelos is a successful horse rider and notably became one of the youngest individuals to be inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame back in 2017. Bella is also an avid equestrian and has competed in events, taking home two rodeo buckles in April - which her mother Yolanda proudly documented at the time. Hadid - who has since been dropped from the advertisement - could be seen sporting a blue and white-checkered shirt as well as a pair of classic, denim jeans on her latest excursion Bella notably moved to Fort Worth and purchased a home in a rural neighborhood in the city, TMZ reported earlier this March, but is 'close enough to urban amenities' The model is also currently dating cowboy Adan Banuelos - and the couple went Instagram official in February of this year She opened up about her life in Texas and her friendships in the state during an interview with Allure back in April. 'We have the best time, and I never feel like I need to do too much.' 'For the first time now, I'm not putting on a fake face. If I don't feel good, I won't go. If I don't feel good, I take time for myself. And I've never had the opportunity to do that or say that before.' 'Now when anybody sees me in pictures and they say, I look happy, I genuinely am. I am feeling better; my bad days now were my old good days,' Bella continued. Last year, the star notably took a hiatus from modeling due to her battle with Lyme disease. Bella's latest outing comes shortly after she broke her silence on the controversial Adidas campaign she recently starred in earlier this month. The pro-Palestinian star penned a lengthy message to her followers and began with, 'For those of you who do not know my heart, I want to make sure you're hearing directly from me about my recent campaign with adidas.' Hadid expressed she 'would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind.' 'In advance of the campaign's release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972. I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign.' Bella is also an avid equestrian and has competed in events, taking home two rodeo buckles in April - which her mother Yolanda proudly documented at the time Bella's latest outing comes shortly after she broke her silence on the controversial Adidas campaign she recently starred in earlier this month Bella further explained, 'Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated.' 'My team should have known, adidas should have known and I should have done more research so that I too would have known and understood, and spoken up.' The model added that she 'will always speak up for what I believe to be wrong. While everyone's intentions were to make something positive, and bring people together through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined the process.' 'I do not believe in hate in any form, including antisemitism,' Hadid continued, adding, 'That will never waiver, and I stand by that statement to the fullest extent.' The media personality also shared that, 'Connecting the liberation of the Palestinian people to an attack so tragic, is something that hurts my heart.' 'Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism and this campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not present who we are.' Bella stated that she is a 'proud Palestinian woman' and expressed 'there is much more to our culture than the things that have been equated over the past week.' 'I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people.' Hadid expressed she 'would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind' The supermodel starred in the campaign to promote the relaunch of the Adidas SL72 sneakers released in 1972 - with athletes sporting the shoes during the Olympic games in Munich of that same year In conclusion, Hadid wrote, 'I will always stand for peace over violence, any day. Hate has no place here, and I will forever advocate for not only my people, but every person world wide.' The supermodel starred in the campaign to promote the relaunch of the Adidas SL72 sneakers released in 1972 - with athletes sporting the shoes during the Olympic games in Munich of that same year. However, the shoe company received backlash after the campaign released - which prompted Adidas to issue an apology for the 'completely unintentional' connection to the 'tragic historical events.' A source recently told DailyMail.com that Bella has hired lawyers after being dropped from the ad following backlash. A source recently told DailyMail.com that Bella has hired lawyers after being dropped from the ad following backlash; seen in May in Cannes And over the past weekend on Sunday, Adidas released a statement apologizing for the 'unintentional mistake' and 'negative impact' And over the past weekend on Sunday, Adidas released a statement apologizing for the 'unintentional mistake' and 'negative impact.' 'Connections continue to be made to the terrible tragedy that occurred at the Munich Olympics due to our recent SL72 campaign,' the sportswear brand began. 'These connections are not meant and we apologize for any upset or distress caused to communities around the world. We made an unintentional mistake.' Adidas apologized 'to our partners, Bella Hadid A$AP Nast, Jules Kounde, and others, for any negative impact on them and we are revising the campaign.' Jimmy Nail made a rare public appearance at the press night performance of Death Of England: The Plays at @sohoplace in London on Tuesday. The Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star, 70, cut a dapper figure for the event as he sported a navy blazer along with a pair of black jeans. The actor also wore a light pink shirt and brown shoes and completed his look with a pair of sunglasses. Jimmy was born in Longbenton, north Tyneside, in 1954. He famously took on the role of brickie, Leonard 'Oz' Osbourne, in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, despite originally auditioning to be an extra. Jimmy Nail made a rare public appearance at the press night performance of Death Of England: The Plays at @sohoplace in London on Tuesday The Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star, 70, cut a dapper figure for the event as he sported a navy blazer along with a pair of black jeans In 1985, his cover of Rose Royce's Love Don't Live Here Anymore was a huge UK hit and in 1992, he returned to the charts with Ain't No Doubt which earned him a number 1. He released Crocodile Shoes in 1994 for for the television drama Crocodile Shoes, which hit number four in the charts. In 1996, while starring on Crocodile Shoes, Jimmy was the highest paid TV actor in the UK that year, earning almost 1million. Despite this financial success, Jimmy gave up his acting career the following year to focus on music. 'I like singing,' he previously told PennyBlackMusic. 'I was an accidental actor. 'Music was always my first love, my real passion. I just needed to prove myself and acting parts were a step along the way to this. It was a fluke I hit the jackpot as an actor.' In 2014, Jimmy was part of Sting's Last Ship stage musical project. Sam Smith revealed Alicia Keys will feature on a re-recorded version of their hit track, I'm Not The Only One, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album In The Lonely Hour (2014). The Stay With Me hitmaker, 32 - who recently revealed they were 'unable to walk' following a traumatic ski accident - jumped to their Instagram page to announce the duet on Tuesday. The new version of I'm Not The Only One will appear on Smith's upcoming 10th anniversary edition album of In The Lonely Hour - which drops next month on August 2. Sam - who uses they/them pronouns - uploaded what appeared to be a throwback snap of the pair as they toasted refreshing drinks while spending time together in a bar. The stars held big smiles on their faces as they held a lighthearted conversation with each other. Sam Smith, 32, revealed Alicia Keys, 43, will feature on a re-recorded version of their hit track, I'm Not The Only One, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album In The Lonely Hour (2014) The new version of I'm Not The Only One will appear on Smith's upcoming 10th anniversary edition album of In The Lonely Hour - which drops next month on August 2 Another image showed the pair posing together with city skyscrapers towering above them in the background. Keys flashed a glimpse of her toned midriff in a cropped, blue knit sweater as well as a pair of high-waisted, blue bottoms. Alicia's locks were pulled back into a sleek bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. The No One songstress accessorized the look with a pair of gold, heart-shaped earrings as well as gold-chained necklaces. For a finishing touch to the outfit, the beauty also sported a pair of fashionable shades. Sam stood behind the beauty in a long-sleeved, white shirt which was layered with a black and white-colored vest on top. Smith captioned the post with, 'I'm Not The Only One feat. the truly incomparable @aliciakeys. Coming Friday August 2nd.' 'I am so honoured to have such an incredible talent and a beautiful soul join me on this track to celebrate a decade of In The Lonely Hour.' They continued, 'Released with the digital versions of In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition) this Friday.' Smith captioned the post with, 'I'm Not The Only One feat. the truly incomparable @aliciakeys. Coming Friday August 2nd' They continued, 'Released with the digital versions of In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition) this Friday' Last month in June, Smith was joined by Alicia for a surprise duet of the song, I'm Not The Only One, at Julius' bar in NYC. During the performance - which saw Keys also playing the tune on a piano - Sam gushed, 'Thank you to Alicia Keys. This is a dream come true,' per Billboard. The songstress responded with, 'This is amazing. Can you believe we never did this before? Except for right now? That's crazy!' Smith later jumped to their Instagram page to share a photo of the two that was taken at the bar in Manhattan. They wore a sleeveless, black shirt that had the name of the bar Julius' written in green lettering on the front. Sam also wore a plaid skirt that was secured with a thick, black leather belt wrapped around the waist. Keys held a big smile on her face as she sported a black, cropped top as well as a pair of high-waisted, blue pants. Smith wrote, 'Celebrating 10 years of 'In The Lonely Hour' in one of my favourite places in New York, @juliusbarnyc.' 'Thank you @aliciakeys for making the evening even more special,' the British-born music artist also added. In The Lonely Hour was Sam's debut album which was released in 2014 and launched them into stardom with hits such as Stay With Me and Lay Me Down; seen in May in NYC Upon announcing the 10th anniversary edition of In The Lonely Hour last month in June, Sam jumped to Instagram to share a photo of the album cover which was similar to the original a decade earlier; seen in February in NYC In The Lonely Hour was Sam's debut album which was released in 2014 and launched them into stardom with hits such as Stay With Me and Lay Me Down. The LP landed spots on various worldwide charts, include number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number one on the U.K. Albums chart. I'm Not The Only One was one of the tracks on the album. In 2015 - following the release of their first studio album - Smith garnered six Grammy nominations, and won four: Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, as well as Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Stay With Me. Upon announcing the 10th anniversary edition of In The Lonely Hour last month in June, Sam jumped to Instagram to share a photo of the album cover which was similar to the original a decade earlier. 'In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition) This year marks a decade since the release of my debut album.' They are set to perform more shows throughout August and September in Europe, with the next show slated for August 8 during the Denmark Smukfest; seen in March in Chile They also wrote, 'I feel so incredibly lucky to be celebrating this milestone with you. My team and I have created this beautiful anniversary edition for us all, and for the last 10 years.' 'Today is only the beginning Sailors, we have so much to celebrate with you between now and August. I can't wait to look back on 'In The Lonely Hour' together. Coming August 2nd. Pre-order on the link in my bio.' Smith has been keeping busy while performing on stage during their Gloria Blackout dates. They are set to perform more shows throughout August and September in Europe, with the next show slated for August 8 during the Denmark Smukfest. If soaps are your thing, you'll love this guide to next week's episodes add in our great pictures of all the action and it is simply unmissable. In EastEnders Linda is the victim of poison pen letters, Emmerdale sees a new member of a classic clan arrive and Coronation Street's Lauren is in agony as she waits to see if her baby boy will pull through Coronation Street 1. Agony for Lauren Lauren keeps a vigil over her baby son, who is in an incubator, hoping and praying that he'll pull through. DS Swain arrives at the hospital to ask Lauren some questions, but will Lauren continue to cover for Joel now that her baby is here and her priorities have changed? 2. Hope hopes for love Hope tells Fiz and Tyrone that she has dumped Sam. However, the pair are left concerned when she reveals that she is more interested in Kevin's son, Jack. Later, Hope heads to Dr Gaddas and asks to go on the pill. Should Fiz and Tyrone be worried about how far their daughter could go to nab her man? 3. Beth's fashion disaster Beth is relieved to have intercepted the delivery of counterfeit t-shirts that went astray. She secretly delivers them to her contact, Sid, but as he hands over the cash in the ginnel, Kit and Craig appear and catch her red-handed. They demand to know what's going on, can Beth talk her way out of this one? 4. Betsy turns the screws Betsy reminds Joel that he owes her after he threw her out of his car in the middle of a rough estate. Later, Joel feels the pressure when Dee-Dee suggests they book their honeymoon, despite him having suggested they keep a close eye on their wedding costs. When Betsy demands 100 from Joel or she'll report him for picking up young girls, Joel loses his temper and drags her into the ginnel. Is he set to silence her for good? 5. Fiz's blast from the past An ordinary visit to Freshco leaves Fiz reeling when she runs into Alina in the car park. Tyrone's ex explains that she is only back from Romania as she's been called as a witness in the trial of the people traffickers she was a victim of. With Alina explaining she'll leave as soon as the trial is over, will Fiz tell Tyrone that she is back in town? 6. Mason in the firing line With Stu concerned about Mason's welfare, he offers him a job as a pot washer at Speed Daal to give him a leg up. However, the decision proves to be unpopular with the locals, especially when Gary arrives and realises Liam's bully is working at the restaurant. Later, Sean storms in and confronts Yasmeen and Stu over their support of Mason. 7. Cassie kidnaps Alina Cassie spots Alina's name on a cab booking and taking Steve's car she arrives at Alina's hotel. After helping her into the cab, rather than taking her to the airport, Cassie drives Alina straight to Coronation Street to see Tyrone. Alina is furious at her interference, but how will Ty feel to come face-to-face with his ex? 8. Max offers Lauren support Max visits an emotional Lauren at the hospital. Seeing she needs a break, Max insists on taking her to lunch and the pair head to Speed Daal. Will Lauren open up to her friend about what is really going on? 9. Love for Steve and Cassie? Steve and Cassie head off together to watch the Weatherfield County game and it's clear that they are enjoying each other's company. When Tim enquires over Demi, the woman Steve was dating recently, he's dismissive about her. Is there a new love blossoming on the Street? Emmerdale 1. Ruby faces the music Kim takes great delight in filling in Caleb about Ruby's plotting. Meanwhile, Ruby is worried about how her hubby is going to react. She grows increasingly concerned when a wordless Caleb takes her for a drive. As they arrive at a mysterious depot and get out of the car, Ruby is mystified about what Caleb has in store for her. 2. Samson arrested Samson finally finds the bravery to stand up to Josh. Later, Lydia and Sam are shocked when Samson is arrested for assaulting the bad lad. When Moira can't hide her glee at what's happened, Cain becomes convinced that it was Moira who reported Samson. Later, Lydia arrives in the Woolpack with news from Samson's plea hearing. 3. Vic learns the truth Having learned about Pollard's plot to have Vic sacked from The Hide, Brenda forces him to make amends and he offers Victoria a job at the shop. However, when he later comes clean about his part in her sacking, Vic explodes at him, berating him for the scheming which left her penniless. Pollard tries to explain himself, but Vic is too hurt and angry to listen. Later, however, Aaron suggest that she turn the situation to her advantage. 4. Mandy tries to rip off a pal With her honeymoon to pay for, Mandy's financial worries are reaching crisis point. She secretly tries to add a surcharge to the cost of Tracy's nail appointment, but Tracy catches her out. Mandy admits to her friend that she is in serious debt, but she can't come clean to Paddy about it. 5. Kim does a runner With Kim and Will both seemingly suspicious of each other over Rose's disappearance, relations are strained between the pair. They work together to send a text from Rose's phone after Dawn suggests they hire a private investigator to find her mum. The text does the trick, even if it does break Dawn to think her mum has abandoned her all over again. Just as it looks like Will is about to open up about something, Kim heads off on a business trip to Dubai, desperate to escape her crumbling marriage. 6. Rodney drives Jimmy to the edge Rodney is pleased to land a job driving for the haulage firm, but Jimmy hopes he doesn't regret his decision to employ his father-in-law. Later, Jimmy discovers that Rodney's arrived with the delivery, but there were several items missing. Jimmy is quick to blame Rodney for the trouble - but could there be more to it? 7. Vic's family reunion With Pollard's car is out of action, Victoria offers to give him a lift to a funeral he's attending. When they arrive, Vic ends up putting her foot in it with the bereaved son. However, her embarrassment turns to shock when the man reveals that his name is John Sugden. 8. Pollard's history lesson With Victoria curious about the man she has just met being a Sugden, Pollard fills her in on her dad Jack's history with the woman whose funeral they are attending. Vic is left reeling when Pollard awkwardly admits that it's quite likely this man is her half-brother. 9. Mandy takes charge! Determined to sort out her money troubles, Mandy has the idea to become a financial dominatrix, which would see her bossing men online into giving her cash. Tracy tries to discourage her, but Mandy pays no heed to her words. Soon, Mandy's new alter-ego Madame Diamante Dales is open for business. 10. John causes a stir When Pollard and Victoria return to the village, they are shocked to see John there. His campervan has broken down and Mack's rescued him, taking the van into the garage for repairs. Vic's pleased to see John again, who now is forced to stay in the village while his van is out of action. However, Vic's new-found brother is soon ruffling a few feathers with the locals. EastEnders 1. Reiss feels the heat The pressure is on killer Reiss as he frets about Debbie's post-mortem results. Sonia's reassurances don't alleviate his worries. Later, Reiss is cornered by Phil, who demands a return on the fake investment scheme within 24 hours. As Reiss looks at Debbie's wedding ring, he's soon telling another lie to Sonia 2. Linda is made an offer Linda is shocked when she's accosted in The Vic by Fraser, a contact of Dean's who is there to offer her a deal on Dean's behalf. Elaine sees him off, but it's clear Linda is tempted by the offer. While Elaine tries to talk her out of it, conflicted Linda soon turns to the bottle. 3. Suki's blast from the past Suki is left reeling when Nish brings a guest to the Square, Ayesha, the widow of the neighbour Nish killed 20 years ago. Suki and Ayesha head to The Vic for a drink, where Nish drops poison into Eve's ear about how close Suki and Ayesha once were, leaving Eve worried. 4. Bobby in at the deep end Cindy and Junior arrange an afternoon liaison, but their plans are scuppered when Peter isn't available to manage Beale's Ells. Cindy ropes in Bobby to help, promoting him to manager in her desperation. While it's soon clear he's not up to the job, the restaurant is the last thing on Cindy's mind as she and Junior spend the afternoon together. 5. Linda's mood decays Linda is hungover and forgets about Annie's dentist appointment, then gets defensive when Elaine offers to help and rushes to the appointment. There, Linda shocked to learn that Annie dental care leaves a lot to be desired, and she is left wracked with guilt. 6. Eve's big proposal Eve spots Reiss with Debbie's ring. Later, after confiding in Stacey about her worries over Ayesha, Eve realises how much Nish is manipulating things. A run in with Nish sees Eve make a big decision and she heads to The Vic, proposing to Suki in front of the assembled locals. 7. Hate mail for Linda Linda asks Jack for advice on the trial as she struggles to figure out what to do . Later, when bottling up, she makes a shocking discovery. Revealing to Johnny that she has received a blackmail letter, the pair try and work out who could have sent it. 8. Freddie goes for Mo Mo is down following Stevie's departure, so Freddie decides to take matters into his own hands to try and cheer her up. Grabbing an opportunity with Teddy, Freddie quizzes him for information on his dad's whereabouts, but will Teddy be able to help? 9. Love birds on the Square Continuing his mission to cheer up Mo, Freddie takes her birdwatching in the Square. He also ropes Anna in after she is stood up by Bobby, and Mo can't help but notice the spark between the pair. Later, Mo chats to Anna and gives her some food for thought. 10. Showdown in The Vic Johnny summons Denise and Sharon to discuss the blackmail letter. When a second letter arrives, Linda loses control and makes a scene as she starts accusing various people in the Vic, before Johnny manages to get her upstairs. Later, we see the person who has been sending the letters visiting Dean Nadiya Bychkova and Karen Hauer stunned in similar gym sets as they led the Strictly Come Dancing pros arriving for their latest rehearsals in Camden, north London on Tuesday - amid the ongoing behind-the-scenes chaos. Ukrainian native Nadiya, 34, flashed her washboard abs in the khaki two-piece, while wearing the matching cap and elevating her look with a large Chanel handbag. Venezuelan-American star Karen, 42, who was previously in a relationship with ex-Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, looked incredible in a dark green set and carried a shiny mauve handbag. The cast were in high spirits as it was the 33rd birthday of their colleague Nancy Xu, who won Strictly's Christmas Special in 2023 with Jamie Borthwick - who will reportedly return in September. She was thoroughly dressed for the occasion and was gifted a handmade birthday cake by Dianne Buswell, 35. Nadiya Bychkova, 34, and Karen Hauer, 42, stunned in similar gym sets on Tuesday as they led the Strictly Come Dancing professionals heading to rehearsals in Camden Venezuelan-American star Karen who was previously in a relationship with ex-Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, beamed in dark green and carried a shiny mauve handbag Tuesday was the 33rd birthday of their colleague Nancy Xu (pictured) who won Strictly's Christmas Special in 2023 with Jamie Borthwick who will reportedly return in September Nadiya's recent ex Kai Widdrington, 28, risked an awkward run-in with Nadiya, whom he split from in July after two years together, as he arrived by bike. Luba Mushtuk, 34, rocked a black crop top and leggings, and wrapped a black and white tartan shirt around her waist. Cypriot-Sri Lankan Michelle Tsiakkas, 28, wore an orange Adidas jacket and a white pair of Dr. Martens and carried two Selfridges bags, perhaps containing Nancy's gifts. Strictly 2023 and Celebrity Big Brother 2024 runner-up Nikita Kuzmin, 26, wore a white vest and light blue pinstripe shorts. Slovenian star Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, beamed and gave a thumbs up as he donned grey jogging bottoms and a black T-shirt. Father-of-one Neil Jones, 42, wore a pale yellow T-shirt with heavily pocketed light blue jeans and white trainers. Strictly 2023 winner Vito Coppola, 31, looked handsome in an open white shirt and cropped brown trousers. Lauren Oakley, 33, who joined Strictly in 2022 along with Vito, Michelle, and Carlos Gu, went braless in a grey crop top and a floral skirt. Gorka Marquez, 33, who judges Spanish dance show Bailando con las Estrellas, showed off his heavily tattooed arms in a black vest which he wore with black shorts. It comes after the scandal-plagued show was plunged into further crisis this week when the programme was branded 'toxic and cruel' by staff claiming they were grilled on their 'sex lives'. She was thoroughly dressed for the occasion and was brought a handmade birthday cake by Dianne Buswell, 35 Nadiya's recent ex Kai Widdrington, 28, risked an awkward run-in with Nadiya, whom he split from in July after two years together, as he arrived by bike Luba Mushtuk, 34, rocked a black crop top and leggings and wrapped a black and white tartan shirt around her waist Her leggings were covered in stars and she layered silver necklaces. Luba finished her look with bright white trainers Cypriot-Sri Lankan Michelle Tsiakkas, 28, wore an orange Adidas jacket and a white pair of Dr. Martens and carried two Selfridges bags, perhaps containing Nancy's gifts Strictly 2023 and Celebrity Big Brother 2024 runner-up Nikita Kuzmin, 26, wore a white vest and light blue pinstripe shorts Slovenian star Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, beamed and gave a thumbs up as he donned grey jogging bottoms and a black T-shirt Father-of-one Neil Jones, 42, wore a pale yellow T-shirt with heavily pocketed light blue jeans and white trainers Strictly 2023 winner Vito Coppola, 31, looked handsome in an open white shirt and cropped brown trousers Lauren Oakley, 33, who joined Strictly in 2022 along with Vito, Michelle, and Carlos Gu, went braless in a grey crop top and a floral skirt Gorka Marquez, 33, who judges Spanish dance show Bailando con las Estrellas, showed off his heavily tattooed arms in a black vest which he wore with black shorts Dianne gave a wave as she later left She carried a cardboard box with her Karen wore a khaki sports co-ord She waved to the cameras The sports shorts were teamed with a sports bra Nadiya showed off her toned figure while stepping out The pros stepping out comes just after Strictly was thrown into more crisis on Monday as backstage staff branded the scandal-plagued show 'toxic and cruel'. The BBC show has been engulfed by drama since Giovanni Pernice was suspended after his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington accused him of abusive behaviour, saying he was 'cruel and mean.' He denies the claims. It was followed by Graziano Di Prima's sacking last month over reports he verbally and physically abused Zara McDermott during rehearsals. Graziano has apologised for kicking his former partner and added other allegations do not align with 'how he remembers it.' And now, according to The Observer, production workers at the hit dance series have alleged they were grilled on their 'sex lives.' One complained that 'talented co-workers were treated with cruelty,' while another added that the workplace environment on the show eight years ago was 'tense, toxic, uncomfortable.' One then told the publication how they had been subjected to 'sexualised comments' including queries about their sex life. A spokesperson for the BBC told the publication: 'The welfare of our crews working on each series of Strictly is always of paramount importance to us. 'We act speedily when any concerns are raised, and we have thorough, effective and longstanding processes to manage them. We do not recognise the claims relating to a negative workplace culture.' Silver Crest Donut Shop, the 24-hour diner on Bayshore Boulevard in San Francisco, was boarded up on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Esther Mobley/The Chronicle The neon sign outside Silver Crest Donut Shop in San Francisco says the 24-hour restaurant never closes. Now, its doors appear to be shut for good. The Chronicle confirmed on Tuesday the longtime diner at 340 Bayshore Blvd. has closed and its windows are boarded up. The owner of neighboring business JR Seafood said that Silver Crests windows had been shuttered on Monday. The JR Seafood owner, Raul, who declined to give his last name, complained about vandalism in the neighborhood in the Bayshore area, known as Apparel City, which borders Bernal Heights. He pointed to a bullet hole in his stores awning that he said had been there for the last two years. Less than 24 hours after Silver Crests windows were boarded up, the boards were filled with graffiti. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It is not clear when the restaurant opened; Silver Crests owners, George and Nina Giavris, purchased the restaurant in 1970. Inside the structure, the owners served plate after plate of eggs with bacon, sandwiches and doughnuts. The Chronicle attempted to reach a relative of the owners, but did not immediately hear back. Silver Crest Donut Shop, the 24-hour diner on Bayshore Boulevard in San Francisco, was boarded up on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Esther Mobley/The Chronicle District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen had not heard about a closing and said that, if true, it would be a sad end of an era. The weathered building, once a gas station and later a mini market, was home to a pool table and several pinball machines. Its interior appeared nearly intact since its mid-century heyday, with a wood-paneled counter above ruby red stools. A menu board with painted prices hung above the kitchen window. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Los Angeles Times piece published in December narrated the challenges the Giavrises faced in keeping the restaurant open over the decades, through the textile industrys departure from the Apparel City neighborhood in the 1970s and the changing landscape of the 2000s. Doughnuts and dinner service have been unavailable since last August, when George Giavris suffered a back injury that put him in a wheelchair, the Times reported. Rite Aid has now closed 772 stores since October 2023, representing over a third of the roughly 2,000 locations it operated before it fell into bankruptcy. Michigan and Ohio are the worst hit - with an astonishing three in four Rite Aids in the two states now shut. In the past month alone, the troubled drugstore has closed 189 shops across the neighboring Midwest swing states. Locals fear the chain is readying itself to totally leave the area. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, Rite Aid announced it would initially shutter 154 underperforming stores across a dozen states. In the nine months since then, it has shut an additional 618. One analyst told ABC27 in September the worst case scenario was that 700 stores would close, which Rite Aid has far surpassed. The chain has been facing a series of challenges. Drugstores, generally, are struggling to compete with big-box chains and with Amazon, which launched its own online-only pharmacy in 2020. The most recent closures came last week, with Rite Aid disclosing it will phase out 10 stores in Ohio and 20 stores in Michigan, according to court documents. In fact, stores in Ohio and Michigan make up 43 percent of the total closures so far, despite those states not even being the biggest markets for Rite Aid. This had led some to be concerned that these two states will have some of the largest pharmacy deserts in the country. A Rite Aid pharmacist told an Ohio business journal last month that the recent spate of closures will 'without a doubt' cause massive problems for vulnerable populations who need a pharmacy near them. 'Some of the Rite Aid locations are in areas where there are not a lot of competitors or other options,' he told Crain's Cleveland Business. A major factor in Rite Aid's ongoing bankruptcy is the fact that it had been unable to settle hundreds of costly lawsuits accusing the company of overprescribing opioids. But when Judge Michael Kaplan approved the company's reorganization plan late last month, 16 out of the 17 states' lawsuits over its alleged negligence in prescribing opioids were settled. The 22,000 individuals who filed opioid claims against Rite Aid will be entitled to $250 to $500 payouts, Reuters reported. The restructuring will also cut debt by $2 billion, mainly financed by a group of Rite Aid's lenders. It's unclear when Rite Aid will emerge from bankruptcy, but it plans to return with about 1,300 stores total, a far cry from when it operated 5,059 locations in 2008. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told DailyMail.com that no one should expect Rite Aid to charge back to where it once was in 2008 - the third largest drugstore chain in the country. 'Rite Aid is hoping to get itself back onto a firm financial footing, although it will emerge from bankruptcy as a much smaller business with far fewer stores,' Saunders said. DailyMail.com approached Rite Aid for comment but didn't receive an immediate response. Walgreens, the second largest pharmacy in the US behind CVS, is grappling with its own financial troubles, announcing last month it would close a 'significant' number of its 8,700 US stores. Upon seeking bankruptcy protection last October, Rite Aid announced it would initially shutter 154 underperforming retail locations across over a dozen states. Over the past nine months, it shut an additional 618 Three people browse the sparse shelves of a Brooklyn Rite Aid in August 2023, months before it would declare bankruptcy A woman browses the shelves of a Rite Aid in Alhambra, California on October 18, 2023. This store was due to close in days following the bankruptcy announcement on October 15 Rite Aid was once the the third largest drugstore chain in the country, operating over 5,000 locations across the US. After the bankruptcy, that could dwindle to just 1,300 The widespread 'retail apocalypse' that has seen brick-and-mortar stores struggle to combat rampant theft and increasingly tight margins is certainly not contained to drugstores. By the end of April, US retailers had announced the closure of almost 2,600 stores in 2024. Walmart, the largest retailer in the US, has shut 11 so far this year. Earlier in April, dollar store 99 Cents Only said it will shutter ALL its 371 shops, while Best Buy closed ten in March. Dollar Tree is closing 1,000, Macy's 150 - a third of its total - and drug store Rite Aid 77. In recent months, there has been a spate of bankruptcies adding to store closures, including home and furniture retailer Conn's. National coffee and upmarket grocery chain Foxtrot also said at the start of April it will shut all its stores with immediate effect - leaving staff and customers stunned. Express - a mall staple - filed for bankruptcy in April and said it would shut 95 Express outlets alongside all of its UpWest stores. At the start of May, Rue21 - the teen fashion chain that is a fixture in malls across America - also said it will shut all its 543 US stores. Krispy Krunchy Chicken has entered the fast food value war, undercutting bigger rivals right off the bat with a limited time $4 meal. That's a dollar cheaper than the value offerings from McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's. For that price, the Louisiana-style fried chicken restaurant is giving customers either two pieces of dark meat bone-in fried chicken, or two hand-breaded white meat Cajun Tenders, Verdict Food Service reported. Potato wedges are served on the side, and if you choose bone-in chicken, you can get drumsticks, thighs or full wings that are seasoned with a mild Cajun spice. The $4 meal is being made available at participating locations from Monday to Friday between 10am to 2pm. Pictured: A chicken drumstick from Krispy Krunchy Chicken The offer is not available through third-party food delivery apps such as DoorDash Uber Eats or GrubHub. Krispy Krunchy, which has 2,800 locations across 47 US states, is known for using a Cajun marinade and custom breading. It also cooks its chicken in small batches so it doesn't sit for long and stays fresh. 'Value is more important than ever in todays economy, and thats especially true for our operators guests,' Krispy Krunchy CEO Jim Norberg said. 'So as these guests demand more value, were finding a way to make it happen without compromising on quality.' It appears the main difference between Krispy Krunchy's value offering and those of some of the bigger chains is that the former doesn't offer a drink alongside the chicken. Chains have been reeling from falling customer numbers as Americans fed up with two years of price hikes stay away. That's why so many fast food budget meals are hitting the market this summer. Burger King's $5 Your Way Meal - a choice of one of three sandwiches plus four chicken nuggets, fries and a soft drink - was the first to hit restaurants in June. It rushed it out ahead of key rival McDonald's, which had actually announced its deal first. The McDonald's deal went on sale on June 25 for a month but has since been expanded to last the rest of the summer at most locations Burger King's $5 meal was first to hit the market this summer, even before McDonald's. It includes a choice of one of three sandwiches plus four chicken nuggets, fries and a soft drink The $5 meal from McDonald's is similar - and includes either a McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink. At first, it was introduced for four weeks, but it has now been extended through the rest of the summer at most restaurants. Wendy's has a $3 breakfast offer and also a four-item $5 meal similar to McDonald's and BK's. Starbucks also made a surprise entry into the value war with a coffee and food breakfast combo from $5. Walmart customers are losing a major way to save money - all because of a feud between the world's largest retailer and Capital One. In 2019, the Virginia-based bank became the sole-issuer of Walmart's two store credit cards. The cards offered a lucrative 5 percent cashback on the retailer's website and 2 percent on items bought in person. In May 2024, Walmart terminated the partnership after accusing Capital One of failing to promptly replace lost credit cards and update cardholders' accounts. Initially, customers were told they could use the cards - and land the cashback - until Capital One informed them otherwise. But now Capital One has said it will be soon replacing these cards with a new one known as a Quicksilver Mastercard, that does not carry the Walmart perks. Walmart accused Capital One of negligence in its credit card partnership. A federal judge took Walmart's side in March 2024 Capital One is ranked just 1 star out 5 based on more than 1,600 reviews submitted to the Better Business Bureau. It has closed 12,969 complaints in the last three years The dispute between the two giants led to a court battle that started in April 2023 and ended in March 2024. Walmart came out on top. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla handed down the ruling, finding that Capital One was indeed responsible for 'repeated customer service failures,' which entitled Walmart to end the partnership under their mutually agreed-upon contract. As a result, the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard - which can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted - and the store-exclusive Walmart Rewards Card are no longer accepting applications. But since Capital One is still owns the actual credit accounts associated with these now defunct Walmart cards, the bank has opted to slyly transition them to its own Quicksilver Mastercard. Capital One values the balances on these accounts at roughly $8.5 billion, according to court documents, and its plan to hand out new cards will allow it to continue making money off those who choose to use them. Eligible customers will be issued a replacement no-annual fee Quicksilver card 'on a rolling basis, so not all customers will receive their card at the same time,' Capital One's website noted. The Quicksilver card is a no-frills offering that gives 1.5 percent cashback on nearly every purchase. It has no annual fee and has no foreign transaction fees A spokesperson for the bank told NerdWallet Walmart cardholders should expect their new card in the mail by September or early 2025 at the latest. Both Walmart cards remain active and can be still used, but once customers receive the replacement, Capital One recommends they activate the new one and destroy their old card. Any points that were earned on the Walmart cards will transfer over to the Quicksilver at a value of one cent per point. Of course, the Quicksilver card won't be able to earn 5 percent back at Walmart stores, but it does offer 1.5 percent unlimited cashback. That's better than 1 percent unlimited cashback that the Capital One-branded Walmart card offered in its heyday, but most people don't use store credit cards for outside purchases. Now, Walmart finds itself in the unique position of not currently having a native credit card for its customers. It has two debit rewards cards eligible for 3 percent cashback and a reloadable Visa debit card through Green Dot Bank. The big-box store hasn't yet shared what its plans are for future credit card offerings. A commercially successful breakfast spot on the suburban outskirts of Chicago closed its doors Sunday after 65 years in business, reportedly because the landlord wanted to cash in. Peter Gerousis, 43, who co-owned the Cozy Corner Restaurant in Oak Park, said that even though business was booming, the decision to shut down was mandatory. 'The restaurant right now is the most successful it's ever been in 65 years hands down,' Gerousis told the Chicago Sun-Times. 'But our landlord felt it would be fair to double our rent.' As he and co-owner Georgia Dravilas were nearing the end of their 30-year lease, the landlord wanted to raise the monthly rent from $8,500 to $17,000 for their retail space on the corner of Marion and Lake Streets. After talking with other business owners in the area, Gerousis came to the conclusion that he was getting taken advantage of. So he and co-owner Georgia Dravilas started looking for a new space to rent. Pictured: The Cozy Corner Restaurant in Oak Park, Illinois. After being in business for 65 years, the breakfast joint abruptly shuttered after its owners would have to pay double their current to stay The two owners, who have known each other for over 25 years, thought they found perfect building to relocate to, and it was less than a block away. But after spending six months negotiating, the deal fell through. That's when Gerousis and Dravilas made the difficult choice to call it quits. 'I've been going through the stages of grief, but I've been stuck at the anger stage for a bit,' Gerousis said. Dravilas' father bought the business in 1994, but after more than 20 years running it, he looked to retire. In 2015, he privately sold the restaurant to a new owner, who spent roughly four years racking up $500,000 in unpaid taxes. Because it was a private sale, this person owned 51 percent of the business until the purchase loan was paid off. Dravilas' father was able to retake the business in 2019, and shortly after, he transferred ownership to his daughter and Gerousis. 'It was an insane amount of debt that we came into,' Gerousis said. 'We didn't even realize what we were walking into but the twine started unraveling.' Not only that, they took control of the restaurant on right on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out in March 2020. They relied on carryout orders keep revenue steady. 'There's no way we would've been able to keep our doors open during COVID if it wasn't for the support of everyone in the community,' said Gerousis. Dravilas, 44, said she'll miss socializing with longtime customers. 'The saddest part about this is the customers,' Dravilas said. 'We have a lot of customers that have been coming here for many years and now they're bringing their grandchildren. I'll miss the interactions with them. No matter in how bad of a mood I can be, seeing them always makes me feel better.' One customer spoke with ABC7 Chicago about his good times at the restaurant. 'This place was a staple for me when I first moved to Oak Park, ' Colin Knapp said as he ate at the restaurant during its last day of business. 'My son loves it and they know my son around here as well. It's just nice to have a place where you feel like a community.' Homero Duarte worked at Cozy Corner as a server for 25 years, and while he's sad that a huge chapter of his life is over, he's excited to see what's next. 'I'm grateful for the time I spent here,' said Duarte. 'They've treated me like family here. I'm not sure where I'm going next but I know I'll be OK. At the end of the day, all that matters are the memories I've made here.' Gerousis and Dravilas have not ruled out reopening the restaurant at a later date, mostly because the community has showered them with encouragement and support. Nothing is certain, but the two friends' determination is not at all in question. 'We're too young to retire,' Dravilas said. Customers dine at the Cozy Corner for the last time this past Sunday While seated at a table inside the restaurant, Colin Knapp called the Cozy Corner 'a staple' Across America, restaurants have been struggling. One of them is Applebee's, which is set to close up to 35 further locations this year, after closing 46 in 2023 Red Lobster was one of the most high-profile restaurant failures this year, filing for bankruptcy and shuttering over 100 restaurants after pushing an ill-conceived $20 unlimited shrimp deal Across America, restaurants have increasingly been struggling this year. Faced with higher costs, they have put up menu prices - but that has led to a fall in customers. Bigger chains like Applebee's, TGI Fridays and Boston Market have have all recently shuttered restaurants, as have smaller chains like BurgerFi. Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in May and also shuttered almost 100 restaurants. New owners were announced this week - as it emerged the debt-ridden chain owes $21 million for shrimp alone. Chains have been worst hit in California where the minimum wage for fast food restaurants jumped to $20-an-hour from April 1. In early June, Mexican chain Rubio's shut 48 locations in the state and also filed for bankruptcy. Earlier this month, for example, Fargo's Pit BBQ in Texas closed after more than two decades of serving brisket, ribs and other barbecue classics. Last month, two classic Bay Area Italian restaurants closed on the same day. PM Modi's self-reliant India vision is central to the 2024-25 Union Budget. It boosts domestic production, supports SMEs, and fosters innovation to reduce import dependency Prime Minister Modi's vision of a "self-reliant India" (Atmanirbhar Bharat) is a recurring theme in the budget. This vision emphasizes self-sufficiency in critical sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. The budget outlines measures to boost domestic production, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and encourage innovation. These initiatives are designed to reduce import dependency and create a robust, self-sustaining economy.At the same time, the budget reflects Modi's understanding of India's interconnectedness with the global economy. The focus on enhancing India's export competitiveness, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and participating in global value chains underscores the dual approach of strengthening domestic capabilities while engaging with the global market. This balanced approach is crucial for India to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly complex global economic landscape.The Union Budget, a cornerstone of the country's economic planning, may serve as a reflection of the government's strategic priorities and vision for the future. It is being billed as a path-breaking foundation of Reforms for the next 5 years. According to some experts, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the budget has been targeted to foster economic growth, address social inequalities, and position India as a key player on the global stage. The latest budget unveiled amidst a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, showcases a balanced approach, combining domestic development with an international outlook. CHALLENGES BEFORE FM In light of the 2024-25 Union Budget, the BJP-led central government faces scrutiny over its dealings with opposition-ruled states, which allege discrimination in fund allocation and policy implementation. Experts say that Central Schemes and Fund Allocation; The Budget reveals a 15% increase in allocations for flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Ayushman Bharat. However, opposition states argue that their share of these funds does not reflect their proportionate needs. For instance, Tamil Nadu has claimed that despite a significant allocation under PMAY, delays in fund release and implementation hinder effective utilization. The central governments response involves reiterating the equitable distribution based on various factors, but opposition states view these explanations sceptically. Implementation Issues; Critics point to inefficiencies in scheme implementation as evidence of discrimination. The opposition-ruled states have raised concerns about delays and insufficient execution of these schemes. The central government needs to ensure that these funds are utilized efficiently and that implementation is monitored closely to address these grievances. Political Dynamics; Allegations of political bias also come into play. Opposition leaders argue that central agencies are used to target political rivals, exacerbating feelings of discrimination. With the BJP's political rivals accusing it of manipulating central resources, the government must navigate these complex political dynamics carefully. STEPS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS To mitigate allegations of discrimination, the central government should adopt multiple strategies which include Enhanced Transparency: Provide detailed reports on fund allocations and expenditures to ensure transparency and address concerns of inequitable distribution. The focus should be on the efficient and timely execution of central schemes, particularly in opposition-ruled states, to demonstrate commitment to equitable development. The Centre must engage in regular discussions with opposition state governments to address grievances and ensure that their concerns are heard and addressed.A Balanced Approach for Sustainable Growth; The Indian Union Budget, under the leadership of Modi, presents a balanced blueprint for growth, combining a focus on domestic development with a strategic international outlook. The emphasis on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and financial inclusion reflects the government's commitment to inclusive growth. At the same time, the focus on global partnerships, defence manufacturing, and renewable energy highlights India's aspirations to be a key player on the world stage.Domestic Positives: A Focus on Inclusive Development; The budget's primary focus is on inclusive growth, ensuring that the benefits of economic development reach all sections of society. A significant allocation has been made towards infrastructure development, including roads, railways, and digital infrastructure. This not only promises to create jobs but also lays the groundwork for long-term economic resilience. The emphasis on renewable energy and green technology is another forward-looking aspect, aligning with global trends towards sustainability.Healthcare and education have not received substantial attention. The substantial increase in funding for public health infrastructure is a must, especially after the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, investments in education, particularly in digital and vocational training, will equip the younger generation with skills for the future job market. This focus on human capital development is critical for sustaining economic growth in the long term.The government's commitment to financial inclusion continues with initiatives to expand the reach of banking and financial services to rural areas. This effort is crucial for integrating rural populations into the formal economy, enhancing their economic opportunities, and reducing regional disparities. Moreover, targeted welfare schemes for farmers, women, and marginalized communities underscore the government's intent to address social inequalities and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources.Extreme evidence of a discriminatory approach exhibited in the union budget estimates for 2024-24 pertains to the allocation of Rs 11,500 crore for flood mitigation to Bihar whereas Himachal as well as Uttrakhand faced unprecedented catastrophe in July/August 2023 which suffered extensive damages to the tune of over Rs 12,000 crore and Rs 4,000 crore respectively but figures have not been mentioned in the budget. Himachal government is in a quandary as 550 lives were lost and rehabilitation of lakhs of hapless people had been undertaken by the state government by making provision of Rs 650 crore hence expected a liberal Special Package from the union finance minister who preferred to just give an assurance about financial assistance to the state but no allocation of the budget. Inordinate delay in the announcement of a Special Package had affected relief and rehabilitation works though the state demanded immediate help of Rs 9,042 crore from the centre in Aug 2023 Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Sigh Sukhu regretted the apathy of the centre which gave nothing for one year. The finance minister skipped Punjab also which witnessed devastation owing to heavy rains and floods in 21 out of 23 districts and damages were more than RS 1,680 crore. About 70 lives were lost and the state government has been demanding financial assistance which has been ignored in this budget. Contrary to it, Bihar has been chosen for special treatment and the finance minister allocated Rs 11,500 crore for flood mitigation which is being interpreted as a Reward for helping BHP to form a government after its reduced strength in Lok Sabha. Experts say that Bihar has been Indias most flood-prone state with 76% of the population of north Bihar living under recurring threat of divesting floods for decades hence it deserves a special package but not by ignoring other states that suffer an identical natural disaster every year. As India navigates the challenges of a post-pandemic world, the budget's provisions for economic resilience, social equity, and environmental sustainability provide a solid foundation for future growth. Modi's vision of a self-reliant India resonates throughout the budget, offering a roadmap for the country's economic and strategic aspirations. This holistic approach, balancing domestic priorities with international engagement, positions India well for a sustainable and prosperous future. (The writer is a political analyst and senior journalist based in Shimla; views are personal) As the nation commemorates Tilak's 168th birth anniversary, we reflect on his profound influence on the independence movement and his contributions as a reformer In 1921, Mahatma Gandhis visit to the Nellore district marked a significant moment in Indias freedom movement. He inaugurated the Satyagraha Ashram in Pallepadu and delivered significant speeches at the Town Hall and V.R. College. At the Rebala Lakshmi Narasa Reddy Town Hall, he unveiled a portrait of his political mentor, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, emphasizing Tilaks profound patriotism and leadership, which galvanized the freedom movement. Gandhi extolled Tilaks legacy, invoking the ideals of Swaraj (self-rule) and characterizing the Non-Cooperation Movement as an act of self-purification. He urged contributions to the Tilak Swaraj Fund, established in 1920, to support educational institutions, Khadi promotion, and Swadeshi efforts. It was a successful mobilized mission.July 23, 2024, marked the 168th birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, also revered as Lokmanya and The Lion of Maharashtra. This is for his dual role, as a freedom fighter and social reformer. His impact has also been underscored by notable figures, such as British journalist Valentine Chirol who termed him the father of Indian unrest, while, Jawaharlal Nehru hailed him as the father of the Indian revolution and Mahatma Gandhi recognized him as the Maker of Modern India. A distinguished Sanskrit scholar and thinker, Tilak was also a visionary leader. Sri Aurobindo, in his collection of Tilaks writings and speeches, emphasized Tilaks transformative influence on the Indian National Congress, reshaping it from its occidental characteristics to embrace mass participation in the freedom struggle. In The Intellectual Biography of Bal Gangadhar Tilak published in the Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, Raj Hans Ojha, contends that The story of Tilak is the story of Indias Swaraj, of the Indian National Congress, coming to its adulthood, and of the rise of Indian masses for the first time in quest of Home Rule and Independence. Lokmanya Tilak believed that Swaraj is the foundation and not the height of our future prosperity. We have to build a new nation, develop a new character, live the principles, which we advocate, faith in spiritual values, love of country and tolerance for views from which we differ.Tilaks intellectual contributions were many. His works such as, The Orion or Research into The Antiquity of The Vedas (1893) and The Arctic Home of Vedas (1901), complemented his political activism. Despite his devotion to independence, he expressed a preference for academia, a path cut short by his untimely death on August 1, 1920, at age 64. His educational contributions are equally noteworthy. He co-founded institutions like the New English School, the Deccan Society for Education, and Fergusson College, and presented a comprehensive educational blueprint to the Hunter Commission (1882 & 1919). Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a strategist, transcending the roles of an idealist and philosopher, and his multifaceted contributions continue to resonate in Indias historical and educational landscape.As a formidable journalist, Tilak was renowned for his fearless and impartial stance in his weekly publication, Kesari. He championed a rigorous approach to journalism, asserting that Kesari would boldly address all issues, resisting the prevailing trend of appeasing the British and embodying its namesakes courage. Bal Gangadhar Tilak also leveraged his paper Mahrathato Advocate for the People, drawing upon Hindu scriptures and the Bhagavad Gita to support his arguments. His profound contributions as a patriot, scholar, and politician had a significant impact on Mahatma Gandhi, who, in a March 4, 1905, article, lauded Lokmanyas scholarship, particularly his astronomical findings that traced Indian scriptures to over 10,000 years old, recognizing him as a luminary whose intellectual influence extended beyond national borders.Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned in 1908. He strongly believed that There are higher powers that rule the destiny of things and it may be the will of providence that the cause I represent may prosper more by my suffering than by my remaining free. Gandhi and Tilak had great mutual respect for one another. In his reflections in The Indian Opinion, Gandhi praised Tilak for his readiness to endure suffering for the cause of Indias freedom. While they were ideologically different in their thoughts and actions, both Lokmanya Tilak and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi fought for one cause, which was freedom. Mahatma Gandhi maintained a profound respect for Tilaks contributions and acknowledged his unparalleled influence and the reverence he commanded among the masses. In his tributes and public statements, Gandhi consistently lauded Tilaks selfless service, burning patriotism, and magnetic leadership. Tilaks mantra, Swaraj is our birthright, and I shall have it, resonated deeply with Mahatma Gandhi, who adapted it to his philosophy of truth and non-violence, and thus, Tilaks assertive nationalism blended with Gandhis principles of peaceful resistance. Mahadev Desai, recalls Mahatma Gandhis views on Lokmanya Tilak, which he expressed on 24 July 1934 at Cawnpore (Kanpur today), in one of the meetings. Mahatma Gandhi said: If Tilak Maharaj taught us that swaraj is our birthright, he also taught us that selfless service is the key to win it. Selfless service may have been in existence before Tilak came, but he was who systematized it. Tilaks life was a demonstration of this great ideal of Karma Yoga. (The writer is Programme Executive, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti; views are personal) Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday made it clear that she would never allow the implementation of Teesta Water Agreement with Bangladesh as that would hurt the northern part of her State. Iterating that she loved Bangladesh but would not allow that love to deprive Bengal. We love Bangladesh. (But) that is a different issue, Banerjee said adding there is not enough water in the River Teesta to be shared with Bangladesh. People of North Bengal will not have access to drinking water. I will not allow anything like that, the Chief Minister said during his speech in the State assembly. Reminding how the Centre had put across a number of barrages on the Teesta upstream in Sikkim without consulting Bengal she said, already there is no water in the River there is problem of drinking water I cannot allow more harm. The Chief Minister earlier said the Centres lack of attention on Bengals river issues was causing floods and draught simultaneously. She had raised the issue of Atreyee River in Balurghat district which had dried up because of a barrage built by Bangladesh with the help of China. Dwelling on the issue she also blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation for not carrying out enough dredging activities in various rivers which was causing floods in southern Bengal. Two humongous landslides that struck Mundakkai settlement in Wayanad district in Keralas northern region in the wee hours of Tuesday claimed 123 lives and destroyed hundreds of houses. Rescue workers said the death toll could be more than what had been found by 6 pm on Tuesday. Torrential rain has been battering the State since Sunday morning, disrupting the normal life. This was officially confirmed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday evening during the media briefing. He said the death toll could increase as many bodies are buried under the earth and efforts are on to retrieve the bodies despite incessant rain and poor visibility. Two landslides struck Mundakkai at 2 am and 4 am respectively. The entire population was asleep and there was no possibility of them knowing the impending disaster. This is one of the biggest natural disasters seen by the State, said the Chief Minister. Vijayan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had called him and offered all possible help. But that would not be sufficient as the State alone cannot undertake the rescue and rehabilitation works on its own, lamented Vijayan. Wayanad district has been categorised as one of the most ecologically sensitive zones in the country by the Madhav Gadgil Committee appointed by the Union Government to study the ground reality of the ecology of the district. The committee found that deforestation, uncontrolled quarrying and mining in the district have played havoc with the environment, contributing to the frequent landslides. Within hours of the landslides, the Central Government deployed National Disaster Response Force of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Coast Guard to save the people who were trapped by the flood waters, soil and rocks. In addition to the residents of Mundakkai atop the high ranges, many holiday makers staying in the hundreds of high-end resorts in the region too have been trapped in the landslides. Indian Air Force have deployed two choppers from its Sulur base for the rescue mission. According to the Defence PRO, a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts. The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area. Besides that, the Armys engineering group has reached Wayanad for rescue operations in the landslide-hit areas, the district administration said. Most of the persons who were drowned or got killed in the landslides were labourers and workers staying in the Laayams of tea and coffee plantations in the district. According to environmentalists, Tuesdays disaster is yet another proof that the State administration has not learnt anything from past mistakes. Wayanad has no representative in Parliament as Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition who was elected from the constituency, gave it up immediately after the 2024 Lok Sabha poll to retain Rae Bareli. Besides the dead bodies, the rescue teams came across mutilated parts of human bodies which were crushed by huge rocks and stones spewed with force by the landslides. At the time of going to the Press, only less than half of the dead bodies have been identified. Hospitals in the district and Kozhikode wore pictures of heart-rending scenes as the survivors scanned the dead bodies in search of their dear and near ones who disappeared in the mishap. Chief Minister Vijayan has sought the assistance of the global comity of nations for financial aid. Renowned agricultural scientist and Deputy Director General (Crop Science) of ICAR Dr TR Sharma has stressed on using frontier technologies like biotechnology tools, genome editing, marker assisted breeding, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT) and dron technology for bridging the yield gap of crop potential. Addressing the two-day Kharif Research Council of BAU on Monday, he said there is 30-40% production gap as compared to potential of the varieties and 25-30 percent produce is lost due to insect pests, diseases and improper handling in post harvest stages due to absence of proper package of practices (PoP). Making farmers more prosperous is the ultimate objective of all research efforts; therefore, all the technologies should be aligned with framers in the form of PoP. Dr Sharma said All India Coordinated Research Projects are among the best projects in the country where scientists get an opportunity to interact with research workers from across the country working on the same crop and species. He urged the Vice Chancellor to expedite the process of recruitment against the vacant positions under AICRPs as projects where there is vacancy sine long are likely to be withdrawn. BAU should formulate joint project proposals in collaboration with half a dozen ICAR institutes located in Jharkhand for funding by different agencies as high quality research is not possible without proper fund and project manpower like RA, SRF and others. BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey welcomed and introduced the chief guest Dr TR Sharma, DDG. He suggested that the funds available for research work must be utilized properly following proper procedures of procurement. All scientists are required to deliver for career progression. Director, Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi Dr Sujay Rakshit underlined the need of proper management of water, acidic soils and alternate crop strategies to meet the challenges of drought like situation in the state. Director, Central Tasar Research and Training Institute, Ranchi, Dr NB Chowdary stressed on intensifying research efforts for reducing cost of cultivation, product diversification, value addition and making farmers entrepreneurs for their socio-economic development. Book entitled Socio-economic development of the farmers of Jharkhand through Tribal Sub Plan on Maize; penned by Dr Manigopa Chakraborty and other scientists of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding was released on the occasion by DDG. The DDG also felicitated Anil Kumar Mahto of Ghatshila, East Singh for special contribution in innovative farming. BAU Director Research Dr PK Singh presented a overview of research achievements of kharif 2023 and action taken report on the proceedings of last kharif council. OSD of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Dr Vishal Nath, former Vice Chancellor of BAU Dr GS Dubey and Dr AK Singh, Head of Farming System Research Centre for Hills and Plateau Region, Ranchi besides BAU scientists participated in the deliberations. Two kanwariyas were killed and five others were seriously injured after they were hit by an unidentified vehicle near Azamgarh- Biharipur Dagera road in Ghazipur during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, police said. One of the deceased kanwariya was 15 years old while the other was 13. Both were residents of Azamgarh and were on their way to Kaithi in Varanasi. One of them died on the spot while the other succumbed to injuries during treatment. The injured persons are currently under treatment and one of them has been referred to Trauma Centre in Varanasi for treatment, police disclosed. Reports said that late Sunday night, a dozen kanwariyas were going on foot to Markandeya Dham in Kaithi to collect Ganga water. They reached near Bhabhaura turn at around 9 pm. Meanwhile, a high-speed SUV coming from Azamgarh crushed six kanwariyas. In the accident, 15-year-old Matru alias Aditya, son of Rajendra Rajbhar of Ameda village and 13-year-old Kaushal Ram, son of Lal Bahadur Ram, were killed while four suffered serious injuries. On getting information from the nearby people, the police reached the spot and took the injured to the community health centre in Saidpur, from where one of the injured was referred to Varanasi Trauma Centre. After the accident, the driver fled with the SUV. Varanasis Deputy Inspector General of Police OP Singh inspected the spot and met the injured and directed the officials concerned for their treatment. He said that two people had died in the accident. The DIG said the CCTV footage around the spot had been scanned and efforts were being made to trace the accused driver and vehicle. Diners eat hot and cold soba at Sobakatsu in San Francisco on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Zaru soba served at Sobakatsu, San Francisco's first and only fresh soba shop. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Owners Shuichi Nihira and Yoshi Shinoda work in Sobakatsu's tiny kitchen on July 28, 2024. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle A new 600-square-foot restaurant in San Francisco has no website, social media presence or even a phone number. But curious diners have discovered it anyway, lining up for the owners specialty: fresh soba noodles. Sobakatsu, which recently opened at 1700 Laguna St. in Japantown, is the first and only restaurant in San Francisco dedicated to fresh soba. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We want to introduce real soba to the United States, especially the Bay Area, said Sobakatsu co-owner Shuichi Nihira. Co-owner Shuichi Nihira makes fresh soba at Sobakatsu in San Francisco. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Nihira, whos from Yokohama, Japan, and co-owner Yoshihiro Shinoda, who is from Osaka, are making their toothsome noodles from 100% stone-milled buckwheat flour. The noodles are not handmade they mix the dough and then feed it through a machine but they spent nearly a year perfecting their version. They wanted to source flour from Japan, but it was cost prohibitive. Nihira also worried that the quality of the sensitive flour would suffer in the time it takes to ship to the U.S. So Shinoda cold-called and emailed businesses and restaurants across the country to find the best possible buckwheat flour in America, and landed on Aurora Mills & Farm in Maine. The farm partnered with a Japanese soba maker to develop its own version of a Hokkaido-style buckwheat, according to Sobakatsu. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At this tiny, eight-seat restaurant, there are just two ways to experience soba: cold (zaru) or in a hot soup (kake). The tangle of chilled, nutty noodles is served on a bamboo mat, set on a traditional wooden tray with a dipping sauce, plus green onions and wasabi for doctoring. Vegetables like eggplant and squash, shrimp or scallops are transformed into hyper-delicate tempura. Hot soba, meanwhile, arrives in a steaming broth, paired with either tempura or soy-braised pork. Sobakatsu's hot soba is completely gluten-free, made with buckwheat noodles and a broth with gluten-free soy sauce. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Like the buckwheat noodles, both the dipping sauce and broth are also gluten-free, thanks to the owners choice of gluten-free soy sauce. (Nihira thinks cold is the best way to experience the noodles, but given San Franciscos weather, they decided to offer the soup, too.) For dessert, there are cubes of wobbly warabi mochi, dusted in nutty roasted soybean flour and drizzled with kuromitsu syrup. Nihira and Shinoda met in the nearby Japan Center Mall, where Nihira has run Belly Good Cafe & Crepes for two decades. They found in each other like-minded souls who loved soba and inspired each other, Nihira wrote in an email to the Chronicle. Above all, we are the same age, and we both wanted to try for a new venture for the rest of our lives. They had planned to cook both soba and tonkatsu (hence the business name), but have decided to hold off on the fried pork cutlets for now to prioritize their noodles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sobakatsu is tucked away on the ground floor of an apartment building, kitty-corner from a Buddhist temple. Its just a few blocks from the buzz of San Franciscos historic Japantown, but youd almost miss it if it wasnt for the noren curtains stamped with the restaurants name waving in the wind out front. Like so many tiny neighborhood restaurants in Japan, it feels hidden. Its also similarly small scale. Inside the tiny open kitchen, Nihira assembles the soba sets and Shinoda is responsible for frying the tempura. With so few seats, expect a wait at peak times. Sobakatsu. Open noon-7 p.m. daily. 1700 Laguna St., San Francisco. Correction: A previous version of this story misstated who cold-called and emailed businesses and restaurants across the country to find the best possible buckwheat flour. It was Sobakatsu co-owner Yoshihiro Shinoda. State President of Bharatiya Janata Party and Khajuraho MP Vishnudutt Sharma participated in the discussion on the budget proposal in Lok Sabha on Monday. He said that the new budget of the Modi government is a budget that fulfills the resolution of making the country a developed India by 2047. The opposition only does negative politics of lies, deceit and fraud. In fact, the budget of the Modi government is all-encompassing, inclusive and development-oriented. I congratulate and thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this historic budget. Sharma said that from the speeches of the opposition leaders who were speaking before me, it has become clear that the opposition, which does politics of lies, deceit and fraud in the country, is also playing a negative role in the House. An opposition leader was saying that there is no opportunity for 17 crore Muslims of the country in the budget. I want to tell him that for the last ten years, the government of Prime Minister has been working on the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. The Modi government has worked for every society, every section and the current budget is also a budget that fulfills the aspirations of 140 crore countrymen and proves the concepts of Amritkaal. The budget presented under the leadership of the Prime Minister is an economic document for the creation of a self-reliant India.BJP State President and MP Shri Vishnudutt Sharma said that when we were contesting elections in Madhya Pradesh, we had said that Modi is in the mind of MP and Modi ji has MP in his mind. With this slogan, we ran the election campaign and made a record of victory in the Assembly. In the Lok Sabha elections, we won all 29 seats. During the Lok Sabha elections, some people said that Chhindwara is this stronghold, that stronghold. We said that this is the stronghold of the beneficiaries of the schemes of the Modi government and we won in Chhindwara as well. Shri Sharma said that the budget presented by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji for the year 2024-25 also reflects that 'Modi is in the mind of MP'. In this budget, Madhya Pradesh has been given Rs 97907 crore, which is Rs 11205 crore more than the previous budget. For this, on behalf of the people of Madhya Pradesh, I thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. I also thank the Railway Minister that Rs 14738 crore has been given for rail facilities in Madhya Pradesh, which was only Rs 632 crore during the Congress rule. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, historic work has been done for the development of rail facilities in Madhya Pradesh. In the last 10 years, Madhya Pradesh has received many gifts ranging from 1062 flyovers.BJP State President Shri Vishnudutt Sharma said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath in 2014, he had said that my government is a government dedicated to the poor. Today I want to mention in this House that Congress ruled this country for 55 years, but did nothing for poverty eradication. A former Congress Prime Minister used to say that if we send one rupee for the poor, then 85 paise are eaten up by brokers and middlemen. Only 15 paise reaches the poor. But today I can say with pride that the efforts made by the Modi government for good governance and the end of corruption result in the entire one rupee reaching the account of the poor. Due to the schemes launched for the welfare of the poor, today 25 crore people in India have come out of the poverty line. This has been possible under the leadership of Modi ji. Sharma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji had started the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in 2020, under which even today 80 crore families are being given free ration. Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, 30 crore people have been given the right to free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday staged a significant protest in Mohali, denouncing the arrest of its national convener Arvind Kejriwal. The party accused the BJP-led Central Government of imprisoning the Delhi Chief Minister without any fault, branding the arrest as politically motivated. Kejriwal was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Although the Supreme Court granted him interim bail, he remains in jail due to a subsequent arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on related charges. In a vocal state-level protest, senior AAP leaders and ministers rallied in Mohali, raising slogans against the Central Government and demanding Kejriwals immediate release. The protest highlighted the partys claim that the central agencies were being used as tools for political retribution. Addressing the gathering, Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar expressed outrage, stating, It is unprecedented that a national party chief and serving chief minister has been jailed without any fault. He asserted that the charges against Kejriwal were fabricated at the behest of the BJP-led Centre. Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian criticized the use of central agencies like the ED and CBI, describing them as weapons employed to target opposition leaders. He emphasized that despite extensive investigations, no substantial evidence had been found against Kejriwal, who he credited with giving a new direction to Indian politics. Punjab AAP spokesperson Neel Garg reinforced this sentiment, stating, Everyone knows Kejriwal is an honest politician, but he has been put behind bars under a political conspiracy. Another Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO decried the BJP-led Centre's dictatorial attitude, insisting that Kejriwal was jailed without any fault. Cabinet Minister Balkar Singh joined the chorus, calling the BJP-led NDA government a dictatorial regime responsible for filing false cases against the AAP leader. He lauded Kejriwal for his dedication to public service, stating, Kejriwal sacrificed everything to serve the people. Despite the ongoing legal battles, AAP leaders remain hopeful. That day is not far when Kejriwal will come out and lead us again, declared Harbhajan Singh, echoing the sentiments of many AAP supporters who believe in Kejriwals eventual exoneration and return to leadership. Senior Congress leader and former minister Arif Aqeel passed away during treatment in a private hospital in Bhopal on Monday. His MLA son Atif Aqeel said that he was admitted to Apollo Sage Hospital on Sunday evening after complaining chest pain. Doctors had kept his father on ventilator support. At 3.30 pm, the funeral procession of former minister Arif Aqeel started from his residence at Laxmi Talkies Sarai. Namaz-e-Janaza was offered on Bal Vihar Road. He was laid to rest in the cemetery located at Bada Bagh. The markets in the old city of Bhopal remained closed on the death of the former minister. Arif Aqeel became MLA for the first time in 1990. After this, he was elected MLA from Bhopal North seat in 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018. For the first time in 1998, he was made Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department. For the second time in 2018, he was made the Minister of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department and Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) departments. Arif Aqeel always wore slippers. When he was going to welcome Rahul Gandhi on the stage of a program, Rahul was looking at his slippers. During that time Jyotiraditya Scindia used to be in Congress. Arif's health deteriorated in the beginning of 2023. Blockages were found in his heart during the examination. He underwent surgery at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. After the surgery, he refused to contest the elections and the party made his son Atif a candidate from Bhopal North, he went out to seek votes in a jeep and wheelchair. Arif Aqeel is called 'Sher-e-Bhopal'. The reason for this is - despite making every effort for two decades, BJP could not defeat in his impenetrable fort Bhopal North constituency. It is said that, 'Arif bhai did not discriminate in work. He believed that whatever came to him was his.' Senior Congress leaders including PCC Chief Jitu patwari expressed profound grief over the demise of Aqeel. Speaker Tomar expressed condolence on the X account of Madhya Pradesh Assembly. Vande Bharat Train is a testament to India's rapid development Talking to the journalists before leaving for Delhi from Chandigarh Railway Station by 'Amritsar-Ajmer Vande Bharat' train on Monday, Saini said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has experienced rapid development over the past decade, and the Vande Bharat train is a prime example of this progress. The Chief Minister said that the Congress has always weakened the country through falsehoods, while under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the nation has grown stronger. Responding to the Haryana Mange Hisab question, the Chief Minister said that Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda should give account for his 10-year tenure first. He stated that during previous government reign, FIRs were not even registered for the poor, job opportunities were lacking, proper compensation for crop damage was not provided, and MSP for crops was not ensured. Now, MSP is provided for 14 crops in Haryana, and even the last person in the society is benefiting from government welfare schemes during the present government tenure. Regarding frequent questions about meetings in Delhi, the Chief Minister stated that, Chief Ministers from all states regularly visit Delhi for discussions with central ministers on various schemes. He expressed confidence that the BJP would secure a massive majority in the upcoming elections. Gives approval for an amendment in policy of State Award for teachers The Chief Minister has approved an amendment in the policy of State Award for teachers working in State Universities, Government Colleges, and Government-aided Private Colleges. According to the amendment, the service evaluation period for teachers has been reduced from 15 years to 10 years. This change will allow new teachers to also be eligible for awards. An official spokesperson said that the state government runs a State Teacher Award Scheme for Excellence and Commendable Services for the contribution of teachers working in various State Universities, Government Colleges and Government-aided Private colleges for their academic, curricular and extracurricular assignments. The aim of these awards is to honour faculty members for their outstanding performance in the field of teaching. The spokesperson said that faculty members in higher education who demonstrate outstanding exceptional academic efficiency, quality of teaching, professional competence, good conduct, team spirit, community engagement, and use innovative teaching methods will be recommended for the awards. The spokesperson further said that under the policy, a total of 14 state awards will be given each year, for their outstanding services. Eligibility criteria include that teachers must be working in State Universities/Government Colleges/Government-aided colleges situated in the jurisdiction of the Haryana State. All regular working faculty members who have taught for at least 10 years and have an outstanding record in teaching, research, and contributions to students/society are eligible for the award. However, once a teacher has received the award, they are not eligible for it again. Himachal CM lauds forest corporation for over 25 pc profit rise in 2023-24 Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday commended the forest corporation for earning profits of over Rs 10 crore in the financial year 2023-24, over 25 per cent rise from last year's gains. He also directed the officials to expedite the disposal of timber wood stock accumulated in depots to prevent them from rotting. Sukhu's direction to officials came while he was presiding over the 214th meeting of the Board of Directors of Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation (HPFSDC). Sukhu said that for the first time, the HPFSDC would engage in mining activities from the Beas River, for which it would obtain clearance under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). He asked the corporation to blacklist defaulting contractors and initiate recovery proceedings against them besides barring them from participating in future tenders. He also commended the corporation for earning profits of Rs 10.04 crore in the financial year 2023-24, Rs 8 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 2.17 crore during the fiscal year 2021-22. He said that 100 "van veers" (forest volunteers) would be engaged to address the staff shortage in the forest corporation. The Board of Directors gave its approval to grant employee bonus for the year 2022-23, benefiting about 227 employees. Bains directs to ensure potable and clean water in schools Chandigarh: Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday directed that clean drinking water be provided to students in all government schools across the State. With the rainy season underway, there is a risk of waterborne diseases spreading. To ensure students health and safety, it is crucial to provide clean drinking water and prevent rainwater accumulation in school premises. To this end, the Punjab School Education Department has issued instructions to school heads and school management committees to conduct routine water sampling, keep drinking water tanks covered, regularly clean and chlorinate tanks. Punjab Govt committed to provide urban facilities in rural areas: Minister Chandigarh: Punjab Government is dedicated to delivering urban-level facilities to rural areas. The State Government's initiatives have not only made life easier for the common people but have also saved valuable time for the populace, said the states Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, while speaking at the 15th CSC Day event on Monday. Highlighting the significance of Common Service Centers (CSCs), she said that these centers play a crucial role in aiding citizens in rural and remote regions, offering a wide range of services that promote digital inclusion, access to government and private sector services, financial accountability, e-governance, entrepreneurship, skill development, healthcare and education. TEDx event inspires students with diverse speakers Chandigarh: Nine diverse and accomplished speakers inspired students at an independently organized TEDx event at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Chandigarh, on Monday. Dikshant Schools chairman Mitul Dikshit expressed enthusiasm, stating, Hosting this prestigious TEDx event is an honour. We are committed to providing youngsters with knowledge and perspectives to inspire societal contributions. Such interactions boost students' morale. Speakers included actor, storyteller, and writer Lovleen Misra; filmmaker Mridul Toolsidass; IIT-Delhi engineer and entrepreneur Sachin Jha; photographer Amit Ashar, Quidich Innovation Labs co-founder Rahat Kulshreshtha; Associate Professor at Christ University Dr Saji Varghese; Founder of TakeMe2Space Ronak Samantray; and Senior Director at TERI Dr Dipankar Saharia delivering engaging speeches. Rs 1.33 lakh crore invested in last decade for robust drinking water and sewerage infrastructure: Hry Minister Chandigarh: Haryana Public Health Engineering and Public Works (Building and Roads) Minister Banwari Lal on Monday said that during the last about 10 years of the present government, an amount of Rs 1,33,343.36 crore has been spent on creating effective and enduring infrastructure for various drinking water and sewerage schemes in both urban and rural areas of the state. The Minister further detailed that Rs 575.50 crore has been spent for supply of clean drinking water to citizens through 294 canal water-based projects and 265 tube well-based projects across Haryana. Additionally, 4,861 new tube wells and 1,343 boosting stations have been constructed and become operational, with an investment of Rs 1,508.45 crore. He said that in 14 large villages across the state, the drinking water supply has been increased from 70 liters to 135 liters per person per day. Hry Govt working with the interest of all sections of society in mind: Kanwar Pal Gujjar Chandigarh: Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar on Monday said that the State Government is working in mind the interests of every section. By setting new dimensions in developmental work, the government has positioned the state among the leading states in the country. The government's Antyodaya Yojana has brought prosperity to poor families. Gujjar was hearing public grievances in Jagadhri town of Yamunanagar district. Haryana Right to Service Commission orders fine of Rs 5,000 on Meter reader Chandigarh: The Haryana Right to Service Commission has taken serious note of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) office in Jakhal (Fatehabad) and ordered a fine of Rs. 5,000 to be recovered from the meter reader. This penalty has been imposed due to the failure to provide the notified service within the stipulated time frame and the delay in completing the work. A dozen leaders join Congress after leaving INLD and JJP Rohtak: About a dozen leaders, who had left INLD and JJP on Monday joined Congress party in a programme in Rohtak in the presence of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The congress leader said that former president of Kiloi constituency INLD and Kisan Cell, Balwan Majra alias Ballu Nandal, former youth secretary of JJP and former district president of INSO Amit Majra, BJP's Shri Ram Yatra Cell Rohtak president Advocate Randeep Majra, Puneet Nandal, Rajesh Nandal and Joginder Narwal joined Congress along with their colleagues. In his address, Hooda said that the Padak Lao, Pad Pao scheme will be implemented again for sportspersons when the Congress government is formed in the state. He further said that the sportspersons will also be given a three percent quota in jobs again, and stadiums will be built in villages like before and all facilities will be provided in them to strengthen the sports infrastructure in the state. He said diet, allowances, coaching and all facilities will be given to children at school level to promote sports talent from the beginning. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath introduced four new ministers of his cabinet Om Prakash Rajbhar, Anil Kumar, Dara Singh Chauhan and Sunil Sharma in the state assembly on Monday. These four cabinet ministers were part of this assembly. I introduce them as part of the cabinet in this House, Yogi Adityanath said while speaking at the assembly. In the first expansion of the Yogi cabinet since March 2022, four new ministers, including Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, Bharatiya Janata Party MLC Dara Singh Chauhan, Rashtriya Lok Dal MLA from Purkazi (Muzaffarnagar) Anil Kumar and BJPs Sahibabad MLA Sunil Sharma were inducted into the Yogi cabinet on March 6 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. There are 57 ministers in the Yogi council of ministers. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana welcomed Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey who has been appointed as the leader of opposition of the House. I thank you for your gesture. The state is facing very serious issues currently; there is flood, law and order issues and corruption as well, Pandey said. In response, Speaker Satish Mahana said, We will discuss all of these. You are the leader of the opposition and you have the right to give notices, you will do it and we will discuss all of them. The government is ready to answer. Leader of opposition and Samajwadi Party MLA Mata Prasad Pandey greeted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as the assembly session kicked off. I will try my best to raise the issues of the deprived people, who have been neglected by this government, in the Vidhan Sabha. We will raise all issues whether it is in the matter of electricity, law and order, or governance, he said. It is a 5-day session. We have requested that the session be extended for another five days. Now the government has to decide how many days it will be. We will try to continue it further so that all the problems can be discussed, Pandey said. About 1500 candidates of the Opposition Congress in Haryana have submitted applications seeking ticket to contest the 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly elections scheduled to be held in October this year. Aspirants from all the 90 Constituencies have submitted applications seeking tickets. The last date of submission of applications is July 31. Talking to The Pioneer, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee Media head Kewal Dhingra said that about 1500 forms have been received from ticket aspirants so far. About 500 more applications are likely to receive from the ticket aspirants within the next two days, he added. Dhingra said that the Congress party had won five of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana recently. From 28 per cent in 2019 to beyond 44 per cent, we have had a significant increase in vote share. There is a wind of change in the Congress partys favour. The people of Haryana want a Congress government in the State. Overwhelming response also indicates that the party is on a good wicket and this is also because the workers sense the party has a good chance of retaining power. It is indeed a positive and encouraging sign. Party insiders said that this is much higher compared to the response the party generated in 2019. Large number of women party workers has also applied for poll tickets. There was also good response for the SC reserved seats. The number of applications from constituencies where thee party has sitting MLAs were about four or five on an average. Out of the current 29 Congress MLAs, 17 have already submitted their applications to get tickets again. Former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda has not yet submitted his application. Maximum applications are received from those assembly seats where Congress does not have sitting MLAs. There are many contenders who had applied for tickets in the Lok Sabha elections, but could not get the ticket, they have also staked claim for the ticket in the Assembly elections. Out of 90 Assembly seats in the State, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates. The number of ticket applicants for Assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates in the State is very high. 30 to 40 ticket applicants have submitted their application for each reserved seat. For Nilokheri SC reserved seat, about 40 applications have been received so far. The party has also roped in a private agency to verify credentials of new applicants, sources added. In early preparation for Assembly polls, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee has called for applications as it planned to finalise the list of candidates few weeks ahead of the announcement of Vidhan Sabha election date by the Election Commission of India. Of all the political parties, the Congress is the only one that charges a fee for filing an application for the Assembly ticket in Haryana. The application fee is Rs 20,000 for general category seats. Women aspirants and those from the Scheduled Caste and backward communities need to shell out Rs 5,000 each. However, there is no fee for the ticket seekers in the BJP, AAP, INLD and the JJP. On this, a senior Congress leader said that the party has decided to introduce a fee to ensure that only serious candidates submit the applications for the ticket. It will make it easier to scrutinise the applications, he said, adding that obviously it would also be helpful in generating funds for the party. While the BJP has a two-way system of nomination, which involves recommendation from the district unit and also from the party state unit, the INLD invites applications from aspirants for the ticket. A BJP leader said that the party has a vibrant and inclusive system to select the nominees for the ticket. We have a system of forming a panel on the basis of the recommendations of the district units which went up to the state and national leadership for a final decision, he added. The regional outfits- the INLD and JJP are yet to start their process of the identification of the candidates in the Assembly elections. The INLD leader said they didnt have any fee for the ticket though the party has a membership fee of Rs 25 whereas the JJP leader said the party had disbanded its district units and was now restructuring the units across the state. The party though has a membership fee of Rs 10. Talking to journalists, former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda recently said that the Congress party will give tickets to loyal, dedicated and winning candidates. Only one person will get a ticket on one Assembly seat and remaining aspirants will work to make the Party's candidate win. There is huge enthusiasm among the party workers and people at large and this time, Congress is going to form a Government with full majority in the state, he added. A two-members team of ED (Enforcement Directorate) officials from Ranchi reached Garhwa and pasted a notice under Section 82 CrPC of PMLA Court at the house of Hriday Narayan Tiwari located at Piprakala, Garhwa. The related notice has also been pasted on the District Advocates Association building as a public place. On reaching Garhwa, the officers reached the Garhwa police station, where the officer went to the house of Hriday Narayan Tiwari along with the security personnel and pasted the notice. The notice issued by Court of Prabhat Kumar Sharma AJC XVIII cum Special Judge of PMLA Act, Ranchi under Section of 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection of case no. ECIR02/2023 has been pasted by the ED team at the house of Hriday Narayan Tiwari located at Uma Bhawan Kachhari Road in Garhwa town. This notice has been pasted for the appearance of the accused in the court. According to the facts mentioned in the notice, the court had issued a notice under 82 CrPC for the presence of Hriday Narayan Tiwari. According to information received from sources, Hriday Narayan Tiwari, against whom notice has been pasted in Uma Bhawan near Mangal Bhawan, used to look after the accounts of Engineer Virendra Ram. His name came up during the court proceedings, in light of which a notice has been pasted today for his presence. The Yogi Adityanath government observed Community Participation Day on the seventh of the Shiksha Saptah celebrations held across Uttar Pradesh. The event aimed to encourage the spirit of community participation among students of council schools. During the event, experts from diverse fields shared their knowledge, skills and experiences with the children. They also emphasised the importance of education through the organisation of Shiksha Chaupal. The names of active volunteers who contributed to the education of council children were honoured on the Wall of Respect or the school notice board. Additionally, rallies were held to raise awareness, and street plays were organised to instill the spirit of community participation among the children. On the directive of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education department celebrated Shiksha Saptah from July 22 to 28/29 in council primary, upper primary, and Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools. The success of this event was made possible by the active participation of the community, with Community Participation Day highlighted on July 28/29. Under it, experts from various institutions shared their knowledge and skills with students according to their interests. Shiksha Chaupal sessions were also held at community, school or local institutions and the active volunteers were honoured on the school's Wall of Respect or notice board. Besides, principals, teachers and students wrote letters of thanks to volunteers. Rallies or street plays were also organised and the Volunteers Bano Abhiyan was launched in schools and communities with the support of the SMC. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday urged teachers to contribute to the country's development while addressing teachers at the state-level orientation programme for newly-appointed Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) held in Panchkula. He also distributed appointment letters among newly recruited TGT teachers and said within the next two days, the waiting list of TGTs, along with the detailed results, will be released with transparency. He congratulated the newly appointed TGTs and highlighted that in this result the daughters have achieved remarkable positions through their outstanding performance. Saini said these teachers will play a crucial role in shaping future generations to build a developed India. "A teacher must embody the spirit of promoting education. By spreading knowledge, you not only contribute to the growth of others but also elevate your own name and progress," he said. Taking a dig at previous administrations, the Chief Minister pointed out that before 2014, recruitment lists were often published in newspapers before the results were announced. In contrast, todays news highlights stories of individuals like the son of a rickshaw driver achieving the rank of HCS in Haryana. This shift, he emphasized, has been brought about by the current government over the past decade. He also highlighted that the present government has ensured transparency in government jobs, emphasizing merit without any corruption or undue influence. Over the last 10 years, the government has provided 141,000 jobs based on merit, without any cost or favoritism. He challenged the opposition to account for their actions during their tenure. Saini said that the results for 745 posts were announced in January 2024. Since then, thousands of recruitments have been completed for government positions from February to June. In July alone, 7,765 TGTs have been appointed. Congrats Manu Bhaker for her dual success at the Paris Olympics As Haryana shooter Manu Bhaker became the first Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics post-Independence the Chief Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the renowned shooter Bhaker for her dual success. He said the entire nation is proud of Haryana's athletes. Sleuths of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (UP ATS) claimed to have apprehended an accused absconding in connection with a case involving the operation of illegal SIM boxes registered in Azamgarh last year. According to an official communique released by the UP ATS on Tuesday evening, they exposed a gang operating illegal SIM boxes in 2023 and arrested Sarfaraz Alam, a resident of Bakhra village in Saraimeer police station area of Azamgarh. A large quantity of SIM boxes and related equipment were recovered during the raid. An FIR was registered under sections 420/120B IPC, 4/20/21/25 of the Indian Telegraph Act-1885, 3/6 of the Indian Wireless Network Act 1933, and 66/66D of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008 at the ATS police station in Lucknow. During the investigation and preliminary interrogation of the arrested accused, another suspect, Samiullah alias Samiullah Khan, son of Afaque Ahmed alias Afaque Alam, also from Bakhra village, Saraimeer police station area, Azamgarh, was identified. The ATS issued a Look-Out Circular (LOC) and a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against Samiullah. The ATS officials claimed that on Tuesday morning, they received information that Samiullah, who had been absconding, would arrive in Lucknow from Dubai. An ATS team immediately acted on this intelligence, stopping the accused at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. After verifying his identity, the ATS team took Samiullah into custody. The accused will now be presented before the designated court as per the legal process, and the ATS will seek his police custody remand to further interrogate him in the case. People applaud after the playing of the national anthem and before former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally last Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C. Alex Brandon/Associated Press Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris rally in front of San Francisco City Hall on July 22. Minh Connors/Associated Press WASHINGTON Republicans appear to have solidified one of their main attack lines against Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her a San Francisco liberal, a refrain they have been using against Democrats for decades. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Harris promotion to the top of the Democratic ticket wont really affect his efforts to win a Republican Senate majority. If you like San Francisco politics, you'll love Kamala Harris, Daines, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told a small group of reporters Tuesday morning. This is not Joe Biden, the Irish Catholic from Scranton, Pa. This is a San Francisco liberal that has now ascended to a nomination for the most important position political position in the world. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Calling Harris, who is typically seen as more of a centrist Democrat, a San Francisco liberal isnt new, but it could be an effective point of attack in a race where she appears to be courting the more moderate members of her party and independents. Republicans had already made a habit of singling out San Francisco even before Harris became the likely Democratic nominee, especially because of Gov. Gavin Newsoms role as a top surrogate for President Joe Biden. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted a video in June 2023 calling San Francisco a once great city that has collapsed because of leftist policies. Venture capitalist David Sacks, a San Francisco resident, told the Republican National Convention earlier this month that Democrat rule has turned the streets of our beautiful city into a cesspool of crime, homeless encampments and open drug use. Soon after President Joe Biden endorsed Harris after his decision to forgo his reelection bid, many Republicans quickly seized on her prior relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Fox News-turned-SiriusXM radio host Megyn Kelly posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week that Harris actually did sleep her way into and upwards in California politics. But many Republicans arent delving too deeply into Harris relationships or specific positions from her time as a San Francisco election official and are instead suggesting her affiliation with the city alone makes her too far left. Daines is not the only Republican to attempt to paint Harris as too liberal. Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have made similar comments, and former President Donald Trump also called her "the most incompetent, unpopular and far-left vice president in American history." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris radical positions from her 2019 campaign during which she opposed fracking, indicated she would consider abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, supported a mandatory buyback program for some guns and wanted an expansion of Medicare to all Americans will come back to bite her, Daines said. I believe that America is not ready to elect somebody that liberal, Daines said, citing George McGoverns loss in the 1972 election and Michael Dukakis in 1988. The American people rejected those kinds of nominees who were just so far left, he said. Mike Madrid, a California-based Republican strategist who has been an outspoken Trump critic, said Harris record as a San Francisco prosecutor opens her to criticism that she is too liberal and that she is responsible for crime in California. Republicans have been capitalizing on San Francisco since Reagan in the mid-80s, Madrid previously told the Chronicle, referring to the perception that the city is a far-left bastion. Its certainly surmountable, but it is an effective message. Daines claimed, without evidence, that Harris campaign scrubbed a portion of federal legislation transparency website GovTrack. GovTrack previously ranked Harris as the most liberal senator in 2019 and recently retracted that report, writing that ranking lawmakers on the data from a single year was not sufficient to create a reliable portrait of the activity of legislators. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He also said Harris campaign has got her in the bunker as theyre trying to reform her image and hide some very radical decisions shes taken over the years. Harris has traveled to six states since beginning her campaign July 21 and has been seen by the press nearly every day. The Trump campaign echoed many of the same talking points in an email attacking Harris on Tuesday, which included statements she made and positions she took while serving as San Franciscos district attorney and Californias attorney general. It includes points like She cackles about her socialist perspective. BJP veteran and Assams former Governor Gulab Chand Katarias arrival in the city, to assume the role of Punjabs 30th Governor and Chandigarhs 17th Administrator, has set the stage for a historic transition. Kataria, whose entry into the city was marked by ceremonial grandeur, is poised to take over from Banwari Lal Purohit, whose tenure has been a mix of triumphs and challenges. Katarias appointment marks the third time that a leader from Rajasthan has taken up the role of Administrator and Governor in Punjab and Chandigarh. Kataria made a notable entrance into Chandigarh, arriving with his wife Anita Kataria, at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport. They were greeted by Punjab Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora, who extended a warm welcome. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as the Governor-designate was escorted to the Punjab Raj Bhawan in a grand procession. Upon reaching the Raj Bhawan, Kataria was accorded a guard of honour by a contingent of the Punjab Police. This ceremonial tribute not only marked the significance of his new role but also symbolized the respect and anticipation surrounding his appointment. The meticulous arrangements reflected the gravity of the occasion and the high expectations that accompany the position. Swearing-In Ceremony The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday morning, is set to be a significant event in the city's political calendar. Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court will administer the oath of office to Kataria, officially marking the beginning of his tenure. Preparations for the ceremony are underway, with the administration ensuring that every detail is attended to, from the setup at the Raj Bhawan to the accommodation of distinguished guests. The ceremony will be a moment of transition, bringing together a host of dignitaries, including former Governor VP Singh Badnore. Having a long-standing association with Kataria, Badnore will be a special guest at the event. Their shared history, rooted in Rajasthans political landscape, will add a personal touch to the proceedings. Both leaders have been colleagues and friends for nearly five decades, and their collaboration in various political capacities add a layer of historical significance to Katarias appointment. Katarias swearing-in ceremony is not just a political event but a social occasion that will see around 200 guests arriving from Rajasthan to witness the proceedings. The UT Administration is working diligently to ensure that all arrangements for the guests are in place, from their accommodation to transportation. Six CTU buses have been earmarked to facilitate the movement of guests, reflecting the scale of the event and the importance of making every visitor feel welcome. Fond Farewell to Purohit As Kataria prepares to step into his new role, the city bade a heartfelt farewell to the outgoing Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, whose tenure has been marked by a mix of accomplishments and challenges, and his departure is accompanied by a sense of both reflection and resolution. In his valedictory address at the Punjab Raj Bhavan, Purohit called upon the people of Punjab to channel their efforts towards making the state prosperous. He emphasized that such progress is vital for Indias aspiration to become a global leader, or Vishwa Guru. Purohits address also highlighted the pressing issue of drug abuse, urging a collective effort to eradicate this societal menace. He expressed confidence in the resilience and determination of the people of Punjab, asserting that their large-heartedness would be instrumental in overcoming the drug crisis. Reflecting on his tenure, Purohit expressed his deep appreciation for the support and hospitality extended to him by both the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh Administration. His tenure saw various development initiatives, including efforts to secure a new medical college and an outer ring road for the region. These projects, he noted, are steps towards advancing the regions infrastructure and healthcare system. Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Amar Kumar Bauri on Monday sought answers from the government on the issue of Bangladeshi intrusion in many districts of the state. Talking to journalists in the assembly, the LoP said that the government of JMM, Congress and RJD is maintaining a mysterious silence especially on the question of soil, bread and daughter of the tribals. The government is ignoring the questions of the opposition. He said how the government is allowing the land of the tribals here to be looted and allowing atrocities on daughters. He said that there has been an unexpected decline in the population of tribals in Santhal Pargana and this is happening in the whole of Jharkhand. Jamran Hembram and Hopni Marandi's land was looted in Gayabthan of Maheshpur police station area of Pakur and when they tried to reclaim their land, Bangladeshis beat them up and chased them away. Even after the incident, no case was registered against the accused for several days. After political and social pressure, finally a case was registered on the 18th. He said that when the students of K M College tried to take out a public outrage rally against this loot on July 27, which was also informed to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district, the police and goons attacked the students late at night and beat them up a night before. Not only this, the police also tried to change the whole matter by calling it a case of kidnapping. The LoP said that this government is only wearing a mask of being a well-wisher of the tribals, while the truth is something else which is not hidden from anyone. He said that recently in Gopinathpur village of Pakur, people of the Muslim community of West Bengal, who are Bangladeshi infiltrators, attacked the villagers and carried out incidents of looting, assault, bombing, arson, clashes broke out between two communities during the Muharram procession in Taranagar, clashes broke out between two communities during the Muharram procession in Ilahinagar and Mahudi, the Palestinian flag was hoisted in the Muharram procession in many districts of the state and the government is demanding proof of this from the opposition. The LoP said that the district administration did not issue the caste certificate of a Mahadalit student who was to be enrolled in Navodaya Vidyalaya, saying that he did not have any Khatian. On the other hand, the government has issued Scheduled Caste certificates to Anahar Bibi, Sebi Bibi, Kalsoom Khatun, Taraful Bibi, Laful Bibi, Sulekha Bibi, who run food supply shops. This government is busy in settling such intruders by usurping the rights of not only the tribals but also the people of the scheduled caste community. The government officials are settling Bangladeshis by making fake Aadhaar cards, voter cards, caste certificates. The Leader of Opposition said that the SPT Act is applicable in the entire Santhal Pargana, despite this the government is settling intruders on the uncultivated land which is government land in a fraudulent manner. He said that in Sahibganj region's account number 187, Khasra 241, 243244, 258, 269, 272, 273, 293, 300, 302.329, 333, 338, 352, 355, 357, 36148, 65, 83, 84, 86, 88, 113114, 121, 127, 133, 138 and other account numbers, 17 acres of land on which a pond was already built, mosque and graveyard have been built and intruders have been settled there. Thousands of acres of such uncultivated land have been occupied and its mutation is also being done. Bauri demanded that the government should answer on these issues and form an SIT to investigate the entire matter. If the government does not have such an intention, then the government should give it in writing in the House and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the help of the Central Government, will get the entire matter investigated by the Central Agency and identify all the intruders and send them back to their country from here. Bahujan Samaj Party national president Mayawati has accused Samajwadi Party of misleading the Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak (PDA) communities to get their votes. She expressed her opinion after the new leader of the opposition was elected. BSP chief Mayawati wrote on social media platform X on Monday that SP chief did take votes of PDA by misleading them in the Lok Sabha general elections, especially under the guise of saving the Constitution, but the neglect they faced in making the leader of opposition in UP assembly was also a matter of concern. She further said that there was no place for PDA except one particular caste in SP. There is definitely no place for the Brahmin community (in SP) because the oppression and neglect they have faced in the Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party governments is not hidden from anyone. In fact, their development and uplift happened only in the BSP government. Therefore, these people must be careful, she pointed out. In fact, Mayawati gave her reaction to Mata Prasad Pandey being made the leader of the opposition in the UP assembly. On Sunday, SP announced the appointment of Mata Prasad Pandey as the leader of opposition in UP assembly. The post of leader of opposition in the assembly was vacant after Akhilesh Yadav was elected to Lok Sabha. Political analysts had expected that a leader from the PDA (Backward, Dalit and Minority) community would be chosen for this post. But the SP played a different card and tried to send a message to UP that despite talking about PDA, it was not ignoring the Brahmin community. In an unprecedented judgment, a Mohali Court on Tuesday handed down the largest conviction order in terms of the number of accused in a single case in Enforcement Directorate (ED) history. The court sentenced 17 individuals, including the kingpin Jagdish Singh Bhola a dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for their involvement in a Rs 6000 crore drugs trafficking-linked money-laundering case. Bhola, a former Arjuna awardee wrestler turned high-ranking police officer, was at the center of a vast narcotics smuggling and money-laundering network. Bholas fall from grace began when investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were launched in 2013. The investigation was triggered by eight First Information Reports (FIRs) filed at various police stations across Punjab during the tenure of the SAD-BJP government. In this landmark case, judgments have been delivered for four charge sheets, with three still pending. The special PMLA court not only sentenced Bhola but also fined him Rs 50,000, with an additional year of imprisonment if he fails to pay. With him, Manpreet, Sukhraj, Sukhjeet Sukha, Maninder, Davinder Singh Happy, and Avtar Singh were awarded 10-year RI. Besides, Bholas wife Gurpreet Kaur, Avtars wife Sandeep Kaur, Jagminder Kaur Aulakh, Gurmeet Kaur, Aramjit Singh, and Bholas father-in-law Dilip Mann were sentenced to three years each; while Gurpreet Singh, Subhash Bajaj, and Ankur Bajaj received five-year sentences. Of the total 23 accused, four are deceased, including Bholas father Balshinder, and two remain proclaimed offenders (POs). The judgment came days after Bholas father, Balshinder Singh, passed away on July 24. During Bholas visit to his village on July 26 for the funeral, he alleged that governments were conspiring against him. Bhola demanded a CBI investigation into the case, stating that if found guilty, he should be sentenced to death, and insisted he would never back down. The Legal Odyssey The ED's case against Bhola and his associates is one of the most significant in recent memory, both in scope and in the sheer volume of assets involved. Property worth Rs 95 crore has been provisionally attached, reflecting the immense scale of the drug smuggling operation. A former ED deputy director and lead investigator on the case Niranjan Singh expressed satisfaction with the courts decision, highlighting the meticulous and extensive investigation that led to these convictions. The investigation also uncovered that the accused had amassed property worth crores of rupees without paying any income tax. Their reported income was disproportionately high, indicating involvement in illicit activities. Consequently, the ED attached their assets, including luxurious bungalows, industrial plots, and other properties spanning from Mohali to various locations. The probe uncovered property worth over Rs 400 crore, amassed through drug trafficking, which has now been attached. The assets, located across various sites, were seized following a thorough investigation. Niranjan Singh noted that no action was taken during the 18-month COVID-19 period. Case Came to Light 11 Years Ago The case first came to light in 2013 when Punjab Police arrested Arjuna Award-winning wrestler Rustam-e-Hind and dismissed DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola. It was revealed that the racket extended from Punjab to international locations, causing a political and sporting uproar in the State. Questions were raised about several local leaders. Investigations uncovered an Rs 6,000 crore drug racket. In 2019, a CBI court sentenced 25 individuals under the NDPS Act in this matter. The Bhola Drugs case is a stark reminder of the pervasive and insidious nature of the drug trade in India. The operation reportedly involved smuggling synthetic drugs worth thousands of crores, with the proceeds being laundered through various channels. The case has exposed the deep-rooted connections between organized crime and corrupt officials, shedding light on the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating such networks. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while congratulating tiger lovers on International Tiger Day, has said that we are fortunate to have the maximum number of tigers in the country in Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal is the only capital in the country whose tigers roam freely around its municipal limits. It is a matter of pride that the Cheetah project is also active in the state, whereas Cheetah is not found anywhere in the whole of Asia. Keeping in view the balance of the ecosystem, the state government will continue to encourage the co-existence of different wild animals in different areas of the state. New tiger reserves will be developed in the areas of the state where there are no tigers. The tiger is our national animal, hence for the survival of the tiger in all the states, Madhya Pradesh will provide tigers to other states also. Yadav was addressing a state-level program at Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium on International Tiger Day. He inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp. Yadav inaugurated an exhibition on the International Tiger Day and also inspected it. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav released three books of the Forest Department on Voluntary Village Relocation: The Satpura Model, Pench Tiger Behavior Activities Kit-3 and Kanha Ki Kahaniyan respectively. Short films focusing on Tiger Warriors, Pench Land of Tiger, and Bison restoration were also screened on the occasion. Yadav also honoured forest workers and officers for their excellent work for the conservation of forests and wild animals. On this occasion, Forest Minister Ramniwas Rawat, Minister of State for Forests Dilip Ahirwar, Minister of State for Backward Classes and Minority Welfare (Independent Charge) Krishna Gaur was especially present. Yadav said that while the Cheetah Project is in progress in the state, activities are also going on to settle the cheetahs in the Gandhi Sagar area. He said that due to the conservation of wild animals and better management of the Tiger Reserve, the number of tourists is also increasing continuously. There are 7 tiger reserves present in the state. Forests generate revenue of about Rs 60 crore and more than 25 lakh tourists visit the state. The ongoing efforts for forest and wildlife conservation under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help in strengthening the ecosystem and local economy. He said that it is necessary to start efforts for the restoration of wild animals that have become extinct with time and also for the conservation of various species of snakes. Yadav honoured officers and forest employees for their excellent work for the conservation of forests and wild animals. Among those who were honoured are Deputy Forest Conservator of Indore Smt. Anubha Trivedi in forest crime Investigation category, Forest ranger of Panna Tiger Reserve Hridayesh Hari Bhargava, Forest Guard of Satpura Tiger Reserve Nandkishore Ahirwar, Assistant Mahavat of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in active wildlife management sector Neelam Singh, Health Officer of Panna Tiger Reserve Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Forest Conservator of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve Tarachand Gaur, Forest Guard of Pench Tiger Reserve Mohpat Singh Choudhary Assistant Forest Conservator Rajesh Mandawalia in wild life conservation catogry Deputy Forest Range Officer of Kanha Tiger Reserve Kunwar Singh Tekam and Forest Guard Rajesh Mehra of Tiger Strike Force Jabalpur. Under the wildlife rescue category, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav honoured Deputy Forest Officer of Forest Division Raisen, Sudhir Patle, and his team members Pravesh Patidar, Prabhat Yadav, Pritam Singh Jatav, Bhajan Sharma, Lal Singh Purvi, Sarjan Singh Meena, Parasram Malviya, Nitesh. Yadav and Shoaib Khan were honoured. Forest Guard of Van Vihar National Park, Jasman Singh Raghuvanshi was also honoured in this category. In the wildlife habitat category, workers of Satpura Tiger Reserve including Shri Shivji, son of Shri Surju, forest guard of Madhav National Park, Shri Pran Singh Sohare, in the tourism category, security workers of Dewas range, Shri Jogendra Singh, the acting forester Shri Gopal Singh Chauhan and the forest guards of Van Vihar National Park Shri Roop Kumar Mehar was honoured. Assistant District Prosecution Officer Chhindwara Shri Abhaydeep Singh Thakur, Wildlife Expert Dr. Prashant Deshmukh of Wildlife Conservation Trust, Bhopal, and Shri Manoj Singh Dhurve, security worker of Pench Tiger Reserve, were also honoured by Chief Minister Dr. Yadav. It is necessary to encourage public participation in the conservation of forests and wild animals Forest Minister Shri Ramniwas Rawat said that the conservation of wild animals helps maintain the balance of the ecosystem. It is a matter of pride that Madhya Pradesh is known as Tiger State in the entire country. Conservation and promotion of forests and wildlife is taking place only with the cooperation of the Forest Department and the forest staff working in remote forest areas. He expressed the need to provide information about the lifestyle of wild animals at the school level to make Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modis call of Mission Life successful and to conserve biodiversity. Minister of State for Forests, Shri Dilip Ahirwar said that the Forest Department is also conducting various activities to encourage public participation in the activities being carried out for the conservation of the ecosystem, forests, and wild animals. Additional Chief Secretary Forest Shri Ashok Barnawal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Shri Aseem Srivastava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Shri Shubharanjan Singh, officers and employees of the Forest Department and tiger lovers were present in the program. Congress general secretary and former in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Monday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over the poor state of affairs of the government-run hospitals. Priyanka Vadra took to the social media handle X to target the health services in Uttar Pradesh. She wrote, If writer Dharamvir Bharti ji was alive today, instead of writing Himalayas on a handcart, he would have written Health services of UP on a handcart. This creation would not have described the beauty of the Himalayas, but would have been a grotesque description of the immense suffering of the people and the chaos in the state. She added. There is no hospital for treatment; if there is a hospital, there is no ambulance, if you reach the hospital on a handcart with unbearable pain of a broken bone, there is no doctor. The patient is told, there is no orthopedic doctor, come after three days. The promise was of good days, but here the people are struggling to save their lives. It may be mentioned that in a distressing incident in Bulandshahr district, the video of which went viral on Monday, a patient with broken bones was turned away from a local hospital due to the absence of an orthopedic doctor. The hospital staff informed the family that no orthopedic specialist was available and advised them to return in three days. The patient, in immense pain, was left with no immediate medical care. His son, visibly anxious, was seen wandering around on a cart with his ailing father, seeking help. This heart-wrenching scene underscores the challenges faced by patients in accessing timely and adequate medical treatment, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources. The video, capturing their struggle, highlights the urgent need for improved healthcare facilities and personnel in remote regions to prevent such distressing situations in the future. The Supreme Court heard the Enforcement Directorate (ED)s petition seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the High Court. Chief Minister Hemant got a big relief in the hearing. The apex court has rejected the ED's petition. The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the order of the Jharkhand High Court in the money laundering case related to the land scam. It is worth noting that the matter was heard in a division bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan. The Supreme Court dismissed the SLP saying that the lower court should continue its hearing without being influenced by the comments made by the High Court while granting bail to Hemant Soren. Earlier, the Jharkhand High Court, while granting bail to Soren, had said, looking at the case, there is no possibility of the petitioner committing a crime of similar nature. Opposing Soren's bail plea, the ED had alleged that he had misused his position of Chief Minister to illegally acquire 8.86 acres of land in the Badgam zone in the state capital. The ED had claimed that during the investigation, Soren's media advisor Abhishek Prasad had admitted that the former chief minister had instructed him to manipulate official data to change the ownership of the said plot. The ED had said, when the plot was being encroached, its real owner Rajkumar Pahan tried to lodge a complaint, but no action was ever taken on it. "We find a very well-reasoned judgement has been rendered by the single judge (of the high court). We don't want to observe anything more... if we observe, you (ED) might be in difficulty," remarked the bench, indicating satisfaction with the high courts rationale and a reluctance to delve further into the matter. Soren's lawyer had claimed that Soren was falsely implicated in the case by the central agency. The ED had maintained that it had detailed statements indicating Soren's involvement, with Raju asserting the presence of such evidence during the hearing. Earlier, five months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case linked to a probe into a land scam, JMM leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren stepped out of the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi on June 28 last following grant of bail by the Jharkhand High Court. The single-judge bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, while granting bail, said the courts findings satisfy the condition that there exist reasons to believe that Soren is not guilty of the PMLA offence he has been accused of. Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon tabled a supplementary Budget of Rs 4,833.39 crore for the financial year 2024-25 amidst the disruptions. The budget will be discussed on Tuesday. Out of total budgetary allocations Women Child Development and Social Security Department has got Rs 1114 crores, Panchayati Raj Department has got Rs 756 crores, School Education and Literacy Department has got Rs 584 crores, Home Prison and Disaster Management Department has got Rs 494 crores, ST SC and Backward Class Welfare Department has got Rs 429 crores. Meanwhile, the second day of monsoon session witnessed uproar. As soon as the proceedings of the House started, the uproar of BJP MLAs started regarding the Pakur incident. Despite the Speaker's request, the uproar of BJP MLAs continued in the well. During this, BJP MLAs were also raising the question of Bangladeshi infiltration. Sloganeering was continuously being done against the Hemant government. As the session began at 11 am, BJP members stormed the well of the House, demanding government's response to the high court's directive to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators in the Santhal Parganas region and police's alleged atrocities on tribal students by Police at Pakur. The initial uproar forced the first adjournment at 11:26 am until 12:30 pm. When the session resumed at 12:35 pm, chaos persisted, eventually leading to another adjournment at 12:40 pm, with the House scheduled to reconvene at 11 am the next day. Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto repeatedly appealed to BJP leaders to return to their seats and allow the House to function smoothly, but they continued their protests unabated. Leader of the opposition, Amar Kumar Bauri, accused the government of not listening to the voice of people, claiming that lands of two tribals were allegedly grabbed by infiltrators in Pakur. "When they raised their voices against land grabbing, they were beaten. The tribals are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dumka," he alleged. Bauri said when Adivasi Chatra Sangh decided to protest against Bangladeshi infiltrators, police entered KKM College in Pakur and beat them. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Amar Kumar Bauri, said, "The countdown of the JMM-led ruling alliance government has started. So, we want the government's reply to several issues such as Bangladeshi infiltration, demographic change and corruption." The six-day monsoon session of the assembly began on Friday. Bauri alleged that the tribal population has been dwindling in Jharkhand's Santhal Pargana region, while the population of Bangladeshi infiltrators are rising but the government is silent over the issue. The tribal population in Santhal Pargana was at 44 per cent in 1951, which declined to 28 per cent in the 2011 census. On the other hand, the Muslim population, which was at nine per cent, rose to 22 per cent in the same period. We will seek a reply from the government about what it did to protect the tribal population in the Santhal Pargana region," he said. The session will be upto August 2 and there will be six seatings. This will be the last session of the fifth Jharkhand Assembly before elections. The Vidyanjali program was organised in Shiksha Shikhar to commemorate the initiative taken by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 07, 2021 with an aim of strengthening school education through the community. On this occasion, Retired Army Officer Colonel Virendra Mishra, Rakesh Choudhary, Principal of Eklavya School, Dhar, Vikas Tyagi reporter of 'The Pioneer' Newspaper, Vikram Baghel Retired Senior Intelligence officer in DRI, New Delhi and Mrs. Kanta Sodani an active Social Worker have attended the program and gave motivational speeches to students. All the distinguished guest inspired the students with their inspirational and motivational stories and real life experiences. The guests also planted saplings in the School. Director of Siksha Sikhar Captain Ashok Maheshwari proposed vote of Thanks. Principal of the school Mrs Jyoti Maheshwari and all the teachers were also present. In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said those who used to call themselves "very powerful" are not able to remove the person who caused their defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking during the discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, Yadav got into a verbal duel with the treasury benches several times. "Since they (BJP) have lost in Uttar Pradesh, no one is doing namaskar, that is what your issue is. We have seen that video in which one person is not doing namaste to the other," Yadav said referring to the purported video that did the rounds on social media claiming that Adityanath did not greet Prime Minister Modi at a meeting in Delhi. However, that video has been fact-checked by many pointing out that Adityanath did greet Prime Minister Modi. "Those who used to call themselves very powerful are not able to remove the person who caused their defeat," Yadav said, hinting at certain reports claiming that the BJP was looking to change the chief minister following the poor showing in the Lok Sabha polls. Questioning the stability of the BJP-led NDA regime, Yadav also said this is not a government that will run smoothly but the one which is bound to fall. "Ye chalne wali sarkar nahi hai girne wali sarkar hai... (This government is not one that will endure, it is one that will fall)," he added. Highlighting his party's stance on various issues, including the Agnipath scheme, the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief said that when they come to power they will scrap it. "We Samajwadis can never accept Agniveer. Whenever we come to power, within a year or two, we will scrap it," he said. In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the INDIA bloc comprising the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress won 43 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats, while the BJP-led NDA won 36. The NDA had won 64 seats in 2019. People walk through the halls of the District Attorney Office at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. Michael Short/Special to the Chronicle The state Supreme Court reinstated a lawsuit Monday by a Black woman who was working at the San Francisco District Attorney Office in 2015 when a co-worker called her a n and a supervisor allegedly derided her for complaining about it. Twanda Baileys suit against the city had been dismissed by lower courts, who said one racial slur was not enough to support a claim of workplace harassment or discrimination. The states high court unanimously disagreed, saying a single incident can be grounds for a lawsuit if it is sufficiently severe in light of the totality of the circumstances. The N-word carries with it, not just the stab of present insult, but the stinging barbs of history, which catch and tear at the psyche the way thorns tear at the skin, Justice Kelli Evans, one of the courts three Black members, said in the 7-0 ruling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bailey, hired by the district attorneys office in 2001, was working as an investigative assistant under then-District Attorney George Gascon in January 2015 when Sanas Larkin, who sat next to her, told her she had seen a mouse run under Baileys desk. According to her lawsuit, after Bailey jumped out of her chair, Larkin walked up to her and said, You ns is so scary. Bailey said she did not report the incident immediately because other Black workers had been harassed after making similar complaints. When she eventually filed a report, she said, she was referred to her departments personnel manager, Evette Taylor-Monachino, a close friend of Larkins. Taylor-Monachino refused to file a complaint with the office or separate Larkin from Bailey at work, saying it would create an appearance of wrongdoing, the suit said. After Bailey filed her own complaint, the offices Department of Human Resources said it would not take action because a single comment was not enough to create an abusive working environment. Bailey said Taylor-Monachino also told her she should not have told her co-workers about the incident, and began insulting and glaring at her. In August 2015, Bailey said, the personnel manager drove alongside her in a parking lot and told her, You are going to get it. After taking a six-week leave recommended by her psychiatrist, Bailey sued the office and the city for harassment and discrimination. Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn dismissed the suit and was upheld by the 1st District Court of Appeal, which said a single racial epithet from a co-worker is not as offensive or harassing as similar conduct by a supervisor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But in Mondays ruling, the state Supreme Court said that coworkers who share a physical space might find that harassment more quickly alters the conditions of their employment than harassment by a supervisor. Where a supervisor allows a harassing subordinate to act with impunity or appears to ratify their conduct, this may imbue the subordinate with a certain degree of authority to alter the working conditions of their coworkers, Evans wrote. Noting that Bailey and Larkin shared an office and work duties, Evans said, Although it was not physically threatening, a jury could find that use of the slur was degrading and humiliating in the extreme. The episode caused a nervous breakdown and ended Baileys career, her lawyer, Daniel Bacon, said Monday. With the ruling, he said, the California Supreme Court has protected employees from being harassed by coworkers with a single utterance of an epithet by ruling that such cases demand that the courts conduct a thorough analysis of the totality of the circumstances. Taylor-Monachino is also no longer a city employee, said Jen Kwart, spokesperson for City Attorney David Chiu. In response to the ruling, Kwart said San Francisco does not condone or tolerate the use of the language at issue in this case and took immediate, corrective action. We are disappointed that those corrective actions were not enough for the Court. We are reviewing the decision and will take any appropriate next steps. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita on Tuesday hit out at the BJP saying their politics is about "hatred" and "stopping" the work of residents of the national capital even as she stressed that her husband's life is in danger in Tihar. Addressing the INDIA bloc rally here at Jantar Mantar, Sunita Kejriwal alleged that her husband was framed in the excise policy case on the basis of one statement. "Why did the ED (Enforcement Directorate) arrest Kejriwal? It was because of a conspiracy and pressure. "The trial court grated bail to him. But the Centre initiated twin actions -- the ED took a stay on the bail and the CBI (central Bureau of Investigation)arrested him. He has been suffering from diabetes for last 22 years but we had to approach the court to get him insulin," she said. Talking about the health condition of her husband, Sunita said there is a sensor tied to his arm that records his sugar levels. "If sugar levels go down below 50, the patient starts shivering. While he was at home, such things happened once in five months and we would give him something sweet to stabilise him. But a few days back, we learnt that in jail his sugar levels have gone down multiple times," she said. The AAP has been accusing the BJP of "conspiring to kill" Kejriwal in jail and cited his medical report to show that his sugar levels have fallen 34 times between June 3 and July 7. "I am thankful to God that nothing untoward happened with him. His life is in danger. Recently LG sir wrote a letter saying that chief minister is "wilfully" reducing his food intake. "What joke this is! He also said he is taking less insulin. When sugar levels are high, then insulin is administered," she said. Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "Is this not dictatorship and conspiracy of the BJP? They have framed him in a fake case to stop the work of people of Delhi. He would always fight to ensure that the work of people does not suffer." Heavy rains triggered a series of massive landslides in the hilly areas of Kerala's Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving at least 45 persons dead and sparking apprehensions of possible increase in fatalities due to hundreds of people feared trapped under the debris. Calamity struck in the early hours of Tuesday, catching the sleeping victims off-guard. Frantic calls for help were made and the rescue personnel were racing against time to pull out survivors. According to the district collector Meghasree D R, the latest toll stood at 45. In connection with the landslide in Chooralmala she confirmed that 36 deaths have been reported. Additionally, nine bodies swept away by the Chaliyar River were recovered in Malappuram. The bodies of the deceased are being taken to various hospital morgues for identification and autopsy. Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said. Rescue teams were working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded, with the Indian Army joining the efforts. Besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state government has also deployed disaster response teams from the police and the fire force to affected areas. Hundreds are feared to be trapped in the landslides, but authorities have not confirmed this. Frantic phone calls made by people desperately pleading for help after being trapped under destroyed houses and piles of debris highlighted the intensity of the deadly landslide. Television channels aired heartwrenching phone conversations of several people crying and pleading to be rescued, as they were either trapped in their houses or had no way to travel due to washed-away bridges and flooded roads. In one such conversation, a woman, apparently a native of Chooralmala town, was heard crying aloud, saying someone in her house was trapped under marsh and debris and they could not pull her out. "Someone, please come and help us. We have lost our house. We don't know whether Nausheen (apparently a family member) is alive. She is trapped in the marsh. Her mouth is full of marsh and sand. Our house is in the town itself," the woman said. State Revenue Minister K Rajan said that over 70 people who were injured in the landslides have been admitted to various hospitals. The Kerala government has sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations. A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts. The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area. Their deployment aims to augment existing rescue operations and provide relief to those affected by the landslides. Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in Chooralmala town of the district. A one-year-old child of a family from Nepal died in Thondernad village, according to the Wayanad district authorities. Besides that, three bodies, including that of a five-year-old, were recovered from the banks of a river near Pothukal village, authorities said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and said he spoke to Cihef Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state. "Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured. "Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there," Modi said in a post on social media platform 'X'. The landslides left a trail of destruction, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen, and trees uprooted, hampering rescue operations. Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty until Monday--Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha- are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places. Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places. Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction. Huge boulders rolled down the hills and hindered the path of rescue workers. Collector Meghasree said disaster relief work is progressing in affected areas and rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF, fire force, police, and the Forest, Revenue and Local Self-government departments. Along with government agencies, volunteers and local residents are cooperating in the rescue operation, she said in a statement. The Collector also informed that the shutter of Banasura Sagar dam, on the Karamanthodu river, was opened and warned those living downstream and in low-lying areas to be cautious. Earlier, in a video message, UDF MLA T Siddique said that district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from Mundakkai area. "Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places," he said. Vijayan said in a Facebook post that two Air Force helicopters will depart for Wayanad from Sulur (Coimbatore in TN) shortly to take part in the search and rescue operations. The mobile internet connection was restored in Bangladesh on Sunday, 10 days after it was restricted by the authorities across the country to stop the spread of fake news on social media amidst the deadly nationwide violence over reforms in the quota system in government jobs. Addressing a press conference here, Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced that 5GB internet will be given for free to all users for three days after the connection is restored, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The mobile internet connectivity was restored at around 3:00 pm local time. Users of Robi, Grameenphone, Banglalink and other operators in Dhaka said they could access the internet through their phones around 3 pm, the report said. On July 18, the government shut down mobile internet following the escalation of violence across the country. At the time, Palak said 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 newspaper reported. The next day, amid escalating violence, the Department of Disaster Management building was set on fire, adjacent to which was a data centre. While Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) officials said that the fire might cut 30-40 per cent of the bandwidth supply, broadband internet connection for the entire country was disrupted within an hour. Bangladesh stayed disconnected from both broadband and mobile internet between July 18 and July 23, when broadband internet was restored in stages. However, mobile internet remained unavailable until Sunday. Regarding access to social media platforms, Palak said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has sent letters to authorities of social media platforms, including 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. The BTRC is responsible for regulating all matters related to telecommunications in Bangladesh. Bangladesh witnessed violent clashes between the police and mostly student protesters demanding an end to a controversial quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladeshs War of Independence in 1971. The internet and mobile services were snapped following the countrywide violence. On Monday last, the apex court slashed the veterans quota to just 5 per cent. Thus, 93 per cent of civil service jobs will be merit-based while the remaining 2 per cent reserved for members of ethnic minorities, transgender and physically challenged people. The violence has reportedly killed more than 100 people, according to local newspapers. However, there are no official figures available for deaths. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday defended her decision to enforce a curfew with a shoot-on-sight order following the clashes, asserting that tough measures were taken to ensure the security of the lives and properties of the people. Bangladesh crawled back to normalcy on Wednesday with rush hour traffic returning to streets in the capital, and limited reopening of banks, garment factories and internet services. Raging U.S. wildfires cause evacuations, health alerts Xinhua) 16:35, July 30, 2024 SACRAMENTO, the United States, July 29 (Xinhua) -- As firefighters in Northern California continued battling the country's largest active fire, a new blaze raged Northern Colorado on Monday, prompting evacuations and causing unhealthy air quality alerts. The Park Fire in Northern California has become the largest wildfire in the state so far this year and the sixth-largest in the state's history. It has consumed 373,357 acres (1,511 square km) across four counties. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that the blaze was 12 percent contained on Monday afternoon. The fire's rapid spread has been fueled by abundant vegetation and one of the area's hottest, driest summers on record. The Park Fire's destructive path also left 109 structures destroyed and five others damaged, with over 4,200 more under threat. Authorities believed the fire was deliberately set in a park near Chico last Wednesday afternoon. A 42-year-old Chico resident has been arrested and charged with felony arson in connection with the incident. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the Park Fire and Gold Complex fires last week. The latter, which started a week ago, has burned 3,007 acres and was 98 percent contained by Monday, according to Cal Fire. The Park Fire is currently the largest fire burning in the nation, surpassing the Durkee Fire in eastern Oregon, which has burned through 293,390 acres. The massive firefighting effort involved more than 4,876 personnel, 33 helicopters and 434 fire engines. Meanwhile, in Northern Colorado, the Alexander Mountain Fire erupted Monday morning near Roosevelt National Park and has quickly grown to 864 acres by the afternoon. The rapid expansion of this blaze forced the evacuation of more than 2,600 people, with at least 1,500 receiving voluntary evacuation notices, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. California is grappling with yet another significant wildfire -- the Borel Fire in Kern County. This blaze, which began on July 24 after a car caught on fire in an accident, has already scorched 53,010 acres and had zero containment as of Monday. The fire's swift advance through dry vegetation, exacerbated by hot, humid and windy conditions, has impacted several communities. The widespread wildfires threatened lives and property and severely impacted air quality across the Western United States. Smoke from the fires in Northern California and Oregon spread across several states, including Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow air quality data indicated the air was unhealthy for people with health issues in most wildfire-affected areas. The National Weather Service's Sacramento branch warned that the pollution would likely persist and potentially worsen as smoke settles into valleys where fires are burning. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A poster seen near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday thanks President Joe Biden for proposing Supreme Court reforms. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Court Accountability Eighteen-year term limits for Supreme Court justices, the centerpiece of President Joe Bidens proposed overhaul of the court, have virtually no chance of approval in the current Congress. But even if a newly elected Congress passed such a law, it would be subject to constitutional challenge and the justices would probably have the last word. Since 1788, when the U.S. Constitution became law, Article III has declared that all federal judges shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour for life, unless they retire or are impeached and removed by Congress. At the time, Americans life expectancy was about 38 years, or half of what it is now. And as advocates of term limits have noted, Article III does not specify that judges must serve on the same court for life. Bidens plan, announced Monday, would allow future presidents to nominate a new Supreme Court justice every two years, and require the justices to leave the court after 18 years. They would continue to serve as senior judges on lower courts, and could return to the Supreme Court to temporarily fill a vacancy caused by a justices departure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And although Biden has not expressly called for expanding the court, his proposal would have that effect once a president named a new justice to a court that already had nine members. The Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869, but its size is determined by Congress and is not limited by the Constitution. Without such dramatic changes, the high court is likely to continue for a decade or more with the 6-3 conservative majority it gained when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refused in 2016 to consider President Barack Obamas choice of a successor to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, then speedily won confirmation in 2020 of President Donald Trumps nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The United States is the only major constitutional democracy that gives lifetime seats to its high court, Biden said in a Washington Post column describing his plan. Term limits, he said, would reduce the chance that any single presidency radically alters the makeup of the court for generations to come. He could cite support from an unlikely source Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote a memo favorable to term limits in 1983 when he was an assistant to the White House counsel under President Ronald Reagan. Setting a term of, say, 15 years would ensure that federal judges would not lose all touch with reality through decades of ivory tower existence, Roberts declared, 22 years before his appointment to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Similar legislation has been proposed in Congress, including a bill co-sponsored in October by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., which has not advanced beyond its first Senate committee. With term limits and an enforced Supreme Court ethics standard, another part of Bidens proposal, Padilla said Monday, we can help restore fairness to a judicial system that determines the fate of our most fundamental freedoms, from a womans right to choose to gun safety to civil rights. Life tenure may have made sense in pre-colonial times, but not anymore, said Gabe Roth, executive director of the liberal group Fix the Court. No one in a democracy (or in a republic) should hold as much power as the justices have arrogated to themselves for 30, 35 or 40 or more years. But unless it is proposed as a constitutional amendment, which would require two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate and approval from three-fourths of the states, any such legislation would be immediately challenged in court. And its prospects would be uncertain at best. Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley, said he supports term limits but thinks a congressional measure would be ruled unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has long relied on history and tradition in interpreting the Constitution, Chemerinsky said, and history and tradition always has been that a Supreme Court justice has the position for life, unless the justice resigns or is impeached and removed. If a justice is required to transfer to a lower court after 18 years, he said, they are not functioning as a justice in the way it always has been understood. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A similar assessment came from the more conservative Michael McConnell, a Stanford law professor and former federal appeals court judge. Justices are not just guaranteed tenure in some office, but in the office to which they were appointed, McConnell said. A different view came from 30 current and former law professors, who signed a letter in 2020 endorsing a term-limits measure sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, which likewise failed to advance. Though the bill is not perfect, we believe it to be a critical piece in prescribing how our countrys leaders can work to de-politicize the Supreme Court and its confirmation process, they wrote. But as the conservative legal-advocacy group Liberty Counsel observed on Monday, the constitutionality of such a law would almost certainly be determined by the justices whose terms would be subject to the proposed limits. Forcing a Supreme Court justice to transfer to a lower court after 18 years would be a serious demotion and punishment precisely the kind that our (Constitutions) Framers intended to avoid, Liberty Counsel attorney Harry Mihet contended in an online post. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And, he added, would anyone venture a bet against a unanimous decision (by liberal and conservative justices alike) that term limits cannot be legislatively enacted? Yes, said David Sloss, a Santa Clara University law professor as soon as an expanded court can consider whether its new members can be required to leave after 18 years. Kamala Harris greets supporters at a election night rally on Nov. 9, 2016, in Los Angeles. Harris ditched her prepared victory speech to reflect the election of Donald Trump. Chris Carlson/Associated Press Vice President Kamala Harris first week as the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee has been surprisingly strong, raising more than $200 million and drawing millions of volunteers. One reason for Harris early success is because she has remained squarely in her political sweet spot: fight mode. Read also: Road map of Kamala Harris early life in the Bay Area Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris early pugilism is reminiscent of two scenes from her California past, one from the first race she ran and one from the last. It is reminding longtime associates of how Harris is appearing comfortable in her skin, a longtime former prosecutor taking the fight to Donald Trump. When we fight, we win! Harris said to close her first speech in Milwaukee after President Joe Biden vacated the nomination and endorsed her. It is a stock line that Harris has heard and repeated at rallies from the time she grew up in the Bay Area as the child of activist academics and scientists until she repeated it as a candidate years later. Shes fighting in a way that Biden couldnt, and in the same way that Trumps own supporters are drawn to how they perceive he fights for them. Fight mode is a natural fit with Harris fledgling second presidential campaign as she tries to frame the race as the prosecutor versus the felon. And being laser-focused in that stance makes it easier for Harris to avoid the pitfalls of her failed 2019 presidential campaign. Like the hazy, often contradictory positions she took on key issues (her support, sort of, for Medicare for All), which often led to confusing word salads in which she tried to explain mutating or poorly thought-out policy stances. Part of why Harris is best in fight mode is that it is largely devoid of the nuances of finessing a political position. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its very early in this sprint presidential campaign, but so far that word-salad version of Harris hasnt emerged. As a result, Democrats, energized by being relieved of the burden of dragging an enfeebled Biden across the finish line, have rallied around her as the campaign says it has raised $200 million and attracted 360,000 new volunteers since the switch. This is the authentic Kamala, Jim Stearns, the campaign consultant on her first district attorney race in San Francisco, told me Monday. When she ran for president in 2019, being a prosecutor was seen by many as a negative. She couldnt lean into her own authentic background as much as she would have liked to. When she was running for district attorney (in 2003), she was. She feels that way to me now. Its not just fight mode. She can authentically embrace her whole experience as a prosecutor and as a progressive, he said. In the first race for district attorney in 2003, Harris male opponents dogged her with insinuations that she would be soft on former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who openly dated Harris for about a year in the mid-1990s when Brown had been separated from his wife for a decade. (Harris and Brown broke up before he took office as mayor.) Brown appointed Harris to two statewide commissions and introduced her to the citys moneyed elite while she held a job as a prosecutor in the East Bay. But that was several years before she began her first run for office. That time lag didnt matter to Terence Hallinan, the progressive district attorney on her left and Bill Fazio, a prosecutor who was running to Harris right. Before a debate at the Noe Valley Ministry, Stearns, Harris and her campaign team planned for how to respond to a likely Brown attack. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stearns has always believed that if an opponent is going to hammer you with a negative, you have to make them pay a price. So they planned a counterpunch, and Harris had zero concerns about having a tough response, Stearns said. She just was, and is today, very careful and wants things to be well-planned, Stearns said. She didnt want any unanticipated blowback. So the question wasnt, Should we punch? but How do we land it? Stearns and Harris did some last-minute prepping as they drove to the debate together. Just before they got out of the car, Stearns recalled asking her about the planned counterpunch. Are you ready? Stearns asked. Were going to do this, right? And she said, We are going to do this, Jim. Were going to it. The moment unfolded just as planned when an audience member asked Harris if she was going to be tough on Brown if elected. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris rose from her seat and told the audience that she wanted to focus on the issues that mattered to them, not answer to distractions that her opponents were firing at her. And then she stood behind Hallinan, Stearns recalled, and said, Remember how you explained how Bill Fazio was caught in a police raid in a massage parlor? And then she stood behind Fazio and said, Remember how you accused the people working in Hallinans office of having sex on the desks in the office? After covering her opponents with their own dirty laundry, Stearns recalled, Harris turned to the audience and said, I pledge to you that I will remain focused on the issues. The audience stood and cheered the political jujitsu. The Brown attack had been largely defanged, at least in that race. It has been revived in this campaign, however, fueled by racist and sexist online memes calling Harris a Jezebel. Fox News-turned-SiriusXM radio host Megyn Kelly posted on X last week that Harris actually did sleep her way into and upwards in California politics. But Stearns doesnt expect those attacks to land 20 years after Harris first faced them in the San Francisco political world she would describe as a knife fight in a phone booth. It toughened her. She impressed me as a very tough person the very first time I met her, Stearns said. She got a little glint in her eye when talking about challenges before her. There was never any kind of wilting flower to her. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Harris went into fight mode again when she ran for Senate in 2016. Harris largely cleared the field of Democratic challengers in January 2015, and cruised to victory over Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez. One of the calling cards of her electoral career is that when she makes a decision, she goes hard and she goes fast, said Brian Brokaw, the Sacramento consultant who piloted her Senate run. Shes been accused of being too deliberative or too slow or too cautious. But once she came out of the gate (in that Senate race), there was no turning back. But Harris did make an adjustment on Election Night. Many, based on errant polling, believed that Harris would be the first Black and Indian American woman to represent California in the Senate at the same time that Hillary Clinton would be the nations first female president. But the early results showed that wasnt going to happen. So Harris ditched the speech she had prepared to deliver to supporters at the Exchange LA club in Los Angeles. Through the course of the night it became apparent what was happening nationally, and I just went out there and kind of just riffed on what I felt in that moment, Harris told the Chronicle later. Harris told the audience that when our fundamental values are being attacked we fight for immigration reform, civil rights, abortion rights and truth and transparency. She would foreshadow her role as a leader of the anti-Trump resistance by asking that night: Do we retreat or do we fight? I say we fight. And I intend to fight. Harris would go on to lead the resistance from her new backbench seat in the Senate. She created viral moments grilling Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Attorneys General Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr and others during Senate committee hearings. Now, Brokaw said, she is doing the same thing. A Waymo driverless vehicle passes Coit Tower in San Francisco in May. That month the company increased the number of its robotaxis in the city. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The month before Waymo opened its driverless robotaxis to anyone in San Francisco, the company significantly expanded its presence in the city in May with more than 133,000 paid trips, or roughly 4,300 per day. Waymo rapidly expanded its driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco and Los Angeles that month, with more than 200,000 people riding its autonomous vehicles, most of them in San Francisco. Advertisement Article continues below this ad May represented the Alphabet-backed companys biggest month-to-month increase in its robotaxi service since it began commercial operations in the state last fall. The jolt in activity cemented San Francisco as the most popular U.S. market for Waymos robotaxis, which also operate in Phoenix. The autonomous vehicle company has noticeably increased its ride-hailing activity almost every month since last August, when the California Public Utilities Commission allowed Waymo to commercially operate in the city. But the latest driverless ride-hailing data the company reported to the commission suggest Waymo has surged its rate of expansion in recent months. The companys robotaxis, for example, logged more than 903,000 vehicle miles traveled during commercial driverless ride-hailing in May. That figure reflects a 57% increase from April, when it logged 573,000 vehicular miles. Its worth noting that those numbers are for activity in California, which now includes mileage that Waymo robotaxis have logged in Los Angeles, where the company charges driverless rides to a limited pool of users. The latest ride-hailing data, which is as recent as May, does not include activity in the Peninsula, where Waymos robotaxis are currently testing with company employees ahead of its expected launch there. Nor does the data show how the company has expanded its commercial operations since opening its ride-hailing app to anyone in San Francisco in June. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Waymo attributed its activity spike in May to several factors. For one, the company says it increased the size of its robotaxi fleet in San Francisco that month. Waymo operates about 300 driverless cars in the city, up from the roughly 250 robotaxis it used to start commercial service last August. Statewide, the company has 778 vehicles listed under its deployment permit, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Its unclear exactly how many of those vehicles Waymo is currently using for commercial service in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The company also finished approving the remainder of the 300,000 or so users in San Francisco who signed up for the companys wait list, which it did away with in mid-June. Waymos commercial launch in Los Angeles in the spring also played a factor behind its noticeable expansion, though to a lesser degree. According to census-tract level data the company must report to the CPUC, Waymo registered about 10,500 trips in its nascent Los Angeles market, up from the 1,800 or so paid driverless trips it logged there in April. San Francisco, though, has emerged as Waymos most popular market. The company completed more 133,000 driverless trips in the city in May, averaging about 4,300 daily trips. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Francisco AI startup Perplexity has revealed a plan to share revenue with the owners of publications such as Time, Fortune, and Der Spiegel when their content is served up by its search bot in query results. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle San Francisco artificial intelligence search company Perplexity plans to compensate the owners of publications such as Time, Der Spiegel and Fortune in certain instances when their content pops up as part of its search results. The announcement is the latest handshake between AI companies and publishers and comes as a California state bill moves closer to the governors desk that would require some tech companies to pay outlets to use their content. AI search programs such as Perplexity work by querying the web for relevant sites, then summarizing the results for users instead of offering a list of links, as is the case in a traditional Google search. For instance, ask Perplexity who is running for mayor of San Francisco in 2024, and it will return a summary citing sources including Wikipedia, the Chronicle and other sites. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the coming months, when Perplexity earns revenue from a search where a partner publishers content pops up, that publisher will also earn a share in some cases. The revenue sharing will occur when the search results include a suggested follow-up question sponsored by a third party or some other kind of paid advertising on the page. Publishers without an agreement with Perplexity will not see revenue from the company. Perplexity declined to say what percent of the revenue publishers will get. Company spokesperson Sara Platnick said in an email that it will be a significant double-digit percentage revenue share. We appreciate the publishers who have joined us for this program and provided us with valuable feedback about how it should operate, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said in a statement. We have always believed that we can build a system where the whole Internet wins, and this is just the first step. AI-powered search gives readers the gist of what a few highly ranked web pages say. But Srinivas company has taken flak from Wired and Forbes for allegedly scraping their sites for content without permission and presenting it to users in an AI-condensed form with little or no attribution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That issue came to the fore last month when users noted that a Forbes story about a secretive drone project began popping up largely unchanged in Perplexitys results. Forbes Chief Content Officer Randall Lane called it a cynical theft. Forbes has since threatened to sue Perplexity for copyright violations, Axios reported. That hasnt stopped other publishers from throwing in with Perplexity to try making money from queries. We are proud to join Perplexitys Publishers Program as a launch partner to continue to expand access to reliable information and engage audiences in new ways, said Time Chief Operating Officer Mark Howard in a statement. The deal will also allow the publishers to include a Perplexity-powered question and answer bar on their sites, letting readers ask questions and get responses that cite only content from the same publisher. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The promise of the technology has helped startups like Perplexity raise the cash they need to gun for Googles search crown. Google has been testing its own AI-powered search engine that summarizes relevant web pages instead of just providing links to other sites, albeit with some hiccups. Last week, San Franciscos OpenAI announced it was testing a ChatGPT-powered search engine that could compete with Googles. OpenAI has already inked a deal with German publisher Axel Springer, the owner of Politico, Business Insider and European properties Bild and Die Welt, to cite Springer as the source when OpenAIs chatbot answers a question using the publishers content. The San Francisco company also previously paid the Associated Press for the right to train its chatbots on APs trove of stories and other content. Not every publisher is comfortable making deals with AI companies. The New York Times sued OpenAI late last year, alleging the company unfairly benefited by training its AI chatbots using the newspapers copyrighted stories. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whether a search is AI powered or not, the California Newspaper Publishers Association (to which the Chronicle belongs) wants its members to make money when their content appears in an online search. That is why the state bill, called the California Journalism Preservation Act, covers platforms accessing, crawling, indexing, and displaying news content, said CNPA General Counsel Brittney Barsotti. She said programs like Googles AI summary tool crawls news content to create its summaries, and if the bill passes, publishers would be entitled to revenue because of that. That could amount to a significant payout. The nonprofit Poynter Institute earlier this year estimated Google and Facebook parent Meta owe U.S. publishers in the range of $12 billion and $14 billion a year. Google has pushed back against the bill, threatening earlier this year to remove links to California news websites for some users if the bill passed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Derry is set to play host to the Maiden City Festival, which starts on Saturday, August 3. Festivities are taking place across the city between August 3 and August 9. Jonathan Burgess, the organiser of the festival, has worked tirelessly to ensure the city has the best experience of events, remembering the history of the Siege of Derry. He said: It is a fun-packed and flat-out week. We have living history characters out by the walls. We will have 10 living history characters from the 3rd until the 9th of August, representing different aspects of the siege. The historical characters are fictional characters, so they can tell the story of the time without being constrained by historical facts. We do a promenade show in St. Columb's Cathedral called the Siege Story and it takes you through the whole siege, from the closing of the gates to the eventual relief, and that lasts about 35 minutes, and we do it three times a day at 12, 2, and 4pm. We do highland dancing and piping displays on the hour; that is done with Solace Hill dancers. That is Monday to Friday, and it starts at 11 in the morning and ends at 4 in the afternoon. There will also be tea dances in the Memorial Hall as well. Those tea dances bring a big cross-community crowd as they remember back to a pre-troubles time. There is a play from about four or five years ago that was written by myself called A funny thing happened on the way from the 12th. It is all different perspectives about parading, the apprentice boys, and the history and culture of five different people at a bus stop. It is a bit of craic and allows people to ask questions with a facilitated discussion at the end of it. While there are loads of events taking place across the city during the festival, many of them free of charge, there are hopes Maiden City Festival can expand in the future. But Mr. Burgess is concerned about the fine line the festival is surviving on as funding within the arts in Northern Ireland remains perilous. He said: People want to celebrate their culture and their community, and they are finding better ways to do that. We have great plans to do other projects and do things across the year as opposed to just focusing on August. There has been a major financial drain on the arts sector in Northern Ireland. At the moment, we are operating on fumes. With most of our events being free, you can charge people for community outreach. We are never going to be self-sufficient, and if we dont have the funding or if it is cut further in the future, we will be treading water. However, with the growing tourism industry in Derry, with a particular focus on the walls, Mr. Burgess is hopeful there can be growth within the city's population to utilise the walls more. He said: I also think we need to utilise the walls more; they are such an underused facility in our city, and I know this may be a legacy from the Troubles when people werent allowed on them. It is getting people back on the walls and giving them a reason to use them, the same way visitors are using the walls. We would love to see more of our own communities coming up onto the walls and participating in the events and celebrating the festival. We did our own survey of the festival last year on the walls at the end of days with the actors and the highland dancing. We found 60% of the people we were performing for were not from Northern Ireland, not even just Derry. There were people from Venezuela, Japan, Australia, and all across Europe and America. We found that on the walls during the festival, of the people we surveyed, only seven percent of them were from Derry or the Waterside. A Kilrea woman has set up a baby loss foundation after suffering her own tragic loss. Selina Casey's idea for a baby loss foundation originated after she tragically lost her own baby at 18 weeks in 2021. She felt that families who suffered the loss of a baby vitally need services to turn to so she set up The White Butterfly Foundation. Selina, a qualified counsellor, was just finishing her counselling training when she found out she was pregnant. Sadly, during a check-up at around 18 weeks, Selina and her husband were told their baby had no heartbeat and she had to deliver the baby. Selina described this as a traumatic and horrific experience. As a mother of two I had two healthy pregnancies before. I just assumed something like this couldnt happen to me, she said. The labour was 12 hours and very difficult. We left the hospital with not much support, guidance or plan on what to do after experiencing this. We were left thinking what happens next. Selina said that she was personally very lucky to have the support of her family and friends. Her training in counselling also helped to get her through this sad time. However she couldnt help thinking of the people who werent as fortunate. I kept thinking I need to do something positive out of this negative experience. I didn't want to go through this experience alone. Losing a baby can be an isolating experience as it is. The idea started after we said goodbye to our little one in 2021. However we were only officially set up around a month ago. Selina says she has shared the same grief and connected with many others since starting the foundation. I would've never met these people had the tragedy not happened. It is only after my loss that I realised the amount of women going through this and how they are in the same position. I reach a real realisation depth with these women when I work alongside them. Often these women can be overlooked. There arent many organisations in Northern Ireland that specialise in baby loss. A lot of the UK organisations often dont work with people from Northern Ireland. We do have some amazing support groups who do great work but I am hoping to integrate the one-to-one work alongside that. I am determined to bring this vision to life, I hope to achieve funding for women who desperately need this service. Some women can be overlooked and taken for granted. They often are told things like you can try again, at least you know you can get pregnant. Often these comments are said to make a woman feel better but they can cause hurt and have a negative effect on the woman. Selina came up with the idea of The Timeless Tile Collection as a creative expression activity for women who come to her Just Be group sessions. Previous sessions have taken place in Lurgan and Omagh. The sessions were in collaboration with Baby Loss charity, Little Forget Me Nots Trust. Above: Timeless Tiles Selina explained that the charitys vision is to use our own hands to get out of our own heads. It has seen an amazing response. An idea that started in my house one Saturday evening. I have been collaborating with Laura from Rosegift Studios in Portglenone and Louise from Little Forget Me Nots Trust for about seven months to make this dream a reality, she said. Above: The Team at Just Be Cafe Mummies will come along and make a tile for their own baby or for somebody else who has suffered a baby loss. The conversations that happen around the making of those tiles are mind blowing. It really brings them together. It is important for them to connect with others who have been through a similar situation. It is lovely for them to not have to explain and just be. We didnt have to say what stage of grief we were at unless we wanted to but everyone knew that these people have been through the same as me. Selina recalls an emotional moment from one of the meet ups. When we put all the finished tiles together it was very emotive. At that moment one of the mums said imagine if they were all here the noise they would be making. That was a touching moment for sure. The official launch of The White Butterfly Foundation will take place on Baby Loss Awareness Week which takes place from October 9 to 15. Selina added: I am currently in the process of planning events for that week when we will head to Stormont and the Guildhall. Hopefully after the official launch we will be able to start seeing parents who have unfortunately suffered baby loss in their lives. To have the political backing to make this happen has been incredible. The Stormont event will take place on October 10 and The Guildhall event will take place on October 11. For the Guildhall launch event Selina will be approaching local businesses to get involved. With her background in Counselling Selina said how her plan is to offer focused psychological support for parents. We will be offering support to parents who have lost a baby in pregnacy or after birth. I am hopeful for the future of The White Butterfly Foundation. I believe that those who attend will get a lot of it in turn the foundation will develop through fundraising down the line. Just Be Cafe Timeless Tiles Project will be coming to Derry city on August 6 and in Portglenone on August 13. To find out more information on these events visit: https://littleforgetmenotstrust.com/products/timeless-tile You can find The White Butterfly Foundation on Facebook and Instagram. On Friday, July 26 the Thomas Ashe 1916 Society Dungiven hosted former blanket man Seamus Kearney to give a talk on his book, No Greater Love. Seamus explained that the book's title comes from a quote from Kevin Lynch's grave, A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friend. The book launch was part of a series of events organised over the weekend to commemorate Dungiven Hunger Striker Kevin Lynch. Seamus began by recalling his experiences at the outbreak of troubles while living in East Belfast. Initially local men defended the area from Loyalist attack. Up until the Battle of St Matthew's, when Billy McKee and the IRA came in to defend the area, a pivotal moment in the formation of the Provisional Republican Movement. Seamus went on to talk about how his family moved to West Belfast to escape the violence in East Belfast, though this was to no avail as the violence soon engulfed the city. He goes on to talk about how these series of events lead to him joining the Republican Movement. Seamus spoke about joining the IRA, his time in active service and getting wounded, his repeated arrests, his interrogations in Castlereagh and finally getting caught on Active service. ABOVE: Seamus Kearney pictured with Paddy Mulgrew. Following Seamuss arrest he was sent to the Crumlin Road jail then moved to the H-Blocks while still on remand. The H-Blocks were a newly built prison system built at the site of Long Kesh, as part of the criminalisation policy of the British Government which they renamed the Maze. There he met with Kieran Doherty, Tom McElwee, Bobby Sands and Kevin Lynch, all of whom would later go on to give their lives on hunger strike. During this time Seamus got 14 years and was moved to a non conforming block, H5. Seamus joined the Blanket Protest. The experience which Seamus describes was 'brutal, with habitual beatings, starvation and overall degradation'. Throughout this harrowing experience the Blanket Protesters only grew more determined. Despite everything they became a brotherhood. This became more important when Seamus got the worst news anyone could get, Seamus' brother was executed by supposed comrades as being accused as an informer. Seamus' dedication to his fellow Blanketmen never wavered and he went on to prove his brother's innocence. Seamus' brother Michael was used as a scapegoat in an operation that he had nothing to do with him to cover for other informers by the British operative Steak Knife, Freddie Scappaticci. Despite such betrayal Seamus and his comrades gave the struggle real meaning, they overcame despite all odds. Seamus summed up the experience of the Hunger Strikers with a fitting quote, One brother laying down his life for another. Fidel Castro, the revolutionary Cuban leader spoke of the profound impact the hunger strikers had: They have earned the respect and admiration of the world, and likewise they deserve its support. Ten of them have already died in the most moving gesture of sacrifice, selflessness and courage one could ever imagine. 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. A doctor will go on trial in Coleraine in September charged with the manslaughter of a child. Ivan Pepelyashkov (46) with an address at Riverside faces one charge in Antrim faced one charge of manslaughter of a female on May 13, 2018. At today's sitting of Derry Crown Court Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that due to pressures on court room space in Bishop Street courthouse it had been decided to move the case to Coleraine. He said that the case would be heard by Madam Justice McBride and a jury would be sworn in at Derry on September 23 and the case would begin in Coleraine the following day. The judge said that this would allow the case to be heard in 'relative peace and quiet'. The case is expected to last up to two weeks and the defendant is currently on bail. US-Kenya partnership signals Africa's rising role in global semiconductor industry Africa is emerging as a significant player in the global semiconductor landscape, as evidenced by the recent partnership between the United States and Kenya. This collaboration highlights the US strategy to reduce its dependence on Asian supply chains by fostering semiconductor development across the African continent. In May, the US Trade and Development Agency signed a grant agreement with Kenyan technology company Semiconductor Technologies Limited (STL) to conduct a feasibility study for establishing a new semiconductor fabrication facility. This facility aims to diversify and strengthen global supply chains for legacy chips used in various commercial applications. The grant was formalized at the US Chamber of Commerce during Kenyan President William S. Ruto's State Visit to the United States. According to the World Economic Forum and The New York Times, the US is actively seeking to diversify its supply chains. Kenya, with its abundant mineral resources and growing tech-savvy population, has been identified as a key partner in this endeavor. The US government's support for Kenya's semiconductor industry is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on Asia, particularly China, for critical components. Africa's advantages in semiconductor manufacturing Africa offers several advantages for semiconductor manufacturing. The continent is rich in critical minerals essential for semiconductor production, including cobalt, tantalum, and copper. Many African nations are investing in education and training to cultivate a skilled workforce for the industry. Furthermore, several countries are creating a favorable investment climate by implementing policies to attract foreign investment and foster a business-friendly environment. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Ghana provide fertile ground for investment, innovation, and growth in the semiconductor industry. As demonstrated by significant investments from the US, South Korea, China, and the EU in their respective semiconductor markets, these African nations could become crucial nodes in the global network, emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability. While Africa may not be able to produce high-end chips in the foreseeable future, it can contribute to the supply chain through activities such as testing, quality control, and programming. Additionally, African expatriates are investing in related businesses. For example, Ola Fadiran and Mohamed Kassem, with backgrounds in chip design, have founded eFabless, a company that simplifies chip design processes. As Africa continues to develop its semiconductor capabilities, it is poised to play an increasingly important role in the global semiconductor industry, potentially reshaping supply chains and fostering technological innovation across the continent. China accelerates HBM production for AI, CXMT expands for self-sufficiency amid sanctions China is ramping up its efforts to produce High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM), crucial for advancing AI technology, as part of its supply chain indigenization strategy. China's largest DRAM manufacturer, Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT), is reportedly building HBM production lines. South Korean media ET News, citing industry sources, reported that CXMT has already acquired some equipment and may place additional orders in the second half of 2024. Expansion for the next generation HBM The new HBM production lines are under construction in Beijing and Hefei, intending to produce second-generation HBM (HBM2) featuring eight-layer stacking. Established in 2016 and believed to have substantial support from the Chinese government, CXMT has become China's leading DRAM supplier. Analysts note China's push for self-sufficiency in AI and semiconductor advancements has long included plans to produce HBM domestically. Despite US sanctions, China remains confident in securing HBM production capabilities. The global industry is also working to develop supply chains for HBM materials, components, and equipment. Earlier reports from the South China Morning Post indicated that Huawei is collaborating with XMC to develop HBM. Additionally, IC packaging companies such as JCET and TongFu Microelectronics are planning advanced packaging solutions like CoWoS. HBM deep pockets South Korean industry observers are wary, anticipating that China's HBM manufacturing will receive significant government backing. In May, China announced a CNY344 billion fund for semiconductor development, leading to speculation that a substantial portion of this investment will be directed toward HBM technology and capacity. Tiseme Zegeye is a partner at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, a San Francisco law firm that represents more than 200 clients who have linked their cancer to use of chemical hair relaxers. The plaintiffs are part of a multidistrict lawsuit representing more that 8,500 clients nationwide. Minh Connors/The Chronicle Before she was a partner at her San Francisco law firm, where she typically litigates reproductive health and environmental justice cases, Tiseme Zegeye was attending college on the East Coast and using hair relaxers to straighten her hair. In her early 20s, Zegeye, who is of Ethiopian descent, opted for a method that studies show most Black women in the U.S. use at some point in their lives a liquid cosmetic applied to the scalp that chemically alters the texture of hair. The process, which can result in scalp irritation, chemical burns and sores, varies depending on hair type and typically lasts several weeks, or until new hair grows. Straight hair has been pushed on Black women for centuries, said Zegeye, who is now in her late 30s and raising two young children to appreciate their natural curls in predominantly white Marin County. The work that it takes to undo that is a lot especially (for people) in my generation and older. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If Zegeye stopped using relaxers years ago out of a feeling that they were potentially damaging to her hair, a recent federal study and an avalanche of lawsuits from Zegeyes firm and others are making the case that the treatments chemical ingredients can be perilous to womens reproductive health. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health published a study linking the repeated use of chemical hair straighteners to an increased risk of developing cancer. The study was a bombshell, prompting more than 8,500 women across the country to sue hair-relaxer manufacturers, alleging the companies knew or should have known about the risks associated with their products, and failed to warn consumers. More than 200 women filed their lawsuits through Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, where Zegeye works. The San Francisco law firm is working with the Oakland-based racial justice nonprofit, the Equal Justice Society. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lawsuits have been consolidated in a Chicago federal court into a multidistrict litigation, designed to streamline complex cases. The defendants include beauty industry titans such as LOreal, Revlon and Strength of Nature. In a November 2023 statement, LOreal said they believe the allegations made in these lawsuits have neither legal nor scientific merit. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages. The legal proceedings, currently in the pretrial discovery phase, are unfolding in a patchwork regulatory system. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposal to ban formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, from hair relaxers has yet to be implemented for unclear reasons. California and several other states have passed laws to ban certain toxic chemicals from cosmetics, though Californias laws have yet to take effect. The prospect of sweeping federal action has become uncertain in the aftermath of last months Supreme Court decision, overturning the Chevron deference, and limiting the authority of expert agencies such as the FDA to interpret ambiguous laws. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A regulatory patchwork The 2022 NIH study followed more than 33,000 women for a decade, during which 378 cases of uterine cancer were diagnosed. Participants who reported using hair straighteners more than four times in a year were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who didnt use them. Previous studies linked the use of hair straighteners containing chemicals known as endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormones and cause health problems to an increased likelihood of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Citing the NIH study, Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Shontel Brown of Ohio wrote to the FDA in March 2023, urging it to investigate the potential health threat posed by chemical hair straightening products. That October, the FDA recommended banning formaldehyde from hair-straightening products. The proposed ban was originally expected to be implemented this April but has been delayed until at least September. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In May, an FDA spokesperson said they could not comment on the timing or the content of the proposed rule, but that it continues to be a high priority and is still in the rulemaking process. The FDAs jurisdiction is limited in that it does not approve cosmetics before they end up in stores. In December 2022, President Joe Biden expanded the agencys regulatory authority by signing the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, which granted it greater control over product labeling and recall, among other things. Personal care products are one of the less regulated categories of consumer products, said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which previously petitioned the FDA to ban formaldehyde in hair-straightening products. The FDA does have pretty clear authority to take action if a product is adulterated or misbranded, she said. However, without the Chevron doctrine, what the FDA interprets adulterated to mean could be more vulnerable to legal challenge now because of this change in the law. The U.S. already lags behind dozens of other countries, including Canada and most of Europe, that have moved to limit or ban hundreds of hazardous chemicals from personal care products and cosmetics. Advertisement Article continues below this ad California, however, is ahead of the national curve. In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, making it the first state to prohibit 24 toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, from cosmetics. The legislation is set to take effect in 2025. In 2023, the state banned an additional 26 chemicals, to take effect in 2027. Twenty states have taken some action to regulate certain chemicals in cosmetics. In recent years, multiple states have also taken action to address racialized beauty standards in the cultural environment. In 2019, California became the first state to ban race-based hair discrimination with the Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act. Since then, 24 states have passed similar legislation. A national version passed the House in 2022 but stalled in the Senate. As lawmakers confront discriminatory beauty norms, generations of Black women who used hair straighteners to conform are seeking accountability through the courts. The battle ahead Fidelma Fitzpatrick, a New York attorney appointed by the U.S. District Court of Illinois to co-lead the multidistrict litigation, said the plaintiffs include mothers and grandmothers, single women without children, and those with and without professional careers. What the plaintiffs do have in common, she said, is that they all used chemical hair-straightening products, either at home or in a salon, before developing ovarian, uterine or endometrial cancers. Some of them used it because their jobs or society back in the 80s and 90s really required Black and brown women to straighten their hair, said Fitzpatrick, of the firm Motley Rice LLC. Some used it because their moms and their sisters and their friends did it, others because they saw the glossy ads of the long, flowing Eurocentric silky hair, and they wanted to look like that. Deanna Denham Hughes was 32 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent an emergency hysterectomy. The Georgia mother of two believes theres a connection to her use of chemical hair straighteners when she was younger, which the National Institute of Health and other research bodies have linked to increased rates of reproductive cancers. Courtesy of Deanna Denham Hughes Growing up in Atlanta in the 1990s, Deanna Denham Hughes said, Natural hair wasnt really in. The first time she had her natural hair chemically straightened, Denham Hughes was about the same age as her youngest daughter, who is 5. Denham Hughes, now 35, still recalls the Black girls with smooth hair and wide smiles on the colorful packaging of the product she used as a kid. At first, her mother did it for her at home, but as she got older, she started going to salons. Years later, long after she had stopped relaxing her hair, she would begin to question how the kits that promised her straight hair as a child might have affected her health as an adult. In early 2022, she saw a doctor for stomach pains and irregular bleeding, and during a pelvic exam, the gynecologist was having difficulty locating her uterus, so they performed an ultrasound. A large mass was discovered. That same weekend, her health rapidly declined. She had to have an emergency hysterectomy and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In the following months, she underwent six cycles of chemotherapy that brought fatigue, appetite loss and other side effects. After going down a rabbit hole of articles and studies about the link between hair-straightening chemicals and certain reproductive cancers, Denham Hughes took legal action in 2023. Zegeye is her attorney, and her case is one of thousands consolidated in the national litigation. During a July 2023, visit to Denham Hughes home on the outskirts of Atlanta, Zegeye said she was struck by her clients decor: All around the house and in Denham Hughes daughters rooms were images of Black women and girls scientists and superheroes rocking their natural hair. After spending the day with Denham Hughes and her family, Zegeye recalled, As I was leaving, one of her girls said to me that she loved my curly hair and that it looked like hers, and that made me so happy. Deanna Denham Hughes says she grew up in an era when curly hair wasnt popular but is raising her two daughters to be proud of their natural hair. In their rooms and around their house are images of Black women and girls scientists and superheroes wearing their natural hair. Courtesy of Deanna Denham Hughes Still, on trips to the beauty store, Denham Hughes said she sees the hair-straightening product she used as a kid. It just feels like theres no accountability, no responsibility, she said. Two years in remission, Denham Hughes said she wasnt sure she was done having children when she had an emergency hysterectomy at the age of 32. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. SK Hynix invests US$6.77 billion in Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, to prioritize DRAM production SK Hynix has announced board approval for a KRW9.4 trillion (approximately US$6.77 billion) investment to construct its first plant and related operational facilities at the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in South Korea. Construction is set to begin in March 2025, with completion targeted for May 2027. The project aims to meet the growing demand for AI-related memory. Expanding production capacity for next-gen DRAM The Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, located in Wonsam-myeon, covers an area of 4.15 million square meters. SK Hynix plans to primarily produce next-generation DRAM products, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), at the first plant. Three additional plants will be constructed subsequently, forming a semiconductor cooperation park with over 50 global materials, components, and equipment companies. In the second quarter of 2024, SK Hynix's revenue from HBM surged over 80% quarter-on-quarter and more than 250% year-on-year, significantly boosting the company's performance. SK Hynix expects HBM revenue to grow by 300% year-on-year in 2024, with shipment volumes in 2025 projected to double those of 2024. The company is optimistic about the trend of shorter product cycles among GPU customers, necessitating an urgent expansion of production capacity. SK Hynix plans to establish a mini factory within the first plant to provide an environment similar to actual production sites. This facility will serve as a space for South Korean materials, components, and equipment companies to research, develop, verify, and evaluate new technologies, supporting partners in improving their technology's completeness. However, the industry has highlighted that stable power supply remains the biggest challenge for the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. With Samsung Electronics also making large-scale investments in Yongin, it is estimated that Samsung will require about 10GW of power, and SK Hynix about 6GW, accounting for 40% of the total power demand (40GW) in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The Yongin Semiconductor Park project, initially announced in 2019 with an original completion date set for 2026, faced delays due to land acquisition and compensation processes, as well as conflicts over water resources with Yeoju City. Whether SK Hynix can fully resolve resource issues like water and electricity and complete the project by 2027 as scheduled remains to be seen. Kim Young-sik, head of manufacturing technology at SK Hynix, stated that the Yongin Cluster will be the foundation for SK Hynix's mid-to-long-term development and a collaborative innovation space with partners. The company aims to enhance the competitiveness of South Korea's semiconductor technology and ecosystem through the construction of this large-scale industrial park. Protesters and counter-protesters faced off for the second consecutive Sunday at the former St. Joseph's Female Orphanage and Industrial School on Seatown Place in Dundalk, over plans to house 260 Ukrainian refugees at the site. Crowds began gathering shortly after 11am, with counter-protesters positioning themselves on the footpath directly in front of the building, while anti-immigrant protesters assembled on the opposite side of the street. A strong garda presence was evident, with officers stationed between the opposing groups and members of the Public Order Unit on standby in the surrounding streets. Counter- protesters at Sunday's demonstration Anti-immigrant protesters carried Irish flags and displayed a banner reading Dundalk Says No. In contrast, counter-protesters waved Louth, Palestinian, and Antifa flags, holding placards with messages such as Dundalk Says No to Racism and Love Dundalk, Hate Racism. Shortly after midday, the anti-immigrant group, flanked by members of the Public Order Unit, began marching up Crowe Street towards the Courthouse, chanting Get them out. They paused briefly outside the Dundalk Sinn Fein office. Read Next: Dundalk IT sign significant MOU with Marshall University At the Courthouse, several speakers from the anti-immigrant side including recent local election candidate for the Irish Freedom Party Tracy OHanlon and Dr Finbar Markey addressed the crowd, criticising the government, the Gardai, and local media. Meanwhile, counter-protesters, escorted by gardai, lined up in the middle of Earl Street. They were contained by a line of officers before eventually moving down to the Demesne end of Market Square. Counter protesters led chants such as, Refugees welcome here, and The workers united will never be defeated. An anti- immigrant protester talking to a guard Gardai again formed two lines at either end of the Square to separate the two sides. The gathering at the Courthouse dispersed around 1pm, with the counter-protesters disbanding shortly thereafter. It is understood that a third protest is being organised again for this coming Sunday. A former IRA terrorist who murdered a man in Northern Ireland and fired a shot-gun into the face of another man in the Republic has had his surrender to UK authorities formally ordered by the High Court. Robert Duffy (52) was convicted in 1996 of the murder of John Gibson in Belfast in October 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after just four years under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in July 2000. On March 10, 2007, he attempted to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk, Co Louth, by firing a shotgun into Mr O'Neill's face at point-blank range. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008, having pleaded guilty to that offence. Last year, it emerged that Duffy was being considered for parole, prompting the Northern Irish authorities to seek to have Duffy extradited so he can be returned to prison for breaching the terms of his release by attempting to murder Mr O'Neill. Among the terms of his release under the GFA was that he must not be a danger to the public. At a previous extradition hearing, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs heard that Duffy had engaged with the parole board while in prison and was being considered for temporary release. She said a report from 2021 stated that Duffy had engaged well with probation services, was a trusted prisoner, is considered at a "moderate to low risk of reoffending" and no longer affiliated with any paramilitary organisation. He was being held at the low-security Shelton Abbey prison at the time but was then sent to Cloverhill and Wheatfield prisons as a result of the extradition proceedings. However, last month, Duffy was refused parole by the board. In June of last year, Ms Justice Biggs dismissed objections to Duffy's extradition to Northern Ireland but said she would not order his extradition at that time. She added that if the parole board had decided to release Duffy , he would have been entitled to bail with regard to the High Court extradition proceedings. Ms Justice Biggs said she did not want the extradition proceedings before her to be a bar to Duffy being released by the parole board. Ms Justice Biggs noted that the Northern Irish authorities had given assurances that Duffy would be free to apply for release to the Sentence Review Commission once he has been returned to prison in Northern Ireland. Duffy had objected to his extradition to Northern Ireland but Ms Justice Biggs dismissed all grounds of objection. Ronan Kennedy SC and Brian Storan BL, for Duffy, had argued that the extradition application had amounted to an abuse of process, considering the amount of time that had passed between the Dundalk shooting in 2007 and the April 2022 warrant issued by UK authorities. In formally making the order, Ms Justice Biggs said there would be no violation of Duffy's rights in making the order for his surrender to the North. However, Duffy cannot be surrendered to the North until he is released or paroled from prison in the South. The 13th Thomas D'Arcy McGee Summer School this year will focus on the critical challenges facing human rights today. The event will gather well known scholars and activists to address the importance of safeguarding human rights achievements against a global backdrop of rising authoritarianism and xenophobia. The summer school aims to highlight the significance of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. It will explore how these frameworks can hold states and institutions accountable for abuses at local, national and international levels. This years theme comes at a crucial time, organisers say, when confidence in the commitment of governments and institutions to uphold fundamental freedoms is waning. Reflecting the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelts profound words on the origins of human rights, the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Summer School emphasises that the fight for human rights begins in small places like Carlingford and in communities across the country, across Europe and the world. Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world. The summer school organisers say that the notions that we take for granted in our modern world of rights, equality, rule of law, inclusion, freedom of movement, freedom from discrimination, democracy are under increasing assault from authoritarian leaders and the populist far-right across the world today. You may ask, they add, what small community based organisations from both sides of Carlingford Lough Carlingford, Rostrevor and Newry can do to defend and safeguard such ideas. They say they would answer that it is in these small places close to home ... that human rights begin. And we would go on to argue, they further add, still in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, that without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the wider world. Lets talk! TDMSS '24 Running Order Day One 13th August 9.00 to 9.30 Registration Tea / Coffee and Biscuits 9.30 to 9.40 Welcome: Seamus Murphy 9.40 to 10.00 Keynote Speaker - TBC 10.00 - 10.10 Canadian Ambassador - Nancy Smyth First session - Human Rights definition and history Chairperson TBC Colin Harvey origins of HR as currently defined (UDHR and ECHR) Monica McWilliams Rights-based governance importance of a Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland, on Shared Island. Coffee Break - Tea and Scones Second Session No Title Yet Chairperson TBC Alyson Kilpatrick Holding states to account Putting the ECHR into effect - HR and the GFA. Making sure that legislators can be held to account. Niall Muldoon Ombudsman for Children Another Speaker TBC. Evening Programme - Reception/Award Carlingford Heritage Centre Carlingford Pipe Band The Play and Newpoint The Trial of John Mitchell @19.30 - Tuesday 13th August - the Heritage Centre Day Two 14th August Session Three Coffee on Arrival Gideon Levy A voice for HR in the face of war (on-line) Coffee Break Bulelani Mfaco Human Rights, Immigration and Asylum Seekers Turlough ODonnell Human Rights, Justice and Keeping Hope The Trial of John Mitchel (and his statue) before the Court of History by Anthony Russell, performed by the Newpoint Players, resurrects John Mitchel to face charges of crimes against humanity, with historical figures like Padraic Pearse and Sir Charles Gavin Duffy as his defence and prosecution. The audience serves as the jury in this thought-provoking drama that reexamines Mitchel's legacy and his statue's place in Newry. Additionally, Canadian Ambassador Nancy Smyth, appointed in March 2021, will be honoured with an award from the school for her outstanding work in representing Canadian interests, advancing bilateral relations, and managing programs and services for Canadian citizens and businesses in Ireland. Speakers include: Colin Harvey: Professor of Human Rights Law at Queens University Belfast, member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Monica McWilliams: Founding member of the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition, delegate to the Good Friday Agreement, and Emeritus Professor at Ulster University. Alyson Kilpatrick: Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, with extensive experience in human rights advocacy and legal advising. Niall Muldoon: Irelands Ombudsman for Children, dedicated to ensuring the rights of vulnerable children and young people are respected. Colin Harvey: Professor of Human Rights Law at Queens University Belfast, member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. Gideon Levy: Award-winning Israeli journalist known for his work on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Bulelani Mfaco: South African activist advocating for asylum seekers' rights in Ireland and campaigning for systemic changes in the treatment of asylum seekers. Turlough ODonnell: Senior Counsel specialising in mediation, conflict resolution, and restorative justice. David Wilson: Historian and biographer of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, providing valuable historical context to the discussions. These eminent speakers and more will engage participants in critical discussions, offering insights and strategies to reinforce human rights at every level of society. The event promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking gathering, fostering a deeper understanding of how local actions can drive global change. 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. Read Next: Man taken to hospital following Louth house fire 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. Ventura County Fire Department crew members take part in a firing operation while fighting the Park Fire along Highway 32 near Forest Ranch. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle A PG&E truck delivers a new electric pole to a burned homesite off of Cohasset Road. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Firefighters with the Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit Pacheco Crew 2 clear vegetation around a structure while battling the Park Fire. More than 190 structures have been destroyed. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle As of Tuesday morning, the blaze was 14% contained with areas of increased fire activity that challenged firefighters. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle The Park Fire is burning to the west of the 2021 Dixie Fire burn scar, the second-largest wildfire in California history. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle The 386,764-acre Park Fire, burning across two Northern California counties, has become Californias fifth-largest wildfire in recorded history. A 42-year-old Chico resident, Ronnie Stout, was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire in Upper Bidwell Park last Wednesday. Authorities said a witness saw Stout push a burning car into a ravine, igniting nearby vegetation. The fire spread rapidly north in the ensuing hours, ravaging areas that hadnt burned in decades, according to Cal Fire officials. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stout appeared in court for the first time Monday afternoon and was charged with felony arson and arson with aggravating factors. As of Tuesday night, the blaze was 18% contained with areas of increased fire activity that challenged firefighters. More than 300 structures have been destroyed. The fire became extreme Thursday and Friday, producing large pyrocumulus clouds and a possible fire tornado. By Saturday morning, less than 72 hours after it was ignited, the blaze exceeded 300,000 acres. NOAA GOES-18 satellite imagery shows the Park Fire continuing to burn and grow in Northern California on July 29. CSU/CIRA & NOAA A record July heat wave dried vegetation to critical levels, which fueled the Park Fires explosive growth. Redding Regional Airport, less than 20 miles northwest of the fire, hit 119 degrees this month, the hottest temperature ever recorded in the city. July is predicted to be Reddings hottest month on record. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Park Fire is burning to the west of the 2021 Dixie Fire burn scar, the second-largest wildfire in California history. The Dixie Fire torched more than 960,000 acres, including the eastern side of Lassen National Park. Now, the Park Fire is threatening the parks western half. Loading... Of Californias five biggest wildfires on record, the August and SCU complexes were sparked by lightning, the Dixie Fire was caused by power lines, and the Mendocino Complex was human-related. The Park Fire is now the biggest arson blaze in the states modern history. All nine of Californias largest fires have occurred in the past decade. Records include fires that occurred in local, state and federal jurisdictions starting in 1932. California wildfires are becoming more explosive as the climate changes, research previously found. Growth continues on the Park Fires northern and eastern sides, where the vegetation is primarily forest. Activity has slowed in the shrub and grassland on the western side of the fire. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Becoming a parent for the first time is a big transition. New mothers are recovering from birth, dealing with hormones, figuring out feeding and getting used to spending their days taking care of a new born baby. For first time dads, its a huge adjustment too. They are learning to be a new parent, trying to be a supportive partner, and often returning to work on very little sleep. Shane OConnor, from Spancill Hill, Co Clare, moved to Cork three years ago with his partner Hazel. In 2022, they welcomed their son Bodhi. For Shane, the transition to fatherhood was challenging, and he noticed the lack of support for new dads. It was a steep learning curve and adjustment period, says Shane. Its the same for mothers, but for fathers theres no manual or real support. During the early days, Shane struggled with adjusting to parenthood, supporting his partner and managing work on top of sleep deprivation. I was constantly second guessing myself, he says. A turning point came when he joined an online mens group and felt the benefit of talking to other men with similar stories and experiences. It was one of the best things Ive ever done in my life, he says. Its so important for men to come together, says Shane. It creates a sense of belonging and community. Shane realised that he hadnt really spoken to other men in preparation for becoming a dad. Shane O'Connor set up Lads2Dads peer-led support group where fathers can share in each other's success and challenges, at Cork Lotus Yoga Studio. @lads2dadscork Tel 086 4589084 Picture: Larry Cummins Before Bodhi was born, I could count on one hand the number of dads I sat down with and talked about what fatherhood was like, he says. Noticing the lack of support for dads in Cork City, Shane decided to take the initiative and set up Lads2Dads, a peer-led support group for dads. They meet on a Saturday afternoon around once a month in Cork Lotus Yoga Studio on Careys Lane, which is owned by Shanes partner Hazel. A catalyst for Shane starting the group was his decision to give up alcohol last October. That allowed me to focus my energy and turn to getting something set up. Shane says the group is a safe space for dads and soon-to-be dads of all ages, from all walks of life to share the joys and challenges of fatherhood, without the feeling of being judged. Its not a place to get fixed, he says. At a typical meeting, Shane welcomes attendees into the studio, where theres tea made and bolster cushions to sit on. He goes through the principles of the group, including self-care, non-judgement, confidentiality and no advice-giving. After introductions, Shane invites attendees to share something they are enjoying about fatherhood, and something thats been challenging. After that, they open it up to whatever people want to share. At the first meeting in April, nine dads showed up. One topic that came up in the first group is that men had struggled with supporting their partner during breastfeeding, he says. Shane hopes to bring external experts into the group to address different topics, and has already had lactation consultants reach out and offer to do a session for new dads. The group is free of charge, and Shane is committed to keeping it that way. It will always be free, he says. Shane believes there needs to be more support services for men before and after the birth of their child. However, he says its down to men to ask for the help they need. The onus needs to be on us to ask for it. It took a long time to put my hand up and say Im struggling, he says. He acknowledges that men are often afraid to ask for help. Its been ingrained in men for a long time to keep the head down, he says. He notices a change in attitudes, with more groups and activities for dads popping up around the country. I do think theres a shift happening, a slow shift, he says. For Shane, the biggest thing he has gained from the group so far is seeing other men benefit from it. I sense they are getting a lot off their chest and shoulders, he says. He also appreciates the chance to make new connections in his adopted county. I moved to Cork in the middle of the pandemic, and I work remotely so have no colleagues, says Shane. Its nice to meet men who are like-minded. At the moment, the meetings in Cork Lotus Yoga are child-free events, but Shane is aware that this isnt feasible for some dads. He plans to organise weekend meet-ups in Fitzgerald Park too, where kids are welcome. Details of forthcoming meetings can be found on @Lads2dadscork on Instagram, and anyone interested can send a message and ask to be added to the WhatsApp group. The managing director and founder of the Prince August Toy Soldiers factory in the Muscrai Gaeltacht village of Cill na Martra is considering whether to move or close his plant, which has suffered what he termed a dramatic downfall of business since the opening of the N22 Macroom/Baile Mhuirne bypass. Lars Edman, whose company has been located in the Gaeltacht village for 48 years and employs nine people, told The Echo that their request for signage directing motorists from the bypass to the village had also been rejected, an approach which sharply contrasted, he said, with the erection of a large number of signs directing motorists to a War of Independence ambush site on the old N22 between Baile Mhuirne and Macroom. Mr Edman said that the company had regularly had between 50-100 cars a day visiting but this had been reduced by two thirds at least since the opening of the bypass: Before the bypass opened, we were 2km from the main road, now were 11km away. We had asked for signage but we were told we didnt have the correct figures. Yet around 20 signs have been put up for a War of Independence ambush site nobody has heard of. Mr Edman is referring to the Cul na Cathrach ambush site for which an information point has been installed adjacent to a monument which was erected by a local committee. The Cul na Cathrach ambush which took place on February 25, 1921, was one of the most significant incidents in the War of Independence and was discussed at the British governments cabinet meeting the following week. It was one of three major incidents, Kilmichael, Crossbarry and Cul na Cathrach, which led to the IRA truce which led to the Treaty talks. The Prince August Toy Soldiers factory in Cill na Martra/Kilnamartyra relies on parents bringing their children to participate in workshops painting the figurines for a good part of its business. This has reduced considerably since the opening of the bypass. In terms of the options open to the business now, Mr Edman said that closing the premises in Cill na Martra or moving to a new site closer to Cork were being considered. The manager of the local Gaeltacht co-operative, Comharchumann Forbartha Mhuscrai, described the lack of signage for Cill na Martra as scandalous. We raised the lack of signage with the road builders and Cork County Council and were assured that the signage would be in place before the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta/Gaeltacht GAA competition which was held in Cill na Martra in early June, said Caroline Nolan of the Comharchumann. They still arent in place, its very disappointing. A request for comment has been sent to Cork County Council. Members of Corks academic community expressed their shock and sadness at the passing of author and head of creative writing at University College Corks School of English and Digital Humanities, Dr Eibhear Walshe. Born in Waterford, Dr Walshe studied in Dublin, and in addition to his lectures in the School of English at UCC, he wrote works of fiction, memoir, literary criticism and biography. UCC president Professor John OHalloran said it had been with profound sadness that the UCC community had learned of Dr Walshes passing. A brilliantly creative colleague, his popularity among both staff and students at UCC is testament to his generosity of spirit and kindness, Prof OHalloran said. On behalf of all at UCC I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his mother Celine, brothers Eoin and Sheamus, sisters Ria and Oonagh, and his extended family. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Dr Orla Murphy, head of the UCC School of English and Digital Humanities described Dr Walshe as the universitys guiding light in creative writing in the school. Eibhears smile, his good humour, his collegiality, his vision and ambition to cultivate and celebrate creative writing here at UCC has impacted generations of writers, she said. Eibhears remarkable care for his students was at the core of his work, encouraging and supportive, he always had time to listen. Prof Cathal OConnell, interim head of college at UCCs College of Arts Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, said Dr Walshes colleagues would warmly remember him as a committed and dedicated academic, who attracted students of creative writing to UCC from all over the world. As a gifted author of fiction, memoir, and biography, he was held in the highest esteem by his peers in Ireland and internationally, he said. Members of UCCs LGBT Staff Network paid tribute to Dr Walshe on social media, saying he had made a pioneering contribution to the universitys LGBT+ community and played a vital role in the establishment of the network. His teaching, research and writing commemorated and celebrated the place of LGBT+ people in Irelands history and culture and gave a voice to LGBT+ people and their allies who were marginalised and silenced in the past, wrote Ciara Murphy and Diarmuid Scully, co-chairs of the LGBT Staff Network UCC. Eibhears memoir, Cissies Abbatoir (2009), is a beautifully written account of his early life and realisation of his gay identity in 1970s Waterford. Dr Walshes books include Kate OBrien: A Writing Life, (2006), Oscars Shadow: Wilde and Ireland, (2012), and A Different Story: the Writings of Colm Toibin, (2013). His childhood memoir, Cissies Abattoir, (2009) was broadcast on RTEs Book on One . His novel, The Diary of Mary Travers, (2014), was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Novel of the Year Award in 2015 and longlisted for the 2016 International Dublin Literary Award. He was associate editor, with Catherine Marshall, of Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks, (2016), edited by Fintan OToole, and shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Award. The Trumpet Shall Sound, his second novel, was longlisted for the 2021 International Dublin Literary Award. His latest novel was The Last Day at Bowens Court (2020). A book of condolence will be opened in UCC today, and a gathering of staff to remember Dr Walshe will be held on Wednesday. The Labour Party has selected a first-time councillor to run for Dail Eireann in Cork South Central in the next general election. The partys selection convention took place in the Togher community yesterday evening, and was chaired by former TD Ciaran Lynch, who held a seat in the constituency between 2007 and 2016. The party selected Laura Harmon, who was elected to Cork City Council in the Cork City South West ward in the local elections last month. Ms Harmon, a native of Ballyvourney who lives in Wilton, has a long track-record of campaigning on housing, education, and equality, and is the executive director of the Irish Council for International Students. Ms Harmon was proposed by her fellow first-time Labour councillor, Peter Horgan. Speaking after the selection convention, Ms Harmon said she would be running for Dail Eireann because she wanted to work for a better future for Cork and for the country. Ive had leadership roles in life-changing equality campaigns over the last decade I want to use my strong leadership skills as a TD to ensure a better future for the people in Cork, from Bishopstown to Blackrock, from Togher to Crosshaven, and all the communities within the constituency, she said. I was honoured to be elected as a councillor in June and I really want to do Cork proud. It would be the greatest honour of my life to serve the people of Cork South Central as a TD. A teenager who panicked when he was arrested for harassment and death threats to another teenager tried to flee from gardai at Cork District Court, but was caught by gardai despite his strenuous resistance. Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the 19-year-old was sentenced to a total of 15 months in prison for the harassment and for having knives in his possession. He said Rory Lally was pleading guilty to the charge of resisting arrest at the courthouse on Anglesea St on February 28. Mr Collins-Daly asked Judge Mary Dorgan not to increase the defendants prison sentence in the context of being jailed already for the more substantive issue. Judge Dorgan acceded to that application, and imposed a 10-month sentence for the February offence to run concurrently with the 15 months imposed on July 22. The net effect is that it will not increase his prison time. On that date at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Lally, of Wainsfort, Rochestown, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Sinead Behan to a total of 15 months in prison, backdated to March, after he pleaded guilty to harassment of the teenager when she was 17 and he was approximately a year older. He also admitted possession of knives. Detective Garda Pat Connery gave evidence during the sentencing hearing that, at the height of the harassment, the teenager actually sent texts to the victim even as gardai were physically present in his home warning him to desist. Det Garda Connery said the injured party started communicating with Lally on social media in April 2023 and, in June 2023, they met at a concert in Cork. However, she felt uncomfortable with him at the concert and afterwards told him to stop calling her. She went on to block him on social media. However, he ignored this and continued to contact her, causing her such concern that she contacted gardai on a number of occasions. The 12th annual Ballincollig Vintage Show was held in glorious sunshine on Sunday afternoon outside the Castlewest Shopping Centre. Organised by the Ballincollig Vintage Club, the show was a resounding success, with over a thousand people in attendance across the day. There were 107 vintage cars there on the day, and they proved extremely popular with the people attending the show. Jimmy Kelly from Beaufort with his 1973 MG B Roadster at theBallincollig Vintage Motor Show. Brian and Eleanor Cudmore were there from Douglas with their 1980 Morgan 454, which theyve owned for four years. Wed been sailors all our lives, but we sold the boat just before covid, and we bought her to fill the vacuum, Mr Cudmore explained, but he said they dont travel very often in the car. We would go to functions like this, but we wouldnt use her for daily use, I mean shes forty-odd years old, but she has only 44,000 miles on the clock. Ballincollig community gardai Anthony McSweeney and Paddy Casey were manning a stand on Sunday afternoon, and they were a big hit with some of the younger people visiting the vintage show, but they said there was a serious purpose to their presence too. Eleanor, Isabella, 3, and Jackson, 6, Flynn from Whitechurch with their grandfather John Paul OSullivan in his 1991 Land Rover Defender. Weve been meeting people, and giving out leaflets, and talking to people about crime prevention and road safety, Garda McSweeney said. Road safety is a very big concern at the moment and the show has been a very good opportunity to talk with people about that. John Paul OSullivan with his 1991 Land Rover Defender at theBallincollig Vintage Motor Show. He added that they had also met a lot of young people, allowing them to try on a garda public order helmet and sit into their squad car. He confessed that they had also sat into a squad car themselves, Bill Ryans 1969 Vauxhall Victor 3.3 litre garda car. Read More Cork toy soldier factory may have to close or move due to affect of N22 bypass on visitor numbers Mr Ryan explained that his car is the only surviving vehicle of that make and model left in existence. They were only used by the police in England and the guards in Ireland, they didnt actually sell that model with the big engine to the public, he said. Laurence Dusoswa founder of the sim racing community, Potato Nation who sponsor F1000 racer Kayleigh Cole, pictured with his children Ronan, 7, and Sophie, 5, beside Kayleighs race car at the Ballincollig Vintage Motor Show. Picture Chani Anderson In its day it would do 120 miles per hour, which in 1969 was a very fast car, and its no slouch even still. He has owned the car for over 15 years, and he estimated that he has put about 1,200 hours worth of work into the car, and about 15,000 in cash too. Its the genuine deal, genuine log book and everything, so I knew it was worth the effort, he said. Sean ODonoghue beside his 1979 Citroen at the Ballincollig Vintage Motor Show. The car has appeared in one film, but Mr Ryan said it had cost more to repair the damage caused in the filming than he had made from the appearance fee, so now he only brings it to vintage shows. He said he wouldnt allow it to be driven by anyone else after that experience. Its so rare, it would be a shame to see it written off. Mr Ryan had another car at the show too, this one with a special relevance to the area. Its a 1958 Auto Union DKW, they were cars that were manufactured in Ballincollig from 1952 to 1963, thats a 58 model. They were down where the Aldi shop is now, down at the east gate. Ballincollig Vintage Club stalwart Kevin McSweeney told The Echo that the show had been a real success. Tadhg ORiordan with his family, Anthony, baby Conall and Nicole Jackson beside his 1956 Wolsley at the Ballincollig Vintage Motor Show. Pictures: Chani Anderson We had a great day, with a lot of cars we didnt see before. We had a great crowd, we had a non-pedigree dog show, which had a great draw, and our own Vintage Band gave a good performance too, he said. Mr McSweeney added that the good weather had made all the difference, and the members of the vintage club were hopeful that next years show would be even better. Have Ballincollig news to share? Contact donal.okeefe@theecho.ie The Fine Gael posters for the forthcoming General Election in Cork North West will be the same but different following the selection of Michael Creed, the councillor cousin of retiring TD, Michael Creed, to run alongside John Paul OShea, the Kanturk based councillor, on the ticket for the party. Michael Creed, who was recently re-elected at the head of the Fine Gael ticket in the Macroom Municipal District, topped the poll again at the Fine Gael convention for Cork North West which was held in Springfort Hall near Mallow, narrowly beating his colleague on Cork County Council, Eileen Lynch. The convention, chaired by Further Education Minister Patrick ODonovan, heard a directive from headquarters at the outset of the meeting directing that one candidate would have to be from the northern end of the constituency. This meant that John Paul OShea, as the only candidate from that end of Cork North West, would automatically be selected. Councillor John Paul O'Shea. Photo: Colm Lougheed The directive prompted an argument along similar lines to that which occurred at the recent convention for Cork South Central. When the matter was put to the vote, Michael Creed emerged as the winner with a handful of votes to spare over Eileen Lynch. Due to the directive, the names of Michael Creed and John Paul OShea will be on the Fine Gael ticket for the constituency. Roll on the General Election, Fine Gael is rejuvenated with a new leader and the polls are good, said Mr. Creed, who wished his party colleagues, both Eileen Lynch and John Paul OShea, well. He acknowledged that a significant number of Fine Gael TDs were not going forward but, as he put it, there would always be someone who would carry the partys banner in Cork North West. His fellow candidate and councillor, John Paul OShea, said there had been no disquiet at the Cork North West convention along the lines of the Cork South Central convention. Since the constituency of Cork North West was formed in 1981, its always been one candidate from the North and one from the South, he said. Mr. OShea said he expected the General Election to be held later this year. One of Corks top hotels has installed a dozen new electric vehicle (EV) charging points, allowing their guests and members of the public to re-charge their cars while they enjoy the resorts amenities. Corks five-star Fota Island Resort has teamed up with ePower, and installed six dual AC chargers on site, as well as a180KW Dual socket DC charger, the fastest of its kind in the area. The charge points are now available for hotel guests and members of the public at a resort which is a gateway to many attractions in east Cork, including Fota Wildlife Park, which is a short walk away. Finola Twomey, director of revenue, sales and marketing at Fota Island Resort, said they had chosen ePower because it was already working with over 50 other hotels across the country. It made perfect sense to partner with a company with such a wealth of experience in our sector, the charging solutions we have in place through ePower serve our guests perfectly with a mix of fast and overnight charging, Ms Twomey said. Ideal for those who drop in for lunch or a meeting as well as the guests that are staying with us. John OKeeffe, CEO of ePower, said: Fota is a beautiful location that places great emphasis on sustainability, its a great addition to our other partner hotels all around Ireland, With the demand for greener transport solutions growing all the time, we are really well placed to support the travel and tourism industry as they cater to a growing number of EV drivers. ePowers partnerships with Irish hotels is among a number of key developments for the company, and among its other recent initiatives was the installation of its EV chargers at five rail stations across the country. The inquests into the deaths of two men at an Ironman triathlon event in Co Cork last year have been opened and adjourned by the Cork South Coroner Frank OConnell. The hearing took place at Midleton Courthouse. The two deceased men, Brendan Wall, 45 originally from Cardrath, Co Meath and Ivan Chittenden, 64, from Brantford near Toronto, Canada both died while taking part in the Ironman triathlon event in Youghal, Co Cork on August 20, 2023. Mr OConnell said that the main purpose of the hearing was to gather sufficient evidence so that the families of the deceased would be able to register their deaths. Representatives of the Wall family at the inquests into the deaths of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall at the Courthouse, Midleton, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan Mr Walls parents, brothers and fiancee were present at the hearing as were family members of Mr Chittenden. Mr OConnell said that with the deaths occurring almost a year ago he thought it was appropriate to hold the short hearing now. He told the families that it was not his intention to go into any detail about the what happened on August 20 last year but simply to identify the deceased formally and give an official cause of death. Legal representatives for Ironman and Triathlon Ireland were also present at the hearing. Mr OConnell said that the two organisations had been informed out of courtesy but noted that the inquests would not be concerned with any controversies about the organisation of the event or who said what to whom. Representatives of the Chittenden family at the inquests into the deaths of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall at the Courthouse, Midleton, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan He said that some oblique reference to those matters that had caused some controversy would be inevitable but the inquests would focus on when, where and how the deaths occurred. Garda evidence Giving evidence Garda Sean Killigrew said that he was on duty at Youghal Garda Station on the morning of August 20, last year. He said that he received a call to attend the Ironman event where there had been two fatalities. He arrived at the event medical centre at Market Square at 9.25am where both of the deceased had been placed in private cubicles. He said that Mr Wall had been pronounced dead at 9.18 am following almost an hour of resuscitation efforts, he was unresponsive when he was taken from the water in the Green Hole area of Youghal. Mr Wall was identified by his fiancee. He said that Mr Chittenden was removed from the water in the Lighthouse area of Youghal and was pronounced dead at 9.09am. He was identified by Dr Meabh Hyland a family friend who knew Mr Chittenden. Garda Killigrew said that he formally identified both of the deceased to Sean Lynch at the mortuary at Cork University Hospital (CUH) at 5.15pm. He said that the following day he took statements from RNLI volunteers who were present at the Ironman event as well as another witness, Sean White. Post-mortems State Pathologist Margaret Bolster gave evidence of post-mortems she carried out on the deceased men at CUH on August 21. She said that both of the deceased had died from acute cardiorespiratory failure due to drowning. In the case of Mr Chittenden she said that he had also sustained a mild blunt force trauma to the left temporal area of his head which had caused significant bruising. Michael Corrigan, solicitor for Triathlon Ireland at the inquests into the deaths of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall at the Courthouse, Midleton, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan She said there was no evidence of brain trauma and no skull fractures but the bruising indicated that his blood was still circulating when he sustained the injury. She said it was possible that the blow could have temporarily diminished his awareness. Sympathies Senior Counsel Jane Hyland representing Ironman extended sympathies to the families on behalf of the organisation and solicitor Michael Corrigan representing Triathlon Ireland also offered sympathies to the bereaved. Jane Hyland SC representing Ironman at the inquests into the deaths of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall at the Courthouse, Midleton, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan Mr OConnell offered his sympathy also and said that he was not yet in a position to give a date for when the full inquests would take place but hoped to be able to do so soon. He adjourned the inquests until September 24 for mention when he said he hoped he would be able to give a date for when the full hearings would take place. Life sentences for murder were imposed today on five men of the Dooley name for murdering 43-year-old father of seven Tom Dooley to whom they were all variously related - at the graveyard in Tralee in October 2022. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring said their murder of Thomas Dooley in front of his family while attending a funeral was unforgivable. Siobhan Dooley described today how the murder of her husband before her eyes has affected her and her family in the days since October 5 2022. She said they had no idea of the horror show waiting when they arrived in the cemetery. She said her late husband was a pure softy and that the way he was murdered was something that should happen to nobody and that certainly her beloved husband Thomas did not deserve it. I am lucky I have an amazing family and friends who have stood with me and the family, Siobhan Dooley said today. The 34-day trial ended last Thursday with the conviction of 42-year-old Daniel Dooley of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, County Kerry, for the murder. Earlier in the trial, the jury of ten men and two women delivered guilty verdicts on 29-year-old Michael Dooley, of the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork, Patrick Dooley, 36, from Arbutus Grove, Killarney brother of the deceased, and on Thomas Dooley Sr, 43, and his son Thomas Dooley Jr, 21, both from the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork. The mandatory life sentences were imposed on them by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork for the murder 43-year-old Tom Dooley from Hazelwood Drive, Killarney, at New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on October 5 2022. Thomas Jr. was additionally given a four-and-a-half-year concurrent sentence for assault causing harm to the dead mans widow, Siobhan. The teenager who was found guilty of murder was remanded in custody until October 29 for discussion of a legal issue regarding his sentencing. Detective Sergeant Ernie Henderson and prosecution senior counsel Dean Kelly today outlined the background to the murder, taking place less than a minute after the deceased entered the cemetery with his wife Siobhan and some of their children. Her evidence was recalled of seeing her husbands brother Patrick and his cousin Thomas senior grinning as they approached the deceased to carry out the attack. She told her husband to run and he said to her that he did nothing wrong and why should he run. She described all of the accused men gathering around her husband hitting him with everything they had, blood spurting everywhere. Their weapons included a knife, an axe and other implements both shiny and rusty. The 43-year-old father-of-seven died very soon afterwards. Gardai in Cork city are appealing for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 14-year-old Maia Loftus Amigo, who has been missing since Saturday July 25. Maia is described as 5 foot 4 inches in height with a slight build. She has green eyes and her hair is currently dyed black. Maia was last seen in the Blackpool area. She is also known to frequent the Cobh area. Anyone with information on Maias whereabouts is asked to contact Gurranbraher Garda Station on 021 494 6200 the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. Members of the Kinsale RNLI were tasked on two water rescues in the last three days along the Cork coastline. The first rescue, undertaken on Saturday, involved the rescue of a kayaker who had become stranded on rocks between Kinsale and Oysterhaven. The casualty became stuck on the rocks off the eastern side of the outer harbour, known as Hangmans Point, between the two popular tourist spots after capsizing their kayak. The volunteer RNLI crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 3.11pm by the Irish Coast Guard, following reports of the stranded woman from a fellow paddler. The lifeboat helmed by Lenny Fourie, with crew members Felix Miller and Finn Bowen aboard, made its way to the scene where on arrival, they observed the casualty had managed to swim ashore. A member of the crew entered the water and swam to the casualty, who was described as "cold and grazed" from the terrain but was otherwise safe and well. The kayaker was safely transferred onto to the lifeboat, alongside the other paddler who had raised the alarm. The two water users were then brought back to Kinsale RNLI lifeboat station at approximately 5pm. Following the rescue, the crew returned to the scene to retrieve the kayak to prevent it from being a potential hazard. The lifeboat was then asked to launch again last night at 8.44pm following reports of an injured walker along the rocks at Sandycove. The lifeboat crew responded to this call out and assisted the Coast Guard and National Ambulance Service who brought the casualty to safety. Speaking after the first rescue, Mr Fourie said: 'We would like to commend the paddlers for not going out alone and for carrying a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch so that they could raise the alarm when they got into difficulty. As the summer continues, we would remind people to go prepared like these paddlers, always wear a personal flotation device appropriate to the activity you are doing. It is also helpful to label all your equipment with your details so if it is lost or found drifting, the Coast Guard can check you are safe, he added. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. The man arrested last week and charged in relation to his alleged part in the robbery of a young French visitor in Cork City Centre had the case against him adjourned today (July 30) until September 26. Adam Corcoran, 29, who lives at an apartment at John Barry House, Midleton, County Cork, appeared before Cork District Court where Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case to the date to which his partner and co-accused, Daena Walsh, 27, of the same address, had her case adjourned last week. Detective Garda Conor Cronin charged both of them with robbery at St. Patricks Street, Cork, on Tuesday evening (July 23). Judge Mary Dorgan granted bail to both of them. Det. Garda Cronin outlined the background to the allegations at the last court hearing. A group of French students in their early teens and their teachers were walking on St. Patricks Street at 10.20 pm on July 23. They were on a school tour to Ireland. It is alleged that a male and female approached the group of children. The female believed one of the children was laughing at her. The female began shouting at her (one of the students) and grabbed her Samsung phone out of her hand putting her in fear. The female then tried to leave with the phone and she was stopped by one of the French teachers who tried to get the phone back. The teacher and the female fell to the ground during the altercation. It is alleged that the male intervened and approached the teacher and struck him up to ten times in the back and upper body with a screwdriver. The female then threw a coffee cup at the teacher striking him in the face. The male and female then left the area, Det. Garda Cronin said. A seven-judge Supreme Court will rule tomorrow (Wednesday) on Graham Dwyers last-ditch appeal of his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara. The former architect has been serving a life sentence after being convicted at the Central Criminal Court in 2015. He has always denied the murder. Ms OHara, a 36-year-old childcare worker, was last seen in August 2012 in a park in Shanganagh, south Dublin. Some of her remains were found on Killakee mountain just over a year later and she was identified from dental records. Dwyers trial was told a Nokia phone found in Vartry Reservoir, Co Wicklow in 2013 was used to send Ms OHara messages, including one about stabbing, culminating in a text dated August 22nd, 2012 the last day she was seen to go down to the shore and wait. Last year the Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of Dwyers conviction appeal. The Supreme Court decided a further appeal was warranted as Dwyer raised important points about the admissibility of mobile phone data evidence that was gathered and retained under 2011 legislation that was later found to breach EU law. The legislations infirmity was raised in an earlier leg of Dwyers bid to overturn his conviction. A seven-judge Supreme Court heard Dwyers conviction appeal last January. In the meantime, the court dismissed a case raising similar objections to the admissibility of phone data evidence at a criminal trial. Lawyers for Dwyer argued before the court that the gathering of phone metadata, under the now-defunct 2011 law, was a breach of his rights under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The prosecution cannot be permitted to deploy in evidence material that should never have been admitted in the first place, he said. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) contested his appeal, arguing a beach of Charter rights could not be relied on by Dwyer as the Charter does not have direct effect. Sean Guerin SC, for the DPP, said the court must strike a balance between the competing interests of protecting the constitutional rights of citizens and ensuring the administration of justice is not brought into disrepute by refusing to admit highly probative evidence. Members of Ms OHaras family, including her father Frank, brother John and sister Anne Charles, were in court for the hearing Two people have died after a helicopter crashed into a farm building in Westmeath. The incident happened near the village of Killucan at approximately 3.30pm on Tuesday. Gardai said that two people on board the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene. An Garda Siochana are liaising with the family of one male, Irish national (40s). An Garda Siochana continue to establish contact with the next of kin of the second male (40s) who is understood to be from Eastern Europe, and may request the assistance of Interpol. Both bodies have been removed from the scene to Regional Hospital Mullingar where post mortems will take place in due course. The local coroner has been notified. Westmeath Fire and Rescue Service and the National Ambulance Service have now left the scene. The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit has deployed a team of inspectors to the site of the single-engine helicopter crash. An Garda Siochana said they will assist the AAIU by providing any technical and/or forensic services which may be required in the course of their investigation. Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was thinking of those involved. Thinking of all those involved in the Westmeath helicopter crash, he posted on X, formerly Twitter. He added: My thoughts & gratitude are also with all the emergency services working to help at this time. The piggery building that the helicopter crashed into is close to pitches used by Raharney GAA club. Killucan is approximately 15 kilometres from Mullingar. Ken Glynn, Mayor of the Mullingar-Kinnegad municipal district, expressed his shock. My thoughts and prayers are with those involved and their families, he said. I also want to commend the emergency services for their rapid response. Councillor Denis Leonard represents the area where the crash occurred. Locally, people are shocked and stunned, but also their hearts just go out to the families of all those involved at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. I want to thank the emergency services in Westmeath because they were very quickly on the scene and a huge operation took place straight away. They responded extremely quickly and I want to thank them for their service today. SWIFTS are in decline. It is estimated by Birdwatch Ireland that their numbers are down by more than 50%. The evidence suggests that because of the impacts of climate change, the decimation of insect populations and a shortage of places to nest, this extraordinary bird is in serious trouble. Extraordinary is an underestimation of this beautiful birds abilities. Every year they fly from Sub-Saharan Africa to Cork, arriving in May and leaving in late August. They spend most of their lives airborne, eating, sleeping, drinking and mating on the wing while weighing the same as a Cadburys Creme Egg. In terms of self-powered horizontal flight, they are the fastest bird, reaching speeds of 110 km/h. They mate for life and are completely faithful to their nest site, the location becoming imprinted on them once selected. Their feet are unusual for a bird in that all the toes point forward and so they are unable to perch or even walk or hop on the ground. They can cling to vertical surfaces and are just about able to shuffle around their nest sites. These creatures really are built for flying - they would not land at all if it wasnt for the requirement to have chicks. Swifts nest in nooks and crannies in the eaves and walls of buildings. They seem to exult in the sky, screaming excitedly to one another, and are such a joy to watch if you are lucky enough to spot them. We can do so much to help them. One way is to insert swift bricks at the building stage. These can be inserted at the point of construction and are hardly noticeable. The swift is a bird that does not leave a trace on the walls of buildings and they reside in boxes for only four months of the year. Swift nesting boxes installed at Blarney Street CBS Cork City Hall supported an Avian Tower exhibition last May featuring the work of 3rd year students of the Cork Centre for Architectural Education. Cork Healthy Cities invited the architecture department down to the foyer along with those working in the climate, parks and biodiversity offices to view the towers. Maria Young, Co-ordinator of Green Spaces for Health, Cork Healthy Cities, showed them the swift bricks and spoke of the importance of protecting this beautiful bird in our city. With all the new building going up in Cork over the coming years it is vital that nature be included into designs, not just for the swift but for other bird species also, she said. We ought not wait until it is too late and surely we can make it mandatory, Maria added. Other cities across Europe, notably in the Netherlands, have been incorporating nature support features into their cities at the design stage, can we not do the same in Cork? Im thinking of the docklands development, what a great opportunity to cater for people and nature. Noel Linehan, a member of Swift Conservation Ireland, agrees. He has been working with Green Spaces for Health for a number of years to improve the conditions for swifts and other birds to find a foothold in the city. The projects that have emerged from this collaboration include the Avian Tower Concept introduced to third year students at the Cork School of Architecture, resulting in 24 exquisite models designed largely but not exclusively for swifts. These were exhibited first at the college in 2023 followed by an exhibition at Cork City Council earlier this year. Another project involved the construction and installation of a Sand Martin wall at the island on the Lough in 2023. The most ambitious project involved the purchase by Green Spaces for Health of 81 swift boxes that were installed across the city to entice the swifts to use the city as a life-long location to hatch and nest their chicks. Gas Networks and Cork City Council have been generous with sponsorship of the Swift Boxes. Twelve have been installed in St Finbarrs Hospital where I work, and in the summer evenings, if you are lucky, you will see the swifts airborne acrobatics, gliding low over you head at speed as they return to the box portals. Swifts have also been spotted going in and out of one of the boxes that were installed at the MTU campus in Bishopstown. These are only up a month so it is so heartening that the birds have already found them, as it can sometimes take a year or two. It is hoped that they will also find the boxes at Murphys Farm, as it is so near MTU. Maria outlined how all the boxes are made of composite material that is long-lasting and weather-proof. They are put up by certified builders and a call system is installed with them. The call system is essential - it is a recording of swifts that attract fellow swifts into the boxes - the projects will not work otherwise. The call is a very effective method of attracting swifts, Maria explained. It only needs to be played at a low volume and can be set on a timer to suit the particular location. Because swifts like to nest in colonies, a minimum of six boxes are usually put up per location. Recently, Nagle Community College in Mahon installed 12 boxes. Transition Year Students visited the Avian Tower exhibition at the School of Architecture and immediately wondered if they could get swift boxes for their school. Noel Linehan arranged to meet the students at Nagle Community College to look at the suitability of the site for the boxes. Orientation is important. It is good if the boxes face north, north-east or north-west but not south as they are in danger of getting too hot inside. This can cause the chicks to leave prematurely and they will not survive. Height from the nearest horizontal surface below is very important, best guidance being at least five metres off the ground or a flat roof. Boxes should not be put near air vents as when young swifts are investigating an area with the call playing, they will fly into other openings until they figure out what the nest boxes are. Other counties have been tackling this decline in swift populations with some success. Linda Huxley, of Swift Conservation Ireland, is successfully reversing the decline in the swift population in Mayo. This year, the swift population in that county was 30% higher than in 2012 - the only county in Ireland where it is known the population is increasing. While swift boxes and bricks provide a vital nesting ground, we also need burgeoning insect populations to feed these amazing creatures that can fly up to a million kilometres in a lifetime. We need to install swift boxes and swift bricks in buildings and we need to let the grass grow, the wildflowers bloom, and the magic of nature to take hold. For more information on swift boxes, contact greenspacescork@gmail.com Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor with the HSE in Cork SWIFTS are in decline. It is estimated by Birdwatch Ireland that their numbers are down by more than 50%. The evidence suggests that because of the impacts of climate change, the decimation of insect populations and a shortage of places to nest, this extraordinary bird is in serious trouble. Extraordinary is an underestimation of this beautiful birds abilities. Every year they fly from Sub-Saharan Africa to Cork, arriving in May and leaving in late August. They spend most of their lives airborne, eating, sleeping, drinking and mating on the wing while weighing the same as a Cadburys Creme Egg. In terms of self-powered horizontal flight, they are the fastest bird, reaching speeds of 110 km/h. They mate for life and are completely faithful to their nest site, the location becoming imprinted on them once selected. Their feet are unusual for a bird in that all the toes point forward and so they are unable to perch or even walk or hop on the ground. They can cling to vertical surfaces and are just about able to shuffle around their nest sites. These creatures really are built for flying - they would not land at all if it wasnt for the requirement to have chicks. Swifts nest in nooks and crannies in the eaves and walls of buildings. They seem to exult in the sky, screaming excitedly to one another, and are such a joy to watch if you are lucky enough to spot them. We can do so much to help them. One way is to insert swift bricks at the building stage. These can be inserted at the point of construction and are hardly noticeable. The swift is a bird that does not leave a trace on the walls of buildings and they reside in boxes for only four months of the year. Cork City Hall supported an Avian Tower exhibition last May featuring the work of 3rd year students of the Cork Centre for Architectural Education. Cork Healthy Cities invited the architecture department down to the foyer along with those working in the climate, parks and biodiversity offices to view the towers. Maria Young, Co-ordinator of Green Spaces for Health, Cork Healthy Cities, showed them the swift bricks and spoke of the importance of protecting this beautiful bird in our city. With all the new building going up in Cork over the coming years it is vital that nature be included into designs, not just for the swift but for other bird species also, she said. We ought not wait until it is too late and surely we can make it mandatory, Maria added. Other cities across Europe, notably in the Netherlands, have been incorporating nature support features into their cities at the design stage, can we not do the same in Cork? Im thinking of the docklands development, what a great opportunity to cater for people and nature. Noel Linehan, a member of Swift Conservation Ireland, agrees. He has been working with Green Spaces for Health for a number of years to improve the conditions for swifts and other birds to find a foothold in the city. The projects that have emerged from this collaboration include the Avian Tower Concept introduced to third year students at the Cork School of Architecture, resulting in 24 exquisite models designed largely but not exclusively for swifts. These were exhibited first at the college in 2023 followed by an exhibition at Cork City Council earlier this year. Another project involved the construction and installation of a Sand Martin wall at the island on the Lough in 2023. The most ambitious project involved the purchase by Green Spaces for Health of 81 swift boxes that were installed across the city to entice the swifts to use the city as a life-long location to hatch and nest their chicks. Gas Networks and Cork City Council have been generous with sponsorship of the Swift Boxes. Twelve have been installed in St Finbarrs Hospital where I work, and in the summer evenings, if you are lucky, you will see the swifts airborne acrobatics, gliding low over you head at speed as they return to the box portals. Swifts have also been spotted going in and out of one of the boxes that were installed at the MTU campus in Bishopstown. These are only up a month so it is so heartening that the birds have already found them, as it can sometimes take a year or two. It is hoped that they will also find the boxes at Murphys Farm, as it is so near MTU. Maria outlined how all the boxes are made of composite material that is long-lasting and weather-proof. They are put up by certified builders and a call system is installed with them. The call system is essential - it is a recording of swifts that attract fellow swifts into the boxes - the projects will not work otherwise. The call is a very effective method of attracting swifts, Maria explained. It only needs to be played at a low volume and can be set on a timer to suit the particular location. Because swifts like to nest in colonies, a minimum of six boxes are usually put up per location. Recently, Nagle Community College in Mahon installed 12 boxes. Transition Year Students visited the Avian Tower exhibition at the School of Architecture and immediately wondered if they could get swift boxes for their school. Noel Linehan arranged to meet the students at Nagle Community College to look at the suitability of the site for the boxes. Orientation is important. It is good if the boxes face north, north-east or north-west but not south as they are in danger of getting too hot inside. This can cause the chicks to leave prematurely and they will not survive. Height from the nearest horizontal surface below is very important, best guidance being at least five metres off the ground or a flat roof. Boxes should not be put near air vents as when young swifts are investigating an area with the call playing, they will fly into other openings until they figure out what the nest boxes are. Other counties have been tackling this decline in swift populations with some success. Linda Huxley, of Swift Conservation Ireland, is successfully reversing the decline in the swift population in Mayo. This year, the swift population in that county was 30% higher than in 2012 - the only county in Ireland where it is known the population is increasing. While swift boxes and bricks provide a vital nesting ground, we also need burgeoning insect populations to feed these amazing creatures that can fly up to a million kilometres in a lifetime. We need to install swift boxes and swift bricks in buildings and we need to let the grass grow, the wildflowers bloom, and the magic of nature to take hold. For more information on swift boxes, contact greenspacescork@gmail.com Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor with the HSE in Cork By Rebecca Black, PA The Omagh Bombing Inquiry is seeking clear written agreements with the Irish Government over co-operation. This would be to include access to materials held in the Republic and witnesses who live there. The first public hearing of the inquiry took place on Tuesday at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. Paul Greaney KC, counsel to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, arriving at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Liam McBurney/PA) It is probing whether the dissident republican bombing which devastated the Co Tyrone town, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, could have been prevented. It has been contended that the terrorists prepared the bomb in the Republic and also fled back across the Border after planting it in Omagh on August 15th, 1998. The inquiry into the atrocity was ordered last year by former northern secretary Chris Heaton-Harris following a legal challenge by a bereaved family. Belfast High Court judge Mr Justice Horner, in a judgment, directly recommended that the British 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 Cabinet formally agreed to provide assistance to the inquiry. Two senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs attended the inquiry hearing on Tuesday. Ruairi de Burca (centre), senior official with the Department of Foreign Affairs, at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh (Liam McBurney/PA) In his opening statement, Paul Greaney KC, counsel to inquiry chairman Alan Turnbull, said it is highly likely, if not inevitable, that the state authorities within the Republic of Ireland hold evidence and bearing upon the inquirys terms of reference, adding that access to materials and citizens requires Irish co-operation. He said inquiry staff have held a number of meetings with Irish government officials and the Irish police, and commended positive discussions. The discussions that have taken place have been positive, and during them, the government of Ireland has expressed a strong desire to co-operate fully with the inquiry, Mr Greaney said. The challenge is to see the engagement that has occurred to date translated to meaningful engagement with the inquirys processes, both leading up to and during the course of inquiries or evidence hearings. We emphasise that the inquiry team does not doubt that the Government of Ireland has a strong commitment to achieving that vital aim. He added: The intention of the inquiry is to ensure that those discussions now move into a practical phase in which clear written agreements are put in place, to make certain that the inquiry has full access to any potentially relevant materials held by the state authorities in the Republic of Ireland, and that it has the ability to obtain statements and call witnesses to attend the inquiry, to give evidence in person. Jessica Magee A man has been jailed for his role in smuggling a woman into Ireland in what a court heard was a sophisticated operation. Mohamed Mahamed (48), a Danish citizen of Somalian origin of Aarhus, Denmark, pleaded guilty to unlawfully assisting the entry of a woman into Dublin Airport on January 28th last. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, backdated to January 28th, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. The court heard that the woman arrived on a Ryanair flight from Luxembourg into Terminal One and presented without any travel or identity documents A prosecuting Garda told Fiona McGowan BL, for the State, that the woman had previously sought asylum in Greece but had been refused. The woman told immigration officials in Dublin that she met Mahamed in Paris and paid him $500 in order to get to Ireland. She said she travelled with Mahamed by train to Luxembourg, stayed the night there and flew to Dublin on the same flight. The woman said Mahamed gave her a passport for someone else and told her to leave it in the toilet on the plane, so that she would arrive with no documents and claim international protection. Mahamed was arrested off the same flight and said he had been contacted by a third party, who said he would give him money if he assisted with getting the woman into Ireland. Mahamed told gardai he needed the money to travel back to Somalia to visit his family as he was on disability benefit in Denmark. He has no previous convictions and pleaded early. Niall Storan BL, defending, handed a psychological report to the court detailing Mahameds diagnosis with PTSD from the impact of the civil war in Somalia. The court heard that Mahamed was exposed to considerable violence and death as a child, where he witnessed the execution and murder of multiple family members, friends and neighbours at a young age. He has suffered low mood, sleep disturbances and anxiety from childhood as a result of these experiences, counsel said. Mahamed, a married father-of-five, got Danish citizenship in 2001 and worked as a cleaner and driver. He regularly sent his disability payments to his mother in Somalia, the court heard. The psychological report said that Mahamed has been hospitalised multiple times because of his depression and anxiety related to his PTSD, and that he suffers physical symptoms such as shaking, pain and inability to sleep. His experience in Wheatfield prison is particularly difficult as he relies on charity for clothes and basic needs and finds loud noises and banging contribute to his PTSD. Mahamed was described by psychologists as easily manipulated and the court heard he was told that this woman was suffering from ill health and required medical treatment in Ireland. The third party was the puppet master here, counsel said. Judge Orla Crowe said Mahameds psychological report makes for grim reading and that he clearly has PTSD due to his childhood experiences. She said although Mahamed has had a difficult life, he did this for financial gain and played an active role in a very sophisticated operation. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of three years but reduced this on account of Mahameds personal circumstances. July 29, 2024: Chinese leader Xi Jinping is troubled by the growing number of problems in the military and is openly complaining about corruption, poor work habits and lack of discipline. Xi ordered a purge of military personnel responsible for these problems and demanded that officials in charge of military combat and support operations make the changes, or else. Efforts to identify and eliminate corrupt practices and officials responsible for them have not been successful. For over a year now there have been multiple purges of corrupt officials, including nine generals and four senior aerospace industry officials. This included officers and officials in charge of the rocket forces that maintain short and long range missiles. Many of these missiles were found to be, on closer inspection, inoperable. In late 2023 a former defense minister was removed from the national legislature because of corruption charges. Xi has found that there are few officials he can trust to be free of corruption and accusations of incompetence. The dismissed senior officers obtained their positions by pretending to get things done but failing to do so in the belief that there would not be a war or threat of war to expose their misdeeds. This is a serious matter because the government has spent hundreds of billion dollars to build the largest fleet in the world. This process began in 2012 and Xi expects the Chinese fleet to be the worlds largest modern force by 2050. Such a force built by corrupt shipyard officials and commanded by corrupt admirals will be an expensive and useless force. On paper the Chinese seem headed for success. Currently the Chinese navy has two aircraft carriers, 75 submarines and 300 other warships. The total number of ships is 743, including a large number of support ships so the navy can operate far into the Pacific or Indian Oceans. China has never had a high seas fleet like this before. This large naval fleet was made possible by China becoming the world's largest builder of commercial ships. Currently about half the world's supply of new cargo, tanker and specialized ships are built in Chinese shipyards. As long as the large fleet exists to protect the largest merchant fleet in the world there is no problem. China has become a major importer of raw materials and exporter of manufactured goods. All of this is moved by ships. Another, but less immediately serious, problem with Chinas naval expansion is obtaining the well-trained manpower to operate it. This is much truer of Chinas navy than its other military services because China lacks a naval or even maritime seagoing tradition of the sort that the United States, Japan, Britain and a few other European nations have. Effective navies must drill at sea constantly, but that requires their ship crews to spend months at a time at sea away from their families. China has discovered a major problem recruiting the necessary well-educated young men willing to do this. The on-going collapse of Chinas population size makes this recruitment problem even worse. If China seeks to disrupt the shipping of other nations there could be other problems. The rest of the world regards this new Chinese shipping fleet as a threat if the equally large navy is used to threaten the merchant fleets of other nations. China decides what is offensive to them and other nations often disagree with the Chinese assessment. This could escalate to violence, as it already has in the South China Sea against the Philippines. Chinese and Filipino warships recently clashed over who could do what in the South China Sea and other nations in the region and worldwide fear this Chinese misbehavior will spread. Elizabeth City, N.C. Elizabeth City State University's (ECSU) Move Smart-Cook Smart initiative was awarded a $34,146 grant from the University of North Carolina's Collaboratory Research Program, Historically Minority-Serving Institutions (HMSI) Track, to push their efforts to enhance college students' quality of life. Spearheaded by Kacey Hopson, professor of kinesiology and principal investigator, and Scott Bradshaw, professor of psychology and co-principal investigator, the Move Smart-Cook Smart initiative aims to reduce stress, teach culinary skills, and promote physical activity. In collaboration with the Food Bank of the Albemarle, ECSU plans to provide valuable resources to educate students on the profound impact nutrition and physical activity have on stress reduction and overall well-being. "Many healthcare professionals tell people they have to eat healthy, but few people have training in how to prepare healthy food, especially when money is tight," said Hopson. "Our initiative will increase the students' culinary efficacy." Leveraging the University of Maryland's Healthy Cents program, students will learn how to shop for, plan and prepare healthy meals economically. The program partners with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension office and the Food Bank of the Albemarle, which will provide an instructor, a teaching kitchen, groceries for sessions and weekly grocery shopping opportunities for students. Facilitators will conduct workshops in ECSU's kinesthetic classroom; an innovative space outfitted with cycle desks, glider desks and sit-to-stand desks with stability ball seating. This dynamic environment encourages movement, enhancing brain function and information retention. The 11-week program will serve 30 students each in the fall and spring semesters. Hopson and Jennifer Brown, associate professor and program coordinator for kinesiology, health, physical education and public health, birthed the collaboration with the Food Bank of the Albemarle from one conversation. "Dr. Brown was telling me about the partnership she has with Sentara Hospital and mentioned they funded a teaching kitchen at the food bank," Hopson recalled. "I reached out to the Food Bank of the Albemarle and requested a meeting. I met with Justine Koksal, the program director, and she showed me the facility, including the kitchen and where individuals can go to access food. She was wonderfully cooperative and suggested the students could participate in weekly shopping trips." With further support from Ellen Owens, county extension director at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension for Pasquotank County, the program adopted the Healthy Cents curriculum, ensuring a comprehensive educational experience. Initially open to health and human studies students, the program will expand to other majors. It offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the creativity involved in health and wellness programming. Additionally, two paid undergraduate research assistant positions per semester will be available, providing practical research experience for kinesiology and psychology students. "I am so excited to offer this program," Hopson shared. "When I was in college, I really didn't know how to cook a lot of food. I wish I could engage in a program that taught me how to cook healthy, delicious meals." The Food Bank of the Albemarle provides fresh salads, fruit, and sandwiches, in addition to the canned or boxed nonperishable items. Recruitment for program participants will take place from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6, and students are encouraged to check their emails for further details. For more information on the Move Smart Cook Smart program, contact Kacey Hopson at kldigiacinto@ecsu.edu or 252-335-3956. July 29, 2024: Off the Yemen Red Sea Coast, the Yemen Houthi rebel group continues to attack passing ships headed north to the Suez Canal. Using various weapons supplied by Iran, the Houthis have launched attacks on more than 70 ships since late 2023. Most ships were undamaged, but two were sunk and one was seized. Four sailors on these ships have been killed and several more wounded. The U.S. Navy responded with missile attacks from destroyers and airstrikes from an American carrier in the vicinity. Recently an Israeli air strike on the Red Sea port of Hudaydah destroyed oil storage facilities as well as large and expensive port equipment used for unloading cargo and grain ships. The Israeli attack was in retaliation for a July 19th Houthi UAV attack on Tel Aviv that killed one person and wounded eight others. The subsequent Israeli retaliatory attack on Hudaydah was unexpected because of the long distance the Israeli fighter-bomber had to travel to reach Hudaydah and the Houthis were not expecting it. The Israelis were embarrassed that the Houthi UAV somehow got past their air defense system and even were scrambling to fix that as their damaging raid on the port of Hudaydah took place. The Israeli attack caused some Houthi casualties but destroyed critical port equipment, like the large cranes that are used to unload ships. This meant that that for a year or more, much less foreign aid for hungry people in northern Yemen enters could enter the country via Hudaydah What triggered this catastrophe was the increasing aggressive attacks carried out by Yemens Houthi tribe. They used their large stockpile of Iranian missiles to attack ships moving up the Red Sea, with targeting assistance from their Iranian Quds Force sponsors. This capability developed over the last decade as the rebels launched attacks on more distant targets. The rebels obtained more powerful weapons as well, including Iranian ballistic missiles, which were disassembled so they could be smuggled from Iran to Yemen, where Iranian technicians supervised the missiles being assembled and launched into Saudi Arabia. In the last few years, the rebels have received longer range ballistic missiles fired from northern Yemen across Saudi territory to hit Saudi and UAE oil production facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The rebels also acquired the reconnaissance capability to accurately fire missiles at ships moving up the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal. This has forced many ships to take the longer and more expensive and time consuming route around the southern tip of Africa. This has always been a potential threat to ships using the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal. Egypt and Iran are enemies and reducing Suez Canal income is a win for Iran, which supported the Yemen rebels for more than a decade to make such an interdiction possible. Western nations reacted slowly to this interdiction effort and only recently began attacking Yemen Shia rebel targets with missiles and gunfire from warships as well as air strikes from air bases in the region and an American aircraft carrier. American destroyers belonging to the carrier task force also moved close to the Yemen shore and launched missiles against Houthi targets near the Yemen coast. With the war in Yemen dragging on into 2024, it is unclear when or if Iran will halt support for the Houthi. Currently, the Houthi avoid firing on Iranian, American, or Chinese cargo ships in the Red Sea. China is a trading partner of Iran, despite the sanctions imposed on Iran and the Americans have the most fire power in the region to inflict serious damage on the Houthis. Before the recent Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iran was under widespread internal pressure from Iranians protesting the expensive foreign wars in Syria and Yemen. Despite that, Iran smuggled in more and more weapons. These were not intended for the ongoing Yemen civil war but for use against targets designated by Iran. But then Iran suddenly had its own domestic uprising to deal with. The Iranian religious dictatorship held onto power and supported more violence against real or perceived enemies of Iran, even if they were Iranian citizens protesting the economic losses Iranians have suffered because the religious dictatorship continues supporting foreign wars. One of those wars was in Yemen. In 2015 Iran admitted it had been quietly supporting the Houthi Shia rebels for a long time but now was doing so openly, and that support was increasing. Many Yemenis trace the current crisis back to the civil war that ended, sort of, in 1994. That war was caused by the fact that, when the British left Yemen in 1967, their former colony in Aden became one of two countries called Yemen. The two Yemens finally united in 1990 but another civil war in 1994 was needed to seal the deal. That fix didn't really take and the north and south have been pulling apart ever since. This comes back to the fact that Yemen has always been a region, not a country. Like most of the rest of the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa region, the normal form of government until the 20th century was wealthier coastal city states nervously coexisting with interior tribes that got by on herding or farming or a little of both plus smuggling and other illicit sidelines. This concept of nationhood is still looked on with some suspicion by many in the region. This is why the most common forms of government are the more familiar ones of antiquity like kingdom, emirate, or modern variation in the form of a hereditary secular dictatorship. For a long time, the most active Yemeni rebels were the Shia Houthis in the north. The Houthis have always wanted to restore local Shia rule in the traditional Shia tribal territories, led by the local imam, a religious leader who was a Houthi. This arrangement, after surviving more than a thousand years, was ended by the central government in 1962. Yemen also became the new headquarters of AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) when Saudi Arabia was no longer safe for these Islamic terrorists after 2007. Then came the even more radical ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and an invading army composed of troops from oil-rich neighbors like Saudi Arabia, which was very upset by Iranian/Houthi missile attacks. By late 2017 the rebels were slowly losing ground to government forces who, despite Arab coalition air support and about five thousand ground troops, were still dependent on Yemeni Sunni tribal militias to fight the Shia tribesmen on the ground. While the Shia are only a third of the population, they are united while the Sunni tribes are divided over the issue of again splitting the country in two and with no agreement on who would get the few oil fields in central Yemen. Many of the Sunni tribes tolerate or even support AQAP and ISIL. The Iranian smuggling pipeline continued to operate, and the Yemen rebels were able to buy additional weapons from other sources because they received cash from nations or groups hostile to the Arab Gulf state, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Shia Houthi rebels were from northern Yemen and controlled the Yemen border with Saudi Arabia. Over the last decade the rebels launched more and more attacks on Saudi targets. After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Iran ordered its Houthi proxy to attack commercial shipping moving past Yemen to reach the Suez Canal. The world has long ignored the Yemen civil war but, now that the Yemen Houthi rebels are interdicting the Suez Canal, there are incentives for some Western nations, in Europe and North America who are most dependent on this trade route, to do something as long as it does not involve acting against Iran who is the real cause of the problem. Arab Gulf States do not have large warships. Saudi Arabia does have combat aircraft that have been attacking targets in Yemen for over a decade. None of these attacks were able to eliminate the Houthi threat. In 2014 Persian Gulf Arab states sent in ground troops. This was not sufficient to defeat the Houthis and There are problems with that. They tried that before and gave up the effort. On the other hand, a traditional Arab solution for such problems is to hire mercenaries, and the Saudis have in the past hired thousands of Pakistani mercenaries. They could again. The UAE (United Arab Emirates), a small Persian Gulf oil state, has only 20,000 troops in its military. But in 2015 the UAE sent 3,500 troops to Yemen but by 2020 nearly all these soldiers had been withdrawn. While in Yemen the UAE forces helped organize and improve local Sunni forces in southern Yemen to better deal with the Shia rebel forces in the north. While the Shia rebels have held the traditional Yemen capital of Sanaa in central Yemen, the more numerous Sunni forces in the south use the port of Aden as their capital. Aden and the local Sunni tribes continued to suffer attacks by AQAP and ISIL. The French energy group TotalEnergies has announced its withdrawal from the offshore gas Block 11B/12B in South Africa. The gas fields stakes are currently distributed among TotalEnergies EP South Africa (45%), Qatar Petroleum (25%), CNR International (20%) and the South African consortium Main Street 1549 (10%). The blocks cover a 19,000 km2 area and there have been two major gas discoveries in the area since TotalEnergies entered the field in 2013 (Brulpadda and Luiperd in the Outeniqua basin). However, the sites have encountered issues for their commercial development due to environmental considerations. The announcement comes after CNR International (20%) and Qatar Petroleum (25%) decided to withdraw from the 11B/12B field. According to the partnership agreement, the withdrawing parties will be transferring their stakes free of charge to those that remain in the partnership. TotalEnergies has also decided to exit from offshore exploration Block 5/6/7, in which it currently holds a 40% stake. Besides these Blocks 11B/12B and 5/6/7, TotalEnergies holds Exploration Rights over four offshore Blocks in South Africa: Block Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB, west coast), Orange Basin Deep (west coast), Outeniqua South (south coast) for exploration and well drilling of hydrocarbon, and Block 3B/4B east of DWOB. Google has responded to allegations that it censored searches about Donald Trump after Elon Musk baselessly claimed the company had imposed a search ban on the former president. The issues, Google explained, were due to bugs in its autocomplete feature. But Musks tweet, which was viewed more than 118 million times, nonetheless forced the search giant to publicly explain one of its most basic features. Over the past few days, some people on X have posted claims that Search is censoring or banning particular terms, Google wrote in a series of posts on X. Thats not happening. Though Google didnt name Musk specifically, over the weekend the X owner said that Google has a search ban on President Donald Trump. The claim appeared to be based on a single screenshot of a search that showed Google suggested president donald duck and president donald regan when president donald was typed into the search box. The same day, Donald Trump Jr. shared a similar image that showed no autocomplete results relating to Donald Trump for the search assassination attempt on. Both Trump Jr. and Musk accused the company of election interference. Over the past few days, some people on X have posted claims that Search is censoring or banning particular terms. Thats not happening, and we want to set the record straight. The posts relate to our Autocomplete feature, which predicts queries to save you time. Autocomplete Google Communications (@Google_Comms) July 30, 2024 In its posts Tuesday, Google explained that people are free to search for whatever they want regardless of what appears in its autocomplete suggestions. It added that built-in protections related to political violence had prevented autocomplete from suggesting Trump-related searches and that those systems were out of date. Likewise, the company said that the strange suggestions for president donald were due to a bug that spanned the political spectrum. It also affected searches related to former President Barack Obama and other figures. Finally, the company explained that articles about Kamala Harris appearing in search results for Donald Trump is not due to a shadowy conspiracy, but because the two both of whom are actively campaigning for president are often mentioned in the same news stories. That may sound like something that should be painfully obvious to anyone who has ever used the internet, but Musks post on X has fueled days of conspiracy theories about Googles intentions. Musks post, which questioned whether the search giant was interfering in the election, was particularly ironic considering that the X owner came under fire the same weekend for sharing a manipulated video of Kamala Harris without a label, a violation of his companys own policies. When people type a question into Perplexity, the two-year-old search engine scours the internet and uses information from multiple sources, including online publishers, to synthesize an answer using AI. Soon, Perplexity will start sharing revenue with some publishers as part of an advertising platform it plans to launch around the end of September, the company announced on Tuesday. The initiative, known as the Perplexity Publishers Program, comes less than two months after the San Francisco-based startup backed by investors like Jeff Bezos and NVIDIA, and valued at $3 billion, came under fire from Forbes, Wired, and Conde Nast for allegedly scraping content without permission and ignoring robots.txt, a type of file that websites use to block page-crawling bots. Perplexitys initial partners include TIME, Fortune, The Texas Tribune, Der Spiegel and Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. Its not clear exactly how much revenue Perplexity will share with publishers. Dmitry Shevelenko, the companys chief business officer, declined to reveal numbers but told Engadget that it would be a meaningful double-digit percentage shared back with the publishers that contributed source input to the answer." He also said that the partnership would extend across multiple years without specifying how many. What this wasnt, Shevelenko insisted repeatedly, was a response to the critical press coverage in the last few months. Weve been talking to publishers since January, he claimed. No aspect of this program is reactive to these recent accusations. For months, publishers around the world have been concerned about the potential of AI-powered search engines and chatbots to decimate traffic by simply sucking up their content and using it to provide people with answers directly instead of having to actually visit their websites. Google has followed suit too the company now sources answers from search results and displays AI-generated versions at the top of the page. But so far, it doesnt compensate publishers. [Our revenue share] is certainly a lot more than Googles revenue share with publishers, which is zero, Shevelenko said. The idea here is that were making a long-term commitment. If were successful, publishers will also be able to generate this ancillary revenue stream. Perplexity, he pointed out, was the first AI-powered search engine to include citations to sources when it launched in August 2022, although the company reportedly redesigned its user interface to show them more prominently after being called out by Forbes in June. AI companies like OpenAI have struck deals with major publishers including TIME, News Corp, Vox, Axel Springer, the Financial Times and others to use their content to train AI models, writing checks ranging from $5 million to $250 million. Perplexitys revenue-sharing program, however, is different: instead of writing publishers large checks, Perplexity plans to share revenue each time the search engine uses their content in one of its AI-generated answers. The search engine has a Related section at the bottom of each answer that currently shows follow-up questions that users can ask the engine. When the program rolls out, Perplexity plans to let brands pay to show specific follow-up questions in this section. Shevelenko told Engadget that the company is also exploring more ad formats such as showing a video unit at the top of the page. The core idea is that we run ads for brands that are targeted to certain categories of query, he said. Perplexity This makes sense for Perplexity because it does not train its own AI models. Instead, it lets users choose from leading AI models like OpenAIs GPT-4o, Anthropics Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Metas Llama 3.1 to summarize answers from the web. Its very simple, Shelevenko said, if were making money and a publishers content was used on that ad impression, the publisher will get a cut of that revenue. But without knowing how much percentage of ad revenue Perplexity plans to split with publishers, its unclear whether the move will help publishers make up for any revenue lost due to declining traffic as AI-generated search engines and chatbots become more popular. And breaking into an online advertising business dominated by Google and Meta isnt easy. Setting up an ads business takes time, Toshit Panigrahi, founder of Tollbit, a startup that lets publishers monetize content by offering it to AI companies for a fee they can set themselves, told Engadget. Publishers are expected to hand over content today in the hopes that Perplexity sets up a successful ads business and cuts them in. Shevelenko refused to comment on the recent controversies that Perplexity has been involved in with publishers but acknowledged that onboarding them had become harder in the last few months. Some [of our conversations] were in a great place, he said, and then the bad press hit and then they kind of, you know raised more questions. New industries, business formats, models contribute more to Chinese economy in 2023 Xinhua) 16:36, July 30, 2024 BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The added value of new industries, new business formats and new business models, dubbed the "three new" economy, contributed more to China's economic growth last year, official data shows Tuesday. These new growth drivers accounted for 17.73 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) last year, up 0.37 percentage points from the previous year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. Calculated at current prices, the added value of the new growth drivers was around 22.35 trillion yuan (about 3.13 trillion U.S. dollars) last year, growing by 6.4 percent from the previous year, according to the NBS. A new industry involves the application of new scientific and technological achievements and new technologies to form a certain scale of new economic activities. A new business format involves new links, new chains and new activity forms derived from existing industries and fields, with technological innovation and application as key drivers. A new business model involves the integration and reorganization of various elements of enterprise operation to achieve the goal of customer value and sustainable profit, forming an efficient and competitive business operation mode. The added value of the "three new" economy measures the added value created by all permanent resident units of a country (or region) engaged in "three new" economic production activities within a certain period of time, according to the NBS. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) July 30, 2024: The use of drones in Ukraine has introduced a new and unexpected feature of modern warfare by causing most of the infantrys casualties, as opposed to artillery during the past 110 years. Drones, also known as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) come in various forms (quadcopter, small fixed wing aircraft) and while most are equipped with explosives, some are simply used for reconnaissance and surveillance. Ukrainian troops also suffer similar, but apparently fewer losses due to Russian drone activity. There are fewer Russian drones being used and the Ukrainians have begun using an anti-aircraft version of their drones to go after Russian drones. This Ukrainian innovation was recently implemented after only a few weeks of research and development. The Ukrainians have regularly been quicker to develop and implement new weapons and military technologies, especially against weapons Russia uses to attack Ukrainian targets. For example, the Iranian Shahed-136 drones are now being produced in Russia under license. Russian-made Iranian drones are called Geran and have recently entered service for attacks on civilian targets. Ukraine developed an air-defense system against Shahed-136 and Geran. This involves thousands of modified cell phones distributed over likely avenues of drone approach. The cellphones sent audio signals of drone engine and propeller noise to powerful signal processors that served as a land version of submarine towed sonar arrays detecting stealthy submarines. This cell phone network allows detection of the general location, vector, altitude and speed of incoming drones, which the Ukrainian equivalent of the RAFs Battle of Britain sector stations then send to the firing positions of Ukrainian infantry who have been carefully located along those avenues of likely drone approach. These soldiers use their assault rifles and machine-guns to fire on the sound of the approaching Russian drones, which are painted black and nearly impossible to spot at night. Such tactics enable the Ukrainian to destroy nearly 90 percent of the rather noisy Russian Geran and Shaded-136 drones. NATO nations are supplying Ukraine with more Patriot and NASAMS air and missile defense systems, both of which are heavily used by the Ukrainians, especially NASAMS. This system was the most anticipated because of its reputation. NASAMS is far superior to the similar Russian Buk M1 system Ukraine and Russia use, or anything else in its class. NASAM systems began arriving in Ukraine during November 2022 and, by late 2023, there were eight NASAMS batteries in Ukraine. In 2024 more NASAMS systems arrived in Ukraine as well as longer range AMRAAM ER missiles for it. NASAMS has been very effective against Russian missile attacks, often intercepting all the Russian missiles headed for an area defended by a NASAMS battery. The impact of NASAMS on Russian missile attacks led the Russians to try and detect and destroy NASAMS batteries or components of batteries. As of early 2024, only one NASAMS battery has come under heavy Russian attack and lost some components. So far NASAMS has intercepted several hundred Russian missiles and UAVs. The latest version of NASAMS has a missile range of 50 kilometers and a target detection radar with a range of 120 kilometers. The older and larger Patriot system has a missile with a range of 120 kilometers. NASAMS systems are more compact and mobile than Patriot and the Ukrainians have found that NASAMS and Patriot systems complement each other. In Ukraine Russia is having a difficult time finding worthy targets that are not defended by NASAMS or Patriot. NASAMS was a system developed by Norway in the early 1990s and entered service in 1998. Norway pioneered the use of American AMRAAM air-to-air missiles as surface-to-air weapons and developed the fire control and launcher equipment needed to make it all work. It was a simple but very effective use of air-to-air missiles for air defense. Other air-to-air missiles have been used for ground-based air defense systems, but the Norwegian version is seen as the best of the lot. Norway has six NASAMS batteries for its own defense. Eleven other nations, like Hungary, Spain, Holland, Chile, the United States, Finland, Lithuania and Ukraine also use NASAMS, and production of the system has increased because of heavy and wildly successful use by the Ukrainians. The NASAMS was initially developed for the Norwegian Air Force by Norwegian firm Kongsberg, in cooperation with American partner Raytheon, which produces AMRAAM. A major upgrade, NASAMS 2, officially entered service in 2007 and since then it has gained interest in more nations. NASAMS popularity is due to a truly open architecture that, unlike competing systems, allows NASAMS to be used with a wide variety of radars. Initially NASAMS used the American made MPQ-64 Sentinel radar but some customers requested a system that can work with different radars and air-to-air missiles. NASAMS has been tested and configured to work with more than 25 different radar systems and can fire just about any air-to-air missile that can be fired from NATO aircraft. All that is required is modifications to the size and electrical connections in the NASAMS launcher cells and software modification of the fire control system. Since NATO has long-established standards for NATO weapons, NASAMS takes full advantage of this. So far NASAMS has been configured with AIM-120 AMRAAM and its longer-range ER variant in addition to the heat seeking AIM-9X Sidewinder and the European IRIS-T. The last one is an interesting story. Norway has a big stock of IRIS-T for their F-16 fighters, but the new Norwegian F-35 is not compatible with IRIS-T, so they decided to use this very modern European missile as an anti-aircraft missile in NASAMS systems. This example clearly shows how flexible this system is while the competitor systems are tied to a limited number of missiles and radar. A typical NASAMS battery consists of 12 launcher vehicles, each carrying six missiles, eight radar vehicles, one fire control center, and one tactical control vehicle. NASAMS does not provide protection for a large area because the max range of its missiles is 30-50 kilometers while range of battery radar target detection is up t0 160 kilometers. NASAMS batteries will be used to protect major cities. NASAMS is being used alongside existing Ukrainian S300 systems and American Patriot batteries Ukraine received as well. Patriot was especially effective at intercepting ballistic missiles. The success of Patriot and NASAMS as air defense weapons has provided Ukrainian civilians and soldiers with a morale boost. The Senate has passed two major online safety bills amid years of debate over social medias impact on teen mental health. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, also known as COPPA 2.0, passed the Senate in a vote of 91 - T3. The bills will next head to the House, though its unclear if the measures will have enough support to pass. If passed into law, the bills would be the most significant pieces of legislation regulating tech companies in years. KOSA requires social media companies like Meta to offer controls to disable algorithmic feeds and other addictive features for children under the age of 16. It also requires companies to provide parental supervision features and safeguard minors from content that promotes eating disorders, self harm, sexual exploitation and other harmful content. One of the most controversial provisions in the bill creates whats known as a duty of care. This means platforms are required to prevent or mitigate certain harmful effects of their products, like addictive features or algorithms that promote dangerous content. The Federal Trade Commission would be in charge of enforcing the standard. The bill was originally introduced in 2022 but stalled amid pushback from digital rights and other advocacy groups who said the legislation would force platforms to spy on teens. A revised version, meant to address some of those concerns, was introduced last year, though the ACLU, EFF and other free speech groups still oppose the bill. In a statement last week, the ACLU said that KOSA would encourage social media companies to censor protected speech and incentivize the removal of anonymous browsing on wide swaths of the internet. COPPA 2.0, on the other hand, has been less controversial among privacy advocates. An expansion of the 1998 Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, it aims to revise the nearly 30-year-old law to better reflect the modern internet and social media landscape. If passed, the law would prohibit companies from targeting advertising to children and collecting personal data on teens between 13 and 16 without consent. It also requires companies to offer an eraser button for personal data to delete children and teens personal information from a platform when technologically feasible. The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics caused massive controversy from viewers who say the performance mocked Christianity's 'The Last Supper.' Now, participants who performed in the ceremony last week are speaking out. According to 'CNN,' Philippe Katerine, a French entertainer, was dubbed "the blue man," who portrayed the Greek god of wine Dionysus. While lying on a table seemingly without clothes, Katerine sang a song covered in glittery blue paint from head to toe. Katerine told the outlet how his song "Nue" or "Naked" in English was a message for peace. "Would there have been wars if we'd stayed naked? The answer is perhaps not because you can't hide a gun or a dagger when you're naked," he said. "So you've got this idea of harmlessness when it comes to the naked man. And the idea of the origins of the Olympic Games in Greece which are represented today because when you see paintings, they're of naked athletes too also with the idea that they can't carry weapons when they're naked." The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings. #Paris2024 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/FBlQNNUmvV The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 26, 2024 He continued: "So there I came, simply, to sing this song." Katerine, a songwriter, said he was "deeply sorry" if his appearance offended any of the millions of viewers and that his intention was a "misunderstanding." "I was brought up as a Christian and the best thing about Christianity is forgiveness," he told 'CNN.' "For me, it's the most beautiful thing there is: forgiveness." "I saw something very colorful, reconciliatory and peaceful," Katerine stated, adding he was "surprised" by the backlash, despite his frustration the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to use subtitles. "So I ask for forgiveness if I have offended anyone, and the Christians of the world will grant me that, I'm sure, and will understand that it was mostly a misunderstanding," the performer said. "Because when it comes down to it, it wasn't about representing 'The Last Supper' at all." Aside from enraged viewers, one of the largest sponsors of the Paris Olympics quickly pulled their advertising due to what they deem an "unacceptable mockery." C-Spire the largest privately-held wireless provider in the USA declared that they are pulling out altogether. "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 penned on Twitter, now X, early Saturday. The post hit over 9 million views and received a flood of positive responses. One third of Irish people are alarmed about climate change. EPA publishes Climate Changes Four Irelands Audience Segmentation Analysis The report Climate Changes Four Irelands identifies four different audiences of people in Ireland who share a similar set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours relating to climate change. These are: The Alarmed : 34 per cent of the Irish population strongly think that climate change caused by human activity is a real and immediate threat. : 34 per cent of the Irish population strongly think that climate change caused by human activity is a real and immediate threat. The Concerned : 48 per cent of the Irish population are convinced that climate change is a serious issue, but are less worried than the Alarmed and view it as a less immediate threat. : 48 per cent of the Irish population are convinced that climate change is a serious issue, but are less worried than the Alarmed and view it as a less immediate threat. The Cautious : 14 per cent of the Irish population think climate change is happening, but are less sure of the causes and are less likely than the Alarmed or Concerned to think it will affect them personally. : 14 per cent of the Irish population think climate change is happening, but are less sure of the causes and are less likely than the Alarmed or Concerned to think it will affect them personally. The Doubtful: 4 per cent of the Irish population are not worried about climate change, and do not perceive it as a threat. 30th July 2024: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published Climate Changes Four Irelands an audience segmentation analysis of the Irish population. The report identifies four audiences within the Irish public who share similar sets of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours relating to climate change. The Alarmed (34 per cent), Concerned (48 per cent), Cautious (14 per cent), and Doubtful (4 per cent) strongly differ on their knowledge, levels of worry and willingness to take personal action on climate change. The findings are consistent with the previous assessment published by the EPA in 2022. This work was undertaken by the EPA and the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication, in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action, and provides an update on the Climate Change in the Irish Mind project. Welcoming the report Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of EPAs Office of Evidence and Assessment said: Climate Changes Four Irelands shows that more than four out of five people in Ireland, across all regions and backgrounds, are either in the Alarmed or Concerned category. The small percentage in the Doubtful category shows that climate scepticism is rare in Ireland." She added; People from cities, towns, villages and rural areas hold diverse views on climate change, but the study does not show a strong urban-rural divide. In relation to our attitudes to climate change, more unites us than divides us. The report shows that a majority within each climate change audience agrees that climate change is happening. While awareness of climate change is very high, there are strong differences in what the audiences believe is causing it. Climate change is mostly caused by human activities, however, a significant minority of the Alarmed and Concerned audiences incorrectly believe that climate change is caused equally by human and natural action. The Alarmed audience feels most knowledgeable about climate change, followed by the Doubtful. Speaking about the report Mary Frances Rochford, Programme Manager said: Successfully addressing the challenge of climate change requires a diversity of messages, messengers and methods that reach each of these four audiences and must be tailored to meet their particular needs. This analysis provides a useful framework to help climate communicators identify and understand their target audiences to engage the public more effectively about climate change and solutions. Insights from the segmentation report support climate policy and decision makers, climate educators and communicators across Irish society, including government, agencies, local authorities, academic institutions, environmental organisations, businesses, scientists and the media. Contact: Niamh Hatchell, EPA Media Relations Office, 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie. Note to Editors: Wave one of this study from 2021 identified four distinct audiences among the Irish public based on views about climate change. This report updates how these different audiences are represented in the Irish population using the findings of Wave 2 of Climate Change in the Irish Mind. Audience segmentation is an approach that identifies different groups of people with shared characteristics for engagement and communication. A statistical technique called latent class analysis (LCA) is used to identify patterns in respondents answers to climate change questions. These patterns identify groups of people who share a similar set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. This can support prediction, explanation and understanding of unique groups and can provide insight into how to craft more effective public communication strategies and activities. The Climate Change in the Irish Mind project is an ongoing study of the Irish populations beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours regarding climate change. The project aims to develop a better understanding of the Irish population by conducting an ongoing study of climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, policy preferences and behaviours of the Irish public towards climate change. Wave 1 of the project revealed near nationwide agreement on many climate change attitudes and strong majority support for climate action. This work was undertaken by EPA and our academic partner Yale Program on Climate Change Communications (YPCCC), in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. This is the first nationally representative survey of its kind in Ireland which is now in its second wave. The approach to the project is based on the established methodology of the Climate Change in the American Mind survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Centre for Climate Change Communication, which was tailored to meet Irelands particular socio/economic context. The data in this report are based on a representative survey of 1,330 residents of the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and older. The survey was fielded by Behaviour & Attitudes between the 30th of August to the 6th of October 2023. All questionnaires were administered by call agents using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) software. The survey took, on average, 25 minutes to complete. Survey respondents were recruited using a random digit dial sample of live Irish telephone numbers. About 80 per cent of survey respondents were reached through mobile phone numbers and 20 per cent through landline phone numbers. A total of 22,862 numbers were dialled and 1,355 interviews were completed (including 25 pilot interviews to test survey wording and timing), for a response rate of 6 per cent. Gender, age, work status, and region quotas were used to ensure sample representativeness. Key demographic variables were also weighted, post survey, to match Central Statistics Office norms. The next report in this series will be an updated mapping tool that allows accessible exploration of the climate attitudes, beliefs and climate policy support intentions of the Irish population down to a county level. The release of this tool is expected later this year. Full details of all Climate Change in the Irish Mind reports maps and analysis are available on the EPA website. (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) Leading Australian Technology, Communication and Productivity Solutions provider Enablo announces strategic partnership with the Super App for frontline workers Flip for Meta Workplace transition Enablo, a leading Australian technology, communication and productivity solutions provider and one of the largest partners of Meta's enterprise communications software Workplace, announces a partnership that will allow Meta Workplace customers to integrate and transition to Flip's Super App. The partnership between Enablo and Flip brings together two leading companies in the frontline technology space with the joint mission to shape the future of work. NEWS AKTUELL // Stuttgart, Germany and Brisbane, Australia 30.07.2024 - Flip, the Super App for frontline employees, is proud to announce a partnership with Enablo, a leading consulting and solutions provider for digital employee experiences and one of the largest Meta Workplace partners globally. Our mission with this collaboration is to support the thousands of Meta Workplace customers across Asia Pacific and North America as they seek new solutions to drive employee engagement and productivity. The partnership will allow Meta Workplace customers to integrate their workforce, data, and tech stack seamlessly with the Flip employee platform. With over seven years committed to helping companies increase employee engagement and automate employee workflows, Enablo has never been more excited to accelerate its mission to empower every employee with engaging and effortless digital experiences. A Seamless Transition Following Meta's announcement to close down operations of Meta Workplace by Q3 2025, many enterprises face challenges in finding a solution that enables a seamless transition of their workforce and data while offering a smooth technical implementation. Dave Nixon, Co-founder and CEO of Enablo, stated, "Flip's mobile and web user experience is one of the most native and consumer-like business apps I've ever used. Its intuitive design and familiar features make it the ideal replacement for our customers utilizing the Meta Workplace platform. By combining our strengths in providing exceptional frontline technology solutions with leading customer service, we can reassure our customers that as they transition to Flip's platform, we expect to deliver a communications and productivity solution that will drive real business results whilst improving employee experiences and engagement levels." In recent weeks, the teams at Flip and Enablo have worked diligently to ensure a seamless transition from Workplace to the Flip employee app. Benedikt Ilg, Founder and CEO of Flip, explained, "We are very excited to partner with Enablo, providing easy and fast access to our solution to new customers throughout Asia Pacific and North America. With Enablo's technical Workplace expertise and Flip's proven track record with large enterprises, we can now empower companies across the globe to turn off Workplace on a Friday and go live with Flip on Monday, with all relevant content seamlessly migrated. Jointly, we'll advance our mission to empower superior employee experience." "Flip is even better than Workplace by Meta and specifically tailored to meet our needs." says Ruby Richmond-Khan, Product Manager, The Mansion at Coldeast. The Ideal Solution for Frontline Companies Flip is the Super App for frontline employees, combining communication, HR services, and operations into one application. It enables large organizations across the globe to enhance employee retention and maximize operational efficiency. Flip provides a social-media-like user experience that ensures high adoption and employee engagement. With over 84% active users across all customers, Flip has rapidly become one of the preferred partners in the market. Flip supports more than 60 languages, allowing companies to seamlessly connect their workforce across different markets, and integrates natively with Workforce Management and Human Capital Systems, providing a comprehensive operational platform for companies. More than 400 global customers, including BOSCH, MAGNA, Porsche, REWE, EDEKA, and McDonald's Germany, trust Flip as their platform of choice to empower their employees. About Flip Flip is the employee platform empowering deskless work. The app reaches all employees in the frontline with just two clicks and thus connects deskless workers digitally with their own organization for the first time. Flip combines top-down and bottom-up communication tools such as a personalized newsfeed, individual and group chats with additional functionalities such as task management, digital shift and vacation planning and many more. The app can be fully integrated into the existing IT infrastructure and adapted to the corporate design. Flip integrates all important company processes for the deskless workforce in one app bringing the entire company into the deskless worker's pocket. Thus, Flip is building the first mobile operating system for the frontline - GDPR-compliant and secure. Flip is already used by numerous well-known customers from various industries such as Porsche AG, Bosch, REWE as well as fast-food giant Mc Donald's. The company employs around 100+ people and is headquartered in Stuttgart. For more information, visit https://www.getflip.com/. About Enablo Enablo is a leading Australian technology, communication and productivity solutions provider specializing in optimizing digital workflows for frontline employees. They integrate these workflows seamlessly into daily communication, boosting efficiency and engagement. As one of Meta Workplace's largest partners in Asia Pacific and North America, Enablo has leveraged its expertise to help businesses find the best software solutions for their needs. Today, it's realigning its business model with Flip, continuing to deliver best in class communications and HR solutions to frontline employees, now utilizing Flip's Super-app, mobile frontline operating system. Learn more about Enablo and their services at https://www.enablo.com/. For media inquiries, please contact: Marisa Wagner, flip@kekstcnc.com Stuart Haslam, stuart@stuarthaslam.com (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) The acquisition is a key milestone in ThetaRay's mission to use AI in the fight against financial crime. As the leading comprehensive, cloud-based financial crime detection platform, ThetaRay enables financial institutions to identify trusted transactions and trusted customers across all banking activities. This recently won ThetaRay an award for Best Use of Data for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Detection together with Santander UK NEW YORK, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ThetaRay, the leading provider of AI-powered financial crime detection technology, today announced the acquisition of next-generation European screening company, Screena. The acquisition demonstrates ThetaRay's continuous investment in proprietary technology and reaffirms its mission of enabling banks, fintechs, and regulators to detect financial crime with state-of-the-art AI solutions. Screena helps financial institutions stop wrongdoers without afflicting legitimate parties. It screens individuals, companies, or other entities against numerous lists of sanctioned parties. This ensures compliance with international law and regulations while empowering global trade, protecting reputations, and delivering financial security. ThetaRay, deployed in over 40 countries across six continents, is on a journey from being a leader in AI-powered Transaction Monitoring solutions to a cloud-based, end-to-end financial crime detection platform used by over 100 financial institutions including Santander, Payoneer, and Travelex. This strategic acquisition formalizes Screena's cutting-edge, cloud-based AI-driven screening solution as part of ThetaRay's product suite, providing financial institutions with an unparalleled, holistic view of transactional and customer screening risks. With ThetaRay, clients detect multiple types of financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and drug trafficking. Most recently, in a global effort to combat modern slavery, Santander UK teamed up with ThetaRay to deploy advanced technology aimed at detecting human trafficking within financial transactions. This collaborative effort received accolades for "Best Use of Data for Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Detection" at the Digital Transformation Awards in June 2024. ThetaRay's product suite ensures financial institutions can swiftly and effectively comply with complex regulatory requirements. Furthermore, ThetaRay enables seamless customer onboarding and transaction flows and allows companies to scale rapidly and capitalize on business opportunities while fostering growth across varied business lines. "The acquisition of Screena is a significant milestone for ThetaRay as we continue our mission to power the global fight against financial crime by enhancing our offerings with the most advanced AI capabilities. It furthers our commitment to delivering an end-to-end platform that enables banks, fintechs, and regulators to effectively identify financial crime vital capabilities to grow and operate a financial institution today," remarked Peter Reynolds, CEO of ThetaRay. "The recent launch of our Customer Risk Assessment (CRA) product this year and the mass adoption of our leading Transaction Monitoring offering demonstrates both a clear need in the market and our proven ability to build pioneering solutions. We are delighted to have closed our first acquisition, bringing key capabilities and further establishing our already rapidly growing presence in Europe." "The need for international, cross-border payments, and business corridors between Europe and Africa, South America and the US, and many locations around the world requires the use of AI and advanced technology to make sure that the transactions are trusted, and that the people behind them are trusted," said Erel Margalit, Chairman of ThetaRay, and Founder and Chairman of JVP. "ThetaRay's AI also establishes a highway for the good actors that require an international payment network to do their business. The acquisition of Screena advances the ability to identify bad actors, whether it's money laundering, drug trafficking, or terrorist financing in a much more pointed way. This move is a testament to ThetaRay's mission of thwarting financial crime and continuously enhancing capabilities to win this critical fight on our journey to becoming a category leader." Cedric Iggiotti, CEO of Screena, stated, "Integrating with ThetaRay has been a game-changer for us at Screena, revealing the true potential of combining Transaction Monitoring, Screening, and Customer Risk Assessment. For too long, screening was siloed from other critical financial crime detection tools. Our partnership with ThetaRay not only meets stringent regulatory demands but also significantly enhances our crime detection capabilities, as evidenced by our recent successes with major financial institutions. Looking ahead, we are excited to push the boundaries of what's possible in building a more trustworthy financial ecosystem." About ThetaRayThetaRay is a pioneer in the field of Anti-Money Laundering with an AI-powered solution that delivers trusted transactions and trusted customers for banks, fintechs, and regulators around the world. ThetaRay's Transaction Monitoring, Screening, and Customer Risk Assessment product suite enables compliant business growth and helps institutions fight financial crime. With ThetaRay, customers experience significant operational efficiency gains, reduced false positives, and comprehensive risk coverage. The main investors in ThetaRay are JVP, who helped found the company, the Canadian and international Fintech investor, Portage, and other large investors from Israel and Europe. For more information, visit www.thetaray.com. About ScreenaScreena empowers banks, fintechs, and digital businesses to quickly and easily integrate name screening and entity resolution with any customer onboarding or payment platform. Screena's innovative technology stops wrongdoers without afflicting legitimate parties, allowing smooth customer registration and fast payment operations. Screena's AI-driven algorithms surface true positives with unrivalled precision and de-risk financial organizations from regulatory fines, personal liability, and reputational damage. Media Contact:Raoul WootliffN10Spr@thetaray.com+972546921720 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thetaray-revolutionizes-ai-financial-crime-detection-with-screena-acquisition-302209663.html Protests Against Electoral Fraud in Venezuela: Paramilitaries Shoot at Civilians A group of paramilitaries is shooting at protesters near the Presidential Palace of Miraflores. People is protesting Against Electoral Fraud in #Venezuela. You know that selecting the right keynote speaker for your conference is crucial for creating an impactful experience for your attendees, but the process of finding the ideal keynote speaker can be overwhelming. If you're already working with a speaker's bureau, great! They'll find you someone good. But if you're doing this on your own, then there are places you can look. Drawing from over 20 years of experience as a keynote speaker and comedian, Jan McInnis shares some insights into how you can find her (and other) keynote speakers. 1. Explore Beyond the First Page of Google Many top-tier speaker bureaus and high-fee speakers invest heavily for the first page of Google search results. However, excellent speakers can often be found on the second and third pages. Don't stop your search too soon; keep looking for hidden gems that could be a perfect fit for your event. Lacking SEO skills does NOT = Bad speaker. 2. Review Event Agendas from Similar Organizations Check out the speaker lineups of past events hosted by organizations similar to yours. Identifying speakers who have previously engaged audiences with similar interests can provide you with reliable options for your conference. Take advantage of the research already conducted by your peers! 3. Get Recommendations from Past Speakers We know each other and we're usually happy to point you in the right direction for your next speaker. Especially if you want one pretty similar to us! 4. Pay attention to Your Inbox and Mailbox "I don't want to be in front of an audience that isn't a match for me, so if I'm emailing to a meeting planner, I'm doing it because I've done my research and I feel confident I'll be a great fit," quips McInnis. As long as the email has your correct name, and includes some information about your group that shows the person behind it knows what your group dies, then you might want to pay attention to it. Many speakers do their own marketing BUT they do not just blast out emails in the hopes of getting attention (at least I hope not as that is an awful method). Someone sending an email has probably researched good matches for their keynote With some fast research, you can find a dynamic, funny and spot-on keynote speaker for your conference without a lot of hassle. Check out Jan's links and webpage to see if she's a fit for your next event. TheWorkLady.com Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A motorcyclist has sustained 'life-threatening' injuries following a traffic collision involving a tractor near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which occurred on the A3400 Oxford Road near the junction with Priory Road. A BMW R1200 motorcycle, a Triumph Tiger motorcycle and a blue New Holland tractor were involved in the collision, at around 2:15pm on Saturday 27 July. One motorcyclist sustained life-threatening injuries, while the other sustained a serious injury and requires surgery. Both riders remain in hospital. Investigating officer PC Amy Calvert, of Thames Valley Police said the force was appealing for witnesses who may have seen these vehicles prior to, or at the time of, the collision. All vehicles were travelling from the direction of the A44. If you saw anything, please call 101 or make a report online, quoting, 43240358268," she said. If you do not wish to speak to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. NFU Mutual recently urged the public to take extra care over the coming months as agricultural traffic increases due to the start of this year's harvest. It comes after a teenage motorcyclist recently died following a collision with a tractor on a rural road in Kent. Police said the incident happened just before 12:15pm on Wednesday 24 July and is appealing for witnesses and footage. Elsewhere, in Scotland, a motorcyclist recently died following a crash with a tractor in Moray. The collision happened on the B9136 Glenlivet to Tomintoul Road on 9 July. Bella Hadid has declared she would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind. Bella Hadid has declared she would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind The 27-year-old spoke out after the fury that erupted over Adidas honouring the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Olympics with a campaign that featured Bella marking the relaunch of the firms SL72 trainer which originally debuted in 1972, the same year as the terror-hit Games. She has now spoken out about the controversy in a long Instagram Stories post, saying: For those of you that do not know my heart, I want to make sure youre hearing directly from me about my recent campaign with adidas. I would never knowingly engage with any art or work that is linked to a horrific tragedy of any kind. In advance of the campaign release, I had no knowledge of the historical connection to the atrocious events in 1972. I am shocked, I am upset, and I am disappointed in the lack of sensitivity that went into this campaign. Had I been made aware, from the bottom of my heart, I would never have participated. My team should have known, adidas should have known and I should have done more research so that I too would have known and understood, and spoken up. As I always have, and always will, speak up for what I believe to be wrong. While everyones intentions were to make something positive, and bring people together through art, the collective lack of understanding from all parties undermined the process. I do not believe in hate in any form, including antisemitism. That will never waiver, and I stand by that statement to the fullest extent. Bella added it hurt her heart that so many people had drawn a connection between the campaign and the current liberation of the Palestinian people as the situations are so different. She added: Palestine is not synonymous with terrorism. This campaign unintentionally highlighted an event that does not represent who we are. I will forever stand by my people of Palestine while continuing to advocate for a world free of antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in the liberation of the Palestinian people. I will always stand for peace over violence, any day. Hate has no place here, and I will forever advocate for not only my people, but every person worldwide. The model has been an outspoken supporter of Palestine, and has Palestinian heritage, sparking controversy over her inclusion in a campaign that celebrated an Olympics that will forever be linked to violence. At the Munich Olympics in 1972, Palestinian terrorists from the militant Black September outfit broke into the Olympic Village where they killed two members of the Israeli team and took nine more members of the Israeli team hostage. All the hostages were killed, as well as one German police officer. Adidas Originals shared photos featuring Bella on X with the caption: Giving Bella Hadid her flowers in the SL 72. All campaign photos featuring the model have been removed from the companys social media accounts in the wake of it and her role being slammed on social media and by the likes of the American Jewish Committee. Adidas has apologised for any upset or distress caused by the connections being made between its campaign and tragic historical events. Cardi B has laughed off speculation that she has financial troubles. Cardi B insists she doesn't have any financial worries The 31-year-old rap star has taken to social media to rubbish suggestions that she's under pressure to sell her home in Atlanta, because she's battling financial problems. Cardi - who has Kulture, six, and Wave, two, with rapper Offset - wrote on X: "You bum b****** wish me and offset bought that house in 2019 for 5 million now its worth 7. Check the Atlanta market. And no, we not selling it and if I ever sold it I would just sell my part to Offset since he loves Atlanta. Throwing salt on my home? Hating bad (sic)" Cardi has enjoyed a meteoric rise over recent years. However, the rap star has repeatedly suggested that she was actually happier before she found fame and success. Cardi - who is one of the best-selling artists in the world - told CR Fashion Book magazine: "One positive thing is that, my family, whatever they want, they get. Everything that I want to buy, I can get. I dont have to worry so much about my future. "One negative thing is that, even though Im happy, I feel like I was a little bit happier two or three years ago when I had less money." What's more, Cardi feels as though she's lost some control over her own life. The rapper - who worked as a stripper before finding success in the music business - said: "I had less people who had opinions about my life. I felt like my life was mine. "Now I feel like I dont even own my life. I feel like the world owns me." Ryan Reynolds has learned to embrace the "chaos" as a father-of-four. Ryan Reynolds has learned to cope with chaos The 47-year-old actor - who has James, nine, Inez, seven, Betty, four, and Olin, 15 months, with his wife Blake Lively - has revealed that he loves the challenges of parenthood. During an appearance on the 'Not Skinny But Not Fat' podcast, Ryan said that he'd decided to "embrace the chaos". The Hollywood star - who has been married to Blake since 2012 - also accepts that "nothing's going to be tidy ever again" after having four children. According to Ryan, his wife "always says, They're all under our roof right now. The whole family's under our roof right now. We have them all. And that is a fleeting thing. Not an infinite resource, you know?" Meanwhile, Ryan recently revealed that he's received some good parenting advice from Shawn Levy, the director of 'Deadpool and Wolverine'. The actor - who plays Deadpool in the money-spinning film franchise - told PEOPLE: "Shawn Levy actually told me something that stuck with me forever, that people tend to only talk about their wins. But I think it's really important for your kids in particular to know that you lose." Ryan wants his kids to understand that "you lose so much more than you win" in life. The actor - who was previously married to movie star Scarlett Johansson - explained: "You don't get what you want all the time. Something you worked on really hard didn't work. You feel like you said something embarrassing today, you did something that didn't sit right with you. "It's just so important that [your kids] see that and they don't just hear, 'Oh dad nailed it.' Because you lose so much more than you win." Shiloh Jolie-Pitts name change hearing has been put on hold. Shiloh Jolie-Pitts name change hearing has been put on hold Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts daughter filed for the alteration on her 18th birthday on 27 May, with her bid publicly announced with a legal notice in the Los Angeles Times as part of a legal obligation. Her lawyer Peter Levine has now confirmed she will have to wait longer for the change after a court delayed her hearing due to an incomplete background check. The attorney told People: Unfortunately, the court was unable to complete the background check ahead of todays hearing, so the hearing was rescheduled for 19 August. Everyone undergoing a name-change request needs to have a background check conducted by the court clerk, and because of clerical error, Shilohs hearing has been continued to a new date. Mr Levine recently revealed Shiloh made the move following painful events. He called it a significant decision for the teen and said people should be careful about how they report the decision. The lawyer said in a statement following reports she had publicly announced her move with the LA Times notice: The media should be more careful in their reporting, especially when covering a young adult who has made an independent and significant decision following painful events, and is merely following legal process. Shiloh Jolie did not take out an ad announcing any name change, and any press reporting that is inaccurate. As Shilohs attorney, I am required to publish a legal notice because the law in California requires that of anyone who wants to change their name. That legal notice was published in the Los Angeles Times, as is required. Angelina, 49, and Brad, 60, split in 2016 and along with Shiloh have children Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. A source has told People Brad, who is dating businesswoman Ines de Ramon, 31, now has virtually no contact with his adult kids. Another insider told the outlet: He still loves all of his kids tremendously. King Charles and Queen Camilla are profoundly shocked after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event left two children dead. King Charles and Queen Camilla are profoundly shocked after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event left two children dead The monarch, 75, and his 77-year-old wife spoke out after kids were targeted in an attack in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday (29.07.24) which onlookers described as straight out of a horror film and that also left six young victims and two adults who tried to shield them from harm in a critical condition. He and Camilla posted on the Royal Familys X account: My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today. We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack. Armed police and paramedics were called to the Hart Space Studios in the wake of reports of multiple stabbings at 11.50am, after dozens of children gathered for a Taylor Swift yoga and dance summer holiday club. Officers say 17-year-old boy from Banks has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and two adults who tried to defend the children are also in critical condition after being injured. Eyewitnesses said the scene was like something in a horror movie. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told a press conference the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when a 17-year-old with a knife walked in and started his horrendous and ferocious attack. The force added the teenager remains in police custody and will be questioned, with officers confirming the man is from the Banks area but originally from Cardiff. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing and multiple witnesses described seeing a man in a black hood at the scene of the carnage. Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William cannot begin to imagine the pain being endured by the parents of the children killed and injured in a knife attack at a kids summer holiday dance event. Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William cannot begin to imagine the pain being endured by the parents of the children killed and injured in a knife attack at a kids summer holiday dance event The couple spoke out as King Charles and Queen Camilla also shared their shock over the stabbing horror in Merseyside on Monday (29.07.24) which also left six other youngsters and two adults who tried to protect them critically wounded. Parents-of-three Catherine and William, both 42, posted on Instagram: As parents we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through. We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack. Thank you also to the emergency responders who despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most. Officers raced to answer reports of a knife attack at an address in Southport at 11.47am on Monday, where they found multiple victims had been subjected to a nightmarish attack that eyewitnesses described as straight out of a horror film. A 17-year-old boy from Banks, Lancashire, who is from Cardiff in Wales, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside. We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked. A motive for the attack was not clear hours after the carnage, but it is understood it is not being treated as a terrorist incident. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing and multiple witnesses described seeing a man in a black hood at the scene of the carnage. The Bengali film industry has come to a standstill as technicians and film directors are currently locking horns. The clash between the two sections started when technicians refused to work under director Rahool Mukherjee who was temporarily banned for three months for not seeking the Directors Guilds permission to film an OTT project in Bangladesh. The issue escalated after he was told to give technicians from West Bengal double the pay for working on a foreign series for a Bangladeshi platform. However, now the technicians refused to show up for his latest directorial venture despite the Directors Guilds approval for Mukherjee to work. The first day of shooting was disrupted, which has now urged the directors to go on a strike to support their colleague, Rahool. The Directors Association of Eastern India has noted that they would cease work from Monday onwards to demand a proper resolution for this unfortunate tiff. Filmmakers including Aparna Sen, Kaushik Ganguly, and Srijit Mukherjee have publicly supported the strike while using hashtag #directorsinsolidarity on social media. Many directors also gathered at Prosenjits Ballygunge home to discuss the need for laws that can keep changing with changing times. "This is not a clash between directors and technicians. We are like family. But we need to review if what we follow can be called laws," actor-filmmaker Kaushik Ganguly commented on the issue. The Directors' Guild has also sent out a message to its members in Bengali. It reads, Giving importance and respect to the sentiments and opinions of the majority of the directors, the executive committee of the organization requests that the members will remain absent from all shooting floors in Bengali from tomorrow (29/12/2024) until the problems of the directors are resolved amicably. Sharvari Wagh recently took to social media to notify that she has begun shooting for Alpha, in which she is starring alongside Alia Bhatt. The actors play super agents in the movie. Sharvari shared a picture with director Shiv Rawail where the two of them are posing before her first shot. The actor is seen in a casual gray tank top with denim shorts. "It doesnt get bigger than this! Super stoked to start my #Alpha journey today! Trust me I have manifested this moment. Super prepped but can feel the butterflies in my tummy... Thank you Adi sir for your faith & @shivrawail for your belief in me! Letssss gooooo!! #YRFSpyUniverse," she added in the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sharvari AAAA (@sharvari) Previously, Alia and Sharvari had shared the name of the project while sharing a teaser video. In the video, Alia is heard speaking about the importance of the world Alpha, which happens to be the name of the first letter in the Greek alphabet system. She says, Greek aphabet ka sabse pehla akshar, aur humaari programme ka motto. Sabse pehle, sabse tez. Alia captioned the reel as, "Its the time of the ALPHA Girls. Check it out below: The movie's final release date hasn't been revealed yet. Anyone who watched Deadpool & Wolverine has witnessed the epic cameo featuring Chris Evans. The actor makes an appearance, not as Captain America but as the memorable Fantastic Four character Johnny Storm aka Human Torch. Chris Evans agreed to the role almost instantly. He shared that Ryan is the only reason he signed up to play the role. He went on to heap praise on the Deadpool actors sense of humour. In Deadpool & Wolverine Chris Evans not only features during the films run but also in the delightful post-credits scene. Read all about it here: In a recent interaction, Chris Evans revealed that Ryan Reynolds personally got in touch with him to bring him on board for Deadpool & Wolverine. He reportedly texted him asking if he would want to reprise a role from 20 years ago.Chris Evans agreed to the role almost instantly. He shared that Ryan is the only reason he signed up to play the role. He went on to heap praise on the Deadpool actors sense of humour.In Deadpool & Wolverine Chris Evans not only features during the films run but also in the delightful post-credits scene. Read all about it here: Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Deadpool & Wolverine. Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR)(FRA:CKU)(OTCQB:CLRMF) announces that the shareholders of the Company approved the following matters at its Annual General Meeting held on July 29, 2024 (the "Meeting"), as follows: (i) setting the number of directors at six (6); (ii) the election of James Gallagher, Dean Chambers, David Peck, and Mike Garbutt as directors of the Company for the ensuing year; and (iii) the appointment of Manning Elliott LLP as Auditor for the Company for the ensuing year. Shannin Metatawabin and MaryAnn Crichton were not elected as directors of the Company as they received less than majority support at the Meeting. Jim Gallagher, Non-Executive Chair of the Board, commented, "The Board very much thanks Shannin Metatawabin and MaryAnn Crichton for their contributions as directors over the last couple of years, and we wish them well in future endeavours. Given the skill sets of the remaining board members and the Company's current size, the Board does not feel it necessary to fill the remaining director vacancies at this time." About Clean Air Metals Clean Air Metals is a development and exploration company advancing its flagship, 100% owned Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals ("TBN") project, 40 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The TBN project, accessible by road and next to established infrastructure, hosts two (2) deposits - the Current and Escape deposits, only 2.5 km apart. Together, the deposits host a 13.8 Mt indicated mineral resource containing 2.4M Pt eq. oz (Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Ontario Canada, NI43-101, SLR Consulting Canada Ltd, June 19, 2023) with significant potential for expansion down-plunge. One of the rare primary platinum resources outside of South Africa, the TBN project is in a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction and benefits from longstanding relationships with local First Nations. With its proven technical team, Clean Air Metals is committed to growing the resources at the TBN project and creating long-term value for shareholders. Social Engagement Clean Air Metals Inc. acknowledges that the Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals Project is located within the area encompassed by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850 and includes the territories of the Fort William First Nation,?Red Rock Indian Band, Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek and Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek. Clean Air Metals also acknowledges the contributions of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Region 2 and the Red Sky Metis Independent Nation to the rich history of our area.? The Company appreciates the opportunity to work in these territories and remains committed to the recognition and respect of those who have lived, travelled, and gathered on the lands since time immemorial. Clean Air Metals is committed to stewarding Indigenous heritage and remains committed to building, fostering and encouraging a respectful relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples based upon principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Mike Garbutt" Mike Garbutt, CEO of Clean Air Metals Inc. Connect with us on X/ Facebook/ Instagram. Visit www.cleanairmetals.ca for more information or contact: Mia Boiridy Director of Communications and Investor Relations 250-575-3305 mboiridy@cleanairmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Clean Air Metals, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com KANAZAWA, Japan, July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid, Spain) and CNB-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) report in ACSNano experiments that reveal a cycle of conformational stages that recombinant Influenza A genomes pass through during RNA synthesis. Influenza A is a global health risk responsible for local epidemics and deadly pandemics. As such, the mechanism by which the virus replicates itself has attracted significant interest. Researchers led by Shingo Fukuda at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University in Japan, Jaime Martin-Benito at CNB-CSIC and Borja Ibarra at IMDEA Nanociencia in Spain, used high-speed atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy to pin down the conformational dynamics of recombinant viral genomes (or rRNPs) during RNA synthesis. Previous attempts to understand what possible conformational changes occur during Influenza A viral multiplication cycle had been hindered by what the researchers describe as the "bulky double-helical structure" of the viral RNPs (vRNP, Fig.1 A), which made it hard to see what was going on. As a result the researchers produced a circular recombinant ribonucleoprotein complex (rRNP) (Fig.1 B), which allowed them to overcome the 'bulky issue'. The authors used HS-AFM to follow conformational changes of individual rRNP complexes in real-time during active RNA synthesis (Fig.1 C). Their work provides first direct experimental evidence showing that individual rRNPs can be recycled for multiple transcription and replication cycles. This is a key feature for viral multiplication. In addition, their study highlights how factors that affect the stability of the secondary structures of the nascent RNA affect the rate of RNA synthesis. The authors concluded that the approach is useful for investigating viral transcription and replication mechanisms. "Transcriptional pausing is an intrinsic property of most RNA polymerases, and its regulation constitutes one of the central mechanisms of control of gene expression," they add. "Future single-molecule experiments of real-time RNA synthesis kinetics by the IAV RdRp [influenza A virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase] within the context of the RNP will help to elucidate the nature of putative pause states and their roles in viral transcription and replication." Figure https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Figure-1-2.jpg Caption: Fig.1 (A, B) HS-AFM images of vRNP (A) and rRNP (B). (C) Successive HS-AFM images of rRNP during RNA synthesis. 2024 Carlero, et al. Published by American Chemical Society Glossary RNA synthesis Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymer and a nucleic acid. Its replication is catalyzed by an enzyme known as RNA polymerase. The synthesis only proceeds in the presence of the nucleotide and proteins required to build up the RNA molecule. Although RNA synthesis can use DNA as the synthesis template, a number of viruses replicate with RNA as the template. The enzyme that catalyzes this type of synthesis is known as RNA dependent RNA polymerase. Recombinant ribonucleic proteins Recombinant ribonucleoproteins are useful for ways of studying RNA processes. In this instance the authors used a recombinant ribonucleoprotein made up of the same protein components but just 352 nucleotides long, where the RNA segment used had been shown to avoid supercoiling. High-speed atomic force microscopy This imaging technique uses a nanosized tip at the end of a cantilever that is scanned over a sample. It can be used to determine the topography of a sample surface from the change in the strength of forces between the tip and the sample with distance, and the resulting deflection of the cantilever. It was first developed in the 1980s but a number of modifications have augmented the functionality of the technique since. It is better suited to imaging biological samples than the scanning tunneling microscope that had been developed because it does not require a conducting sample. In the 2000s Toshio Ando at Kanazawa University was able to improve the scanning speed to such an extent that moving images could be captured. This allowed people to use the technique to visualize molecular processes for the first time. Reference Diego Carlero, Shingo Fukuda, Rebeca Bocanegra, Toshio Ando, Jaime Martin-Benito, and Borja Ibarra Conformational Dynamics of Influenza A Virus Ribonucleoprotein Complexes during RNA Synthesis ACS Nano 2024. DOI:10.1021/acsnano.4c01362 URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c01362 Funding acknowledgements This work was supported by the NanoLSI Visiting Fellows Program 2019 (to B.I.), the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT (Japan), and grants PGC2018-099341-B-I00 (to B.I.), PID2021-126755NB-I00 (to B.I.), and PID2020-117752RB-I00 (to J.M.B.) financed by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE, Grant TED2021-132748B-I00 financed by the European Union "NextGeneration EU"/PRTR (to J.M.B.), and Grant No. 20K15140 financed by JSPS KAKENHI (to S.F.). IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the Severo Ochoa Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D (CEX2020-001039-S). Contact Hiroe Yoneda (Ms) Senior Specialist in Project Planning and Outreach NanoLSI Administration Office, Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) Kanazawa University Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp Tel: +81 (76) 234-4555 About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University Understanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring "uncharted nano-realms" Cells are the basic units of almost all life forms. We are developing nanoprobe technologies that allow direct imaging, analysis, and manipulation of the behavior and dynamics of important macromolecules in living organisms, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the surface and interior of cells. We aim at acquiring a fundamental understanding of the various life phenomena at the nanoscale. https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/ About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsportal/WPI Main WPI program site: www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel About Kanazawa University As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities. The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas. http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kanazawa-university-research-high-speed-atomic-force-microscopy-studies-provide-insights-into-influenza-a-viral-replication-302209112.html Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSX-V:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins, is pleased to announce its audited results for the year ended 31 March 2024. Highlights: Financials (as at 31 March 2024) The Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$2.97 million and no debt as at 31 March 2024. Following a significant reduction in costs (including G&A, professional fees and operating expenses) as of the time of publication, Eco has a cash position of ca.US$1.5 million. The Company had total assets of US$31.3 million, total liabilities of US$1.25 million and total equity of US$30.0 million as at 31 March 2024. Post-period end Following the successful farm-out deal of Block 3B/4B, Eco expects to receive a first tranche of US$8.3 million during August 2024, subject to customary closing conditions being met. The resultant proceeds are expected to give Eco a cash and cash equivalents position of c.US$10 million, with no near-term capital commitments for operational expenses. Operations: South Africa Block 1 (post-period end) In June 2024, Eco announced a Farm-In into Block 1 Offshore South Africa Orange Basin. The Company will acquire a 75% Working Interest ("WI") from Tosaco Energy (Proprietary) Limited ("Tosaco") and will become Operator of a new Exploration Right. Block 1 has significant 2D and 3D seismic data already completed and no additional seismic acquisition or drilling of wells is committed in the three-year carried period. Eco intends to complete the interpretation and analysis required for its planned Work Program with its in-house exploration team. The Farm-in is subject, inter alia, to normal Governmental approvals and no field activity is currently planned that requires environmental permitting. Block 3B/4B In March 2024, Eco and its JV partners signed a farm-out transaction with TotalEnergies EP South Africa B.V., who will become Operator ("TotalEnergies") and QatarEnergy International E&P LLC ("QatarEnergy"). Under the agreement, Eco would retain a 13.75% Participating Interest in Block 3B/4B, offshore the Republic of South Africa. Post-period end On July 29, 2024, the Company announced the signing of an agreement to sell a 1% interest in Block 3B/4B in exchange for cancellation of all of Africa Oil's shares and warrants in Eco (worth C$ 11.5m). Upon Completion of the transaction, Eco will hold a fully carried 5.25% interest in Block 3B/4B Offshore South Africa, reducing from the current 6.25%. Upon closing, which is expected to occur in August 2024, Total will assume operatorship and will lead the drilling planning and preparations. Block 2B (post-period end) In June 2024, the Company relinquished its 50% WI Operated offshore Block 2B where it drilled its 2022 Gazania-1 well offsetting the AJ-1 oil discovery. The Company has completed all necessary documentation, and environmental audits, and has informed the Petroleum Agency of South Africa ("PASA"), the regulator for the Government of South Africa. Namibia A multi-block farmout process remains underway for all or part of Eco's four offshore Petroleum Exploration Licences ("PEL"): 97, 98, 99, and 100. Eco holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in each PEL representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin. Post-period end Eco added ~1,383km 2D data licensed on PEL100 (Tamar block) to its database, which is being technically evaluated and interpreted by the team to define additional seismic acquisition areas within the Block, along with new leads and prospects. Guyana An active farmout process continues for the offshore Orinduik Block. Eco was encouraged to note the recent news from neighbouring Stabroek block, where the Operator ExxonMobil is planning for a seventh development at Hammerhead. Investor Meet Company Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer will provide an Annual Results Investor Update via Investor Meet Company today at 14:00 BST. The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders and questions can be asked at any time during the live presentation. More information about the presentation can be found in the Company's announcement of 24 July 2024. Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, commented: "We made considerable progress across our asset portfolio during the financial year to 31 March 2024. This has been achieved at a time when we have had a strict focus on costs, which has seen the Company operate with non dilutive financings for the last two years, and agree a farm-out on Block 3B/4B which will significantly increase our cash resources, and leaves tremendous upside potential on the table in the event a discovery is drilled on the block. "In Namibia and Guyana, we have active farm-out processes underway, and we are very upbeat about the number and calibre of the companies we have had in our data rooms. Both jurisdictions remain at the forefront of global hydrocarbon exploration and we are confident of delivering a positive update on both in due course. "We were also pleased to announce the deal with Africa Oil yesterday, which saw us agree the sale of a 1% interest in the Block in exchange for the cancellation of all of AOI's shares and warrants in Eco, worth C$11.5 million. We are grateful to Africa Oil for their support since 2017, and this agreement will enable us to eliminate a c.16% overhang in Eco's shares, which are locked up until the transaction closes and the shares and warrants are cancelled. I would also add that the deal was agreed using an US$840 million valuation for Block 3B/4B, which values Eco's 5.25% holding at ca.US$44 million. "As ever, we continue to work hard to deliver value for all of our stakeholders and we look forward to providing further market updates in due course." The Company's audited financial statement for the year ended 31 March 2024 is available for download on the Company's website at www.ecooilandgas.com and on Sedar at www.sedar.com. The following are the Company's Balance Sheet, Income Statements, Cash Flow Statement and selected notes from the annual Financial Statements. All amounts are in US Dollars, unless otherwise stated. Balance Sheet March 31, March 31, 2024 2023 Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents 2,967,005 4,110,734 Short-term investments 13,107 13,107 Government receivable 26,970 22,494 Amounts owing by license partners 49,578 477,578 Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses 38,539 1,529,451 Total Current Assets 3,095,199 6,153,364 Non- Current Assets Investment in associate - 8,612,267 Petroleum and natural gas licenses 28,168,439 40,852,020 Total Non-Current Assets 28,168,439 49,464,287 Total Assets 31,263,638 55,617,651 Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1,163,546 4,416,789 Advances from and amounts owing to license partners 81,952 286,553 Warrant liability - 261,720 Total Current Liabilities 1,245,498 4,965,062 Total Liabilities 1,245,498 4,965,062 Equity Share capital 122,088,498 121,570,983 Restricted Share Units reserve 920,653 920,653 Warrants 14,778,272 14,778,272 Stock options 2,900,501 2,804,806 Foreign currency translation reserve (1,568,469) (1,458,709) Accumulated deficit (109,101,315) (87,963,416) Total Equity 30,018,140 50,652,589 Total Liabilities and Equity 31,263,638 55,617,651 Income Statement Year ended March 31, 2024 2023 Revenue Interest income 1,708 66,571 1,708 66,571 Operating expenses: Compensation costs 851,068 905,974 Professional fees 589,810 694,304 Operating costs, net 2,662,347 33,039,264 General and administrative costs 658,443 848,893 Share-based compensation 95,695 2,968,294 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (14,354) 559,947 Total operating expenses 4,843,009 39,016,676 Operating loss (4,841,301) (38,950,105) Other Non-Operating Charges and Write-downs Gain on settlement of liability 299,360 - Fair value change in warrant liability 261,720 2,980,042 Share of losses of associate - (664,895) Write down of investment in associate (8,612,267) - Write down of license (8,782,105) - Net loss for the year from continuing operations, before taxes (21,674,593) (36,634,958) Tax recovery 536,694 - Net loss for the year from continuing operations, after taxes (21,137,899) (36,634,958) Gain from discontinued operations, after-tax - 80,204 Net loss for the year (21,137,899) (36,554,754) Foreign currency translation adjustment (109,760) (148,982) Comprehensive loss for the year (21,247,659) (36,703,736) Basic and diluted net loss per share: From continuing operations (0.06) (0.10) From discontinued operations - - Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share 369,287,447 349,622,239 Cash Flow Statement Year ended March 31, 2024 2023 Cash flow from operating activities - continued operations Net loss from continuing operations (21,137,899) (36,634,958) Items not affecting cash: Share-based compensation 95,695 2,968,295 Fair value change in warrant liability (261,720) (2,980,042) Share of losses of companies accounted for at equity - 664,895 Write down of equity investment 8,612,267 - Write down of license 8,782,105 - Changes in non-cash working capital: Government receivable (4,476) 4,993 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (3,134,252) 2,484,966 Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses 1,490,912 (1,271,540) Advance from and amounts owing to license partners 223,399 (191,025) Cash flow from operating activities - continued operations (5,333,969) ( 34,954,416) Cash flow from operating activities - discontinued operations - (839,029) Cash flow from investing activities Short-term investments - 39,511 Acquisition of interest in property (1,598,986) Acquisition of Orinduik BV (700,000) - Proceeds from Block 3B/4B farm-out 5,000,000 - Cash flow from investing activities - continued operations 4,300,000 (1,559,475) Cash flow from investing activities - discontinued operations - 2,507,713 Cash flow from financing activities Proceeds from private placements, net - 35,666,089 Cash flow from financing activities - 35,666,089 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,033,969) 820,882 Foreign exchange differences (109,760) (148,982) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 4,110,734 3,438,834 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 2,967,005 4,110,734 **ENDS** For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following: Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Gil Holzman, CEO Colin Kinley, COO Alice Carroll, Executive Director Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris James Bellman Berenberg (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew Armitt Detlir Elezi Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Mark Antelme Jimmy Lea About Eco Atlantic: Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil and gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure. Offshore Guyana, in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company operates a 100% Working Interest in the 1,354 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin. Offshore South Africa, Eco holds a 20% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B and pending government approval a 75% Operated Interest in Block 1, in the Orange Basin, totalling some 37,510km2. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Reply, an international group specializing in creating new business models enabled by AI and digital media, today announces its participation at SIGGRAPH 2024, the premier conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques. In the NVIDIA Inception Startups Innovation Zone, Reply will showcase the Futura digital human, its innovative project built by combining the expertise of Infinity Reply and Technology Reply, which specialize in 3D content and spatial computing and data and AI, respectively. Futura is an AI-driven digital tour expert on Costa Smeralda, the flagship of Costa Crociere's fleet, operating in the Mediterranean Sea. Powered by a 3D Digital Human and Generative AI, Futura revolutionizes travel experiences by seamlessly integrating with on-board services, offering personalized touristic information and excursion recommendations tailored to each traveler. Futura uses Reply's affective computing module to understand user emotions and NVIDIA ACE NIM and Riva ASR NIM microservices for realistic facial animation, lip-sync and vocal conversation. It identifies and proposes personalized itineraries and proactively suggests the best tours organized by Costa Crociere, enriching the vacation experience by enhancing communication and empathy, significantly improving user satisfaction. On July 31st, from 2:00 PM to 2:20 PM, during the "Generative AI Day" presented by NVIDIA, Reply will host the session, "Meet Futura: Costa Crociere's Digital Tour Expert Revolutionizing Customer Experiences with AI." The presentation will discuss how Futura enhances business decision-making and customer experiences. "We are pleased to present our work on the Futura digital human at SIGGRAPH 2024," said Filippo Rizzante, CTO at Reply. "This opportunity allows us to demonstrate our advancements in AI and digital human technology and our integration of NVIDIA technologies. Digital humans enable fluid interaction and using hyperrealism technologies, allow for extreme personalization." For more information about Futura Digital Human, visit the webpage. For more information about NVIDIA ACE, visit the webpage. Reply Reply [EXM, STAR: REY] specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. As a network of highly specialised companies, Reply defines and develops business models enabled by the new models of AI, big data, cloud computing, digital media and the internet of things. Reply delivers consulting, system integration and digital services to organisations across the telecom and media; industry and services; banking and insurance; and public sectors. www.reply.com Costa Crociere Costa Crociere is an Italian company, headquartered in Genoa, which is part of Carnival Corporation plc, the world's largest cruise group. For more than 75 years, Costa ships have been plying the seas of the world, taking guests to more than 200 different destinations to be discovered through unique experiences, both on board and ashore. Currently the Costa fleet consists of 9 ships, all flying the Italian flag, sailing in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the United Arab Emirates, Far-East, South-East Asia, as well as offering "Around the World" and "Grand Cruises," to visit different continents in a single vacation. https://www.costacruises.co.uk/ Carnival Corporation plc Carnival Corporation plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. https://www.carnivalcorp.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730892667/en/ Contacts: Media contact Reply Fabio Zappelli f.zappelli@reply.com Tel. +390117711594 Aaron Miani a.miani@reply.com Tel. +3902535760 Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - F3 Uranium Corp (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce final assay results from the winter 2024 drill program, including PLN24-137 which was cored in the JR Zone (see NR April 16, 2024) and which returned 15.0m of 3.2% U3O8, including a high grade 2.5m interval averaging 18.6% U3O8, further including the ultra-high grade core with 1.5m of 30.3% U3O8. Exploration geochemistry for the continuing summer drill program has also been received up to hole PLN24-152 which focused on drill testing both the A1 main shear, as well as a related fault splay termed the "North Horse" grid south of the cross-cutting Harrison Fault, a significant structure corresponding to a vertical offset of approximately 130m. Two radioactive intervals (see NR June 12, 2024) corresponding to the main A1 and North Horse structures respectively yielded the strongest exploration geochemistry results outside of JR Zone to date, with the main A1 intersect assaying 0.045% U3O8, and the North Horse intersect assaying 0.014% U3O8 over 7 meters including 0.051% U3O8 over 0.5m (see Photo 1). A series of shorter exploration drill holes have been completed on the main A1 shear infilling gaps, and although there are multiple areas warranting follow up, exploration drilling in the near term will focus on the areas near Harrison Fault, and to the southeast. Sam Hartmann, Vice President Exploration, commented: "We are very pleased with these ongoing results. Drillhole PLN24-152 stands out with the strongest geochemistry signatures to date outside of the JR Zone and represents one of the highest priority exploration targets for follow up. This hole targeted the intersect of the Harrison Fault and the A1 Main shear zone just south of the Harrison Fault. Targeting in this area now includes the Harrison Fault itself, and the areas of shear intersections with it. We are persistent in our efforts to hone in on potential high-grade mineralization indicated by encouraging results from our systematic drilling in this area." Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8110/218187_f3jul302024figure1full.jpg Winter 2024 JR Zone Assay Highlight: PLN24-137 (line 040S): 15.0m @ 3.2% U 3 O 8 (202.5m to 217.5m), including: 2.5m @ 18.6% U 3 O 8 (214.0 to 216.5m), further including: 1.5m @ 30.3% U 3 O 8 (214.5 to 216.0m) (202.5m to 217.5m), including: Summer 2024 Exploration Geochemistry Highlights: PLN24-152 (line 2850S) A1 Exploration, south of Harrison Fault: 2.0m @216 ppm U, 0.024% U 3 O 8 (351.0m to 353.0m), including 0.5m@ 409 ppm U, 0.045% U 3 O 8 (352.0m to 352.5m), and (351.0m to 353.0m), including 7.0m @ 107 ppm U, 0.014% U 3 O 8 (434.5m to 441.5m), including 0.5m @ 412 ppm U, 0.051% U 3 O 8 (440.5m to 441.0m) (434.5m to 441.5m), including Photo 1. PLN24-152 Mineralized Intervals To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8110/218187_4006cb11144c2a82_003full.jpg Table 1. Drill Hole Summary and Uranium Assay Results Collar Information Assay Results Hole ID Grid Line Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) U3O8 weight % PLN24-132 090S 587708.0 6410637.5 545.6 55.0 -58.1 no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-133 2850S 589506.9 6408515.5 529.3 55.0 -71.7 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-134 435S 587868.1 6410326.1 530.7 53.6 -64.6 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-135 3240S 589630.4 6408142.8 535.4 52.1 -70.3 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-136 630S 588165.6 6410302.3 536.3 54.4 -58.7 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-137 040S 587780.2 6410753.3 545.6 55.4 -75.0 202.50 214.00 11.50 0.13 214.00 216.50 2.50 18.61 incl 214.50 216.00 1.50 30.27 216.50 217.50 1.50 0.26 PLN24-138 2850S 589493.8 6408505.0 530.1 51.8 -76 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-139 795S 588289.3 6410186.5 532.6 54 -59 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-140 2325S 589060.2 6408857.6 543.9 55.7 -60 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-141 3240S 589622.4 6408136.8 535.5 57.7 -73 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-142 2850S 589560.6 6408554.7 530.5 53.5 -76 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-143 2325S 589059.0 6408856.8 543.9 54.7 -67 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-144 2820S 589485.3 6408554.4 529.6 54.1 -75 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-145 2325S 589095.3 6408883.2 543.9 52.9 -66 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-146 2850S 589424.5 6408454.7 533.3 50.7 -78 B1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-147 2370S 589105.9 6408835.4 543.7 56.9 -70 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-148 2280S 589072.1 6408921.7 543.9 55.5 -74 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-149 795S 588316.1 6410208.7 530.8 53.9 -59 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-150 1125S 588460.1 6409904.8 533.3 58.1 -70 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-151 1530S 588676.0 6409561.0 544.5 54.1 -70 A1 Exploration; no mineralization >0.05 PLN24-152 2850S 589259.2 6408356.8 537.2 53.1 -68 440.5 441 0.5 0.051 Assay composite parameters: 1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5 m 2: Assay Grade Cut-Off: 0.05% U3O8 (weight %) 3. Maximum Internal Dilution: 2.0 m Natural gamma radiation in the drill core that is reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer. The Company considers greater than 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer as anomalous, >10,000 cps as high grade and greater than 65,535 cps as off-scale. The reader is cautioned that scintillometer readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials. Composited weight % U3O8 mineralized intervals are summarized in Table 1. Samples from the drill core are split into half sections on site. Where possible, samples are standardized at 0.5m down-hole intervals. One-half of the split sample is sent to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK while the other half remains on site for reference. Analysis includes a 63 element suite including boron by ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and gold analysis by ICP-OES and/or AAS. The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U3O8 as "high grade" and results greater than 20.0 weight % U3O8 as "ultra-high grade". All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined. About Patterson Lake North: The Company's 4,078-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade world class uranium deposits which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit. Qualified Person: The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed. About F3 Uranium Corp.: F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discoveries. F3 Uranium currently has 20 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane. F3 has announced a transaction pursuant to which it will transfer 17 of its prospective uranium exploration properties to F4 in exchange for common shares of F4 which will be distributed to F3 shareholders on the basis of one F4 Share for every common share of F3 held; the F4 shares will then be rolled back at a rate of 10 to 1. F3 will retain the PLN Project consisting of the PLN, Misto and Broach properties. The Broach property incorporates the PW property which it obtained from CanAlaska as the result of a property swap. Figure 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8110/218187_4006cb11144c2a82_004full.jpg Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. F3 Uranium Corp. 750-1620 Dickson Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2 ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Dev Randhawa" Dev Randhawa, CEO To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218187 SOURCE: F3 Uranium Corp. Function to enable instant international payments between World Account users globally WorldFirst furthers increases transaction speed, with World Account now settling 90% of payments within one business day World Account supports same-day settlement of payment from UK and Europe to APAC region, compared to usual 2-5 days by most banks World Account supports global collection in 30+ currencies and global payments in nearly 100 currencies WorldFirst, a one-stop digital payment and financial services platform for global businesses, especially serving SMEs in international trade, has launched a function to enable real-time payment between holders of its flagship multicurrency business account World Account as WorldFirst continues to increase speed and efficiency of secure international business payment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730289426/en/ Fresh4u Produce, a wholesale importer of fruits and vegetables, has experienced significant growth and success by leveraging WorldFirst's international payment solutions. With WorldFirst's support, Fresh4u Produce could pay suppliers more easily while managing currency fluctuations and low profit margins, enabling them to expand across Europe and bring diverse produce to market. (Photo: Business Wire) This function will benefit British and European SMEs that import from international markets. This capability allows these businesses to promptly pay their overseas suppliers free of charge, ensuring timely receipt of goods and cost savings to support their business growth. With World Account, SME import businesses can pay suppliers in over 200 markets worldwide using more than 90 currencies. In particular, SMEs in the UK and the European Union that source from China can now pay a wide range of suppliers who are also World Account users within seconds, thanks to WorldFirst's extensive client base in the country. In 2023, China was the largest import destination for both the UK and the European Union. WorldFirst has also expanded one-business-day settlement capability to cover 90% of all World Account transactions, providing SMEs worldwide with speedy payments to increase turnover and save on costs. In the U.K. and Europe, WorldFirst supports same-day settlement for payments to markets in the APAC region, including the Chinese mainland, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR of China, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and New Zealand, compared to the typical 2-5 days banks in the region usually require. Payment speed is a big pain point for SMEs when it comes to global transactions. The Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system, lists speed, along with cost, transparency and access, as the four challenges in cross-border payment. A recent analysis shows that it takes between five to ten days for payments to reach their destined account. Consequently, many SMEs struggle to access international markets. "We are providing speedy payment that is secure with client funds deposited at the world's leading banks, whom are our long-time partners," said Sumit Arora, Managing Director UK Europe at WorldFirst. "WorldFirst also leverages AI and other technologies to comprehensively conduct fraud prevention and risk evaluation, ensuring a streamlined and secure payment process for our clients." WorldFirst tailored industry solutions for e-commerce sellers looking to expand overseas. Within one minute and fully online, e-commerce sellers can open a World Account to access over 30 local currency accounts and solutions while managing all their accounts across different online stores. This integrated platform also enables them to pay their suppliers and handle VAT payments effortlessly. WorldFirst helps SMEs quickly establish and scale their presence on over 130 global e-commerce marketplace platforms, including Amazon, SHEIN, Wayfair, etc. WorldFirst is a leading Payment Service Provider in the U.K; offering local currency accounts. By offering more local currency accounts, WorldFirst widens the opportunities for its e-commerce clients to sell in more countries, as most local e-marketplaces will only pay out sales proceeds to accounts based within the country the e-marketplace operates in. For businesses that receive money directly from their customers, they can receive funds more quickly and cost-effectively by having their customers settle into a locally currency account. About WorldFirst WorldFirst is a one-stop digital payment and financial services platform for global businesses, especially SMEs in international trade. WorldFirst empowers SMEs to successfully execute their strategic growth plans with technology. The World Account, by WorldFirst, caters to SMEs engaged in international business, supporting online businesses selling on marketplaces and websites, as well as importers and exporters. Services include receiving payments, making payments, currency conversion, risk management and supply chain financing to help customers reduce costs, improve turnover efficiency to generate more revenue and sales, and quickly capture global business opportunities. Founded in London in 2004, WorldFirst joined Ant Group in 2019. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730289426/en/ Contacts: Media Media@worldfirst.com Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Following the enactment of the Citizenship by Investment Unit Act of 2024, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis officially appoints a Board of Governors on 26 July 2024. After careful consideration, the Government announces the appointment of the Chairperson and five members of the Board of Governors who will be responsible for overseeing the operations and governance of the newly formed Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). The engagement of this esteemed group of individuals aligns with the Government's vision to ensure that the new statutory corporation will be world-class. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10480/218205_77f37b37f46748c2_001full.jpg Citizenship by Investment Unit Act, 2024 Passed on 14 June, 2024, the Citizenship by Investment Unit Act established the Citizenship by Investment Unit as a corporate body governed by a Board of Governors. The Unit will be a statutory body, reporting to the Prime Minister and National Assembly. The Act is the next step in the evolution of the 40-year old Programme in ensuring the highest standards of professionalism in the management of the Unit and further enhancing of the Unit's international cooperation and strict due diligence. Appointment of Chairperson The Board will be led by His Excellency Calvin St. Juste, who has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors due to his outstanding international career. As a seasoned Wall Street executive, he brings a wealth of finance, cybersecurity, and client management expertise to this critical role. His Excellency Calvin St. Juste, has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10480/218205_77f37b37f46748c2_002full.jpg Serving as the honorary Special Envoy for Investment, Development, and International Business Relations for St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency also brings 25 years of experience, including as former Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Head of Global Strategy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Financial Wellness division. H.E Calvin St. Juste has also served as COO for Global Fraud and Cybersecurity. A seasoned manager of teams serving high-net-worth international clients, he has won the Stevie Awards for exceptional customer service and efficiency. Notably, H.E. St Juste's distinguished career includes working at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), providing him with a deep understanding of the region's financial sector. H.E. St. Juste is ready to seize the reins, expressing his dedication to role. The Chairman expressed his vision, "For more than 40 years, St. Kitts and Nevis has been at the vanguard of the Citizenship by Investment industry, cementing its reputation as one of the leading service providers worldwide. We're building a world-class corporation, underpinned by transparency, good governance, sustainable growth and global leadership, primed to attract the very best investment as a catalyst for the ongoing growth and development of the nation." Board of Governors H.E. St. Juste will be joined by five members who will support these endeavours. The members of the Board of Governors are distinguished by their accomplishments in finance, business, and governance, and will utilise their respective strengths to streamline the Unit. The Board will meet once a month to provide the requisite oversight of operations and management. Members of the Board of Governors include Dr. Louisa Lawrence, Mr. Damille James, Ms. Kishma Maclean, Mr. Carlton Pogson and Ms. Marsha Harris. Dr. Lawrence is a veteran economist, having contributed to the nation's economic and financial development over the years. Mr. James, experienced in risk management, regulation and AML, has served for over two decades in the banking sector, including at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). Ms. Maclean contributes her experience in both marketing and finance, with a particular focus on AML, CFT and proliferation financing. Mr. Pogson adds his expertise in project management, organisation development and strategy to the raft of skills. Ms. Harris brings her financial ability to the Board with her 20 years' experience in the Finance Division at the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank. The Chairman added, "It is an honour to lead such a talented, diverse and experienced team of individuals, all of whom are committed to serving with excellence and to demonstrating why St. Kitts and Nevis remains at the forefront of delivering premium Citizenship by Investment services to clients worldwide." The Board's mandate extends beyond modernising the CIU. It is tasked with upholding the highest level of integrity and due diligence within the CIU. This includes commissioning an independent external audit of the Unit's operations annually, a practice legislated to enhance good governance. The Board will also be responsible for developing the policies and procedures for the Unit for the executive team to execute, as well as monitoring the international CBI industry and providing general oversight of the operations and finances of the Unit. Beyond working closely with the Unit's executive team, the Board will be responsible for reviewing investment proposals that are submitted to ascertain that any proposed Citizenship by Investment (CBI) project is financially sound and beneficial to the nation. The Board of Governors is also responsible for investigating any complaints about the Unit's activities. The Board of Governors' appointment to oversee the Unit reflects a dedication to upholding the highest international standards of compliance, auditing, and due diligence. This restructuring of the Programme's governance cements its leading position in the industry. Instilling confidence in investors by enshrining transparency in law, the Citizenship by Investment Unit Act of 2024 has fortified the Board's role within the Unit. The statutory body signifies a new chapter in St. Kitts and Nevis' 40-year CBI journey. The Board of Governors constitutes an exciting change to the evolving Unit, welcomed by international partners and discerning investors alike. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218205 SOURCE: St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit CHICAGO, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Hydraulic Fluids Marketby Base Oil (Mineral Oil, Synthetic Oil), Point of Sale (OEM and Aftermarket), Application (Mobile Equipment), End-use Industry (Construction, Agriculture, Transportation, Metal & Mining), and Region - Global Forecast to 2029", Hydraulic Fluids Market size was USD 8.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 10.2 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 3.2%, between 2024 and 2029. The market is projected to grow because of growing demand for processed foods, mounting demand from construction, agriculture, mining and marine industries and growing automation in end-use industries. These hydraulic fluids play a crucial role in various applications in various end-use industries such as construction, metal & mining, agriculture, power generation and others. In addition, due to the increasing population, increasing demand for renewable energy, technological advancements and changing consumer preferences the demand for hydraulic fluids can increase due to various applications. Browse in-depth TOC on "Hydraulic Fluids Market". 331 - Tables 58 - Figures 298 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=71021039 "OEM point of sale are projected to register the highest CAGR, in the global hydraulic fluids market during the forecast period." The OEM point of sale in hydraulic fluids market is projected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This growth is driven mainly due to direct incorporation with machinery sales. As industrial sectors grow and update themselves, OEMs play a crucial role in offering both equipment and fluids that are compatible. Their expertise in the delivery and the hydraulic fluid installation in the machinery system promotes the efficiency and reliability of the machine, which leads to the increase in demand. In order to achieve efficiency and good customer support, OEMs develop strong, long-term partnerships by sales of hydraulic fluids manufacturers. "Synthetic oil is estimated to be the largest base oil type of hydraulic fluids market, in terms of value, during the forecast period." The second-largest base oil type for the hydraulic fluids is synthetic oil-based lubricants due to better performance over the mineral oil in extreme applications. Moreover, their life span is longer than that of air-cooled types, they perform well within both high as well as low temperatures, and they perform a better duty to keep machinery safeguarded. Although they are slightly more expensive initially, their capacity to elongate service times and protect expensive parts within automobiles and aircrafts make them an economical decision for business within the automotive, aerospace, as well as industrial categories. Due to these reasons, they are popular and commonly used in various end-use industries due to their high performance and lower initial and maintenance costs in the long run. As such, the synthetic oil-based lubricants established for steady growth based on the certain complex issues of market on one hand and total solution approach on the other hand with special focus on natural and sustainable lubricants. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=71021039 "Europe is estimated to be the second-largest market for the hydraulic fluids market, in terms of value, in 2023." Europe is the second-largest consumer region for hydraulic fluids. Being home to highly developed industrial segments, Europe holds the second position in terms of the hydraulic fluids consumption. The area has a fairly large manufacturing sector, thus automotive, aerospace and machinery industries, and among others has always need good lubricants for the smooth running and durability of machinery. Also, it is necessary to mention that Europe gives high importance to environmental concerns and energy savings; therefore, today this region demands high-quality environment-friendly advanced lubricants. The key players profiled in the report include are Shell plc (UK), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), BP p.l.c. (UK), Chevron Corporation (US), TotalEnergies SE (France), PetroChina Company Limited (China), ENEOS Holdings, Inc. (Japan), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (China), Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Japan), and others. Browse Adjacent Market: Bulk Chemicals & Inorganics Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Synthetic Lubricants Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2028 Metalworking Fluids Market - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2029 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/hydraulic-fluid-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/hydraulic-fluid.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hydraulic-fluids-market-worth-10-2-billion-by-2029--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302209634.html Increased air travel is driving up the market value of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA). Due to the introduction of biofuel requirements and the rise in consumer demand for higher-quality sustainable aviation fuels, HEFA is equipped to fulfill the growing demand for renewable biofuels WILMINGTON, Del., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) market was projected to attain US$ 13.3 billion in 2023. It is likely to garner a 16% CAGR from 2024 to 2034, and by 2034, the market is expected to attain US$ 70.4 billion. Numerous vegetable oils and fats may be converted into hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids, which are renewable diesel fuels. They are widely used in generators, automobile gasoline, aircraft fuel, and many industrial uses. Fatty acids and hydroprocessed esters are the top substitutes for traditional jet fuels. Download Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=86082 The market for hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) is expanding due to the increased switch from fossil fuels to bio-based fuels. Jet biofuels are substitute aviation fuels that function similarly to fossil jet fuels in terms of their chemical makeup. These biofuels contribute to the aviation industry's decrease in CO2 emissions. Key Findings of Market Report The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that the amount of air travel worldwide increased by 36.9% (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) in 2023 compared to 2022. This growth has been consistent in prior years. Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene with Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA-SPK) is a significant Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from fats. Jet biofuels are created using the HEFA process, which transforms fatty acids and acylglycerols (esters) into hydrocarbons. There are both financial and environmental advantages to using SAF in the aviation industry. As a result, the market for hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) is growing due to an increase in air travel. Market Trends For Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) To cut greenhouse gas emissions, governments in major nations are placing a strong emphasis on sustainable development across a range of industries. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that in 2022, aviation will be responsible for 2% of the world's energy-related CO2 emissions. Compared to sea, rail, or road transportation, the industry's CO2 emissions have been rising at a very quick pace. Greenhouse gas emissions will probably rise quickly in the near future due to an increase in air travel. This is thus anticipated to increase the industry's need for SAF and support the expansion of the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) market. Since biofuels are compatible with the natural carbon cycle, they can contribute significantly to the reduction of emissions. Many nations' governments are pushing biofuels as a low-carbon substitute for fossil fuels. Investments in the R&D of substitute Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fuels are shown by recent developments in the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) industry. Derived from natural plant oils, generic FT Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) has the potential to lower life cycle CO2 emissions while being compatible with existing aircraft, systems, and infrastructure. Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period? 2024-2034 Base Year? 2020-2022 Size in 2023 US$ 13.3 Bn Forecast (Value) in 2034 US$ 70.4 Bn Growth Rate (CAGR) 16.0 % No. of Pages 231 Pages Segments covered By Source Type, By Application, By End-use Global Market for Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA): Regional Outlook Various reasons propel the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) market growth throughout the regions. These are: Asia Pacific retained the greatest share in 2023 for hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), according to recent market trends. The region's market dynamics are being enhanced by an increase in biofuel investment. In line with the 2018 National Policy on Biofuels, India aims to increase the use of biodiesel (5% by 2030) and ethanol (20% blending by 2030). The use of biofuels is being encouraged by other emerging nations in Asia Pacific, which is driving up the market share of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) in the area. According to a March 2024 projection by The Malaysian Biodiesel Association (MBA), the nation's biodiesel output is expected to reach 1.8 million metric tons. Request Table of Content Here: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=86082 Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) Market: Key Players Prominent entities in the global market for hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) are assessing possible feedstocks for HEFA production. Important players have also effectively proven the commercial production of hydro-processed renewable aviation fuels. The following companies are well-known participants in the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) market: The Himalaya Drug Company Dabur Patanjali Ayurved Limited Baidyanath Group Hamdard Laboratories (India) Vicco Laboratories Charak Pharma Pvt. Ltd. Sri Sri Tattva Zandu Pharma Works Ltd. Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Ltd. Key Developments Neste and Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group reached a deal in May 2024 to acquire 1,000 tons of clean Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a global authority on conventional jet fuel quality, has established safety standards, and the blended SAF fuel satisfies them. The petroleum business Idemitsu Kosan, situated in Japan, and the trading firm LOPS Corp., which provides oil and fats, said in 2023 that they would collaborate to carry out a research centered on the acquisition of feedstocks for SAF manufacturing. Global Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) Market Segmentation By Source Type Vegetable-sourced Oils Animal-sourced Fats By Application Vehicle Fuels Aviation Fuels Generators Industrial Others By End-use Automotive Banking & Finance Construction Military Others By Region North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Purchase the Report for Market-Driven Insights: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=8608210 percent long-term operating margin ambition A net debt to EBITDA ratio below 3.0x An operating cash flow of 70-80 percent of operating income before amortization Securitas AB (publ.) P.O. Box 12307, SE-102 28 Stockholm, Sweden Visiting address: Lindhagensplan 70 Telephone: +46 10 470 30 00 Corporate registration number: 556302-7241 www.securitas.com This is information that Securitas AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 1.00 p.m. (CEST) on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/securitas/r/securitas-ab-interim-report-q2-2024---january-june,c4019624 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1062/4019624/2929185.pdf Q22024_eng_final View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/securitas-ab-interim-report-q2-2024--januaryjune-302209783.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to provide an update on its Loranger drilling program. The drilling phase of this program has been successfully completed, and a total of 42 samples have been delivered to the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) for comprehensive whole-rock and rare earth element (REE) analysis. In the recently concluded drilling campaign, which covered 714 meters, Appia achieved several significant findings. The drilling intersected radioactive (Uranium (U)-Thorium (Th))-REE pegmatites containing visible monazite and potential uraninite located within major reactivated graphitic structural zones. Notably, the program identified: Graphitic Electromagnetic (EM) Conductors : Significant intersections of graphitic EM conductors (Figure 2a) within favorable metasedimentary host rocks, with scintillometer readings reaching up to 1,500 counts per second (cps), indicating potential for uranium mineralization. : Significant intersections of graphitic EM conductors (Figure 2a) within favorable metasedimentary host rocks, with scintillometer readings reaching up to 1,500 counts per second (cps), indicating potential for uranium mineralization. Monazite Mineralization: Visible monazite (Figure 2b) was observed in drill hole #3 (24-LOR-003), a key discovery as monazite commonly hosts significant rare earth element mineralization in northern Saskatchewan. Stephen Burega, President of Appia, commented, "The successful intersection of graphitic EM conductors and the presence of monazite-bearing pegmatites was an encouraging discovery for our exploration program. These findings validate our exploration models and highlight the promising potential of the Loranger property. Our team is eager to analyze the laboratory-tested assay results over the coming weeks." Burega continued, "The drilling program targeted subsurface geophysical anomalies associated with graphitic conductors and potential alteration halos, which may lead to uranium mineralization and indicate the property's potential for both uranium and REEs. The intersections confirm our geophysical and geological models and suggest the possibility of significant mineralization similar to other zones found in the region, such as Fraser Lakes and Kulyk Lake, as well as deposits like Eagle Point, Maverick, and Gryphon in the eastern Athabasca Basin." The 42 samples are currently undergoing detailed analysis at SRC and the Company expects to receive assay results within 6-8 weeks. Appia is enthusiastic about the progress and potential of the Loranger property and will continue to update stakeholders on future developments and exploration plans. The technical content of this release was reviewed and approved by Dr. Irvine R. Annesley, P.Geo., Senior Technical Advisor, and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Figure 1- Drill Collar Locations - Loranger Drill Program 2024, SK To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/218196_f23ee583e48c0b05_001full.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5416/218196_fig2.jpg About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (Appia) Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 40,963.18 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 136.8 million common shares outstanding, 145.5 million shares fully diluted. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, visit www.appiareu.com As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages. To book a one-on-one 30-minute Zoom video call, please click here. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218196 SOURCE: Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. Avant Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB:AVAI) ("Avant"), an emerging technology company developing solutions in artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure, today announced that it has entered an Equity Financing Agreement ("Investment Agreement") with GHS Investments (GHS). Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, GHS has agreed to purchase up to $20 million in registered common stock. The timing and amounts of the purchases will be determined at the sole discretion of Avant. Avant's Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth L. Waggoner, said of the Investment Agreement, "This relationship with GHS serves as an insurance policy, of sorts, as we continue our efforts to deliver infrastructure solutions to AI and big data companies, organizations, and institutions. It also covers us as we begin to explore broadening our footprint in the technology sector beyond AI. "Our expectation is to attract institutional investors as we present our plan to expand into other technologies, including the biotechnology sector to high-level investors. The equity line from GHS offers Avant the necessary capital should it become necessary. We appreciate the confidence that GHS has placed in Avant and our future in the technology industry." GHS is a leading private investment and management group providing financial solutions for high-potential small-cap companies. GHS has made investments into multiple successful portfolio companies in the small cap space that are seeking capital to measurably grow and scale their existing businesses to take advantage of emerging market sectors. About Avant Technologies, Inc. Avant Technologies, Inc. is at the forefront of AI innovation, specializing in the development and deployment of advanced data processing solutions. With a focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible in AI and machine learning, Avant serves a diverse range of industries, driving progress and efficiency through state-of-the-art technology. More information about Avant can be found at https://avanttechnologies.com You can also follow us on social media at: https://twitter.com/AvantTechAI https://www.linkedin.com/company/avant-technologies-ai https://www.facebook.com/AvantTechAI https://www.youtube.com/@AvantTechAI Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Company's ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Company's successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Company's products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date after the date of the press release. Contact: Avant Technologies, Inc. info@avanttechnologies.com SOURCE: Avant Technologies, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus. Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential. In diesem kostenlosen Report geben wir Ihnen Favoriten an die Hand, die aufgrund von Sondersituation die Chance auf eine Kursvervielfachung besitzen. Handeln Sie Jetzt! Fordern Sie jetzt den brandneuen Spezialreport an und profitieren Sie von dem weiter steigenden Kurs des Edelmetalls. Sichern Sie sich jetzt Ihren kostenfreien Report. IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Netlist, Inc. (OTCQB:NLST) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 29, 2024. Second Quarter 2024 Highlights: Net sales for the second quarter of 2024 increased by 267% to $36.8 million compared to $10.0 million from the same quarter one year ago. Received a jury verdict in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California that found Samsung materially breached the Joint Development and License Agreement signed by the parties in November 2015. This verdict confirmed Samsung no longer has a license to Netlist's patent portfolio. Won a $445 million damages award against Micron for willful infringement of Netlist's patents in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. "During the second quarter we secured significant legal victories against Samsung and Micron," said Chief Executive Officer, C.K. Hong. "Over the last year, two juries have awarded Netlist $748 million in damages for the willful infringement of its patents. These awards underscore the tremendous value of the technology Netlist has created and its foundational role in generative artificial intelligence." Net sales for the second quarter ended June 29, 2024 were $36.8 million, compared to net sales of $10.0 million for the second quarter ended July 1, 2023. Gross profit for the second quarter ended June 29, 2024 was $0.8 million, compared to a gross profit of $0.2 million for the second quarter ended July 1, 2023. Net sales for the six months ended June 29, 2024 were $72.6 million, compared to net sales of $19.0 million for the six months ended July 1, 2023. Gross profit for the six months ended June 29, 2024 was $1.5 million, compared to a gross profit of $0.8 million for the six months ended July 1, 2023. Net loss for the second quarter ended June 29, 2024 was ($14.8) million, or ($0.06) per share, compared to a net loss of ($14.0) million in the same period of prior year, or ($0.06) per share. These results include stock-based compensation expense of $1.1 million and $1.2 million for the quarters ended June 29, 2024 and July 1, 2023, respectively. Net loss for the six months ended June 29, 2024 was ($31.7) million, or ($0.12) per share, compared to a net loss in the prior year period of ($29.8) million, or ($0.13) per share. These results include stock-based compensation expense of $2.5 million and $2.3 million for the six months ended June 29, 2024 and July 1, 2023, respectively. As of June 29, 2024, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash was $36.4 million, total assets were $55.6 million, working capital deficit was ($1.3) million, and stockholders' deficit was ($0.2) million. Conference Call Information C.K. Hong, Chief Executive Officer, and Gail Sasaki, Chief Financial Officer, will host an investor conference call today, July 30, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review Netlist's results for the second quarter ended June 29, 2024. The live webcast and archived replay of the call can be accessed for 90 days in the Investors section of Netlist's website at www.netlist.com. About Netlist Netlist is a leading innovator in memory and storage solutions, pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver unparalleled performance and reliability. With a rich portfolio of patented technologies, Netlist has consistently driven innovation in the field of cutting-edge enterprise memory and storage, empowering businesses and industries to thrive in the digital age. To learn more about Netlist, please visit www.netlist.com. Safe Harbor Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and often address future events or Netlist's future performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements about Netlist's ability to execute on its strategic initiatives. All forward-looking statements reflect management's present expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: risks that Samsung will appeal the final order by the trial court, risks that Micron will appeal the final judgment by the trial court, which could cause a lengthy delay in Netlist's ability to collect the damage award or overturn the verdict or reduce the damages award; risks that Netlist will suffer adverse outcomes in its pending litigation with Samsung, Micron or Google or in its various other active proceedings to defend the validity of its patents; risks related to Netlist's plans for its intellectual property, including its strategies for monetizing, licensing, expanding, and defending its patent portfolio; risks associated with patent infringement litigation initiated by Netlist, or by others against Netlist, as well as the costs and unpredictability of any such litigation; risks associated with Netlist's product sales, including the market and demand for products sold by Netlist and its ability to successfully develop and launch new products that are attractive to the market; the success of product, joint development and licensing partnerships; the competitive landscape of Netlist's industry; and general economic, political and market conditions, including quarantines, factory slowdowns and/or shutdowns. The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine may increase the likelihood of supply interruptions. All forward-looking %statements reflect management's present assumptions, expectations and beliefs regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in Netlist's annual report on Form 10-K for its most recently completed fiscal year filed on February 23, 2024, and the other filings it makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including any subsequently filed quarterly and current reports. In light of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, these forward-looking statements should not be relied on as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements represent Netlist's assumptions, expectations and beliefs only as of the date they are made, and except as required by law, Netlist undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason. (Tables Follow) For more information, please contact: The Plunkett Group Netlist, Inc. Mike Smargiassi Gail M. Sasaki NLST@theplunkettgroup.com Chief Financial Officer (212) 739-6729 (949) 435-0025 Netlist, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) June 29, December 30, 2024 2023 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 23,806 $ 40,445 Restricted cash 12,600 12,400 Accounts receivable, net 5,358 4,562 Inventories 8,206 12,031 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,178 441 Total current assets 53,148 69,879 Property and equipment, net 668 770 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,271 1,590 Other assets 469 560 Total assets $ 55,556 $ 72,799 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 26,561 $ 39,831 Revolving line of credit 4,591 3,844 Accrued payroll and related liabilities 1,321 1,346 Deferred revenue 17,624 - Other current liabilities 4,353 2,569 Total current liabilities 54,450 47,590 Operating lease liabilities 930 1,213 Other liabilities 359 237 Total liabilities 55,739 49,040 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock - - Common stock 258 254 Additional paid-in capital 315,128 307,328 Accumulated deficit (315,569 ) (283,823 ) Total stockholders' equity (deficit) (183 ) 23,759 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 55,556 $ 72,799 Netlist, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 29, July 1, June 29, July 1, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 36,835 $ 10,026 $ 72,642 $ 19,047 Cost of sales(1) 36,062 9,787 71,154 18,248 Gross profit 773 239 1,488 799 Operating expenses: Research and development(1) 2,369 2,255 4,810 4,556 Intellectual property legal fees 10,514 8,947 23,054 20,017 Selling, general and administrative(1) 2,966 3,325 6,082 6,355 Total operating expenses 15,849 14,527 33,946 30,928 Operating loss (15,076 ) (14,288 ) (32,458 ) (30,129 ) Other income, net: Interest income, net 257 277 634 333 Other income (expense), net 41 (16 ) 79 (19 ) Total other income, net 298 261 713 314 Loss before provision for income taxes (14,778 ) (14,027 ) (31,745 ) (29,815 ) Provision for income taxes - 1 1 1 Net loss $ (14,778 ) $ (14,028 ) $ (31,746 ) $ (29,816 ) Loss per common share: Basic and diluted $ (0.06 ) $ (0.06 ) $ (0.12 ) $ (0.13 ) Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 256,571 240,382 255,751 237,752 (1) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales $ 45 $ 53 $ 66 $ 71 Research and development 198 186 560 460 Selling, general and administrative 885 957 1,876 1,742 Total stock-based compensation $ 1,128 $ 1,196 $ 2,502 $ 2,273 SOURCE: Netlist, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Nascent CEO-Sean Carrick-Discusses Phase I Results and Forward Clinical Strategy while laying out Investment Opportunity of the Company Nascent Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB:NBIO) ("Nascent Biotech", "Nascent", or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology Company developing monoclonal antibodies targeting various cancer types, is pleased to provide an overview of the Company's presentation at The Emerging Growth Conference on July 18, 2024. Click here to view the Company's entire presentation. NBIO CEO, Sean Carrick, and other Biotechnology Innovators, were interviewed during the Emerging Biotechnology in a discussion lasting over 20 minutes. Topics covered by Mr. Carrick included: The history of NBIO and its lead asset, Pritumumab (PTB), How PTB is being leveraged to target brain cancer first, with other cancer types to follow, including the $6.85 Bln Pancreatic Cancer market and the $26 Bln Colorectal Cancer market, Clinical research results for PTB's concluded Phase I study, The timeline and outlook for coming clinical research, The opportunity NBIO presents for prospective investors given its de-risked investment profile. The Emerging Growth Conference describes itself as an effective way for public companies to engage with the investment community regarding their Company, new products, services and other major announcements from anywhere, in an effective and time efficient manner. Mr. Carrick's presentation included a number of important ideas covering the Company and the opportunity it presents for investors, including: Company History and Development Nascent Biotech's its lead antibody was originally developed in the early 1980's in San Diego, California The antibody, derived from a cancer patient, showed binding to various cancer types, including brain cancer. Development continued in Japan, where Phase I and phase II trials were conducted, showing biological activity in brain cancer. U.S. Development and Phase I Trials The antibody was brought back to the U.S., re-engineered, and underwent pre-clinical work. Phase I trials in the U.S. were completed a year ago and cleared to begin Phase II. Focus on Brain Cancer Brain cancer was chosen due to previous successful studies in Japan. The target that PTB has an affinity for is shown to be present in virtually every hard tumor cancer, suggesting potential for broader applications. Nascent plans include opening a second expanded access study to test PTB in other cancer types during Phase II. Phase I Results Nascent's U.S. Phase I trial was shown to be very safe at five ascending dose cohorts. Highlighted case studies showed significant tumor shrinkage and improved quality of life in patients. Phase II Study Design Phase II studies have been cleared by the FDA to begin. The study will include monotherapy, combination with chemotherapy, and combination with checkpoint inhibitors for recurrent glioblastomas with an additional arm focusing on newly diagnosed glioblastomas prior to chemo-radiation treatment. Expanded access trials will focus on digestive cancers including pancreatic-which Nascent has Orphan Drug Designation for-and colon cancers due to their growing incidence. Plans and Timelines Manufacturing is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with Phase II trials beginning in Q1 of next year. An expanded access trial to treat other cancers is planned for Q2. The company emphasizes the need for funding to achieve these goals. Management Team and Investment Opportunity The management team is experienced and accomplished, with backgrounds in life sciences, cancer research, and corporate financing. The lead asset (PTB) has shown safety in Phase I trials and is cleared for Phase II. The company is fully reporting and has a history of timely filings for over 10 years. In his closing comments, Mr. Carrick remarked, "This is a very important drug. Two independent studies have shown PTB to be safe and demonstrated its potential to shrink difficult to treat brain tumors. We have seen PTB shrink Tumors in early trials and are excited to begin Phase II, but we do need investment dollars in order to make that happen." ABOUT NASCENT Nascent Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB:NBIO) is a phase 2 clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the development of human monoclonal antibodies to be used in the treatment of various cancers, helping people worldwide. The Company's lead candidate, Pritumumab (PTB), is a human monoclonal Antibody (Mab) that has progressed to Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of Brain Cancer. For further information please visit our website www.nascentbiotech.com. Forward Looking Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release about our future expectations constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, Nascent Biotech Inc's ability to target the medical professionals; Nascent Biotech Inc's ability to raise capital; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors may be described in the Nascent Biotech Inc's Form 10, filed on May 2, 2015, and future subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Corporate Contact Sean Carrick | President | CEO | Nascent Biotech, Inc. sean.carrick@nascentbiotech.com Public Relations EDM Media, LLC https://edm.media SOURCE: Nascent Biotech Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com The ViaLase Laser combines state-of-the-art femtosecond laser technology with micron-level image guidance to deliver the first femtosecond laser, image-guided, high-precision trabeculotomy (FLigHT), marking a pioneering advancement in glaucoma care ViaLase is pleased to announce strategic distribution partnerships with Teleon and Global Surgical Service in preparation for commercialization in select European markets ALISO VIEJO, Calif., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ViaLase, Inc ., a clinical-stage medical technology company focused on addressing unmet needs in the conventional glaucoma treatment paradigm, today announced that it has received CE (Conformite Europeenne) Mark approval in the European Union (EU) for its ViaLase Laser* for the treatment of adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The ViaLase Laser combines the precision of a femtosecond laser and the accuracy of micron-level image guidance to deliver a noninvasive glaucoma treatment called femtosecond laser, image-guided, high-precision trabeculotomy, or FLigHT. This technology addresses a major unmet need for patients who may benefit from a non-pharmacologic, incision-free procedure without compromising their therapeutic goals. "The ViaLase Laser represents a monumental transformation in interventional glaucoma care in its potential to deliver surgery-like results without the need for opening the eye and thus, reducing complications associated with more invasive, surgical procedures," said Tibor Juhasz, PhD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ViaLase, Inc. "Early clinical data indicate that FLigHT is safe and effective at lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). We look forward to working with our distribution partners to bring this groundbreaking technology to physicians and patients in Europe." "We have good evidence that early, non-medical intervention offers better long-term disease control and preservation of vision - which is what matters most to patients. I'm delighted that physicians and patients can soon benefit from the ViaLase Laser, which brings a new level of imaging and precision to glaucoma care. Furthermore, the patient's lens status has no bearing on their ability to undergo FLigHT, expanding access to patients who previously had limited treatment options," said Richard Lewis, MD, Chief Medical Officer, ViaLase, Inc. ViaLase anticipates a selective commercial rollout of the ViaLase Laser in key markets later this year. The company has established formal distributor partnerships with Global Surgical Service (Spain and Portugal) and Teleon Surgical (Germany and Austria). Each organization has deep ophthalmology experience and an established commercial presence in their markets. These strategic partnerships will allow for a timely and efficient rollout of the ViaLase Laser to physicians and patients. *The ViaLase Laser is not approved for use in the United States. About Glaucoma Glaucoma affects 76 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to increase to 112 million by 2040, and is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world.1,2 Most forms of glaucoma are chronic and, when left undetected or untreated, lead to irreversible vision loss. Early detection and treatment are essential to protecting against vision loss, which results when the optic nerve deteriorates, leading to progressive loss of the field of vision. Lowering IOP and thus reducing visual field progression is the only proven glaucoma treatment today. The current treatment paradigm typically begins with topical eye drops, then may advance to laser therapy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), before resorting to invasive, traditional filtration surgery. About ViaLase, Inc. ViaLase, Inc. is a globally-minded, venture capital-backed, clinical stage medical technology company located in Aliso Viejo, CA. ViaLase is focused on disrupting the conventional glaucoma treatment paradigm with the introduction of a truly noninvasive, image-guided, femtosecond laser treatment that enhances glaucoma patient care. With a leadership team that has vast experience developing, designing, manufacturing, and commercializing the first femtosecond lasers for ophthalmic surgery for refractive and cataract patients, ViaLase is now bringing that expertise and innovation to glaucoma patients. ViaLase believes in collaborating closely with health care providers, payers, societies, and patients to inform our product development and commercial activities with the goal of bringing this revolutionary treatment to glaucoma patients across the globe. For more information, visit www.ViaLase.com . References World Health Organization. World report on vision: Executive Summary 2019. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/328721/WHO-NMH-NVI-19.12-eng.pdf Tham YC, Xiang L, et al. Global Prevalence of Glaucoma and Projections of Glaucoma Burden through 2040: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ophthalmology 2014; 121(11): 2081-2090. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642014004333 Any product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of ViaLase, Inc. MEDIA CONTACT: Michele Gray Gray Communications, LLC. +1 (917) 449-9250 michele@mgraycommunications.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1909107/ViaLase.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vialase-receives-ce-mark-for-first-femtosecond-laser-for-the-treatment-of-glaucoma-the-vialase-laser-302209235.html Fusion energy company goes global, attracting broad base of financial stakeholders Type One Energy announced today the final closing of its $82.4 million seed financing round, attracting a broad base of global investors to the Company and its FusionDirect program, which is pursuing a direct path to commercializing fusion energy. FusionDirect is intended to culminate in the launch of Type One Energy's fusion pilot power-plant project with an owner/operating partner by 2030. Prominent new shareholders in Type One Energy include Centaurus Capital, GD1 from New Zealand, together with Foxglove and other funds from Australia. This global support highlights the growing international conviction that stellarator fusion technology can play a critical role in completing the transition to a net zero carbon emissions energy system. Fusion energy, unlike traditional nuclear fission, is the power of the stars fueled from sea water, deployable anywhere, intrinsically safe, and leaving no long-term waste. These unique attributes of fusion energy are what makes the technology increasingly compelling to stakeholders in the future of energy. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region features prominently in Type One Energy's seed financing, with funds from both New Zealand and Australia making first-time investments in fusion energy. The Co-Managing Partner of New Zealand's GD1 fund, Vignesh Kumar, stated: "The progress Type One Energy has achieved in its FusionDirect program, its access to critical infrastructure such as Oak Ridge National Lab's supercomputing resources, support from the US DOE Milestone Fusion Development Program, and its focus on advancing the FusionDirect program in the ASEAN region including across New Zealand, made an investment into the team and company a very compelling thesis for us." Complementing GD1's decision to become a Type One Energy shareholder, important elements of Australia's venture capital market joined this financing round. Foxglove's CEO Gareth Hicks, based in Perth, offered the following comment about Australia's engagement in Type One Energy: "We are committed to the energy transition, and we want to participate in the value chain of new solutions to key global challenges. Type One Energy's partner-based approach to fusion commercialization is important to us." In addition to bringing new investors into the fusion sector, Type One Energy attracted significant commitments from long-time investors in the industry, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) co-founder and founder of Centaurus Capital, John Arnold. "The successful commercialization of fusion energy will play a critical role in achieving clean, abundant energy," said Carmichael Roberts, from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. "Stellarator fusion technology now offers the opportunity to directly develop and deploy a fusion pilot power plant without the need to resolve any more fundamental science or engineering challenges and Type One Energy has assembled a great team and strategy to accelerate the deployment of fusion technology globally." Type One Energy continues to attract some of the fusion sector's best technical and business leadership talent. With four locations across North America and ongoing initiatives to further engage global talent, resources and energy transition stakeholders, the company is delivering on its strategy to execute a partner-rich, capital-efficient, decadal path to fusion commercialization. "By aligning our financing round with rapid, thoughtful expansion of our organizational capabilities, we have been able to demonstrate unique credibility and shareholder value in the private fusion industry," said Type One Energy Group CEO Christofer Mowry. He added that "we appreciate the confidence of new stakeholders in the success of this essential element of a low carbon future of energy. We have taken the time needed to bring them up the learning curve on this new technology and its path to commercialization." About Type One Energy Type One Energy Group is mission-driven to provide sustainable, affordable fusion power to the world. Established in 2019 and venture-backed in 2023, the company is led by a team of globally recognized fusion scientists with a strong track record of building state-of-the-art stellarator fusion machines, together with veteran business leaders experienced in scaling companies and commercializing energy technologies. Type One Energy applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system. Our FusionDirect development program pursues the lowest-risk, shortest-schedule path to a fusion power plant over the coming decade, using a partner-intensive and capital-efficient strategy. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equitable access to clean energy. For more information, visit www.typeoneenergy.com or follow us on LinkedIn View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730842030/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Andrea Schneibel Communications Manager Type One Energy +1 608-721-7452 andrea.schneibel@typeoneenergy.com Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben? Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Sie sollten jetzt in Biotech-Aktien einsteigen, weil wir am Beginn einer neuen Ara der medizinischen Innovation stehen konnten! Gen- und Zelltherapien, personalisierte Medizin und bahnbrechende Technologien konnten das Gesundheitswesen revolutionieren und die Aktienkurse in die Hohe schieen lassen. Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten! Verpassen Sie nicht diese Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Biotech-Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 3 Biotech-Aktien das riesige Potenzial haben, Ihren finanziellen Erfolg zu sichern. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen zukunftstrachtige Investments im Biotech-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Whirlpool Corporation: In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Whirlpool Corporation's support of Habitat for Humanity, a team of 25 employees supported a life-changing project to impact 25 families in a new Latin American market for Habitat for Humanity International. The Whirlpool employees in Colombia worked to help update dirt floors to concrete floors in the family's homes. The work is part of a Habitat initiative, called "100,000 Floors to Play On", which is helping to replace 100,000 dirt floors with concrete floors by 2028. Concrete floors support hygienic housing that contributes to cognitive development, helping children to play, study, and grow up healthy. In Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly 40% of the population does not have access to decent housing which means they reside in housing built with precarious materials or without basic amenities such as toilets, water, and electricity. Inadequate housing leads to more vulnerability to illness, poverty, eviction, and disasters. And approximately 6% of households have dirt floors, which increases the risk for parasites, bacteria, and insects that cause illnesses such as diarrhea, respiratory diseases, anemia, immunodeficiencies, malnutrition and Chagas disease. Replacing dirt floors with concrete floors generates direct health benefits as confirmed by a World Band study.1 The research revealed at least a 36% improvement in cognitive development among children whose dirt floors were transformed into concrete. In addition, children in these households showed reductions in parasitic infections, diarrhea and anemia, while parents showed an improvement in housing satisfaction and decreases in depression and stress levels. The work supported by Whirlpool Corporation employees in Colombia directly benefited 125 people with healthier and safer homes providing better living conditions and giving children an adequate floor to play on. The program also supports the local economy by hiring labor and purchasing construction materials at local establishments. About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with our brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2023, the company reported approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 59,000 employees, and 55 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com. 1 Housing, Health and Happiness by the World Bank and the University of CaliforniaView original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - The Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs (AACE) is proud to announce the official formation of the National Committee on Childcare Reform. This initiative brings together childcare representatives from six provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, with plans for continued expansion to other provinces. The Committee aims to provide a united voice for the common issues faced by childcare operators across Canada. The National Committee's primary focus is to advocate for changes to the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Childcare (CWELCC) program, ensuring childcare remains within provincial jurisdiction. The Committee proposes changes to the funding model, recommending that the Government of Canada provides envelope funding to support affordable, inclusive, accessible, and high-quality childcare. This funding model would allow each province to administer the program in a way that best meets the needs of parents, families, and their respective provincial childcare systems. Krystal Churcher, Chair of AACE, stated, "We've heard countless times from childcare operators in every province across Canada that there are many issues with how the $10/day childcare system has been rolled out. Operators are very concerned with their ability to continue providing high-quality childcare over the long term if something doesn't change. Canada's childcare operators believe in the concept of affordable childcare and appreciate the Government of Canada's funding support. However, as long as the federal government continues to impose restrictions on how provinces should implement this funding, the program will ultimately fail. Provinces need the flexibility to roll out affordable childcare programs that align with the needs of parents and respect provincial jurisdiction. Envelope funding from the Government of Canada is the only way to achieve this." Since the $10/day childcare program was rolled out, childcare operators have been meeting with government officials across Canada. They consistently hear from provincial representatives that their hands are tied due to policies imposed by the Government of Canada, which are tied to federal funding. Childcare constitutionally falls within provincial jurisdiction, and provinces are best positioned to support the industry they have long been responsible for. "We consistently hear that it's the federal government's rules around childcare funding that are at the core of all challenges faced by the industry across Canada," added Churcher. "If the Government of Canada is serious about wanting to see affordable, accessible childcare across the country, they should provide the provinces with the funding and get out of the way." The newly established National Committee will hold formal, regularly scheduled monthly meetings. The group will work towards gaining support for a national petition signed by various childcare stakeholders across Canada in favor of envelope funding for provinces. The Committee has agreed on several actions over the coming months to raise awareness of the challenges faced by thousands of childcare providers and the millions of parents and families on childcare waitlists due to the federal government's rollout of the $10/day childcare program. Updates will be provided to all stakeholders as the campaign gains momentum. More information will be available throughout August as the Committee begins its work. For more information, please contact Krystal Churcher or visit the At What Cost Website. About AACE: The Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs (AACE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing for-profit and non-profit childcare centres and day home operators across Alberta. AACE advocates for policies and practices that enhance the quality and accessibility of childcare services within a thriving mixed-market childcare system, ensuring the well-being and development of children, as well as childcare choice for Alberta parents and families. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218210 SOURCE: Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs Prospecting and mapping for intrusion related gold in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. Previous rock samples near the contact between sedimentary and intrusive rocks yielded 8.37 g/t gold. Located near infrastructure 15 km south of the North Canol Highway and Fireweed Metals' Macpass Project. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSXV:TG)(OTCQB:TRRFF) ("Trifecta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that field work is now underway at the Rye Project (the "Project"), where the Company was awarded a Yukon Mineral Exploration Program ("YMEP") grant for Target Evaluation. Under the YMEP, the Yukon Government provides successful applicants funding to support mineral exploration activities for 50% of eligible expenditures to a maximum of $50,000. The Rye Project is situated between two Mid-Cretaceuous granitic intrusions in the eastern portion of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. It is well located, only 14 km from the North Canol Highway, 15 km from Fireweed Metals Corp.'s Macpass Project, and 95 km from Snowline Gold Corp.'s Valley Gold Deposit. Previous work on the Project has identified gold-rich veins near the contact between sedimentary and intrusive rocks, with rock samples yielding between 3.86 and 8.37 g/t gold. Silver-lead-zinc-tintungsten rich veins occur outboard of the contact and within metasedimentary rocks. Trifecta's crew will conduct detailed mapping and prospecting within and adjacent to two known intrusions on the property to evaluate the potential for a Reduced Intrusion Related Gold System ("RIRGS"). Mapping is essential to delineate the prospective intrusive-metasedimentary contacts in the south and north of the property, and to develop a structural framework for mineralization. Historically, very little attention has been given to the intrusions, and it is not known if sheeted veins or mineralization is present within the intrusions themselves. Gridded soil sampling will provide multi-element pathfinder data that is critical for vectoring into mineralization related to RIRGS. Finally, a LiDAR ("Light Detection and Ranging") survey will be completed over the property to gain a baseline elevation model, which is necessary for establishing an effective 3-D model for future drilling. Tombstone Gold Belt Extending for more than 1000 km from the Fairbanks district in Alaska eastward across the entire width of Yukon, the Tombstone Gold Belt hosts many large RIRGS mines such as Fort Knox in Alaska (>10 million oz), Eagle and Olive in Yukon (>4 million oz) and the past-producing Brewery Creek Mine, also in Yukon. Since May 2020 over 17 million additional ounces of gold have been discovered in the Yukon portion of the belt, including Snowline Gold's Tier 1 Valley discovery, Sitka Gold's RC deposit, Banyan Gold's AurMac deposits and Victoria Gold's Raven deposit. Tombstone Gold Belt systems are characterized by sheeted, auriferous quartz veins forming in the carapace zones of Cretaceous-age plutons. They have a characteristic geochemical signature with a gold-bismuth-telluriumtungsten core within a broader gold-arsenic halo. The deposits are found within and surrounding the reduced intrusions, and typically exhibit a geophysical signature comprising a magnetic low (ie. reduced) coinciding with at conductivity low. Veining in RIRGS systems is typically zoned with a core of sheeted veins surrounded by more discrete gold-arsenic veins and more distal silver-lead-zinc veins. Stock Options Trifecta also announces that it has granted incentive stock options to its directors, officers and consultants, entitling them to purchase up to 1,485,000 common shares at a price of $0.15 per share for a period of five years. These options will vest on a quarterly basis commencing three months from the date of the grant. Technical information in this news release has been approved by Trifecta's Vice President, Jackson Morton, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. About Trifecta Gold Ltd. Trifecta is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the discovery and development of 100% held gold projects in Yukon and Nevada. Trifecta has secured an option to acquire a 100% interest in Mt. Hinton and 10 other highly prospective, intrusion-related gold projects located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt where over 17 million ounces of gold have been discovered since May 2020. Initial drilling at the Company's Yuge Gold Project, located in northern Nevada, has identified multiple broad zones of gold mineralization near historical high-grade mines. The Company's Eureka Project hosts an 8 x 2.5 kilometre belt of surface showings and anomalous gold-in-soil that straddle the headwaters of two of the most productive placer creeks in Yukon's southern Klondike Goldfields. Trifecta's Treble Project covers a large hydrothermal system, located midway between Western Copper and Gold Corporation's Casino Deposit, the largest copper and gold deposit in the Yukon, and Rockhaven Resources Ltd.'s Klaza Deposit, a high-grade gold-silver deposit. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Richard Drechsler" President and CEO For further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit www.trifectagold.com or contact: Corporate Information Trifecta Gold Ltd. Richard Drechsler President, CEO & Director Tel: (604) 687-2522 This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: Trifecta Gold Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSX: ZAU) ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Dowrick as Director of Exploration. In this role, Mr. Dowrick will oversee Zodiac Gold's exploration initiatives, including the identification of high-value targets, creation and supervision of drill campaigns, and the overall development and execution of exploration programs. Mr. Dowrick is a seasoned Chartered Geologist with 17 years of experience in the mining and exploration industry. Since 2011, he has been a driving force at ACA Howe International Limited, where he serves as Managing Director. In this role, he manages a range of geological and mining consultancy projects around the globe, including serving as a consultant on Zodiac Gold's Todi Project in the Republic of Liberia, West Africa. Mr. Dowrick has substantial experience in West Africa, having completed field and desk-based reviews of the exploration activities of both public and private companies in Liberia, Mali, Guinea, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Mozambique, in addition to projects in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, and Australia. Tom graduated with a BSc in Geology and Geography from the University of Leicester in 2007 and immediately commenced his career in the industry with Laramide Resources, where he worked on uranium exploration in Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia. He later transitioned to coal bed methane exploration with Earth Data in Australia, followed by near-mine and regional copper exploration with CST Mining at the Lady Annie Copper Mine, near Mount Isa, Australia, before returning to the UK with ACA Howe. Mr. Dowrick's involvement with Zodiac Gold since 2019 provides a unique advantage, as he is already familiar with the Todi Project and the geology of the Todi Shear Zone, having authored the most recent NI 43-101 report. This familiarity will allow him to hit the ground running as he focuses on Zodiac's drilling at the Alasala target. With his leadership, Zodiac Gold aims to optimize its exploration efforts and achieve significant milestones as it advances the Todi Project. The Company wishes to thank outgoing VP, Exploration, Efdal Olcer, for his service to the Company. During his tenure as VP, Exploration, Mr. Olcer played a pivotal role in advancing the Company's exploration programs, go public process and establishing a solid foundation for future growth. Mr. Olcer will remain involved with the Company as a shareholder and consultant as he spends more time in his native Turkey. "Tom Dowrick's extensive experience and proven track record in exploration planning and resource development make him an invaluable addition to our team," said David Kol, CEO of Zodiac Gold. "His expertise in mineral exploration, combined with his in-depth knowledge of West African geology and existing familiarity with the Todi Project, will be instrumental in driving our projects forward and achieving our exploration goals." "Working more closely with Zodiac Gold at this pivotal moment in its journey is an exciting opportunity," said Tom Dowrick. "I look forward to working with the team to unlock the potential of our projects and to deliver on the Company's ambitious goals. There's potential for a multimillion-ounce discovery, and I'm eager to get started." About Zodiac Gold Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSX: ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia-an underexplored, politically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity covering a vast 2,316 km2 land package. The Todi project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts. Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218171 SOURCE: Zodiac Gold Inc. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / PlantX Life Inc. (CSE:VEGA)(Frankfurt: WNT1)(OTC PINK:PLTXF) ("PlantX" or the "Company"), the digital face of the plant-based community, operating a one-stop shop for plant-based products, today reported its audited consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. All amounts are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Fiscal 2024 Highlights Significant Reduction in Net Loss : Net loss decreased dramatically to $5,014,710 in 2024 from $21,384,656 in 2023, reflecting our successful cost-reduction and efficiency strategies. Improved Gross Margin : Gross margin increased by 8%, reaching 46% ($3,405,421) in 2024 compared to 38% ($5,088,767) in 2023, indicating stronger profitability and more efficient operations. Revenue: While revenue decreased to $7,302,666 in 2024 from $13,299,891 in 2023, the company is in a stronger financial position due to improved gross margins and a substantial reduction in net losses. This strategic shift allows us to focus on sustainable growth and long-term profitability. Lorne Rapkin, PlantX CEO, commented, "Fiscal 2024 saw significant updates in partnerships and operational shifts aimed at reducing costs and divesting assets that were consuming too much cash. Opening the largest vegan food hall in the USA was a remarkable achievement, and engaging in a share purchase agreement with VEG House to offload some high cash-burning assets has helped position PlantX for a brighter future." Business Review During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, PlantX strategically focused on enhancing profitability and optimizing operations. Key actions included: Closure of Underperforming Locations : Closed two Canadian locations inside Hudson's Bay (Yorkdale, Toronto, and Rideau, Ottawa) due to insufficient foot traffic. Inventory was transferred to the Chicago warehouse for online sales on PlantX.com and VeganEssentials.com. Equipment was repurposed for the XMarket uptown store. Expansion of Vegan Food Hall : XMarket Uptown opened Chicago's pioneering Vegan Food Hall on October 5, 2023. The hall features six local vegan restaurants, a coffee shop run by PlantX's Portfolio Coffee brand, and a fully licensed bar with an extensive selection of vegan-friendly beverages. Consolidation for Efficiency : Consolidated XMarket Squamish and the Cloudburst Coffee shop at the Locavore Bar and Grill, expanding the lounge area to enhance customer experience and increase sales through hosting private events. Transformation of BloomBox Club: Streamlined operations, reducing team size from 30 to 1 employee, positioning BloomBox Club on the verge of profitability. On October 6, 2023, the Company transferred a collection of assets in exchange for 6,000,000 shares of Veg House Holdings Inc. This included wholly owned subsidiaries such as Vegaste Technologies US Corp., Little West LLC, Plant Based Deli LLC, and PlantX Living Inc., along with the Company's 53% ownership stake in Portfolio Coffee Inc. and 51% ownership in Eh Coffee Corp. In January 2024, the Company partially settled a secured loan by transferring 2,250,000 shares valued at USD 1.00 per share of Veg House Holding Inc. Additionally, the Company sold 2,690,100 shares of Veg House Holding Inc. at USD 1.00 per share generating over $2.69M for the company in cash. The remaining 1,059,900 shares have been recorded as equity instruments designated at fair value through Other Comprehensive Inocome (OCI), as the company considers this investment strategic in nature. Following the appointment of GreenGrowth CPAs at the AGM, it was determined that a new auditing firm was required to meet the company's filing requirements. Subsequently, the board of directors received GreenGrowth's resignation letter and appointed Abu-Farah Professional Corporation as the new auditor. Additional Information The Company's complete financial statements and management's discussion & analysis ("MD&A") for 2024 are available on PlantX's website ( www.plantx.com ) and SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ). Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. About PlantX Life The company focuses on fostering niche online wellness communities as well as creating physical immersive environments. Bloombox Club, an online plant delivery marketplace operating across the UK and EU, and The Locavore Bar and Grill, a unique dining experience that started as a humble food truck and coffee shop in the heart of Squamish, BC, are key verticals of PlantX. The company recently completed a share exchange agreement and is now a 60% owner in VEG House, a company whose portfolio of assets is leading the way in the plant-based space. PlantX works to build a community of like-minded consumers and provide education on plant-based living. Its enterprise is built on partnerships and collaboration. The company's digital presence aims to eliminate barriers to entry for anyone interested in living a plant-based lifestyle and thriving in a longer, healthier, and happier life. Connect with PlantX: Email | Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram ?| YouTube | TikTok Contact: Lorne Rapkin Chief Executive Officer (416) 419-1415 Forward-looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "likely", "should," "would," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "potential," "proposed," "estimate," "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward-looking information contained herein includes, without limitation, statements regarding the availability of Future Farm products, PlantX promotional events and the business and strategic plans of the Company. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release including, without limitation: receiving sufficient demand for the Offering; the Company's ability to comply with all applicable governmental regulations including all applicable food safety laws and regulations; impacts to the business and operations of the Company due to the COVID-19 epidemic; the conflict in eastern Europe; having a limited operating history; the ability of the Company to access capital to meet future financing needs; the Company's reliance on management and key personnel; competition; changes in consumer trends; foreign currency fluctuations; and general economic, market or business conditions. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE: PlantX Life Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Despite significant concerns with the accuracy and security of AI, 70% of financial services leaders plan to increase their AI spend in 2024 Financial services organizations only deployed 1 in 4 of the AI initiatives they had planned for the year Despite one of the highest rates of planned increased spending across industries, 34% of financial services leaders feel like they are falling behind their peers in AI adoption One of the biggest concerns FinServ has regarding AI is data security (45%), followed by accuracy (43%) and cost (40%) SAN FRANCISCO, July 30, 2024, a leader in search and total AI solutions, today released new financial services findings from its second annual Generative AI Global Benchmark Study. The study gathered input from over 2,500 leaders involved in AI technology decision-making worldwide. The report explores key areas of generative AI investment and organizations' progress in adopting generative AI. Close to 50% of financial services leaders had a positive view of AI in 2023. Despite this initial excitement, the implementation of planned initiatives in 2024 has been sluggish. Only one in four AI projects have been deployed, similar to many of the other industries surveyed. In 2023, the most common expected impact of Gen AI for financial services was business ops improvement. The majority of deployed initiatives followed suit in 2024 and were primarily focused on G&A cost reduction. However, the industry reported below average cost and revenue benefits. Financial services mirror global industries with high concerns around data security (45%) and accuracy (43%). Across the board, concerns around security, response accuracy, and costs have forced most businesses to slow down their planned initiatives and be more strategic about the balance between cost and benefit. Security worries have tripled, accuracy concerns have grown fivefold, and transparency issues have quadrupled since 2023. The 2024 Generative AI Global Benchmark Study also includes the following findings: Investment Slowdown: Global AI spending plans are down sharply, with only 63% planning increases (vs. 93% last year). USA-based organizations remain above average with 69% planning to increase AI spend across all industries. Global AI spending plans are down sharply, with only 63% planning increases (vs. 93% last year). USA-based organizations remain above average with 69% planning to increase AI spend across all industries. Slow Progress: Delayed deployment and low success rates are commonplace with only 25% of planned projects fully implemented across all industries. This lag is stalling anticipated ROI, with 42% of companies yet to see significant benefits from generative AI initiatives. Delayed deployment and low success rates are commonplace with only 25% of planned projects fully implemented across all industries. This lag is stalling anticipated ROI, with 42% of companies yet to see significant benefits from generative AI initiatives. Spending Flattens: Across all organizations, 36% of leaders plan to keep spending flat, compared to only 6% in last year's survey. Across all organizations, 36% of leaders plan to keep spending flat, compared to only 6% in last year's survey. China's Sharp Decline: ?? Only 49% of Chinese leaders plan to increase AI spending in 2024, a massive drop from 100% in 2023. Only 49% of Chinese leaders plan to increase AI spending in 2024, a massive drop from 100% in 2023. Commercial LLMs Dominate: Nearly eight in 10 companies use commercial LLMs and 21% have opted for open source only. Nearly eight in 10 companies use commercial LLMs and 21% have opted for open source only. Competitive Concerns: A third of business leaders feel like they're falling behind competitors despite almost everyone struggling to implement this new technology. "Financial services leaders have recognized the immense potential of generative AI year over year. However, concerns around data security and accuracy are holding back deployment," said Mike Sinoway, CEO, Lucidworks. "A responsible AI-powered search solution must balance personalization with stringent data protection, adhering to regulations and prioritizing client trust. As models specialize to the industry and organizations partner with search experts to build AI strategies, we anticipate financial services organizations will see more cost and revenue benefits in the near future." Download the complete 2024 Generative AI Global Benchmark Study and accompanying financial services-focused findings today. Learn more about Lucidworks at Lucidworks.com . About Lucidworks Lucidworks clients are more than 2.5x more likely to successfully deploy generative AI initiatives than their peers. The world's largest brands including Crate & Barrel, Lenovo, and Red Hat rely on Lucidworks' suite of products to power commerce, customer service, and workplace applications that delight customers and empower employees. Contact us today to build your AI success strategy. Wind River, a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge, today announced that leading global IT company Codelab has selected Wind River Studio Developer to strengthen its DevSecOps and VxWorks real-time operating system-based embedded solutions and services. Building software for embedded systems has become increasingly complex, necessitating a DevSecOps approach throughout the software lifecycle. Modern cloud-native tools and techniques enable rapid innovation for software teams, but they must be tailored to meet the specific challenges of intelligent systems and embedded software. Additionally, cloud-native DevSecOps tools often need to integrate with a team's existing development infrastructure, allowing for incremental improvements in workflows and processes over time. Studio Developer is an edge-to-cloud DevSecOps platform that accelerates development, deployment, and operation of mission-critical systems. It delivers improvements in software workflow productivity and efficiency by? leveraging scalable cloud resources (on demand), standardizing automation pipelines, allowing cloud-based collaboration on a shared platform, easy onboarding?, and enhanced traceability throughout the software development process. "Wind River Studio Developer will allow us to deliver significant productivity and efficiency gains in our software development workflow. The platform's flexibility and collaborative nature will simplify and accelerate our software development lifecycle without compromising the safety and security sought after in the industries in which we operate," said Radoslaw Borek, managing director, Codelab. "I am confident our strategic partnership with Wind River will strengthen Codelab capabilities for offering specialized DevSecOps and VxWorks-based embedded solutions and services, bringing unprecedented value to our customers all over the world." "Accelerating innovation while also leveraging and supporting legacy assets, systems, and applications can be staggeringly difficult with the demand for more intelligence at the edge and the journey toward software-defined systems," said Sandeep Modhvadia, chief product officer, Wind River. "Studio Developer is designed to solve the challenges of managing complexity in modern software development environments that impede automation and DevSecOps approaches. Industry-leading organizations like Codelab are leveraging the platform to accelerate their innovation and gain a competitive edge." For more information about Wind River Studio Developer, visit www.windriver.com/studio/developer. About Wind River Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of devices and systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation across industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com. About Codelab Codelab is a premier technology solutions provider that delivers specialized CI/CD and DevOps services and solutions to global automotive and industrial customers. Renowned for our long-standing reputation as a trusted supplier, Codelab excels in continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices, optimizing development pipelines and enhancing delivery processes. Our deep expertise spans electronic control units, human-machine interfaces, communication devices, active safety and autonomous platforms, cybersecurity, battery management systems, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) platforms, and cloud-based solutions. We empower our clients to achieve rapid, reliable, and scalable software deployment, ensuring robust and secure systems across diverse applications. Codelab is part of Beta Systems Group, headquartered in Berlin, listed on the German Frankfurt Stock Exchange. To learn more, visit Codelab at www.codelab.eu. Wind River is a trademark or registered trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc., and its affiliates. Other names may be the trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730588410/en/ Contacts: Jenny Suh Wind River 510-749-2972 jenny.suh@windriver.com WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY), the innovative enterprise cyber security and mobile technology provider, announced it has successfully deployed a new product offering into a Federal Agency, a proprietary derived digital credential for mobile devices called MobileAnchor. Jin Kang, WidePoint's Chief Executive Officer, stated: "I am excited to announce that WidePoint has successfully developed, tested, and authenticated MobileAnchor which is stored directly on the mobile device, providing the highest level of security available. This successful deployment with a Federal Agency is a significant accomplishment among Identity & Access Management solution providers. WidePoint's new MobileAnchor can be relied on for support and stability and provides the highest level of security for mobile digital credentials." Unique benefits of WidePoint's MobileAnchor Derived Digital Credential: 1. Enhanced Security: Direct Integration: WidePoint's MobileAnchor generates a digital credential directly on the device, can leverage device-specific security features, such as hardware-based secure elements (e.g., TPM or SE) and biometric authentication, ensuring high levels of security. Reduced Attack Surface: WidePoint's MobileAnchor direct integration can minimize potential vulnerabilities associated with additional layers or intermediaries. 2. User Convenience: Seamless Access: Users can directly access applications and services without needing to navigate through an additional Mobile Device Management (MDM) interface or container, streamlining the user experience. Integrated MFA: WidePoint's MobileAnchor can be combined with device biometrics (fingerprint, face recognition) for seamless multi-factor authentication (MFA). 3. Simplified Deployment: Less Overhead: Deploying and managing WidePoint's MobileAnchor credentials directly on the device can be more straightforward compared to managing credentials within an MDM container, reducing administrative overhead. 4. Flexibility and Compatibility: Native Support: WidePoint's MobileAnchor can be supported natively by many modern operating systems and applications, ensuring better integration and compatibility. Caroline Godfrey, WidePoint's Chief Security Officer, stated: "I am extremely proud of the WidePoint team and our partners for bringing this solution to market. The 'good enough' solutions provided by other vendors often fall short of consistent security. That's why we are so excited about WidePoint's MobileAnchor. WidePoint's MobileAnchor significantly enhances mobile device security to the highest level and allows digital signing of emails and authenticating to federally controlled facilities, information systems, and applications from a mobile smart device." Jason Holloway, WidePoint's Chief Revenue Officer, stated: "Marketing efforts are already in-progress to other Federal Agencies that currently utilize PIV Smart-Card Credential and similarly to Commercial entities that utilize PIV-I Smart-Card Credentials. We are optimistic that organizations seeking the highest form of security, as well as cost savings recognized by not requiring a MDM software, will welcome WidePoint's MobileAnchor as a next generation IAM solution." About WidePoint WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American: WYY) is a leading technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) dedicated to securing and protecting the mobile workforce and enterprise landscape. WidePoint is recognized for pioneering technology solutions that include Identity and Access Management (IAM), Mobility Managed Services (MMS), Telecom Management, Information Technology as a Service (ITaaS), Cloud Security, and Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS). For more information, visit widepoint.com. WidePoint Investor Relations: Gateway Group, Inc., Matt Glover or John Yi 949-574-3860, WYY@gateway-grp.com SOURCE: WidePoint Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Sinceri Senior Living applauded its staff, residents, and families for their outstanding preparedness and effective response in the face of a natural disaster. Just over two weeks ago, Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 hurricane, barreled its way through the Gulf Coast and towards Texas. As the hurricane made landfall, it slammed into southeast Texas, leaving over three million people without power. Prior to making landfall on Sunday, Sinceri's staff was already in motion. The community and regional teams began initial preparations by communicating with on-site staff, conducting generator tests, printing necessary information, confirming emergency supplies of food were on site, facilitating staffing in case roads weren't drivable, and ensuring the residents and their families were cared for and well-informed. Once the hurricane hit, the following Sinceri communities in the Houston area were impacted: Creekside, Cinco Ranch, Willow Fork, Braeswood Estates, Lewis Park Estates, and Windermere Estates. During the hurricane, many of these communities lost power and had to run on backup generators, but all the residents were reported safe and secure. Immediately following the hurricane, Sinceri's communities continued to maintain a proactive response. April Young, Chief Operations Officer of Sinceri Senior Living, stated, "We are incredibly proud of our team's dedication and resilience through Hurricane Beryl. Our priority has always been the safety and well-being of our residents. The preparation and response of our staff were instrumental in making sure everyone remained safe and comfortable during the storm." All six of the Sinceri communities had restored power and resources by 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, only 24 hours after Beryl hit Houston. Sinceri Senior Living remains committed to upholding the highest standard of care and support for its residents, and providing a place they can safely call home. Sinceri Senior Living is a leading senior living management company that oversees services in 81 communities across 20 states, catering to approximately 4,800 seniors nationwide. Offering a continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing communities, Sinceri Senior Living has earned a stellar reputation for expertly managing senior living properties with personalized care and exceptional programming for residents and their families. Contact Information Madison Allen Marketing and Communications Manager madison.allen@sincerisl.com 5404710742 SOURCE: Sinceri Senior Living View the original press release on newswire.com. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") announced multiple oxide gold drill intercepts at and near surface from the Scarlet North target along the Company's Isabella Pearl trend. The Scarlet North target is located just 700 meters northwest of the Isabella Pearl heap leach and process facility. Intercepts include 9.14 meters grading 2.33 grams per tonne (g/t) gold within 16.76 meters grading 1.58 g/t gold. The Company also released multiple rock chip surface samples from a new, undrilled target in the Scarlet North area, the highest assaying 2.24 g/t gold. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield. Scarlet North Drill highlights include (m=meters, g/t=grams per tonne) (full drill table below): Hole# IPRC-655: 12.19 m of 0.69 g/t gold incl. 1.52 m of 1.29 g/t gold, and 1.52 m of 1.34 g/t gold Hole# IPRC-667: 16.76 m of 0.64 g/t gold incl. 3.05 m of 1.19 g/t gold Hole# IPRC-674: 16.76 m of 1.58 g/t gold incl. 9.14 m of 2.33 g/t gold This reverse circulation drill program builds on the Company's previously released 2023 and 2024 drill results at the Isabella Pearl Scarlet North target, which included 50.29 meters grading 0.86 g/t gold from surface (click here to review the October 2023 press release). This most recent Scarlet North drill program intercepted multiple intervals of oxide gold mineralization where a similar metallurgy to the nearby Isabella Pearl deposit is expected, whereby oxide gold ores can be processed using a standard heap leach process. The proximity of this mineralization would allow for a short haul distance to the Company's existing, nearby processing facilities. Drilling at Scarlet has identified several surface and near surface pods of mineralization that the Company continues to model for potential open pit mine scenarios. "Scarlet North continues to return high-grade near surface oxide gold intercepts, moving us closer to an initial resource," stated Mr. Allan Turner, Vice President of Exploration for Fortitude Gold. "Our exploration team also collected multiple rock chip surface samples from a new northeast target area at Scarlet North, with the highest assaying 2.24 g/t gold. These rock chip samples may be an indicator of gold mineralization expanding to the northeast at Scarlet North, which the Company plans to test with future drill programs. We look to define a potentially significant disseminated gold system over an extensive area at Scarlet North, with a goal to vector in on feeder structures while we move closer to an initial resource from which to expand upon." "Located next to our Isabella Pearl deposit and process facility, Scarlet North continues to deliver near surface, high-grade oxide gold for potential future ore feed," stated Mr. Jason Reid, CEO and President of Fortitude Gold. "16.76 meters, or 55 feet, of over 1.5 grams per tonne gold builds on previous successful drill programs at Scarlet North. While we continue to build on and evaluate Scarlet's open-pit potential, we are positioned to submit a permit modification to the Bureau of Land Management to expand the current Isabella Pearl mine plan boundary to encompass the Scarlet North area. The modification would seek approval to both mine Scarlet North and expand exploration efforts in the area. Continued gold intercepts like these move us closer to our goal to add Scarlet to the queue of future mine builds." SCARLET NORTH DRILL SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS JULY 2024 Hole # Angle From Interval Au deg Meters Meters g/t IPRC-635 -45 32.00 10.67 0.57 IPRC-646 -60 1.52 3.05 0.36 12.19 7.62 0.50 IPRC-648 -45 4.57 19.81 0.56 IPRC-650 -45 3.05 1.52 0.38 7.62 18.29 0.54 IPRC-651 -45 0.00 9.14 0.25 19.81 10.67 0.62 IPRC -652 -45 0.00 4.57 0.68 44.20 7.62 0.45 IPRC-655 -60 7.62 12.19 0.69 incl. 13.72 1.52 1.29 incl. 18.29 1.52 1.34 IPRC-662 -45 21.34 3.05 0.30 28.96 1.52 1.45 IPRC-664 -45 4.57 1.52 0.52 18.29 6.10 0.44 IPRC-665 -90 32.00 10.67 0.53 IPRC-666 -65 39.62 4.57 0.87 incl. 39.62 1.52 1.19 IPRC-667 -60 35.05 16.76 0.64 incl. 36.58 3.05 1.19 IPRC-674 -45 47.24 16.76 1.58 incl. 48.77 9.14 2.33 Assays by American Assay Laboratories, Sparks, Nevada, USA. Meters downhole, not true width. About Fortitude Gold Corp.: Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of seven high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and an eighth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. CONTACT: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com New Delhi, July 30 (UNI) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday raised the issue of tragic landslides in the Wayanad district of Kerala and said that rising incidents of natural calamity was a serious concern and called for urgent mapping of landslide prone areas. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gandhi said, Early this morning, Wayanad was hit by several devastating landslides. More than 70 people have been killed. Mundakai village has been cut off and the devastating loss of lives and extensive damage is yet to be assessed, due to the scale of the tragedy, he said. The Congress MP from Raebareli said that he had spoken to the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chief Minister of Kerala with regard to the tragic incident. I request the Union government to extend all possible support for rescue and medical care. Immediate release of the compensation to deceased people and the compensation can be increased as well, restore vital transport communication lines, set up relief centers at the earliest and prepare a roadmap for the rehabilitation of the affected families, the LoP said. He said, Landslides loose over many areas in Wayanad and the Western Ghats, our country has witnessed an alarming rise in the landslides in the last few years. There is an urgent need for mapping of landslide prone areas and to take up mitigating measures and an action plan to address the growing frequency of natural calamities in the ecologically fragile region. After Gandhi spoke, the house witnessed a turmoil resulting in Speaker Om Birla asking the Opposition Benches to refrain from doing politics over tragic incidents. This is a tragic and sad incident and we are discussing so that such things do not happen but here also you want to do politics, Birla said. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, Honble Prime Minister has sent the MoS, who comes from Kerala and he is already there coordinating with the agencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already spoken to the Chief Minister of Kerala and the rescue and relief operation is already on. UNI RBE CS1410 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Moovly Media Inc. (TSXV: MVY) (OTC Pink: MVVYF) (FSE: 0PV2) ("Moovly" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $400,000 through the issuance of up to 20,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.02 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.05 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. The net proceeds from the Private Placement are expected to be used for general corporate purposes. All of the securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month resale restriction from the date of issuance. The completion of the Private Placement remains subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Moovly: Moovly is the leading provider of creative cloud-based tools to create compelling marketing, communications and training videos and video presentations. Moovly's advanced Studio Editor with millions of assets seamlessly integrated (via partnerships with Getty Images & Storyblocks) is all you need to create engaging video content to promote, communicate or explain your product, service or message. Moovly's API and Automator technologies allow third parties to automate parts or all of the content creation process, including mass video customization, personalized videos (video version of mail merge), automatic content creation or updating by connecting data sources. With clients including users from over 300 of the Fortune 500, small businesses, freelancers and Ivy league universities, Moovly is an intuitive, cost effective choice for DIY creation of engaging video-based content. "Your story begins with Moovly" Files are available for download in our press room at www.moovly.com/pressroom. Reader Advisory This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information with respect to Moovly's future business plans and the expected benefits of its products. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, Moovly's inability to continue to commercialize its products or demand for its products decreases or disappears. Other risk factors are set forth in detail in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis dated June 30, 2023 which is available for review under the Company's corporate profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Some other risks and factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information also include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, unanticipated operating events; failure to obtain any necessary third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; competition for, among other things, capital and skilled personnel; changes in tax laws; and the other factors. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date hereof, and to not use such forward-looking information for anything other than its intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. / NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES / To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218213 SOURCE: Moovly Media Inc. Enhancing the Capabilities and Accuracy of Geographic Information Data Collection IRVINE, CALIF. / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / PelicanCorp Inc., the global leader in damage prevention solutions, today announces a partnership with Bad Elf, LLC, a leading manufacturer of Bluetooth-connected GNSS receivers. The partnership enables the integration of PelicanCorp's Geolantis.360 field data collection platform with Bad Elf's GNSS receivers to deliver an affordable, comprehensive solution to accurately locate subsurface assets. "The integration of PelicanCorp and Bad Elf technologies transforms manual workflows to faster, more affordable and efficient digital ones," said Duane Rodgers, CEO, PelicanCorp. "PelicanCorp is dedicated to working with hardware manufacturers, like Bad Elf, to bring Geolantis.360 to the market." Bad Elf offers affordable, accurate, and flexible GPS solutions. Phone, tablet, notebook, and operating system agnostic, Bad Elf GNSS receivers encourage companies to work on the mobile platform of their choosing. Bad Elf products provide geospatial professionals with a unique blend of location accuracy, reliability, design, and value. Geolantis.360 digitally maps subsurface assets in real time, as they are located, gathering critical metadata to assist stakeholders with visualizing the location and attributes of subsurface assets. The solution improves communication between the field and office as data can be shared even while field crews are still at the job site. Automating workflows to significantly reduce post-processing tasks while delivering robust, detailed reporting, Geolantis.360 perfectly complements Bad Elf's hardware. "The need for high-accuracy GPS receivers and GIS data collection is self-evident, particularly in the area of underground infrastructure damage prevention," said Larry Fox, VP Marketing and Business Development, Bad Elf. "The integration of PelicanCorp's Geolantis.360 field data collection platform with Bad Elf's comprehensive selection of GNSS receivers provides a complete solution." This partnership enhances the communication of subsurface asset data with improved accuracy and speed in the pursuit of protecting lives and property by reducing damages to underground assets. The integrated solutions deliver the ability to capture, record, and display the precise location of critical infrastructure such as telecommunications assets and buried utilities, including gas and water lines. Learn more about Bad Elf and Geolantis.360. To learn more about PelicanCorp, visit PelicanCorp.com. About Bad Elf Bad Elf's line of GNSS receivers empowers GIS and survey professionals to collect high-accuracy field data using any phone, tablet or laptop. Bad Elf's products and services evolve within an iterative framework of learning from our customers. Bad Elf applies diverse and deep technical skills to deliver exceptional offerings that solve real-world challenges. Within this mindset, the whole team challenges themselves to create sufficiently advanced technology to benefit the consumer as Engineering Magic. While our solutions manifest as technology built for today, they allow us to respond nimbly to continuous change and explore opportunities in partnership with our customers. Learn more at www.bad-elf.com. Bad Elf, Bad Elf Flex, and Engineering Magic are registered trademarks of Bad Elf, LLC. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG. About PelicanCorp PelicanCorp is the Global Leader in Damage Prevention Solutions built specifically for the protection of essential infrastructure. PelicanCorp connects people, applications, and devices through a unified platform to help industry professionals manage risk and build quality projects - safely, on time, and within budget. PelicanCorp has a diversified business model built on 40 years of experience protecting billions of dollars of global assets. PelicanCorp is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with offices and operations around the globe. Learn more at www.PelicanCorp.com or follow PelicanCorp on LinkedIn. Contact Information Susan Leid Marketing & Communications marketing@pelicancorp.com SOURCE: PelicanCorp Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. New standard ensures that third-party certification of steel products and science-based emission targets are implemented consistently and comprehensively EMERYVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / SCS Global Services (SCS), a pioneer and world leader in the field of third-party certification, auditing, and standards development, has become one of the first approved verifiers under the Global Steel Climate Council's (GSCC) new Steel Climate Standard. The GSCC Steel Climate Standard is a low-emission steel standard for all steel producers. The framework put forth in the Standard consists of a comprehensive system boundary that includes Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions from mining and/or resource extraction to the hot rolling process. It aligns with a science-based approach to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement 2050 goals, irrespective of the production process used to make steel. Under this Standard, steel producers calculate their company average steel emissions intensity (CASEI), set science-based emissions targets (SBETs), and calculate their product carbon footprints. SCS, with its unmatched steel expertise and extensive resume in working with numerous steel manufacturers and steel product associations, will provide third-party verification and validation services of the CASEI, SBETs, and product carbon footprint to ensure conformance to requirements of the Steel Climate Standard. "SCS Global Services has always been committed to fostering sustainable practices based on rigorous science across various industries. We are proud to have the opportunity to further contribute our expertise to those in the steel sector under this new Standard," said Keith Killpack, Technical Director of SCS' Environmental Certification Services division. GSCC considers independent verification to be a key pillar of conformance to the Standard. "SCS Global Services has a proven track record of credible, non-partial evaluation and certification of emissions measurement in the steel industry," said Adina Renee Adler, Executive Director of the Global Steel Climate Council. "We are excited to partner with them as they support GSCC member companies pursuing accountability in meeting ambitious emissions reduction targets based on sound science." SCS offers a variety of services for manufactured products, such as certification of indoor air quality performance and recycled content, assessments of corporate climate footprints, and life cycle assessment (LCA). Its LCA team has conducted assessments for clients in many major industries since the early 1990s, and its practitioner staff has experience in all major LCA reporting frameworks and sectors of the economy. Read More About Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC): The Global Steel Climate Council (GSCC) is a non-profit association organized to advance climate strategy by establishing standards and advocating for carbon emissions reductions by members of the steel industry. The GSCC includes more than 35 international producing members and supporters across the steel value chain, including steel producers, upstream material and services suppliers, downstream manufacturers and end-users, and trade associations. About SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California and celebrating 40 years in business, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com. Media Contact Stephanie Flynn, sflynn@scsglobalservices.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SCS Global Services on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: SCS Global Services Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/scs-global-services Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: SCS Global Services View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Cascada Silver Corp. (CSE:CSS) (the "Cascada") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated July 16, 2024 announcing shareholder approval of an ordinary resolution, on July 18, 2024, it issued an aggregate of 57,125,676 Cascada common shares (the "Shares") on the exchange of 57,125,676 subscription receipts that were issued by Cascada in a private placement offering that closed on June 5, 2024 (the "Closing Date"). Cascada confirms that it has received approximately $742,634 in gross proceeds raised under the private placement offering which have been released from escrow by its subscription receipt agent in connection with the issuance of Shares. The Shares issued on exchange of the subscription receipts are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the Closing Date. This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws. About Cascada Silver Corp. Cascada Silver is a mineral exploration company focused on exploration opportunities in Chile. Cascada Silver's team of successful exploration professionals are dedicated to the discovery of mineral deposits that can be progressed into economically viable development projects creating value for all stakeholders. On behalf of Cascada Silver Corp., CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Cascada's plans with respect to the its projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of Cascada's projects, Cascada's objectives, plans and strategies, the Offering and the expected use of proceeds thereof, and other project opportunities. Although Cascada believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective,", "strategy", "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Cascada cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Cascada's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, Cascada undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that Cascada will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that Cascada may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out Cascada's exploration plans, risks and uncertainties related to Cascada's ability to complete the Offering and the size of the Offering, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where Cascada carries on its business that might interfere with Cascada's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to Cascada's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Neither the Canadian Securities nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218198 SOURCE: Cascada Silver Corp. Program will support PDK development at AIM Photonics SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / NLM Photonics was awarded a $1.8 million AFWERX STTR Phase II Contract from the U.S. Air Force. This award funds a 21-month project with AIM Photonics to potentially offer modulator components in AIM Photonics' process design kits (PDKs) for silicon-organic hybrid devices on the institute's 300 mm silicon photonics platform. These devices focus on low-power, high-bandwidth electro-optic (EO) modulation for datacom, RF photonics, sensing, and more applications, utilizing silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) EO modulators. "This project will allow NLM Photonics to perform critical process optimization and scale up, enabling us to demonstrate that our SOH technology can be deployed at scale in a foundry-friendly, advanced packaging process module. Having SOH modulator PDK components available on AIM Photonics' platform will dramatically expand access to this enabling technology for U.S. Government and commercial customers alike," says Dr. Scott R. Hammond, Director of Process Development at NLM. This project involves multiple design and optimization iterations, including one or more multi-project wafer (MPW) tapeouts (submission of a validated photonic integrated circuit design for fabrication) with AIM Photonics, followed by a full custom wafer run to evaluate process yield and scalability. NLM will perform process development and optimization and work with the AIM Photonics' Test, Assembly, and Packaging facility for wafer-scale passive and die-level high-speed device testing. "We're excited to work with NLM Photonics to continue to advance this emerging technology, which ultimately contributes to the growth of the larger U.S. integrated photonics ecosystem," said Amit Dikshit, AIM Photonics Design Enablement Manager. "This collaboration also directly supports AIM Photonics' goal to provide integrated photonics designers and developers access to the most advanced, comprehensive set of tools and services to develop, build, and test their manufacturing-ready prototype devices." NLM and AIM Photonics are excited to continue their collaboration on SOH devices, building off an ongoing NASA STTR Phase I project. NLM was awarded an AFWERX SBIR Phase I in the spring of 2023 for customer discovery that led to this project. They are looking forward to furthering their developmental efforts for defense applications for the US Air Force and Space Force and for NASA and commercial customers. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. About NLM Photonics NLM Photonics is based in Seattle and develops cutting-edge photonics solutions for transforming networking, computing, and sensing alongside our global partners. Follow us at nlmphotonics.com and on LinkedIn @nlm-photonics. About AIM Photonics The American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) is one of nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes established and managed by the U.S. Department of Defense to advance new technology and capabilities into products and systems that help secure national defense and economic priorities. Find out more at aimphotonics.com and on LinkedIn @AIM Photonics. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com. About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,100 new contracts worth more than $4 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit afwerx.com. Media Contacts Erica McGillivray Communication Director ericamc@nlmphotonics.com Leah Scott Director of Communications and Information Management lscott@aimphotonics.com Contact Information Erica McGillivray Communications Director ericamc@nlmphotonics.com SOURCE: NLM Photonics View the original press release on newswire.com. JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market'- By Type (Organic Beauty Products, Natural Skincare Products, Vegan Beauty Products, Cruelty-Free Cosmetics, Clean Beauty Products), By Application (Facial Care, Hair Care, Body Care, Makeup and Cosmetics, Fragrances) By Distribution Channel (Online Retail, Brick-and-Mortar Stores, Specialty, Beauty Stores, Health and Wellness Retailers, Direct Sales), Region, Market Outlook And Industry Analysis 2031." The Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market is valued at US$ 176.6 Bn in 2023, and estimated to reach over USD 326.8 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.26% during the forecast period. The clean beauty movement places the highest premium on sustainability, safety, and transparency in the skincare industry. People can take better care of their physical appearance and have a smaller environmental impact when they appreciate clean beauty. Everyone may contribute to the sustainable beauty revolution in the future, which promises to be a fascinating time of inventions and improvements. Download Free Demo Report, Excel Pivot and ToC: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/2618 The need for sustainable beauty products is being driven by the concerns of younger generations, including in relation to environmental and ethical issues. For instance, In July 2024, the investigation of nanotechnology for developing cosmetics using plant and animal byproducts emerged as a high-tech approach to sustainable beauty. Nanocarriers enhance bioavailability and efficacy by allowing greater penetration and controlled release of bioactive substances. Utilizing byproducts reduces waste and promotes a circular economy, thereby lessening the environmental impact of the cosmetics industry. Additionally, these materials, sourced naturally, can be more affordable than synthetic equivalents. Natural-source nanocarriers have a lower potential for negative side effects, making them safer and more biocompatible for skin applications. To fully optimize strategies for sustainable, naturally derived cosmetic raw materials, collaboration is both advantageous and necessary. List of Prominent Players in the Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market: 100% Pure Acure Organics Amway Corporation Arbonne International Avalon Natural Products, Inc. (US) Aveda Avon Beauty with Cruelty Billy Jealousy, LLC Burt's Bees Caudalie Clean Cosmetics Coty Inc. Dr. Hauschka e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc. (US) Elf Cosmetic Company Eminence Organic Skin Care Ere Perez Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Groupe Rocher Hera Beauty Ltd. Herbivore Botanicals Herrco Cosmetics Honest Co. Ilia Beauty INIKA Organic (Australia) Josie Maran Cosmetics Juice Beauty Kendo Holdings, Inc. (US), Kjaer Weis Kose Corporation (Japan) Live Clean L'Occitane Group L'Oreal S.A. Lush Cosmetics LVMH Group MuLondon Natura & Co. Odacite Skincare Pacifica Beauty Pai Skincare PHB Ethical Beauty Ltd (UK) Plum Goodness (India) Purity Cosmetics RMS Beauty Seraphine Botanicals Shiseido Company Limited Sukin Skincare Tata Harper Skincare The Body Shop The Clorox Company The Estee Lauder Companies The Honest Company, Inc. True Botanicals Unilever plc. Urban Decay W3LL PEOPLE Weleda AG Yes To, Inc. Yves Rocher Zuii Organic Other Prominent Players Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market Report Scope: Report Attribute Specifications Market Size Value In 2023 USD 176.6 Bn Revenue Forecast In 2031 USD 326.8 Bn Growth Rate CAGR CAGR of 8.26% from 2024 to 2031 Quantitative Units Representation of revenue in US$ Bn and CAGR from 2024 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2023 Forecast Year 2024-2031 Report Coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market structure, growth prospects, and trends Segments Covered By Type, By Application, By Distribution Channel. Regional Scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Market Dynamics: Drivers: There is a growing preference for products that are cruelty-free, vegan, and ethically sourced, reflecting a broader trend towards ethical consumerism. The demand for sustainable packaging solutions, such as recyclable, biodegradable, and reusable materials, is driving innovation in the beauty industry. Advances in green chemistry enable the development of eco-friendly formulations and manufacturing processes that minimize environmental impact. The expanding market for premium and niche beauty products, including organic and natural options, is driving overall growth in the sustainable beauty sector. Challenges: Natural and organic ingredients can be less stable than synthetic ones, posing challenges in ensuring a product's shelf life and effectiveness. Educating consumers about the benefits and importance of sustainable beauty products is crucial but challenging. Misunderstandings and lack of awareness can affect consumer adoption. Regional Trends: North America holds the largest share of the sustainable beauty and skincare market. The region is a hub for innovation in sustainable beauty, with significant advancements in nanotechnology, green chemistry, and eco-friendly packaging. Consumers in North America are increasingly seeking transparency in product ingredients and ethical practices. Brands that offer cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainably sourced products are particularly popular. However, Asia Pacific is experiencing rapid growth in the sustainable beauty sector. Rising disposable incomes and increasing awareness of environmental issues are contributing factors. Curious about this latest version of the report? @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/2618 Recent Developments: In Jan 2024, Ilia's Beauty, launched two highly popular products, The Cleanse Soft Foaming Cleanser and the highly sought-after Bright Start Activated Eye Cream, which has sold out three times since its inception. According to Sasha Plavsic, the brand's founder, the company continues to push the boundaries in the skincare area with practical and effective products. Ilia's Beauty, launched two highly popular products, The Cleanse Soft Foaming Cleanser and the highly sought-after Bright Start Activated Eye Cream, which has sold out three times since its inception. According to Sasha Plavsic, the brand's founder, the company continues to push the boundaries in the skincare area with practical and effective products. In Dec 2023, Burt's Bees presented three important research abstracts at the Integrative Dermatology Symposium 2023 that highlight the efficacy of natural component product formulations in the skin care industry. The abstracts looked at various topical solutions that incorporate botanical elements like organic plant oils and the brand's distinguishing beeswax. They also included data on the products' ability to reduce age spots, keep the lip microbiome healthy, and balance the skin barrier for people with sensitive skin. Segmentation of Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market, Global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market -By Type Organic Beauty Products Natural Skincare Products Vegan Beauty Products Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Clean Beauty Products Global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market - By Application Facial Care Hair Care Body Care Makeup and Cosmetics Fragrances Global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market - By Distribution Channel Online Retail Brick-and-Mortar Stores Specialty Beauty Stores Health and Wellness Retailers Direct Sales Global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare Market - By Region North America- The US Canada Mexico Europe- Germany The UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific- China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America- Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa- GCC Countries South Africa Rest of the Middle East and Africa For More Customization @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/2618 Why should buy this report: To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare market To receive industry overview and future trends of global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare market To analyze the Sustainable Beauty and Skincare market drivers and challenges To get information on the Sustainable Beauty and Skincare market size value (US$ Mn) forecast till 2031 Major Investments, Mergers & Acquisition in global Sustainable Beauty and Skincare industry Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic: Next-Generation Personalized Beauty Market Bio-Based Cosmetics and Personal Care Ingredients Market Microbiome Cosmetics Market Goat Milk Cosmetics Market Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market About Us: InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Contact Us: InsightAce Analytic PVT. LTD Tel.: +1 551 226 6109 Email: info@insightaceanalytic.com Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightace-analytic-pvt-ltd/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1729637/InsightAce_Analytic_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sustainable-beauty-and-skincare-market-will-expand-usd-326-8-billion-to-2031--says-latest-insightace-analytic-pvt-ltd-survey-302209896.html Growing Use of Sodium Propionate as Food Additive Driven by Excellent Solubility and Microbiological Resistance. ROCKVILLE, Md., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Sodium Propionate Market is estimated to reach a size of US$ 168.5 million in 2024, as revealed in the recently updated industry analysis published by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider. The market has been projected to expand at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2024 to 2034. Sodium propionate is used significantly as unsaturated fat in pharmaceutical and preservative industries. High solvency and microbial movement make it ideal for use as a food additive. Increasing demand for processed food products is pushing the use of sodium propionate in packaged and processed meals, which are exhibiting high demand due to the busy lifestyle of more people in today's world. The flourishing processed food sector, including dairy products, poultry, pork, and baked goods, accounts for the high demand for sodium propionate as a popular preservative and for extending product shelf life. For More Insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=9044 Key Takeaway from Sodium Propionate Market Study: The market for sodium propionate is projected to climb to a value of US$ 247.1 million by 2034. B2C sales channels are forecasted to occupy a 53.3% share of the global market by the end of 2034. North America is analyzed to capture a share of 24.3% of the global market by 2034-end. The market in South Korea is forecasted to expand at 4.6% CAGR through 2034. Worldwide sales of liquid sodium propionate are projected to rise at a CAGR of 4.4% and reach US$ 112.7 million by 2034. Demand for sodium propionate in Japan is evaluated to increase at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2024 to 2034. "Constant advancements in product formulations and food processing techniques are creating opportunities for manufacturers of sodium propionate and helping them offer more effective products," says a Fact.MR analyst. Leading Players Driving Innovation in the Sodium Propionate Market Key players in the sodium propionate industry are Prathista Industries Ltd.; Jainex Specialty Chemicals; Fine Organic Industries Private Limited; Dr. Paul Lohmann GmbH KG; Krishna Chemicals; Macco Organiques Inc.; Titan Biotech Ltd.; Foodchem International Corporation; Sigma-Aldrich, Inc.; Tengzhou Tenglong Chemical Co. Ltd.; Paul Lohmann GmbH KG; Rishi Chemicals Work Pvt. Ltd.; Toronto Research Chemicals Inc.; Niacet Corporation; Titan Biotech Limited. High Consumption of Convenience and Packaged Food Products in the United States Demand for sodium propionate in the United States is projected to increase at a CAGR of 4.3% and reach a value of US$ 27.4 million by the end of 2034. More consumers in the country are opting for convenience and packaged food products due to their hectic lifestyles. Therefore, with growing demand for convenience food products, a positive impact on the sales of sodium propionate is also witnessed for their features of preserving food products without any compromise with the texture or taste. Sodium Propionate Industry News: Macco Organiques is one of the leading producers of sodium propionate in Canada. In February 2022, the company signed an agreement with Kraft Heinz, a prominent food manufacturer in the United States, to expand its footprint in the country. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=9044 Global Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, by Grade: Food-grade Pharmaceutical-grade Global Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, by Form Powder Liquid Granules Global Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, by Function Preservatives pH Regulators Flavor Enhancers Mold Inhibitors Antimicrobial Agents Global Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, by End-use Industry Pharmaceuticals Food & Beverages Agriculture Cosmetics & Personal Care Global Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, by Distribution Channel B2B Channels B2C Channels More Valuable Insights: Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the sodium propionate market, presenting historical demand data (2019 to 2023) and forecast statistics for the period (2024 to 2034). The study divulges essential insights into the market based on grade (food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade), form (powder, liquid, granules), end-use industry (pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, agriculture, cosmetics & personal care), function (preservatives, pH regulators, flavor enhancers, mold inhibitors, antimicrobial agents), and distribution channel (B2B channels, B2C channels), across seven major regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and MEA). Checkout More Related Studies Published by Fact.MR Research: Liquid Sodium Silicate Market has been projected at a value of US$ 3.65 billion for 2024 and is forecasted to reach a size of US$ 5.78 billion by the end of 2034. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2024 to 2034. Low Sodium Salt Market is set to reach a valuation of US$ 186.3 million in 2023 and further expand at a CAGR of 5.3% to reach US$ 312.3 million by the end of 2033. Sodium Alginate sales are projected to reach US$ 215 million in 2024. The market has been studied to climb to a value of US$ 312.1 million by the end of 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period (2024 to 2034). Sodium Amide Market stands at US$ 723 million in 2023. Worldwide demand for sodium amide is forecasted to increase at a CAGR of 6.8% and reach a market value of US$ 1.4 billion by 2033. Sodium Chlorite Market Size, Share & Forecast Analysis, By Application (Disinfectants, Antimicrobial Agents, Bleaching Agents, and Other Applications), By End-Use, (Water Treatment, Paper, Textile, Medical and Other End-Uses), and By Region - Global Market Insights 2022 to 2032. About Us: Fact.MR is a distinguished market research company renowned for its comprehensive market reports and invaluable business insights. As a prominent player in business intelligence, we deliver deep analysis, uncovering market trends, growth paths, and competitive landscapes. Renowned for its commitment to accuracy and reliability, we empower businesses with crucial data and strategic recommendations, facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing market positioning. With its unwavering dedication to providing reliable market intelligence, FACT.MR continues to assist companies in navigating dynamic market challenges with confidence and achieving long-term success. With a global presence and a team of experienced analysts, FACT.MR ensures its clients receive actionable insights to capitalize on emerging opportunities and stay ahead in the competitive landscape. Contact:? 11140 Rockville Pike? Suite 400? Rockville, MD 20852? United States? Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583? Sales Team:?sales@factmr.com?? Follow Us:?LinkedIn?|?Twitter?|?Blog? View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sodium-propionate-market-to-hit-us-247-1-million-by-2034-with-a-3-9-annual-growth-rate--factmr-302208713.html ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / MTM, the largest privately held non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) broker in the nation and one of the St. Louis area's largest privately held companies, is excited to announce the opening of its new office in the vibrant Grove neighborhood of downtown St. Louis. This strategic move signifies MTM's commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the St. Louis community. MTM's Office in the Grove The new office space houses several departments including a customer service center, where 16 Customer Care Representatives began working on July 1. The first round of hiring saw an impressive 231 applicants, reflecting the strong interest and talent available in the area. Further hiring of Customer Care Representatives is planned in the coming months to support the continued expansion of MTM's St. Louis-based customer service operations. Additionally, several corporate support teams have dedicated workspace in the facility, including Marketing, Product Development, and Finance, as well as the VeyoRide driver onboarding team. The multifunctional downtown space will also serve as a central hub for MTM's innovative aging-in-place Wanda product as it continues to expand into new markets. "This new office is a testament to our commitment to St. Louis and our dedication to expanding our reach and impact in the area," said Alaina Macia, President and CEO of MTM. "The St. Louis metro area has always been our home, but our employees have never had the privilege of working in the heart of the city. By establishing a presence in downtown St. Louis, we are able to attract a larger and more diverse pool of talent, especially those who rely on public transportation. This move not only supports our growth, but also enhances our ability to serve our Missouri-based clients and members more effectively." The new downtown location is MTM's third workspace in the St. Louis area, complementing existing offices in Lake St. Louis and Chesterfield. This expansion allows the company to continue growing a diverse team and further integrate into the local community. About MTM MTM is the nation's most trusted and qualified partner for healthcare, transportation, and logistics solutions. Since 1995, MTM has managed NEMT for state and county governments, managed care organizations, health systems, and other programs involving transportation for the disabled, underserved, and elderly. Leveraging technology to streamline processes and improve the user experience for all stakeholders, MTM's wide spectrum of services help clients improve health outcomes, promote independence, reduce costs, and increase satisfaction. In 2009, MTM's leadership established MTM Transit, an affiliate that provides direct paratransit and fixed route transit services. Every year, MTM and MTM Transit collectively remove community barriers for 15 million people by providing more than 25 million trips in 36 states and the District of Columbia. MTM and MTM Transit are privately held, woman-owned business enterprises. Contact Information Ashley Wright Senior Manager, Marketing awright@mtminc.com SOURCE: MTM, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. WESTFORD, Mass., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to SkyQuest, the global Hydrogen Market size was valued at USD 225.15 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 242.71 billion in 2023 to USD 442.63 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The move towards decarbonization has led to a high demand for clean energy thereby creating a lucrative scenario for hydrogen suppliers. Development of new engines working on hydrogen and rising popularity of hydrogen-powered transportation will also help hydrogen market growth in the future. Increasing investments in the establishment of new hydrogen generation plants around the world is also expected to boost revenue generation for market players going forward. The global hydrogen market is segmented into sectors, application, and region. Download a detailed overview: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/hydrogen-market Hydrogen Market Overview: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $ 242.71 Billion Estimated Value by 2031 $ 442.63 Billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% Forecast Period 2024-2031 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Sector, Application, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Report Highlights Emphasis on green hydrogen generation Key Market Opportunities Development of hydrogen-powered vehicles Key Market Drivers High demand for clean energy and rising focus on sustainability Segments covered in Hydrogen Market are as follows: Sector Generation Type (Gray Hydrogen, Blue Hydrogen, Green Hydrogen), Storage (Physical, Material-based), and Transportation (Long Distance, Short Distance) Application Energy (Power Generation, Combined Heat & power (CHP)), Mobility, and Chemical & Refinery (Petroleum Refinery, Ammonia Production, Methanol Production) Request Free Customization of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/hydrogen-market Streamlining Hydrogen Generation Remains Top Priority for Most Hydrogen Companies Generation of hydrogen in the most sustainable way possible is the prime focus of most hydrogen companies. This is why the generation segment is projected to bring in the most revenue for hydrogen providers across the forecast period and beyond. Rising investments in the research and development of novel hydrogen generation technologies and processes are also expected to help this segment maintain a dominant market share. Green hydrogen generation is forecasted to spearhead hydrogen market development in the long run. On the other hand, the hydrogen storage segment is projected to expand at a notable CAGR over the coming years. As hydrogen use increases around the world, so is the need for better storage solutions. Safe storage solutions for hydrogen are witnessing a robust hike in demand and this is why investing in this segment could pay off big time for new as well as leading hydrogen companies. Liquefaction and compression are projected to be popular means of storage for hydrogen in the future. View report summary and Table of Contents (TOC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/hydrogen-market Energy Applications are Slated to Spearhead Revenue Generation for Hydrogen Providers The surge in demand for clean energy is pushing energy companies away from the use of fossil fuels to generate energy. Hydrogen is emerging as a clean source of energy for multiple applications including electricity generation. Integration of other clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric with hydrogen is projected to revolutionize the future of energy industry. Rising investments in development of clean and renewable energy generation plants will also help this segment bolster market growth in the long run. Mobility is another key application where the demand for hydrogen is projected to surge at an impressive pace over the coming years. Development and adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles around the world is forecasted to help this segment generate new opportunities for hydrogen providers in the future. High use of hydrogen fuel cells and better driving range of hydrogen vehicles as compared to electric vehicles will also play a key role in bolstering market growth going forward. The global hydrogen market is rife with opportunities and investing in almost any segment will offer good return on investments for companies. Related Report: Surface Disinfectant Market Blue Hydrogen Market Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market Hydrogen Energy Storage Market Hydrogen Peroxide Market About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization has expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact: Mr. Jagraj Singh SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2446095/SkyQuest_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hydrogen-market-to-attain-a-usd-442-63-billion-by-2031-as-hydrogen-emerges-as-a-popular-clean-fuel-alternative--skyquest-technology-302209719.html Worldwide Healthcare Trust PLC - Appointment of New Director PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, July 30 30 July 2024 WORLDWIDE HEALTHCARE TRUST PLC (the "Company") Appointment of New Director As part of the ongoing process of refreshment described in the Company's Annual Report & Accounts, the Board of Worldwide Healthcare Trust PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Sian Hansen as an independent, non-executive Director of the Company, with effect from Tuesday, 1 October 2024. Ms Hansen is a non-executive Director of Pacific Assets Trust plc, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Cerno Capital Partners LLP. She was formerly Chief Operating Officer at global strategic consultancy group CT Group and an Executive Director of the Legatum Institute. She was also a non-executive Director of JP Morgan Multi-Asset Global Growth & Income plc. On appointment, Sian will be a member of the Company's Audit & Risk Committee, the Nominations Committee and the Management Engagement & Remuneration Committee. The Chair of Worldwide Healthcare Trust PLC, Doug McCutcheon, commented: "My fellow Directors and I are delighted to welcome Sian to the Board. We are very pleased to have someone with such a breadth of knowledge of the investment trust sector together with extensive experience in strategic geopolitical, financial and governance matters joining us as a Director." Ms Hansen's appointment will be proposed to shareholders for election at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in July 2025. Ms Hansen currently holds no ordinary shares in the Company. There is no further information to be disclosed under Listing Rule 9.6.13R(2) to (6). - ENDS- For further information please contact: Missing Cambodian military chopper found, with all 2 persons aboard dead: Defense spokesperson Phnom Penh, July 30( UNI) A Cambodian military helicopter, that went missing on July 12, was found in the Cardamom Mountains on Monday, with both two people aboard confirmed dead, a defense spokesperson said on Tuesday. "At 10:30 a.m. local on July 30, 2024, the search team of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) found the body of pilot Sun Phalla at the foot of the Yav Yai Mountain, about 210 meters from the crash site," Gen. Chhum Socheat, a secretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, announced in a post on social media. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. (TSXV: VCT) (OTCQB: TORVF) ("Volt Carbon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the initiation of its 2024 exploration program on the Mount Copeland Molybdenum (Moly) and Rare Earth Element (REE) property located in Revelstoke, British Columbia. Exploration Program Overview Volt Carbon's exploration program at Mount Copeland will primarily focus on sampling the tailings pond, which is believed to contain REE mineralization. In addition, the program will include re-sampling the West extension, the main target, which previously showed good width and elevated REE with magnetic minerals like Pyrrhotite and magnetite near the syenite contact, providing promising drill targets. Further, re-sampling efforts will extend to the high-grade area to the east where the glacier has receded, potentially revealing more accessible mineral deposits. Tailings ponds are often overlooked yet can be rich sources of REEs and critical minerals. Our targeted sampling aims to efficiently recover these resources, leveraging both internal and external laboratory analyses for thorough evaluation. The Mount Copeland property is situated in a geologically favorable region, enhancing its potential to yield significant REE resources. The previously mined molybdenum ore is notable for its clean geochemistry due to its alkaline nature, distinguishing it from other calc-alkaline or non-syenite hosted ores. Historical Data and Potential Historical geochemical analysis reports of REEs from previous drilling and rock samples initiated by the Company on Mount Copeland highlight significant REE and Nb potential across various zones. The 1973 Mo mine area features an Mo-Nb vein with extensive underground development. The West extension shows REE-Nb in syenite-carbonate breccia zones, while the East extension reveals REE-Nb in disseminated breccia and vein formations within a glacial ice basin, an area prone to avalanches and rockfalls. A notable geochemical analysis from 2010, conducted 400 meters east of the King Resources 1972-73 molybdenum mine site, reported high-grade REE concentrations in Sample #10AR-20: 13.1% Ce, 10.2% La, 1.77% Nd, 0.77% Pr, and 0.62% Zr. This sample was analyzed using lithium borate fusion with ICPMS finish at ALS Chemex Labs, North Vancouver, BC. The property has a 1,828-meter-long tunnel, known as an adit, used for mining the Glacier (molybdenum) Zone in the 1970s. This adit is located 200 to 600 meters west of the Marble Breccia Zone and 400 meters east of the vein zone, providing access for the potential future underground development of these areas. The geochemical and petrology report, along with details of the adit, can be found at the following location: https://voltcarbontech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/mtcopeland__report_2010.pdf. It should be noted that the mineral tenures referenced in the 2010 report have been reduced and modified (with intent to maintain the area of the known mineral zones). Qualified Persons Statement The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andris Kikauka, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Kikauka has over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration and is a member in good standing of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC). Update to July 22nd Flow-Through Financing News Release The July 22, 2024, news release stated that Finder Warrants are exercisable by each Finder at a price of $0.045. Each Finder Warrant has now been adjusted to an exercise price of $0.05. All other information in the July 22, 2024, press release remains the same. About Volt Carbon Technologies Volt Carbon is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation, with holdings in mining claims in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia in Canada. For the latest information on Volt Carbon's properties and news please refer to the website www.voltcarbontech.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Volt Carbon's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "intends" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to: (i) initiation of its exploration program on the Mount Copeland Rare Earth Element (REE) property located in Revelstoke, British Columbia.; (ii) the sampling of the tailings pond which is believed to contain valuable REE (iii) re-sampling the West extension, the main target, which previously showed good width and elevated REE with magnetic minerals like Pyrrhotite and magnetite near the syenite contact, providing promising drill targets. and re-sampling efforts will extend to the high-grade area to the east where the glacier has receded, potentially revealing more accessible mineral deposits (iv) Historical geochemical analysis reports of REEs from previous drilling and rock samples initiated by the Company on Mount Copeland highlight significant REE and Nb potential across various zones. (v) Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Volt Carbon assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218237 SOURCE: Volt Carbon Technologies ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Procure Analytics (PA), the leading data and technology-enabled Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) specializing in indirect spend categories like MRO and Packaging, today announced the acquisition of Direct Sourcing Solutions, Inc. (DSSI), a managed procurement services provider. This strategic acquisition strengthens Procure Analytics' position as a full-scope solution for indirect goods and related services. Procure Analytics Acquires DSSI This image shows the logo for Procure Analytics (PA) and Direct Sourcing Solutions, Inc. (DSSI). Procure Analytics' existing offerings address its members' core MRO and indirect spend through highly leveraged GPO contracts, and unplanned tail spend ('spot buys') through its Amicus Spend Management business. The acquisition of DSSI expands the capabilities of Amicus by providing managed procurement services to address members' recurring, unmanaged spend. "DSSI's expertise in managed procurement services perfectly complements our existing offerings," said Suja Katarya, CEO of Procure Analytics. "By combining our data-driven GPO model and Amicus Spend Management with DSSI's deep procurement knowledge and global resources, we can now provide our members with a truly comprehensive solution to optimize their indirect spend across the board from strategic category management to tail spend sourcing." DSSI brings over 100 procurement professionals located in Michigan, Kentucky, Mexico, and Europe to the Procure Analytics team. This expanded team strengthens Procure Analytics' ability to deliver world-class procurement services to its members on a global scale by giving them: A hosted punchout catalog offering containing more than 2.5 million items, built-in workflow approval processes, and direct integrations with PA member ERP systems in standard formats; Curated catalogs and custom solutions for individual members based on category strategy and individual company or site requirements; Expanded category offerings and sourcing capabilities that cover chemicals, gases, welding supplies, repair services, OEM parts, capex, and much more; Access to Mexico and 14 European markets with punchout and ERP integration capabilities in multiple languages, as well as dedicated teams stationed in Mexico and Slovakia. "PA's world-class experience in MRO makes them the perfect partner for DSSI," said Bhagwan Thacker, CEO of DSSI. "I am thrilled to see our companies come together and excited for our customers to have the best support available for procurement of their MRO and indirect spend." About Procure Analytics Procure Analytics (PA) is a data and technology-enabled group purchasing organization (GPO). As the largest leveraged purchasing program addressing the complex categories of MRO and Packaging, PA offers members pricing and commercial benefits built on $2 billion of purchasing power. Further differentiating PA from other GPOs are an expert spend management team and a powerful data engine, designed to help members optimize their spend management and deliver continuous total cost improvement. PA's Amicus Spend Management offering combines rapid sourcing of unplanned product and service needs and consolidation of recurring tail transactions into a streamlined, single-supplier solution. All PA members benefit from managed implementation, dedicated member advisory, and spend analytics and savings tracking to drive immediate and continuous cost improvement. For more information about Procure Analytics, visit procureanalytics.com. About DSSI DSSI, LLC is a leading managed purchasing services company focused on driving lowest total cost of indirect materials and services for companies in the EU and North American markets. DSSI combines the power of leveraged sourcing and deep product and market expertise to provide clients with a best-price solution for millions of indirect goods and services, enabled by a powerful and easy-to-access procurement platform (EPIC) that is compatible with all major eProcurement and ERP solutions. DSSI clients enjoy the benefits of a single-supplier solution that is easily tailored to address individual client product needs, purchasing policies, and technology requirements. Learn more about DSSI at directsourcing.com. Contact Information Josh Stancil Vice President of Marketing josh.stancil@procureanalytics.com 770-363-4084 SOURCE: Procure Analytics View the original press release on newswire.com. Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, July 30 For immediate release 30 July 2024 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announce that it has today purchased 195,611 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 848.68 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 50,891,959; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 174,099,344. The figure of 174,099,344 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 Bloomreach, Google Cloud, and NVIDIA Host One Day Event for Leaders Across Ecommerce and Marketing Featuring Emmy-nominated Host, Producer, and Writer Baratunde Thurston as Keynote Speaker Bloomreach, the platform fueling limitless ecommerce personalization, today announced the 2024 Edge Summit: a one-day event exploring the intersection of commerce and AI, co-hosted by Google Cloud and NVIDIA. Held in London and New York City, and live streamed digitally around the world, the Edge Summit offers an opportunity for leaders across ecommerce, marketing, and search to learn how to turn the vast potential of AI into actionable strategies. The Edge Summit will feature a keynote speech by the esteemed futurist, comedian, and commentator, Baratunde Thurston. Thurston has offered unique perspectives across a broad range of poignant topics, weaving together threads of race, technology, democracy, and climate through his work as an Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer, and public speaker. At the Edge Summit, Thurston will bring the future of AI into today's reality, discussing its impact on society and humanity at large. "We are thrilled to once again host the Edge Summit, a pivotal event that stands at the forefront of AI and commerce," said Raj De Datta, co-founder and CEO, Bloomreach. "As we continue to navigate a new era of commerce with AI at the center, our goal for the Edge Summit is to foster an environment where ideas can converge, innovations can be showcased, and meaningful connections can be made." Appearing on stage in thought-provoking panels include leaders from noteworthy brands and businesses. Panelists represent companies such as Ikea, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, the Vitamin Shoppe, Pandora, Pernod Ricard, and more. Event hosts Bloomreach, Google Cloud, and NVIDIA will also hit the stage to share product announcements and thoughts on how AI is impacting consumer expectations. The Edge Summit will take place on September 3, 2024 in London and October 3, 2024 in New York City, in person and via livestream. Secure your spot today. About Bloomreach Bloomreach personalizes the ecommerce experience. Its data engine unifies real-time customer and product data so businesses understand what customers really want. By connecting that understanding to every channel, the ecommerce experience becomes limitless reflecting a changing customer as they shop. Amplified by the speed and scale of Loomi, Bloomreach's AI for ecommerce, this creates endless new paths to purchase, greater profitability, and fast business growth. Bloomreach products include: Engagement, a marketing automation platform; Discovery, an ecommerce search solution; Content, a headless CMS; and Clarity, AI-powered conversational shopping. The company has multiple AI patents and serves 1,400+ global brands including: Williams-Sonoma, Bosch, Puma, and Marks Spencer. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730614941/en/ Contacts: Michelle DeMaio Bloomreach Corporate Communications michelle.demaio@bloomreach.com Park City, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - Breakthrough Mastermind, a mentorship and peer advisory platform for successful entrepreneurs and CEOs, has announced its three-day event, "Peak Performance in Park City with Master & Momentum," for October 1-3, 2024. The Park City, Utah event will feature masterclasses, personal development sessions, interactive panels with breakout sessions, and many more opportunities for networking and personal growth. This is one of Breakthrough Mastermind's three annual events geared toward leaders of ventures earning 7, 8, or 9-figure revenues. Breakthrough Mastermind To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/218175_db54553a84d44853_001full.jpg "Members can experience the power of three immersive events per year," reads a statement by Breakthrough Mastermind, "meticulously crafted to elevate their entrepreneurial journey. These events reveal methods for boosting sales, maximizing profits, and raising business value, directed by our faculty and Mastermind Partners with the collective wisdom of our members." The October event will be exclusive to Breakthrough Mastermind members, providing an environment where "high achievers, industry experts, and forward-thinking professionals come together to unlock new levels of success." The theme of "Mastery & Momentum" will be geared toward sustaining the drive for continuous growth and improvement, both on the scale of your enterprise and in your excellence. The benefits of attendance include: Actionable Insights: Practical strategies and tools to enhance professional and personal life. Practical strategies and tools to enhance professional and personal life. Inspiration and Motivation: Stories of perseverance and success to fuel drive. Stories of perseverance and success to fuel drive. Valuable Connections: Lasting relationships with fellow attendees, speakers, and industry leaders. Lasting relationships with fellow attendees, speakers, and industry leaders. Continuous Growth: A continuous improvement mindset to maintain momentum after the event. Those interested in attending can join the Breakthrough Mastermind community and register for the event. Membership in the community requires proven success in business as a founder, entrepreneur, or executive with at least three years of experience, high ethical standards, and sufficient annual business revenue or income. The community also asks members to share its values, such as being "open-minded, collaborative, and dedicated to connecting with peers." In the words of Breakthrough Mastermind, "Our community values counsel over random advice, ensuring the quality of founders and participants." The community and events like the upcoming "Peak Performance in Park City" create a carefully curated resource of authentic wisdom, insight, and support. Key figures of the Breakthrough Mastermind team and its ambassadors include personal development expert Tony Child; strategic consultant and TEDx speaker Maresa Friedman; Aaron Hagemen, the founder of Hageman Enterprises and many other ventures; leadership and learning development expert Brooke Janzen; Baron Baptiste, the founder of Baptiste Yoga; and many other influential leaders. The skills, knowledge, and wisdom of these leaders and the Breakthrough Mastermind community will fuel the insights available at the "Peak Performance and Park City" event. Members can RSVP online today, and non-members can apply to preview the event. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. About Breakthrough Mastermind Breakthrough Mastermind is a community and peer advisory platform for highly motivated 7, 8, and 9-figure entrepreneurs and CEOs. They provide resources that help leaders optimize business operations and nurture personal development. Members receive assistance streamlining business operations, achieving financial milestones, and unlocking their personal and professional potential. Media Details: SOURCE: Breakthrough Mastermind To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218175 SOURCE: Ascend Agency Nearly 13% of American tourists in Paris live in Oregon, Start.io analysis reveals NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Oregonians are traveling to Paris for the Summer Olympics in higher numbers than expected, according to a new data analysis from Start.io. This tiny state in the Northwest is home to an estimated 4.23 million Americans, or roughly 1.3% of the nation's population. But Oregonians make up nearly 13% of the Americans currently in Paris for the opening week of the Summer Games, according to Start.io data. In its analysis, Start.io studied a representative sample of more than 50,000 American tourists in Paris between July 18 and July 28, 2024, ranked by their home state. Start.io delivers hundreds of millions of ads each day to more than 500,000 active mobile apps, and gathers anonymized consumer data, including location. Advertisers can use location data from Start.io to send targeted ads to people who are traveling. Other states that have a higher-than-expected number of American tourists per capita include Washington state, New Jersey, California, and New York. Americans most likely to travel to Paris for the Summer Games: State % of National Population % of Americans in Paris Relative difference Oregon 1.26% 12.97% +11.71% Washington 2.33% 10.46% +8.12% New Jersey 2.77% 8.69% +5.92% California 11.63% 17.17% +5.54% New York 5.84% 10.66% +4.82% Source: 2023 population estimate (U.S. Census Bureau), and Start.io analysis of number of Americans in Paris (10-day average, 7/18/24 to 7/28/24) On the other side of the equation, people from Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, and Ohio have traveled to Paris in smaller-than-expected numbers. Americans least likely to travel to Paris for the Summer Games: State % of National Population % of Americans in Paris Relative difference Texas 9.11% 4.35% -4.76% Pennsylvania 3.87% 0.29% -3.58% North Carolina 3.24% 0.28% -2.95% Michigan 3% 0.19% -2.81% Ohio 3.52% 1.23% -2.29% Source: 2023 population estimate (U.S. Census Bureau), and Start.io analysis of number of Americans in Paris (10-day average, 7/18/24 to 7/28/24) Hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world have traveled to Paris for the Summer Games. On a typical summer day, roughly 25% of people in Paris are travelers, while 75% are permanent residents, according to Start.io's analysis. At the start of the Summer Games, the number of tourists in Paris grew to roughly 33% of the city's population. About Start.io Start.io is a sell-side omnichannel advertising platform powered by real-time mobile audiences. We deliver hundreds of millions of ads per day across more than 500,000 active apps. Our platform uses artificial intelligence to deliver more efficient, effective, and precise digital advertising campaigns. Our direct integration with thousands of mobile publishers gives us access to more than 50 billion first-party data signals per day across the globe. Marketers use these anonymized signals to understand and predict consumer behavior, identify new opportunities, and fuel business growth. Contact Information Maya Carmely Director of Marketing maya.carmely@start.io SOURCE: Start.io View the original press release on newswire.com. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN Launch of a Reserved Offering of new shares for c. 5 million aimed at categories of institutional investors Closing of the Reserved Offering expected on July 31, 2024, before market opening Cash runway extended to Q4 2026 post Reserved Offering The funds raised will be used to fund the Company's R&D activities covering pre-clinical proof of concept activities and for working capital and other general corporate purposes Regulatory News: Aelis Farma (ISIN: FR0014007ZB4 Ticker: AELIS the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of treatments for brain diseases, today announces the launch of a capital increase without shareholders' preferential subscription rights reserved to specific categories of investors, in accordance with Article L. 225-138 of the French Commercial Code, of approximately 5 million, through an accelerated book-building process (the "Reserved Offering Aelis Farma will use the net proceeds of the Reserved Offering to fund the continued development of its CB1-SSi therapeutic candidates by performing pre-clinical proof of concept studies to select: A new CB1-SSi for obesity related metabolic diseases and pathological fibrotic conditions A new CB1-SSi for Dopamine dependent Brain Disorders as for example Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and/or dopamine hyperactivity related orphan diseases working capital and other general corporate purposes. On the basis of planned expenditure, total cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023, of 20.2 million, and the funds raised, the Company estimates that it will be able to finance its operations to Q4 2026. Pier Vincenzo Piazza, CEO of Aelis Farma, commented: "We are happy to announce the launch of a capital increase. This offering is strategically aimed at continuing to expand our shareholder base, accommodating the interest expressed by certain new high-quality investors, including a leading European healthcare specialist fund. This transaction will enable us to accelerate the development of the new families of CB1-SSi produced by our platform. Terms and Conditions of the Reserved Offering The Reserved Offering will be carried out through a share capital increase without shareholders' preferential subscription rights pursuant to Article L. 225-138 of the French Commercial Code, reserved to categories of investors defined under the 15th resolution of the annual general meeting of June 4, 2024 (the "AGM") (i.e. (i) natural or legal persons, including companies, trusts, investment funds or other investment vehicles, regardless of their form, governed by French or foreign law, who habitually invest in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical technology sector, as appropriate, when concluding an industrial, commercial, licensing, research or partnership agreement with the Company (or a subsidiary); and/or (ii) companies, institutions or entities, regardless of their form, French or foreign, exercising a significant part of their activity in the aforementioned sectors or in the cosmetic or chemical field or with regard to medical devices or research in these areas or which have concluded an industrial, commercial, licensing, research or partnership agreement with the Company (or a subsidiary); and/or (iii) any lending institution, any French or foreign investment service provider or member of an investment banking syndicate or any company or investment fund undertaking to subscribe to any issue likely to result in a capital increase in the future, which could be executed by virtue of this delegation in the context of implementing a financing line through equity or bonds; and/or any French or foreign investment service provider, or any foreign institution with equivalent status, who is likely to guarantee the completion of an issue intended to be placed with the persons referred to in: (i) and/or; (ii) above; and, in this context, to subscribe to the issued securities) and within the limits set forth in the 15th and 23rd resolutions of the AGM. The Reserved Offering will consist of (i) an offering in Europe (including in France) of ordinary shares exclusively to qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended, and (ii) a private placement (x) outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and (y) in the United States to a limited number of qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. The total amount of the Reserved Offering would be approximately 5 million, with a possibility to increase this total amount, subject to investor demand. The offering price of the new shares will represent a maximum discount of 20% to the Company's shares on the Euronext Paris regulated market at the time of the last trading session preceding pricing (i.e. July 30, 2024), in compliance with the 15th resolution of the Company. The Reserved Offering will be carried out by "accelerated book-building", at the end of which the number of new shares to be issued and the price per share will be determined by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to and within the limits of the sub-delegations of authority granted by the Board of Directors of the Company on July 30, 2024 and in accordance with the 15th and 23rd resolutions of the AGM. The accelerated book-building process for the Reserved Offering will be initiated immediately following the publication of this press release and is expected to close before markets open tomorrow (July 31, 2024), subject to early closing. The Company will announce the results of the Reserved Offering by press release after the order book closes, tomorrow before the market opens. Settlement-delivery of the new ordinary shares and their admission to trading on the Euronext Paris regulated market are expected to occur on August 2, 2024 The new shares will be of the same class and fungible with the existing shares, will carry all rights attached to the shares, and will be admitted to trading on the Euronext Paris regulated market under the same ISIN code FR0014007ZB4. Financial Intermediaries Stifel Europe Bank AG ("Stifel") is acting as Sole Global Coordinator and Sole Bookrunner in connection with the Reserved Offering. Stifel is also acting as Centralizing Agent. The Reserved Offering is subject to a placement agreement entered into between the Company and Stifel dated July 30, 2024, and will be completed by a terms of issue upon pricing. Such agreement does not constitute a firm undertaking (garantie de bonne fin) within the meaning of article L. 225-145 of the French Commercial Code. Lock-up undertakings In connection with the Reserved Offering, the Company has undertaken with Stifel to refrain from issuing shares for a period of 90 calendar days from the settlement-delivery date of the Reserved Offering, subject to customary exceptions. In connection with the Reserved Offering, management has entered into a lock-up agreement with Stifel for a period ending 90 calendar days after the settlement and delivery date of the Reserved Offering, subject to customary exceptions. Prospectus The Reserved Offering is not subject to a prospectus requiring an approval from the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) (the "AMF Risk factors The investors' attention is drawn to the risk factors relating to the Company and its business, presented in chapter 3 of the Universal Registration Document 2023 approved by the AMF on April 24, 2024, under number R.24-004, which is available free of charge on the Company's website (www.aelisfarma.com/investors) and on the AMF's website (www.amf-france.org). The occurrence of any or all these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial situation, results, development or prospects. In addition, investors are invited to consider the following risks specific to the issue: (i) the market price of the Company's shares could fluctuate and fall below the subscription price of the shares issued under the Reserved Offering, (ii) the volatility and liquidity of the Company's shares could fluctuate significantly, (iii) sales of the Company's shares could occur on the market and have an unfavorable impact on the Company's share price, and (iv) the Company's shareholders could suffer potentially significant dilution as a result of any future capital increases made necessary by the Company's search for financing. About AELIS FARMA Founded in Bordeaux in 2013, Aelis Farma is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of drugs, the Signaling-Specific inhibitors of the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system (CB1-SSi). CB1-SSi have been developed by Aelis Farma based on the discovery of a natural regulatory mechanism of CB1 hyperactivity made by the team led by Dr. Pier Vincenzo Piazza, the Company's CEO, when he was director of Neurocentre Magendie of the INSERM in Bordeaux. By mimicking this natural mechanism, CB1-SSi appear to selectively inhibit the disease-related activity of the CB1 receptor without disrupting its normal physiological activity. CB1-SSi have consequently the potential to provide new safe treatments for several brain diseases. Aelis Farma is currently developing two first-in-class clinical-stage drug candidates. AEF0117 for the treatment of cannabis use disorder (CUD), that has just completed a phase 2b study in the United States with results expected to be released in September 2024. AEF0217 for cognitive disorders, including those of Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), that has completed the recruitement of a phase 1/2 study in Spain in people with Down syndrome, and which results are expected to be released in Q4 2024. The Company also has a portfolio of new innovative CB1-SSi for the treatment of other disorders associated with a dysregulation of the activity of the CB1 receptor. Aelis Farma draws on the talents of more than 25 highly qualified employees. For more information, visit www.aelisfarma.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. ISIN: FR0014007ZB4 Ticker: AELIS B Compartment of Euronext Paris Disclaimer In France, the offer of Aelis Farma shares described below will be made in the context of a reserved offering to the benefit of categories of persons in accordance with Article L.225-138 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce). Pursuant to article 211-3 of the General regulations of the French financial markets authority (Autorite des marches financiers) (the "AMF"), articles 1(4) and 3 of the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation") and any applicable regulation, the offer of Aelis Farma shares will not require the publication of a prospectus approved by the AMF. With respect to Member States of the European Economic Area, no action has been taken or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities referred to in this press release requiring the publication of a prospectus in any Member State. Therefore, such securities may not be and shall not be offered in any Member State other than in accordance with the exemptions of Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation or, otherwise, in cases not requiring the publication of a prospectus under Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or the applicable regulations in such Member State. This press release and the information it contains are being distributed to and are only intended for persons who are (x) outside the United Kingdom or (y) in the United Kingdom and are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities and other such persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order ("high net worth companies", "unincorporated associations", etc.) or (iii) other persons to whom an invitation or inducement to participate in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Market Act 2000) may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons in (y)(i), (y)(ii) and (y)(iii) together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire securities to which this press release relates will only be engaged with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this press release or any of its contents. This press release may not be distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. This press release and the information contained herein does not, and will not, constitute an offer of Aelis Farma's shares for sale or subscription, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or to purchase, such shares in the United States or any other jurisdiction where restrictions may apply. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The shares of Aelis Farma have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, and Aelis Farma does not intend to conduct a public offering in the United States. The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Any person who comes into possession of this press release must inform him or herself of and comply with any such restrictions. Any decision to subscribe for or purchase the shares or other securities of Aelis Farma must be made solely based on information publicly available about Aelis Farma. Such information is not the responsibility of Stifel and has not been independently verified by Stifel. Forward-looking statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about Aelis Farma. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and anticipated results as well as events, operations, future services or product development and potential or future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "seeks", "endeavors", "strives", "aims", "hopes", "plans", "may", "goal", "objective", "projection", "outlook" and similar expressions. Although the management of Aelis Farma believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonably made, investors and holders of the Company's securities are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, a large number of which are difficult to predict and generally outside the control of Aelis Farma, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those developed or identified in any public documents approved by the French financial markets authority (the Autorite des marches financiers the "AMF") made or to be made by the group, in particular those described in Chapter 3 "Risk factors" of the 2023 universal registration document approved by the AMF on April 24, 2024 under number R.24-004. These forward-looking statements are given only as of the date of this press release and Aelis Farma expressly declines any obligation or commitment to publish updates or corrections of the forward-looking statements included in this press release in order to reflect any change affecting the forecasts or events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Any information relating to past performance contained herein is not a guarantee of future performance. Nothing herein should be construed as an investment recommendation or as legal, tax, investment or accounting advice. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730807030/en/ Contacts: AELIS FARMA Arsene Guekam Chief Corporate Development Officer contact@aelisfarma.com NewCap Dusan Oresansky Aurelie Manavarere Investor Relations aelis@newcap.eu +33 1 44 71 94 92 NewCap Arthur Rouille Media Relations aelis@newcap.eu +33 1 44 71 00 15 StakeKit StakeKit Launches TRON Stake 2.0 on Ledger Live 30-Jul-2024 / 19:50 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. StakeKit Launches TRON Stake 2.0 on Ledger Live NEWS RELEASE BY STAKEKIT New York City, New York | July 30, 2024 01:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time New York City, New York - July 30, 2024 - StakeKit , having just emerged from stealth after 18 months of development, has partnered with Ledger Live to power its TRON staking integration. This integration provides users with the simplest of access points to manage their TRON staking allocations natively within Ledger Live. Ledger Live users can stake on-chain via TRON in three simple taps and unstake their assets through the same simplified flow. The StakeKit integration fully supports TRON Stake 2.0, TRON's latest validation staking model, launched on the mainnet in April 2023. This model enables users to receive additional benefits from validation staking, as well as the ability to unstake partial amounts, and unstake their tokens at any time, providing unprecedented flexibility and control. Given that users can no longer stake via the TRON Stake 1.0 model, it is recommended that they unstake their TRON Stake 1.0 tokens and re-delegate their stakes to the TRON 2.0 model. This transition can be easily completed directly within Ledger Live. Serafin Lion Engel, CEO of StakeKit, commented, "We're very excited to finally bring TRON Stake 2.0 into Ledger Live and enable users to delegate their TRON in the easiest and most secure way possible. We know that this was a hotly anticipated feature for members of the TRON ecosystem, and we are very proud to have worked with the Ledger team on delivering this integration to TRON users and community members". "We recognize that a significant portion of the TRON community still utilizes TRON Stake 1.0. As such we have also built support for Tron users to un-delegate from TRON 1.0, and quickly leverage the benefits of TRON Stake 2.0 " added Engel. TRON Stake 2.0 is available in Ledger Live as of the release of this article. For more information about Ledger Live and to download the Ledger Live application, visit their website . About TRON DAO TRON DAO is a community-governed DAO dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet via blockchain technology and dApps. Founded in September 2017 by H.E. Justin Sun, the TRON network has continued to deliver impressive achievements since MainNet launch in May 2018. July 2018 also marked the ecosystem integration of BitTorrent, a pioneer in decentralized Web3 services boasting over 100 million monthly active users. The TRON network has gained incredible traction in recent years. As of July 2024, it has over 244 million total user accounts on the blockchain, more than 8 billion total transactions, and over $20 billion in total value locked (TVL), as reported on TRONSCAN. In addition, TRON hosts the largest circulating supply of USD Tether (USDT) stablecoin across the globe, overtaking USDT on Ethereum since April 2021. The TRON network completed full decentralization in December 2021 and is now a community-governed DAO. Most recently in October 2022, TRON was designated as the national blockchain for the Commonwealth of Dominica, which marks the first time a major public blockchain partnered with a sovereign nation to develop its national blockchain infrastructure. On top of the government's endorsement to issue Dominica Coin ("DMC"), a blockchain-based fan token to help promote Dominica's global fanfare, seven existing TRON-based tokens - TRX, BTT, NFT, JST, USDD, USDT, TUSD, have been granted statutory status as authorized digital currency and medium of exchange in the country. TRONNetwork | TRONDAO | Twitter | YouTube | Telegram | Discord | Reddit | GitHub | Medium | Forum Media Contact Yeweon Park press@tron.network About StakeKit StakeKit is the leading provider of self-custodial staking solutions in the Web3 space. By combining the most powerful self-custodial yield API with a user-focused interface, StakeKit enables seamless, secure, and efficient yield generation across over 50 blockchain networks. Learn more at stakek.it . Media Contact Alexa Anastasia alexa@stakek.it Dissemination of a CORPORATE NEWS, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Superbox, Inc. (OTC PINK:SBOX) ("Superbox" or the "Company"), a Nevada corporation headquartered at West Palm Beach, Florida, and a leading company in Green Energy and Transition Technologies, announced today that it has entered into a binding Asset Purchase Agreement with OK Innovation Ltd, a corporation located in London, UK. This agreement, involves acquiring the patents for Water in Diesel Fuel Emulsion industry-related and assets and entails a change of control of the Company's Executives and Directors. By means of this transaction, Superbox aims to significantly strengthen its corporate structure, positioning itself in the Fuel Emulsion market globally while continuing its commitment to spreading and developing Clean Energy solutions. Asset Purchase Agreement: Asset Purchase Agreement: Superbox has agreed to exclusively acquire the entire intellectual property patents for the "Apparatus for Stable NanoEmulsions of Water in Diesel Fuel", a patented technology. This strategic acquisition represents a significant move into the Transition and Green Energy sectors for Superbox. In addition to obtaining patents, Superbox has also acquired a white diesel production unit, granting them full rights to sales, manufacturing, and services in this area. This acquisition strengthens Superbox's commitment to improving its Energy products and services, with the goal of expanding its market presence in the green sector. By enhancing and cultivating the company's relationships and partnerships, Superbox aims to broaden its reach and impact. The transaction is expected to be finalized pending the fulfillment of standard closing conditions. Change in Executive Leadership: Alongside the asset purchase, there will be significant changes in the executive leadership team and the Board of Directors at Superbox, Inc. Resigning Officers and Directors: Suneel Anant Sawant, Chairman, President and Director Vinnay Kumar Reddy Sarikonda, Director Michele Collini, Director Appointed Officers and Directors: Suneel Sawant, Chairman of the Board and Director Claudio Mirella, CEO and Director Andrea Piazzoli, Executive President and Director Bruno Polistina, CFO and Director Daniele De Molli, COO and Director Samuele Lucchini, Independent Director Enrico Fumagalli, CTO Statement from the Chairman: "I am thrilled to announce our recent asset purchase, which marks a significant milestone in our growth strategy. This acquisition not only expands our market presence but also brings in on board a talented team from OK Innovation Ltd., who will add invaluable expertise and innovation to our company culture. Additionally, I am pleased to introduce Claudio Mirella as the new CEO of Superbox Inc. Claudio, along with our new Board and Governance team members, brings a wealth of experience and vision that align perfectly with our strategic objectives moving forward. This new chapter promises tremendous opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth. I encourage our shareholders to warmly welcome our new colleagues and embrace the fresh perspectives they bring. Together, we are poised to achieve great goals and strengthen our position in the market of the transition Energy. Let's join together in celebrating this milestone and looking forward to a successful future together." About Superbox, Inc.: Superbox is a company focused on cutting-edge transition technologies related to the Fuel sector. Highly specialized in the field of alternative fuels, aimed at deep emissions reduction and decarburization of various fuels, the Company continuously strives to innovate with the ultimate goal to a zero-carbon footprint. At present, the Company holds patented and internationally applied technologies. The Company's technologies are related mainly to Nano Emulsions Fuels, but the Company is actually finalizing innovative research on desulfurization of Fuels and waste to energy solutions using both urban and several industrial wastes. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "ACT"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plan", "confident that", "Believe", "expect", "intend to" and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the ACT and are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, competitive factors, the ability to successfully complete additional financing and other risks. CONTACT: Cygna Finance Ltd, Listing agent ejc@cygna.finance SOURCE: Superbox, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com New Zealand, Indonesia to enhance cooperation Wellington, July 30 (UNI) New Zealand and Indonesia launched a plan of action on Tuesday which sets a course for intensified cooperation to guide bilateral ties over the next five years. New Zealand and Indonesia share an important partnership, said New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters following official talks in Auckland with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi. The two sides agreed on a dedicated Plan of Action for 2025-2029, which sets a new goal of 6 billion NZ dollars (3.54 billion U.S. dollars) in annual two-way trade by 2029, replacing the one released in 2020. Sales of $347.8 Million, Increase 6.8% Operating Income of $26.4 Million; Operating Margin 7.6% Board Declares $0.25 Dividend PORT WASHINGTON, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / Global Industrial Company (NYSE:GIC) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. Performance Summary* (U.S. dollars in millions, except per share data) Highlights Quarter Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 347.8 $ 325.8 $ 671.2 $ 599.6 Gross profit $ 122.5 $ 112.9 $ 233.4 $ 211.3 Gross margin 35.2 % 34.7 % 34.8 % 35.2 % Operating income from continuing operations $ 26.4 $ 29.1 $ 43.8 $ 46.9 Operating margin 7.6 % 8.9 % 6.5 % 7.8 % Net income from continuing operations $ 20.2 $ 21.5 $ 33.3 $ 34.8 Net income per diluted share from continuing operations $ 0.52 $ 0.56 $ 0.86 $ 0.91 Net income (loss) from discontinued operations $ 0.1 $ 0.0 $ 0.2 $ (0.1 ) Net income (loss) per diluted share from discontinued operations $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.01 $ 0.00 *Global Industrial Company manages its business and reports using a 52-53 week fiscal year that ends at midnight on the Saturday closest to December 31. For clarity of presentation, fiscal years and quarters are described as if they ended on the last day of the respective calendar month. The actual fiscal quarters ended June 29, 2024 and July 1, 2023, respectively. The second quarters of both 2024 and 2023 included 13 weeks and the first six months of both 2024 and 2023 included 26 weeks. Average daily sales is calculated based upon the number of selling days in each period, with Canadian sales converted to US dollars using the current year's average exchange rate. There were 64 selling days in the U.S. in the second quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively, and there were 128 selling days in the U.S. for the six months ended 2024 and 2023, respectively. There were 64 selling days in Canada in the second quarter of 2024 and 63 selling days in the second quarter of 2023. There were 126 selling days in Canada for the six months ended 2024 and 2023, respectively. Second Quarter 2024 Financial Summary: Consolidated sales increased 6.8% to $347.8 million compared to $325.8 million last year. Excluding Indoff, acquired on May 19, 2023, sales increased 1.8% in the quarter and 1.7% on an average daily sales basis. Consolidated gross margin increased to 35.2% compared to 34.7% last year. Excluding Indoff, gross margin was 36.8%, a 110 basis point improvement over prior year. Consolidated operating income from continuing operations decreased 9.3% to $26.4 million compared to $29.1 million last year. Excluding Indoff, operating income was $24.9 million, a decrease of 11.1%. Net income per diluted share from continuing operations decreased 7.1% to $0.52 compared to $0.56 last year. Year to Date Q2 2024 Financial Summary: Consolidated sales increased 11.9% to $671.2 million compared to $599.6 million last year. Excluding Indoff, acquired on May 19, 2023, sales increased 3.0%. Consolidated gross margin declined to 34.8% compared to 35.2% last year. Excluding Indoff, gross margin was 36.3%, a 50 basis point improvement over prior year. Consolidated operating income from continuing operations decreased 6.6% to $43.8 million compared to $46.9 million last year. Excluding Indoff, operating income was $41.0 million, a decrease of 10.5%. Net income per diluted share from continuing operations decreased 5.5% to $0.86 compared to $0.91 last year. Richard Leeds, Executive Chairman of the Board, said, "Second quarter revenue improved 6.8% and on an organic basis revenue was up 1.8%. We were pleased with top line results given the current market cycle and the soft demand environment. During the quarter we saw a continuation of cautious customer purchasing behavior and mixed revenue performance on a monthly basis. Gross margin improved on both a prior year and sequential quarter basis, while our bottom-line reflected planned investments in key growth initiatives across customer experience, marketing and sales." "We continue to make investments that are intended to strengthen our competitive position, help us capture market share and enhance revenue growth. With a strong leadership team, and solid execution against our strategy, we believe we are well positioned to drive long-term financial performance and build value for our stockholders." At June 30, 2024, the Company had total working capital of $171.1 million, cash and cash equivalents of $38.8 million, and excess availability under its credit facility of approximately $120.6 million. Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations in the quarter was $18.7 million. The Company's Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share to common stock shareholders of record at the close of business on August 12, 2024, payable on August 19, 2024. Earnings Conference Call Details Global Industrial Company will host a conference call and question and answer session on its second quarter 2024 results today, July 30, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of the remarks will be available on the Company's website at https://investors.globalindustrial.com in the events section. The webcast will also be archived on the website for approximately 90 days. About Global Industrial Company Global Industrial Company (NYSE:GIC), through its operating subsidiaries, is a value-added distributor. For 75 years, Global Industrial has gone the extra mile for its customers, currently offering hundreds of thousands of industrial and MRO products needed to run businesses and facilities. Global Industrial is committed to its customer-centric strategy, and utilizes a team of subject matter experts, products from its Global Industrial Exclusive Brands and national vendor relationships to help customers succeed. Global Industrial, "We Can Supply That". Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Additional written or oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise. Any such statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. When used in this release, the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," and "plans" and variations thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this report are based on the Company's beliefs and expectations as of the date of this report and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may have a significant impact on the Company's business, operating results or financial condition. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Important risk factors that may affect our future results of operations and financial condition are detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unexpected events, except as may be required by applicable law. Investor/Media Contacts: Mike Smargiassi The Plunkett Group 212-739-6729 mike@theplunkettgroup.com GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL COMPANY Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited (In millions, except per share amounts) Quarter Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 347.8 $ 325.8 $ 671.2 $ 599.6 Cost of sales 225.3 212.9 437.8 388.3 Gross profit 122.5 112.9 233.4 211.3 Gross margin 35.2 % 34.7 % 34.8 % 35.2 % Selling, distribution and administrative expenses 96.1 83.8 189.6 164.4 Operating income from continuing operations 26.4 29.1 43.8 46.9 Operating margin 7.6 % 8.9 % 6.5 % 7.8 % Interest and other expense, net 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.5 Income from continuing operations before income taxes 26.3 28.8 43.5 46.4 Provision for income taxes 6.1 7.3 10.2 11.6 Net income from continuing operations 20.2 21.5 33.3 34.8 Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.1 0.0 0.2 (0.1 ) Net income $ 20.3 $ 21.5 $ 33.5 $ 34.7 Net income per common share from continuing operations: Basic $ 0.52 $ 0.56 $ 0.87 $ 0.91 Diluted $ 0.52 $ 0.56 $ 0.86 $ 0.91 Net income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations: Basic $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.01 $ 0.00 Diluted $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.01 $ 0.00 Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.52 $ 0.56 $ 0.88 $ 0.91 Diluted $ 0.52 $ 0.56 $ 0.87 $ 0.91 Weighted average common and common equivalent shares: Basic 38.2 38.1 38.2 38.1 Diluted 38.4 38.2 38.4 38.2 GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL COMPANY Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited (In millions) June 30, December 31, 2024 2023 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 38.8 $ 34.4 Accounts receivable, net 142.8 130.7 Inventories 172.9 150.8 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 12.4 13.9 Total current assets 366.9 329.8 Property, plant and equipment, net 19.9 20.0 Operating lease right-of-use assets 77.4 84.4 Goodwill and intangibles 67.3 69.3 Other assets 11.0 9.9 Total assets $ 542.5 $ 513.4 Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 181.6 $ 160.1 Operating lease liabilities 14.2 14.1 Total current liabilities 195.8 174.2 Operating lease liabilities 73.9 81.4 Other liabilities 2.4 2.6 Shareholders' equity 270.4 255.2 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 542.5 $ 513.4 GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL COMPANY Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited (In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 2023 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income from continuing operations $ 33.3 $ 34.8 Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 3.8 2.6 Stock-based compensation 0.6 1.2 (Benefit) provision for deferred taxes (0.1 ) 0.1 Change in working capital (14.5 ) 25.4 Other, net 1.9 1.4 Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations 25.0 65.5 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations 0.2 (0.2 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 25.2 65.3 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (2.2 ) (1.4 ) Purchase of Indoff LLC, net of cash acquired 0.0 (72.3 ) Net cash used in investing activities (2.2 ) (73.7 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net repayments of short-term borrowings 0.0 39.7 Dividends paid (19.2 ) (15.3 ) Stock-based compensation share issuances, net 0.7 0.5 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (18.5 ) 24.9 EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH (0.1 ) (0.1 ) NET INCREASE IN CASH 4.4 16.4 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD 34.4 28.5 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD $ 38.8 $ 44.9 SOURCE: Global Industrial Company View the original press release on accesswire.com Climate labels on dining menu options will drive unprecedented awareness of the event's carbon footprint and empower attendees to make climate-oriented decisions. The 27th Annual NBJ Summit, hosted by the Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) and New Hope Network, is set to feature climate labels on all dining menu options. The transparent carbon footprint labels will be calculated by HowGood, a leading sustainability intelligence platform, and will provide attendees with unparalleled insight into the environmental impact of their food choices. The initiative underscores the summit's commitment to reducing carbon impact and comes amidst a growing call for event organizers to embrace sustainability. With more than a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) linked to food production, using climate labeling to drive more sustainable food consumption can have an outsized effect on total climate impact. HowGood's climate labels will bring granular insight to each food item's carbon footprint, displaying the greenhouse gas emissions from cradle-to-shelf. "At Informa Markets, sustainability is a key driver surrounding the event experience that we pride ourselves in offering to our audiences. It is our goal to ensure choices are always simplified and transparent so that guests are informed and have access to the most innovative data available as they navigate decisions from what to eat on-site to which brands to house on their shelves, to which travel options offset the most carbon impact," says Shelley Sapsin, Vice President, Market Integrity at New Hope Network. "We aim to always be at the forefront of this type of thinking in how we guide the integration of eco practices in the balance of everyday working life. In partnership with businesses like HowGood, we are empowering environmental stewards as leaders of the natural products industry." In an environment of increased scrutiny and oversight of sustainability communications, event organizers are under pressure to ensure public-facing claims adhere to the highest quality standards. HowGood's product carbon footprinting model is certified by the Carbon Trust and aligns to globally recognized standards including the GHG Protocol and ISO 14067. The carbon footprints displayed at NBJ will draw from HowGood's database of over 90,000 emission factors, including granular detail down to the underlying crop and source location level for every ingredient.? "HowGood's goal for nearly two decades has been to empower decision-makers with holistic, transparent sustainability data," says Rachel Calomeni, SVP of Growth and Innovation at HowGood. "That has meant enabling food manufacturers with insights into carbon reduction opportunities, supporting retailers in curating low-impact product assortments, and countless other world-changing efforts. Today, we are so pleased to be partnering with the NBJ Summit to bring next-level carbon transparency to a unique group of industry leaders." HowGood's partnership with the NBJ Summit follows the Company's recent work with NBJ's parent company, New Hope Network, and its product discovery platform, Beacon Discovery . HowGood provides all food CPGs within the Beacon Discovery platform with a sustainability estimate assessing every product on eight key metrics: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biodiversity, Processing, Blue Water Usage, Labor Risk, Land Use, Soil Health, and Animal Welfare.? This year's NBJ Summit will start on July 29 and conclude on August 1. For more information and to register for the event, please visit here .? About Nutrition Business Journal Nutrition Business Journal guides decision makers in the nutrition, health, and wellness space in developing their strategy, understanding trends, realizing opportunity, and analyzing potential risks. NBJ's market research reports provide business intelligence and thought leadership to all levels of the nutrition industry. Each report is exhaustively researched by our staff of industry experts and presents an analysis of markets, trends, competition, and strategy in the U.S. and global nutrition industry. Learn more at nutritionbusinessjournal.com. About New Hope Network New Hope Network is a leading authority in the healthy lifestyle products industry, offering solutions for the complete supply chain from manufacturers, retailers/distributors, service providers and ingredient suppliers. Through its comprehensive portfolio of content, events, data, research and consultative services, New Hope Network is dedicated to fostering a prosperous, high-integrity CPG and retail ecosystem that promotes health, joy and justice for all people while regenerating the planet. For more information, visit www.newhope.com. About Informa Markets Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. With a global reach and diverse portfolio of verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure, Informa Markets connects buyers and sellers worldwide through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com. About HowGood HowGood is an independent research company and SaaS Sustainability Intelligence platform with the world's largest database on food product sustainability. With more than 90,000 agricultural emissions factors, HowGood helps leading brands, suppliers, retailers and restaurants to measure, reduce, and communicate their environmental and social impact. Through in-depth, ingredient-level insights into factors like greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, labor risk, animal welfare, and other key impacts, HowGood's data power strategic decision-making for the sourcing, manufacturing, merchandising, and marketing of sustainable products. Media Contact New Hope Network pr@newhope.com Media Contact FischTank PR howgood@fischtankpr.com SOURCE: New Hope Network View the original press release on accesswire.com Rio Tinto (LSE:RIO) (ASX:RIO): Underlying EBITDA of $12.1 billion. Net cash generated from operating activities of $7.1 billion. Profit after tax attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (referred to as "net earnings" throughout this release) of $5.8 billion. Underlying earnings of $5.8 billion, leading to an interim ordinary dividend of $2.9 billion, a 50% payout. Six months ended 30 June 2024 2023 Change Net cash generated from operating activities (US$ millions) 7,056 6,975 1% Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (US$ millions) 4,018 3,001 34% Free cash flow1 (US$ millions) 2,843 3,769 (25)% Consolidated sales revenue (US$ millions) 26,802 26,667 1% Underlying EBITDA1 (US$ millions) 12,093 11,728 3% Profit after tax attributable to owners of Rio Tinto (net earnings) (US$ millions) 5,808 5,117 14% Underlying earnings per share (EPS)1 (US cents) 354.3 352.9 Ordinary dividend per share (US cents) 177.0 177.0 Underlying return on capital employed (ROCE)1 19% 20% At 30 June 2024 At 31 Dec 2023 Net debt1 (US$ millions) 5,077 4,231 20% Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: "Rio Tinto is both consistently very profitable and growing. This is being driven by the disciplined investments we are making to strengthen our operations and progress major projects for profitable organic growth. "Our overall copper equivalent production is on track to grow by around 2% this year, and our ambition is to deliver around 3% of compound annual growth from 2024 to 2028 from existing operations and projects. "We are at an inflection point in our growth, with a step change from our aluminium business and consistent production at our Pilbara iron ore operations. We have considerable growth in cash flow from the ramp-up of the underground copper mine at Oyu Tolgoi, and more value to come as our Simandou investment and Rincon lithium project proceed at pace. We are also solving some of our most complex challenges through technology and partnerships, such as the renewable power solutions announced for Boyne and NZAS. "Our strengthened operations along with stable pricing for our commodities have allowed us to again deliver robust financial results, with underlying EBITDA of $12.1 billion. We recorded free cash flow of $2.8 billion, as we invested in growth, and underlying earnings of $5.8 billion, after taxes and government royalties of $4.4 billion. Return on capital employed was a healthy 19%. "Our strong balance sheet enables us to continue to maintain our practice of a 50% interim payout with a $2.9 billion ordinary dividend, as we continue to invest with discipline to shape Rio Tinto into an even stronger company." The 2024 Half Year Results release is available here 1 This financial performance indicator is a non-IFRS (as defined below) measure which is reconciled to directly comparable IFRS financial measures (non-IFRS measures). It is used internally by management to assess the performance of the business and is therefore considered relevant to readers of this document. It is presented here to give more clarity around the underlying business performance of the Group's operations. For more information on our use of non-IFRS financial measures in this report, see the section entitled "Alternative performance measures" (APMs) and the detailed reconciliations on pages 62 to 69. Our financial results are prepared in accordance with IFRS see page 34 for further information. This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary. LEI: 213800YOEO5OQ72G2R82 Classification: 3.1 Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of a Member State View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730240735/en/ Contacts: Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Alyesha Anderson M +61 434 868 118 Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322 Media Relations, Americas Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Investor Relations, United Kingdom David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category: General Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 30, 2024) - KAPA GOLD INC. (TSXV: KAPA) ("Kapa" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders held on July 25, 2024 in Vancouver, BC (the "Meeting"). The Company's shareholders voted in favour of all items put forward by the Board of Directors and Management. At the Meeting, all resolutions were approved. Based on proxies received, 15,747,883 common shares of the Company representing 28.22% of the issued and outstanding common shares as at the record date were voted and David Paxton, Alexander Tsakumis and George Nicholson were all re-elected as Directors of the Company. The shareholders re-appointed Davidson & Company LLP as auditors of the Company, approved the board size resolution and the Company's stock option plan. For additional information on these matters please refer to Kapa Gold's information circular available on the Company's website at kapagold.com or visit the Company's issuer page on SEDAR (SEDAR+). About Kapa Kapa Gold, led by experienced capital markets and geologic team, is focused on exploring its 100% owned historic Blackhawk Gold Mine and surrounding underexplored properties for economic mineralization. To learn more, visit kapagold.com On behalf of the Board of Directors KAPA GOLD INC. "David K. Paxton" CEO and Director Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information Certain statements made, and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guaranteeing of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/218311 SOURCE: Kapa Gold Inc. The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation is in effect, signaling a significant change in tackling crypto. Crypto technology has always boasted about being decentralized and functioning above any governing body. And while these fundamentals will not change, MiCA will still bring various impacts to the industry. At the forefront of changes lies the EUs desire to promote a safe and regulated industry within its borders by tackling cryptos decentralized, and from their perspective, chaotic nature. Up till now, anyone could make, distribute, and organize cryptocurrencies. But now, after MiCA takes effect, some rules and regulations will be placed to protect the end customer and define certain crypto business laws. The good side of the MiCA laws will benefit legitimate crypto businesses, like a casino accepting crypto, gaming companies, crypto charities, and others, who register and do business by the MiCA standards. These sites offer many benefits for users, for example, crypto casinos let players access their winnings instantly, while charities accepting crypto allow people to donate anonymously. The concerning part is always government regulations whenever a governing body interferes with any industry or living aspect. The red tape, laws, procedures, and costs have already deterred some stablecoins, who are exiting the EU marketplace. For whatever reason, moral or financial, this may be, it will have a global effect. The US crypto market is not far from its EU counterpart, it was estimated at $1.19 billion in 2022 and has only risen by now. What is bad news for the EU could yield a net positive for the US, as all fleeing cryptocurrencies can now focus on the strong US market. It could be possible that well soon see an influx of new stablecoins on the US market and a higher degree of trading and competition. Industries like crypto gambling can benefit by including these new coins, as well as any other crypto sector. That is until the US decides to follow in the EU steps. One way we can see the changes from MiCA happening is by viewing the listing of stablecoins on the crypto exchange markets, as certain exchanges are already delisting non-compliant cryptocurrencies. The EU and the EEA (European Economic Area) users are now under the protection of the MiCA, but its still too early to tell if this will be for their benefit or if they will be worse off than before the MiCA times. The final deadline to clean up the list is June 30th. But even if the US does copy MiCA word-for-word (which is highly unlikely), each US state has certain liberties when enacting the law. For example, each US state has its interpretation and laws regarding gambling, casinos, and betting, and we could see the same regarding cryptocurrencies. Some states could then become havens for crypto, others could expel it, and there could even be a mixed model. Businesses are already taking notice, and the climate is shifting towards security. Whether it is the EU or the US, both governing bodies have supreme authority over the matter, which instills trust and protects the end user from potential fraud. Time will tell if the added laws that boast consumer protection will be enough for the US to follow in the EU steps, or only watch and adopt the successful parts of the EU crypto experiment. The Western United States is facing a wildfire crisis, with California hit hardest. The massive Park Fire has scorched over 368,000 acres, destroying more than 100 structures and threatening towns still recovering from past disasters. As firefighters battle these blazes, worsened by climate change and dry conditions, communities are under evacuation orders. Whats causing these fires to spread so rapidly, and how can they be contained? read more A vehicle passes firefighters standing by the road as the Park Fire burns, near Jonesville, California, US, July 28, 2024. Reuters The Western United States is once again grappling with devastating wildfires, with California experiencing some of the largest and most destructive blazes in recent history. These fires, which have razed thousands of acres, are being exacerbated by a combination of human activity and natural factors. In Northern California, the Park Fire has rapidly become one of the states largest wildfires this year. The fire, which started when a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a gully near Chico, has scorched over 368,000 acres (148,924 hectares) as of Monday, according to Cal Fire. Advertisement This blaze has destroyed more than 100 structures and threatens numerous communities, including Paradise, a town still recovering from the devastating 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people and destroyed 11,000 homes. Firefighters, numbering nearly 4,800, have managed to contain 12 per cent of the Park Fire. Despite milder temperatures and higher humidity on Monday, conditions remain challenging. Flames consume structures as the Park Fire burns in Tehama County, California, US, July 26, 2024. AP Were still in for quite a firefight today, said Dan Collins, a Cal Fire captain, noting that the expected temperatures were in the high 80s with around 25 per cent humidity, reported Reuters. The fires rapid growth has been alarming, with it doubling in size from Friday to Sunday, darkening skies and causing poor air quality across Northern California. Why is the fire spreading rapidly? Further south, the Borel Fire has been wreaking havoc in the Sequoia National Forest, burning more than 53,000 acres as of Monday. This fire has led to the evacuation of around 2,000 people and has heavily impacted the historic mining town of Havilah. The fires spread has been fuelled by wind and a large amount of dried, dead vegetation. Kern County Fire Departments Andrew Freeborn stated, This fire is moving at a pace and with such intensity that individuals should not be thinking they can wait until the last minute. They need to get out of the way. Advertisement A Klamath Hotshot finishes his shift as the Borel Fire grows near Lake Isabella, California, US, July 29, 2024. Reuters The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for several regions, including parts of Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, due to dry conditions and strong winds. These warnings highlight the heightened risk of new fires igniting, even as crews work to contain the existing blazes. What has caused the wildfires? The fires in California are part of a broader pattern affecting the western United States. Over 100 large fires are currently active across the country, including the Gwen Fire in eastern Oregon and Idaho, which has burned 43 square miles (111 square kilometers). The US National Interagency Fire Center reported that 25 of these fires had forced evacuations as of Monday morning. Advertisement The primary cause of these fires varies, with some sparked by human activity and others by natural events. Climate change has played a significant role in increasing the frequency and severity of these wildfires. The region has experienced blistering heat and extremely dry conditions, which, coupled with an increase in lightning strikes, has made the environment more conducive to fires. A helicopter drops water as the Borel Fire grows near Lake Isabella, California, US, July 29, 2024. Reuters This fire is surprising a lot of people with its explosive growth, remarked Jay Tracy, a spokesperson at the Park Fire headquarters. The Park Fires explosive nature and unprecedented scale have drawn comparisons to the catastrophic fires of previous years, such as the Camp Fire. Advertisement How has the wildfires impacted residents? The human impact of these fires is immense. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and many have lost their homes. Some individuals, like Jerry White, a resident of Magalia, heeded evacuation warnings due to past experiences with fire. I dont want to catch fire again. Its one of the worst pains you can endure, White told AP, recalling the third-degree burns he suffered years earlier. He expressed a preference for the dangers of fire over other risks, stating, Ill take a fire over a shark any day! Despite the cooler temperatures expected through the middle of the week, meteorologist Marc Chenard from the US National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center cautioned that existing fires will not disappear. The current conditions remain ripe for new blazes, with red flag conditions expected to persist. Advertisement Firefighters stand by the road as the Park Fire burns, near Jonesville, California, US, July 28, 2024. Reuters Authorities continue to highlight the importance of heeding evacuation orders and warnings. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea highlighted the complexities of managing these orders, noting the need for swift changes based on fire behavior. Also Read: What causes wildfires? How do they spread so quickly? The communitys resilience and the tireless efforts of thousands of firefighters are crucial in combating these blazes and preventing further devastation. With inputs from agencies Satellite imagery reveals that a Chinese-built 400-metre bridge connecting the north and south banks of Pangong Lake is now operational. The new construction will reduce the time needed by Chinas PLA to mobilise its troops and equipment along the LAC read more The Pangong lake high up in Ladakh region of India. Satellite visuals show that China's bridge across Pangong Tso (lake) is now operational. File image/AP China is at it again. And Beijings latest action could have serious repercussions for Indias security. Visuals show that China has completed the construction of a 400-metre bridge connecting the north and south banks of Pangong Lake, which is situated near the Line of Actual Control between India and China in Ladakh. What do we know about this new construction and should India be concerned? Whats the Chinas bridge on Pangong Lake? Satellite imagery as reported by NDTV, Hindustan Times and other media outlets, reveals that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has finished construction of the nearly 400-metre bridge, located about 25 km from the Line of Actual Control. NDTV further reported that the visuals showed vehicles crossing the newly-constructed bridge. Advertisement It was in 2022 that reports emerged of China building this bridge over the Pangong Tso on its territory in Khurnak, the narrowest part of the lake. Satellite imagery expert Damien Symon, who goes by the X handle of _defestra, had then said that the bridge connecting the north and south banks of Pangong Lake would be ready for use shortly. Satellite image of the bridge at the site in Eastern Ladakh. Image Courtesy: @detresfa_/X A retired Indian Army general had then confirmed the same to CNBC, adding that the new bridge was capable of supporting tanks and armoured personnel carriers. When reporters had posed questions about the bridge to the government, then External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi had said: We have seen reports of a bridge being constructed by China on Pangong Lake alongside its earlier bridge. Both these bridges are in areas that have continued to be under the illegal occupation of China since the 1960s. We have never accepted such illegal occupation of our territory, nor have we accepted the unjustified Chinese claim or such construction activities, he said. The bridge, as of today, shortens the 130-kilometre distance between the southern and northern banks of the lake. According to a report by The Print, the bridge will cut down a 180-km loop from Khurnak to the south banks through Rutog county in Tibet. NDTV further quoting Damien Symon said, The new bridge over Pangong Lake grants Chinese forces a direct, shorter route for rapid troop deployment. Previously, the PLA had to navigate the lakes entire eastern section to reach conflict zones, a lengthy detour that hampered their response time in an active conflict zone. Advertisement Is it a concern for India? The location of the bridge, near Pangong Tso, is a worry for India as it highlights Chinas expansionist plans for Ladakh. As General Rohit Gupta (retired), who served with the Fire and Fury Corps of the Northern Command of the Indian Army, told CNBC, What the bridge adds to Chinese capabilities is the ability to speedily move forces between the north and the south banks of Pangong Tso lake, which they were earlier lacking. Defence experts note that the constructed bridge will help reduce the time China needs to launch a quick operation in the mountains. Moreover, it will help Chinese troops along with their tanks access areas in the southern banks like the Rezang La where they were outsmarted by the Indians in 2020. Advertisement Speaking on the importance of the bridge, Air Vice Marshal (retired) Manmohan Bahadur, an aviator who served extensively in Ladakh region, told Hindustan Times: The Chinese have built a vital asset that will be of tremendous help to maintain their deterrence posture. The completion of the bridge is also another example of how China continues to ramp up its infrastructure in the region and lay claim to different parts around the LAC. Since the 2020 Galwan clash in which 20 Indian soldiers died, China has significantly increased its activity in all the three sectors of the 3,488-km LAC, stretching from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. Advertisement In April, a report by journalist Rajat Pandit revealed that China has been using dual-use Xiaokang villages and other border infrastructure to strengthen its presence along the LAC. Earlier this year, Beijing completed the construction of a road from the north of Samzungling to the Galwan Valley, providing the PLA with a 15-km shorter alternate axis to rapidly build-up troops in the area. The PLA has also been building tunnels, helipads, bridges and bunkers in other stretches of the LAC. Furthermore, China has deployed additional fighters, bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft in the region. What does India say? Officially, India hasnt reacted to the new visuals as of yet. However, Hindustan Times citing sources said that India has undertaken a wide range of steps to bolster infrastructure and match steps taken by Chinas PLA. Advertisement Meanwhile, reacting to the visuals, Congress MP Manish Tewari said on X: China has built a bridge that connects the north and south bank of Pangong Lake. It has serious strategic consequences for India as it allows China to quickly move troops from one bank of the Lake to the other. It provides strategic dominance to China of the Pangong Lake sector. By its silence, GOI is enabling China to create new facts on the ground on a daily basis. Even Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the construction of the bridge, slamming the governments apathy on the issue. He wrote on X: Is it not true that China has built and operationalised a bridge connecting the north and south banks of Pangong Lake, which allows it to have a strategic dominance in the sector, close to our LAC? With inputs from agencies Indonesian president Joko Widodo began working from Nusantara on Monday, years after he had declared relocating the capital from Jakarta. The $33 billion infrastructure project has been beset by construction delays and investment issues. The capital city is likely to hold its first Independence Day celebration on August 17 read more Indonesian president Joko Widodo, center, talks to the media in the new capital city Nusantara in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, July 29, 2024. AP Indonesian president Joko Widodo started working from the countrys future capital Nusantara on Monday (July 29). The outgoing leader spent his first night at the eagle-shaped palace of the new capital, where he is likely to stay for the last few months of his presidency. Indonesia is shifting its capital from Jakarta to the planned city of Nusantara in East Kalimantan province on Borneo. The decision was announced by Widodo in 2019 citing Jakartas increasing environmental problems. Advertisement Whats wrong with Jakarta? What is Nusantara and when will the work on the new capital be completed? Lets take a closer look. Jakartas woes Jakarta suffers from pollution and traffic congestion. In fact, it is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The over-populated Jakarta, which lies on the northwest coast of Java island, is prone to earthquakes. It is also rapidly sinking. If nothing is done, many parts of the city will submerge underwater by 2050. Jakarta has subsided more than 16 feet in the past 25 years. Excessive groundwater extraction has led to subsidence. Jakartas overcrowding and major urban development have further put pressure on soil, resulting in compaction and land subsidence, as per The Hindu. Many Indonesian presidents have attempted to find a solution to Jakartas woes, along with shifting the capital to another city. In 2019, Widodo reportedly said in a speech, The location is very strategic its in the centre of Indonesia and close to urban areasthe burden Jakarta is holding right now is too heavy as the centre of governance, business, finance, trade and services. The New State Capital Law Bill was passed by the country in 2022, moving the capital city from Jakarta to a new one called Nusantara. Nusantara: Indonesias new capital Nusantara, also known as IKN, is located within the jungle of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo which is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Advertisement The new capital is in the North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara regions. East Kalimantan, which spreads across 127,346.92 square kilometres, is bigger than Jakarta and less populated. It is rich in flora and fauna, which has prompted environmentalists and activists to warn that the relocation of the capital would trigger massive deforestation, putting the habitat of animals and trees in danger, reported Indian Express. Nusantara is planned as a green, walkable metropolis, which will be completely powered by renewable energy by 2045, as per a News18 report. Nusantara, which is about 1,200 km away from Jakarta, is expected to be home to 1.9 million (19 lakh) people by 2045, reported The Guardian. Advertisement According to Widodo, the new capital represents a new work ethic, a new mindset, a new green economy. Nusantara will shape the new mindset of Indonesians by being a projection of the city of the future, Bambang Susantono, the then chairman of the Nusantara National Capital Authority, said, as per Reuters Plus. With Nusantara, we will set up a new standard to live by. As the Indonesian capital moves away from Jakarta, the presidential palace, government institutions, and offices and homes of civil servants and ministers will also relocate to East Kalimantan. ALSO READ: Quicksplained: What is Indonesias Golden Visa that allows professionals to stay up to 10 years? Advertisement When will the capital move? The ambitious $33 billion project kickstarted in July 2022. However, progress has been slow amid construction delays and missed deadlines, as per The Guardian report. Most of the capital citys buildings are incomplete. While the new presidential palace is 88 per cent finished, many ministry buildings have only lower floors usable, reported Associated Press (AP). The project is also beset by a lack of foreign investment and managerial and land issues. The plan to shift 12,000 civil servants to Nusantara in early July had to be deferred. Workers are seen at a construction site in the new capital city in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, July 29, 2024. AP Nusantara is set to host its first Independence Day celebration on August 17. It is then that the official transfer of the capital city is likely to occur. However, the capital will be ready by just 15 per cent next month. Advertisement An official decree has to be issued to recognise Nusantara as the new capital. The outgoing president has hinted that President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who will be sworn into office in October, could issue the decree, reported AP. Authorities are scrambling to complete major infrastructure projects before next months celebration. We came here to check the latest progress of the IKN, especially the construction of the palace, I see everything is still in process, Widodo told reporters on Monday, as per AP. Outside the new Garuda Palace, he said, This is a big job. It can take 10, 15, 20 years. This is not a job that takes one or two years. As Reuters noted, the outgoing president has become more pragmatic in his comments about the new capital. Lots of people think we are rushingNo, were not rushing the job. Its in accordance with procedures, he said. The relocation plan is facing scrutiny amid delayed construction, which led to the resignations of the head of the Nusantara Capital Authority and his deputy last month. The Indonesian government has relied on private investment to build the new capital, with the state only bearing 20 per cent of the cost. To attract investments, Widodo signed a presidential regulation in early July, giving certain rights to investors, including land rights of up to 190 years in Nusantara. Prabowo has vowed to continue Widodos landmark projects, including the IKN. However, Sulfikar Amir, an associate professor of science, technology, and society at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, has alleged the rush to implement the project has affected its financing and planning. Who wants to work in the middle of the forest with [a] lack of infrastructure? he was quoted as saying by The Guardian. With inputs from agencies Over 80 people have died and hundreds are trapped after three landslides struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Keralas Wayanad district within four hours. Experts note that most landslips, such as the one in Kerala, occur during heavy rainfall because of geologically weak soil, deforestation and careless construction read more National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel conduct rescue operations after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala. PTI Tragedy struck Kerala on Tuesday morning (July 30) after three landslides struck the hilly areas of Meppadi in Keralas Wayanad, killing over 80 people with hundred others feared to be trapped. Officials said that three different landslides struck the region in four hours amid heavy rain. Shortly after news broke of the natural disaster, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority mobilised National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the affected areas. The Indian Army has also been called in for rescue operations. Furthermore, two Air Force helicopters, a Mi-17 and an ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter), have also been put into service. Advertisement Catch all live updates from the Wayanad landslides Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages are among the worst affected areas. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and said that he spoke to Kerala Chief Minister P Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state. Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured. Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there, Modi said in a post on social media platform X. As Kerala deals with the aftermath of the disaster, lets understand what are landslides, what causes them and why they take place often during the rains. What is a landslide? A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a sloped section of land. They can happen suddenly or more slowly over long periods of time. As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), landslides are a type of mass wasting, which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity. Advertisement Additionally, the term landslide encompasses five modes of slope movement: falls, topples, slides, spreads, and flows. These are further subdivided by the type of geologic material (bedrock, debris, or earth). Debris flows (commonly referred to as mudflows or mudslides) and rock falls are examples of common landslide types. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) explains the occurrence of a landslide with the help of an illustration on X. Advertisement What causes landslides? Landslides can be caused by multiple reasons. However, experts divide it into three main causes geology, morphology, and human activity. Geology refers to the characteristics of the material itself. The earth or rock might be weak or fractured, or different layers may have different strength and stiffness. Morphology refers to the structure of the land. For example, slopes that lose their vegetation to fire or drought are more vulnerable to landslides. Vegetation holds soil in place, and without the root systems of trees, bushes, and other plants, the land is more likely to slide away. Advertisement Several are reported to be missing missing after massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Keralas Wayanad district on Tuesday morning. PTI Human activity, such as agriculture and construction, can increase the risk of a landslide. Irrigation, deforestation, excavation, and water leakage are some of the common activities that can help destabilise, or weaken, a slope. Heavy rainfall can also lead to a landslide as is the case in the current one in Kerala. Why are there more landslides during monsoon? One of the foremost reasons for landslides is concentrated rainfall due to climate change, experts say. In the UK, an analysis carried out by the Met Office in 2012-2013 showed that a rise in heavy rainfall also saw a corresponding rise in the number of landslides. Advertisement Echoing similar observations, Partha Jyoti Das, who heads the Water, Climate and Hazard Division of the Guwahati-based environment non-profit Aaranyak told the Indian Express that when heavy rains meet undesirable, unpragmatic, unplanned structural intervention on the fragile landscape of hills, it can cause landslides. Deforestation for public and private infrastructure projects leaves the soil weak and vulnerable to spate of water coming from a higher level. Whether it is an extension of a railway line, or construction of a bridge or roads, the fragile ecosystem of mountainous areas is disturbed. Rescuers help residents to move to a safer place, at a landslide site after multiple landslides in the hills, in Wayanad, in the southern state of Kerala. Reuters An IIT Delhi study of 2020 also noted that heavy rain is destroying steep slopes with loose soil, causing landslides. In Kerala, its a similar picture. Deadly landslides have become a recurring feature during the monsoon, with the Centre in 2022 saying that the southern state had recorded the highest number of major landslides in the country in the past seven years 2,239 in Kerala. TV Ramachandra, a noted scientist, further elaborated on the link between rainfall and landslides. Speaking to Down To Earth, he said that usually 50 to 60 per cent of rainwater is absorbed into the ground. However, due to degradation of the landscape, the water stops percolating and with change in vegetation patterns, the soil is losing its holding capacity. This causes water to collect over the ground, loosening the soil, leading to landslides and mudslides, he said. With inputs from agencies Several communities in South Goa are opposing Sunburn. The locals are concerned about drug usage, environmental degradation, and disruption for residents. Goa CM Pramod Sawant had earlier said these events attract tourists and put the state on the global cultural map read more Locals in South Goa have been protesting the Sunburn music festival that will be held in South Goa from December 28 to December 30 this year. Image Courtesy: Sunburn Festival The Sunburn Festival in Goa is on the bucket list of every EDM and party lover. However, this year, it has struck a sour note with locals, political leaders, and social workers, who staged protests earlier this month to voice their strong opposition. In a recently held NITI Aayog meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant emphasised the music festival and other eventss role in not only attracting tourists but also putting Goa on the global cultural map. He said the events also help promote local artists and entrepreneurs. Advertisement Last year, the music festival also drew an impressive 88.46 lakh tourists to Goa, including 4.14 lakh international visitors, significantly boosting the states hospitality sector. But what has put this celebrated music extravaganza under threat this year? Lets take a closer look at the unfolding drama Disruption for locals One of the main reasons why people are protesting in the state is the relocation of the festival from North to South Goa. Critics, such as Congress leader Yuri Alemao, claim that the government prioritises tourism revenue over preserving South Goas quiet and peaceful surroundings. Several communities from areas such as Agonda, Chicalim, Vasco, and Varca Grama Sabha have voted against hosting the Sunburn event expressing several concerns including noise pollution. A Times of India report quoted a local Goa resident as saying, They have already destroyed North, now they want to destroy South, better not to allow them to have such functions." Several communities from areas such as Agonda, Chicalim, Vasco, and Varca Grama Sabha have voted against hosting the Sunburn event expressing several concerns. Image courtesy: X/ @AAPGoa Last year, the High Court of Bombay at Goa directed the state pollution control and district authorities to ensure that the organisers of events like the Sunburn EDM Music Festival scrupulously comply with the provisions of the Noise Pollution Rules after several petitions were filed in the court over loud music and sound pollution at the three-day event. Advertisement Congress leader Yuri Alemao told Business Standard, After converting North Goa into a drug and crime hub, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte are now setting their evil eye on South Goa." The festival organisers, however, have already started selling the tickets and awaiting the Goa governments authorisation. The locals have also expressed concerns about the massive waste generation and law and order situations which disrupt the day-to-day life of the locals. Residents have also pointed out the increased strain on the infrastructure, including roads and public health. The drug festival Gram Sabhas in several South Goa villages have passed resolutions to oppose the Sunburn Festival, citing the prevalent drug use at the event. Advertisement Cristian Karwalo, a South Goa resident, expressed his concerns to News18, stating, We have already seen what this festival did to North Goa and now they want to do the same thing in South Goa. We dont want our young generation to get addicted to drugs because of this festival. I am protesting against this festival because hardly any local talent or artist gets a chance to perform, so why do we need it? The protests have gained support from state Congress vice-president Sunil Kawthankar and local MLAs, who have labeled Sunburn a drug festival, calling for a boycott. Gram Sabhas in several South Goa villages have passed resolutions to oppose the Sunburn Festival, citing the prevalent drug use at the event. News18 In 2019, two tourists at the festival allegedly died because of a suspected drug overdose, leading to stricter monitoring by the police in the following years. Advertisement Kawthankar further emphasised that Goa is globally known for its music, cuisine, and the warmth of its peoplenot for electronic dance music, drugs, and loud noise. He further asserted that Sunburn is not part of Goan culture and that the festival benefits outsiders more than locals. He highlighted that the festival takes place during a time when Goa is already attracting tourists, thereby not significantly boosting the local economy. Tourism officials said that Sunburn promoters have yet to submit a formal proposal for review. This delay has increased frustration among local communities and opposition leaders, who are calling for greater transparency and strict adherence to regulatory standards before approving the events relocation. Advertisement The Sunburn Festival debate reveals a tension between economic benefits and community welfare in South Goa. With stakeholders awaiting further updates, the resolution of this conflict remains unclear. With input from agencies Iran, The Gambia resume ties after nearly 14 years Xinhua) 16:57, July 30, 2024 TEHRAN, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran and The Gambia resumed their diplomatic ties on Monday almost 14 years after the latter cut them. According to a joint statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the decision was made in a meeting between Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara in the Iranian capital Tehran, in line with the interests of both countries. The Gambian Foreign Minister has traveled to Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which is scheduled for Tuesday. According to the statement, the two governments agreed to expand bilateral cooperation covering the political, economic, investment, trade and cultural spheres. The statement added that the two countries' embassies in Senegal's capital Dakar agreed to serve as diplomatic contact points to help resume official diplomacy. The Gambia cut diplomatic and economic relations with Iran in November 2010 and ordered all Iranian representatives to leave within 48 hours. The Gambia cited no reason for cutting ties with Iran. Tehran, however, attributed the action to pressure from the United States. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The operation took place in the Gara and Haftanin regions of Iraq, said the statement, without specifying the timing. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralise" in their statements to imply the alleged terrorists have either surrendered, been killed, or captured. "We continue and will continue our struggle with great determination to save our noble nation from the scourge of terrorism," the ministry said. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades." /> The recent omission of an attempted assassination search result for former US President Donald Trump has sparked accusations of bias against Google. Supporters, including Donald Trump Jr. and Republican lawmakers, allege that Googles autocomplete function is deliberately suppressing information to favour Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential election read more Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump gestures during a rally with his vice presidential running mate US Senator JD Vance in St. Cloud, Minnesota, US, July 27, 2024. File Image/Reuters The controversy surrounding Google, led by Sundar Pichai, has escalated as Trump supporters accuse the tech giant of election interference. The issue arose when Googles autocomplete function failed to suggest information about an attempted assassination of former United States President Donald Trump, sparking outrage among his supporters. The autocomplete feature provided suggestions for historical assassination attempts on figures like Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy but did not include Trump, despite the incident occurring on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Advertisement This omission has led to accusations of bias against Google, with claims that the company is manipulating information to influence the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. How have Republicans reacted? The incident prompted a strong reaction from Trump supporters and prominent Republican figures. Donald Trump Jr. expressed his frustration on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, Big Tech is trying to interfere in the election AGAIN to help Kamala Harris. 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. https://t.co/gWDbFGaHI7 Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 28, 2024 He accused Google of intentionally suppressing information about the assassination attempt, viewing it as an effort to aid US Vice President Kamala Harris in the election. Trumps supporters have long suspected Google of bias, especially given the companys alleged suppression of information related to US President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden. Advertisement Republican US Senator Roger Marshall also voiced his concerns, sharing a screenshot that highlighted Googles omission. He questioned, Why is @Google suppressing the search about the Trump assassination attempt? Has there been a dramatic increase in (Harry) Truman biographers in the last two weeks? 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 pic.twitter.com/GD5SOvvcdX Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) July 28, 2024 Advertisement The accusations extended to Pichai himself, with some suggesting that his Indian heritage influenced his supposed support for Harris, also of Indian descent. One post on X read, Sundar Pichai top boss at google isdoing everything in his power to ensure the next president is of India descent, while another labelled him a socialist favouring Marxists who run the DNC. How did Google respond? Advertisement In response to the controversy, a Google spokesperson clarified that the companys systems have built-in protections against autocomplete predictions related to political violence, which were functioning as intended. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, attends the inauguration of a new hub in France dedicated to the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, at the Google France headquarters in Paris, France, February 15, 2024. File Image/Reuters The spokesperson stated, Were working on improvements to ensure our systems are more up to date. Of course, Autocomplete is just a tool to help people save time, and they can still search for anything they want to. Despite this explanation, the issue continued to draw criticism, with many arguing that the omission was a deliberate act of bias. How did Musk & Meta get involved? Elon Musk, owner of X, also became involved in the controversy. Musk, who has openly supported Trump, posted a screenshot showing a Google search for President Donald that suggested President Donald Duck instead of President Donald Trump. Advertisement Wow, Google has a search ban on President Donald Trump! Election interference? pic.twitter.com/dJzgVAAFZA Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2024 Musk sarcastically questioned whether this was an instance of Election interference? He further commented on the significant donations from Alphabet (Googles parent company) employees to Bidens campaign, implying a bias within the company. Probably just a coincidence that Alphabet (Google) employees were the top donors to Biden https://t.co/H02dxmKPkL pic.twitter.com/tIj0THeTVc Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2024 Meta, another tech giant, faced criticism for a similar issue. The companys AI chatbot, Meta AI, was accused of providing misleading information about the Trump assassination attempt. In one instance, the bot incorrectly labelled the event as fictional. Meta later apologised, acknowledging that the incident was an error and stating, We know people have been seeing incomplete, inconsistent, or out of date information on this topic. Were in the process of implementing a fix to provide more up-to-date responses for inquiries, and it is possible people may continue to see inaccurate responses in the meantime. What political implications are we looking at? The allegations of bias against Google and other tech giants have significant political implications, especially as the US approaches the 2024 presidential election. Trumps supporters view the perceived manipulation of information as a form of election interference designed to disadvantage their candidate. The controversy has fueled calls for investigations, with some Republican lawmakers pledging to look into the matter. Republican presidential candidate former US President Donald Trump is surrounded by US Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. File Image/AP The situation has also highlighted the broader issue of Big Techs role in shaping public discourse and information. With past incidents of social media platforms banning Trump following the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot, the debate over tech companies influence in politics remains a hot topic. Tuesdays catastrophic landslides left Keralas Wayanad littered with uprooted trees, overflowing water bodies, and destroyed houses. Over 80 people are dead and hundreds are feared to be trapped. The Indian Army has been called in and the states Fire Force and NDRF have deployed along with drones and a dog squad read more National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel conduct rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. PTI Tuesdays catastrophic landslides in Keralas Wayanad region left high-range communities littered with broken branches of uprooted trees, overflowing water bodies, and destroyed houses. The hillsides gave way after midnight following torrential rainfall on Monday in the Wayanad district of Kerala, a state renowned as one of Indias most popular tourist destinations. Over 80 people are dead and hundreds of more are feared to be trapped. Most of the victims were estate workers and their families who were asleep at the time in makeshift tents. Advertisement Despite the massive rescue effort, several times it has been difficult for the rescuers to get to some of the hardest-hit communities that have been shut off by the landslides. Heres a detailed look into the rescue operation. NDRF, drones, and dog squad onsite Wayanad district Collector Meghasree DR said disaster relief work is progressing in affected areas and rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF, Fire force, police, and the Forest, Revenue and Local Self-government departments. State Revenue Minister K Rajan said one team of NDRF is working to clear the debris and create access as they progress towards Mundakkai. Three more NDRF teams from Kollam, Arakkonam, and Bengaluru are also on their way, he said. Rescue teams have saved 250 people from the landslide-affected areas in Wayanad and are now nearing the most difficult-to-reach locations. According to district authorities, several families have been moved to the various camps or homes of their relatives in the wake of the landslides. Mundakkai is in the foothills of a nearby mountain. The issue is that the area was totally cut off due to the destruction of a bridge. Now efforts are on to make a temporary bridge to facilitate the crossing of the rescue team, Rajan said, according to PTI. Rescuers help residents to move to a safer place, at a landslide site after multiple landslides in the hills, in Wayanad, in the southern state of Kerala. Reuters Television visuals showed relief personnel working amid uprooted trees and flattened tin structures as boulders lay strewn at the site with muddy water gushing through. One man was stuck in chest-high mud for hours, as television showed, struggling to free himself until rescue workers finally reached him. Advertisement The office also stated that earth excavators are needed to advance the rescue operations. As the emergency services race against time to reach trapped and injured survivors of the massive tragedy, their rescue efforts are hindered due to blocked roads, a collapsed bridge, unstable terrain and bad weather. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan held a high-level evaluation meeting and visited the State Disaster Management Authority office in the state capital to assess the situation. According to News18, he has ordered the deployment of police drones and the dog squad to ramp up the search and rescue. Also read: Why do landslips occur more frequently during the rains? Advertisement Armys Engineering Group, Navy, Air Force join the rescue efforts The Armys Madras Engineering Group (MEG) was roped in to help build an alternate bridge after the one that linked the affected area to the nearest town of Chooralmala was destroyed, the chief ministers office said in a statement. The engineering department will deploy alternative systems to manage the situation. This decision follows discussions between the Revenue Secretary and Major General VT Mathew, who oversees the Kerala-Karnataka Army operations. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel conduct rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. PTI Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Army Chief and took stock of the situation. The Indian Army has mobilised four columns, including two columns from the 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur. Advertisement The Army has deployed 225 personnel, including medical personnel for the search and rescue operation. Indian Air Force has deployed two choppers a Mi-17 and one ALH Dhruv for the rescue operation. The choppers have been sent from the Sulur air base in Coimbatore from Tamil Nadu. Notably, a team of Navy personnel from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur are also assisting in the rescue and relief operation. A team of 30 specialist swimmers from the Indian Navy have also been deployed, according to the Defence PRO. Also read: What makes Kerala so vulnerable to such disasters? Medical teams, call centres, and a special control room set up Advertisement Medical teams and ambulances are currently present on the site and food and clothing are also arranged. A shelter camp has been set up at Bathery St Marys SKMJ School in Kalpetta, according to the report. Police and the Health department have started multiple call centres and 24-hour control rooms to assist both health workers and the public. George, who visited the Health Department Directorate to assess the ongoing arrangements, instructed for precise tracking of available hospital beds in the affected areas. News18 reported that she has also recommended setting up temporary hospitals if necessary. According to The Indian Express, Kerala Health Minister Veena George assured, The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is himself monitoring the entire situation in the state and he is giving instructions. We have sent more medicines to Wayanad. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel conduct rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. PTI Five ministers coordinate immediate response measures CM Vijayan also announced, A delegation of five ministers has been assigned in Wayanad to address the aftermath of the recent landslide and oversee ongoing relief efforts. Forest Minister AK Saseendran has already reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures. He also assured Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli expected to arrive shortly to join the efforts on the ground. Additionally, the Ministers of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments are travelling by air from Thiruvananthapuram and will be arriving soon, he added. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan evaluates the ongoing relief and rescue operations at SDM office in Chooralmala, following landslides in the hilly areas, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. PTI Tamil Nadu sends rescue team Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin offered his condolences to the deceased in landslides on a phone call with Kerala CM Vijayan. He is sending a rescue team headed by two IAS cadres to assist the Kerala administration and has released Rs 5 crore from the TN CMs General Fund for relief efforts in Kerala, as per News18. Stalin is also sending 20 firefighters from the Fire Rescue Department, led by its Joint Director, 20 personnel from the State Disaster Management Authority and a medical team of 10 doctors and nurses to Kerala today. Catch all live updates from the Wayanad landslides Death toll rises The latest death toll from the Wayanad landslide tragedy at the time of writing this report stands at 80. Earlier, District Collector Meghasree confirmed 36 deaths in Chooralmala. Additionally, nine bodies swept away by the Chaliyar River were recovered in Malappuram. The bodies of the deceased are being taken to various hospitals for identification and autopsy. Nearly 70 people have been admitted to various hospitals in Kozhikode; at least 12 bodies are there in the hospitals, Rajan added. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel cooduct rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. PTI The tragedy Heavy rains triggered a series of massive landslides in the hilly areas of Keralas Wayanad district early on Tuesday. The landslides, which occurred between 2 am and 4 am on Tuesday, primarily affected the regions of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages. Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty until Monday are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places. Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places. Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction. Nearly 350 families lived in the affected region, mostly tea and cardamom estates, and 250 people had been rescued so far, state officials said, as per Reuters. Many others are missing. Mundakkai has been totally cut off by the devastating landslides that hit Wayanad district. The extent of the damage has not yet been determined, said Rajan, as per PTI. Rescue operation underway after landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. PTI There were reports of roughly 150 individuals who were stuck at the Tree Valley Resort in Meppadi. For safety amid the torrential rains of previous night, the resort had admitted a few locals. They are experiencing a food shortage as per Indian Express. At least 40 houses have had debris fall on top of them due to landslides that have occurred in the vicinity, according to the resort. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives in landslides in Keralas Wayanad district and assured Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis. The prime minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Tuesdays landslides are the worst disaster there since 2018, when heavy floods killed almost 400 people. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who won the recently-contested general election from Wayanad, but resigned as he was also elected from his family bastion in the north, said he had spoken to the state chief minister to ensure coordination with all agencies. The devastation unfolding in Wayanad is heartbreaking, he said in a message on X. I have urged the union government to extend all possible support. With inputs from agencies As per reports, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit landslide-hit Wayanad on Wednesday morning read more With 116 people killed and several others still trapped following massive landslides in Wayanad district of Kerala on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has warned people to avoid unnecessary travel to the district. Please avoid unnecessary travel to Wayanad, Kerala CM said, adding that at this point importance is for rescue workers. CM Vijayans request comes hours ahead of a likely visit of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Wayanad on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, on Tuesday morning, said: This is the hour of togetherness, we have to work together so that maximum peoples lives are safe. We are planning to go (to Wayanad). Yes, both (Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) are planning to go. Several people are still trapped under mud and debris, and rescue work is underway to bring them out safely. So far, bodies of at least 116 people have been recovered. On Tuesday morning, multiple landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains hit the hill district of Wayanad. Many who were sleeping have been swept away The landslide in Wayanad is a heart-wrenching disaster. There was extremely heavy rainfall, Vijayan said. An entire area has been wiped out There are 128 people receiving treatment for injuries. Many who went to sleep last night have been swept away, the Kerala CM said. Many people are still trapped under the debris, Vijayan said. We have arranged the best possible treatment for the injured. We have opened 45 relief camps in Wayanad and a total of 118 camps across the state, accommodating 5,531 people. The fire force, NDRF, and police are working together. Various divisions of the Army and Navy are coordinating the rescue operations, the Kerala CM said. Advertisement CM Vijayan briefs about rescue operations in Wayanad The Kerala Chief Minister said that 321 members of the Fire Force have been deployed in Wayanad. The services of the Army have also been made available. An NDRF team of 60 members has reached Wayanad, and an 89-member team from Bengaluru is on the way. Upon learning of the disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with various party leaders, have offered their assistance. They have assured us that we will work together to address this crisis, he said. Vijayan said that additional Kaniv 108 ambulances have been brought in. He further said that 3,069 people are in relief camps in Wayanad alone. Five ministers are coordinating the efforts. Due to adverse weather conditions, people were relocated, and an orange alert was declared, Vijayan said. Advertisement Be prepared CM Vijayan further said that a dog squad will be arriving for the rescue operations. Authorities instructions must be followed precisely. The local administration has been directed to ensure that drinking water, food, and other essentials are provided to those in the camps. The IG of the Northern Range, DIG, and the Additional DG of Law and Order will coordinate the operations. Everyone must avoid situations where people are merely spectators at disaster sites. Control rooms have been established under various government departments. I have instructed that officials in essential services be prepared and on standby due to the heavy rain conditions, he added. Advertisement Health workers on leave instructed to report to duty immediately Vijayan further informed that steps have been initiated to deliver food and essential supplies. Two vehicles carrying 20,000 litres of drinking water will arrive at the disaster area, he said. Health workers currently on leave are instructed to return to duty immediately. Nothing can replace the loss of loved ones or possessions, but we must extend our support and lift those affected. In the wake of the landslides in Wayanad, we must come together to aid those suffering, the chief minister said. Kerala needs more assistance to rebuild the region More assistance is needed to rebuild the region. I urge everyone to contribute to the Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) and provide support. Those who can should make donations, Vijayan said. Advertisement He further informed that Kerala Bank has contributed Rs 50 lakh to CMDRF. The Chief Minister of Sikkim has pledged Rs 2 crore, and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has promised Rs 5 crore in aid, Vijayan said. Two-day state mourning The chief minister said that in response to the disaster in Wayanad, Kerala has declared two days of official mourning. Public events and celebrations have been postponed. We request that the national flag be flown at half-mast as part of the mourning period, he said. Also Read: 98 killed in Wayanad landslides, Kerala declares 2-day mourning as IMD sounds red alert for more rains Also Read: Wayanad landslides: What makes Kerala so vulnerable to such disasters? With inputs from agencies Sitharaman said that no state was being denied money. She recalled that in the past Budgets by the UPA government also did not mention names of all states in their Budget speech. read more The Parliament Budget Session 2024 is currently underway. It commenced on July 22, 2024, and is scheduled to conclude on August 12, 2024. Image- ANI Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday termed misleading claims by opposition leaders that if any state is not named in the Budget speech, then it does not get any budgetary allocation. Replying to a Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman asserted that no state was being denied money. She recalled that in the past Budgets by the UPA government also did not mention names of all states in their Budget speech. Advertisement I have been picking up on Budget speeches since 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and so on. The Budget of 2004-2005 did not take the name of 17 states. I would like to ask the members of the UPA government at that time - did money not go to those 17 states? Did they stop it? Sitharaman said. She was responding to comments by several opposition members that the Budget has provided funds only to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and nothing to other states. Sitharaman said India is the fastest-growing economy globally and has overcome the after-effects of the pandemic due to heavy capex push. She also said the government is complying with the fiscal deficit trajectory. It will bring down the deficit to below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26 from the targeted 4.9 per cent for the current fiscal. The deficit was 5.6 per cent in 2023-24. The Budget has provided substantial financial support of Rs 17,000 crore to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir this year. It includes Rs 12,000 crore towards financing the cost of J&K police. Thats the burden we want to take on our shoulders, Sitharaman said. The central government is complying with the fiscal deficit trajectory and will bring it down to below 4.5% by 2025-26, she said while speaking during the discussions on the Union Budget 2024-25 in Lok Sabha. Sitharaman said that Budget 2024 allocated increased funds for social sectors including agriculture, education and employment. We have provided substantial financial support of Rs 17,000 crore in the Union Budget of UT Jammu and Kashmir this year. It includes Rs 12,000 crore towards financing the cost of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Thats the burden we want to take on our shoulders so that Jammu and Kashmir has more flexibility to spend money on development activities, Advertisement VIDEO | "We have provided substantial financial support of Rs 17,000 crore in the Union Budget of UT Jammu and Kashmir this year. It includes Rs 12,000 crore towards financing the cost of Jammu and Kashmir Police. That's the burden we want to take on our shoulders, so that Jammu pic.twitter.com/lMFvw2BE6j Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2024 Treasury benches on the other hand lauded the Rs 48.2 lakh crore Union Budget presented in Parliament on July 23 saying the country has made all-round development. Participating in the general discussion on the budget, senior BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi reeled out data on GDP growth, rising foreign exchange reserves, declining fiscal deficit and a sharp increase in foreign remittances to highlight the achievements of the government on the economic front. Seeking to counter the charges levelled by opposition parties during the discussion regarding the government favoring corporates, Trivedi said the corporate taxes have been reduced to make the industry competitive. He pointed out that global MNCs are shifting away their base from China where corporate tax is 25 per cent. Sitharaman, on July 23, announced financial and developmental assistance to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, the two states ruled by BJPs key alliance partners JD(U) and TDS respectively read more Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday replied to the Oppositions claim that most states were ignored from the Union Budget as she made a special mention of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Citing budgets under the Congress-led UPA government, Sitharaman, who was addressing the Lok Sabha post-budget, said, I have been picking up on Budget speeches since 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and so on. The Budget of 2004-2005 did not take the name of 17 states. I would like to ask the members of the UPA government at that time - did money not go to those 17 states? Did they stop it? If they have stopped it, then they have every business to raise questions. Advertisement VIDEO | "I have been picking up on Budget speeches since 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and so on. The Budget of 2004-2005 did not take the name of 17 states. I would like to ask the members of the UPA government at that time - did money not go to those 17 states? Did pic.twitter.com/vOF931CFBy Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2024 She further claimed that during the FY 2009-10, the then-finance minister did not name 26 states Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Sitharaman, on July 23, announced financial and developmental assistance to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, the two states ruled by BJPs key alliance partners JD(U) and TDS respectively. The Opposition was quick enough to describe it as a Kursi Bachao budget and an appeasement budget meant for the well-being of only those states that have major stakes in the National Democratic Alliance. Many opposition leaders, because of this, boycotted the subsequent NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they felt neglected by the central government. Advertisement Last week, the finance minister had replied to the Oppositions concerns in Rajya Sabha, saying that their allegation that Bihar and Andhra were preferred over other states was outrageous. In every Budget, you dont get an opportunity to name every state of this country. Maharashtras name was not taken in the Budget yesterday. Does this mean that Maharashtra feels ignored? If a particular state is named in the speech, does it mean that programs of GOI dont go to these states? she said. The protest was attended by several leaders including NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann read more There has been a controversy surrounding the Delhi chief minister's health with supporters claiming that he has significantly lost weight during his time in jail while Tihar authorities refuting them. PTI The Opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday held a protest in Delhi over Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals deteriorating health in jail. The protest was attended by several leaders including NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. There has been a controversy surrounding the Delhi chief ministers health with supporters claiming that he has significantly lost weight during his time in jail while Tihar authorities refuting them. Kejriwals wife, Sunita Kejriwal, who was present at the INDIA bloc protest, said, Thankful to God that nothing untoward happened to my husband. His life is in danger. Advertisement They have not put Kejriwal ji behind bars but the democracy has been put behind bars. The entire INDIA bloc is with Kejriwal, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said. VIDEO | "You would've understood that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been put in jail under a deep political conspiracy. ED had put him in jail over his one statement. Magunta Reddy had met Arvind Kejriwal only once over land for his charitable trust. ED had put his son in jail. pic.twitter.com/YrCTXb2aTX Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2024 Sharing the stage with other opposition leaders, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said, I had said one thing before the elections that there are many such organisations with Delhi (Central Govt), which harass politicians from time to time, those organisations do not let them get justice. If and when we come to power, we will end such organisations forever. In our democracy, no one can be falsely accused. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: At the INDIA bloc protest at Jantar Mantar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says "I had said one thing before the elections that there are many such organisations with Delhi (Central Govt), which harass politicians from time to time, those organisations do pic.twitter.com/ssylzMrdJ9 ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2024 CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, meanwhile, echoed his bloc partners in saying the central government is misusing agencies by making wrongful arrests. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 over the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The leader came out of jail briefly during the Lok Sabha election period but went back as soon as they were over in June. How is Kejriwals health? Jail authorities and AAP have time and again engaged in debates about the physical wellness of the chief minister. Earlier this month, AAP leaders claimed that Kejriwal lost 8.8 kgs as he was infected with a serious disease. Tihar jail authorities, on the other hand, have said that the leader has lost only 2 kgs and is being monitored regularly. Massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad district of Kerala on Tuesday morning. Several people are feared trapped and the NDRF and the Indian Army along with local officials are working on war footing to rescue them read more Rescuers carry the body of a victim at the landslide site after multiple landslides in the hills, in Kerala's Wayanad district on July 30, 2024. Source: REUTERS. The Kerala government has declared that the state will observe two days of mourning on July 30 and 31 after 116 people died in multiple landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the hill district of Wayanad on Tuesday. Several other people are feared trapped under mud and debris as rescue efforts continue. The state government has declared a two-day mourning period starting today, and all public functions and celebrations have been postponed, the Kerala Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said in a post on X. Advertisement The state government has declared a two-day mourning period starting today, and all public functions and celebrations have been postponed. CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) July 30, 2024 All the programmes of the state government have been deferred and the flag will be raised at half mast on these days. Red alert for Wayanad On Tuesday morning, massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad district. However, there is no respite anytime soon for Kerala which will witness more heavy showers this week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Wayanad, predicting extreme rainfall on Tuesday. The red alert has also been issued for neighbouring districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur which are also expected to receive heavy rains. The weather office has also issued an orange alert in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts for Tuesday, and in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts for Wednesday. Wayanad floods: Rescue operations at war footing Inclement weather has been hindering rescue efforts which are being carried out in full pace by the Indian Army and the NDRF with the help of local officials. Advertisement The Indian Army has been roped in as a temporary bridge that linked the affected area to a nearest town was also destroyed. As many as 200 soldiers of the Army from the Defence Security Corps and a medical team have been deployed to assist with the rescue operations. The Army has mobilised four columns, including two columns ex 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur. Also, two helicopters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Sulur have been dispatched to aid in the efforts, Kerala CMO said in a statement. PM Modi assures Kerala CM of all possible help Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives in Wayanad landslides and assured Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis. The Prime Minister has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said there has been no rethink on the governments stand on allowing Chinese investment and the views expressed in the Economic Survey do not represent the governments views. read more Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal clarified on Tuesday that the governments stance on Chinese investment remains unchanged, contradicting views expressed in the Economic Survey. Responding to questions in the Lok Sabha, Goyal emphasised that the government carefully examines Chinese investments. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused India of becoming reliant on China, citing the Economic Surveys support for Chinese foreign direct investment. Goyal retorted that Indias dependence on neighboring countries increased during the United Progressive Alliances rule, not under the current government. He asserted that the governments scrutiny of Chinese investments continues, and its position has not shifted. Advertisement Goyal hit back at the Congress, saying India had become dependent on neighbouring countries under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule. Under the Congress, imports increased from USD 4 billion to USD 40-45 billion, which is more than 10 times. In our term, the increase is only 2-2.5 times. We took steps to make India self-reliant, the minister said. I am making a direct allegation against the UPA. Their name has changed, it is now the INDI Alliance, he said. We do not know what was that MoU (memorandum of understanding)with China. The trade deficit went up by 30 times under the UPA, the commerce minister said. The BJP-led NDA has controlled China and also their investment, he asserted. Referring to the Economic Survey, Goyal said, As far as the chief economic advisor is concerned, they bring an independent, autonomous report. It is their thought, the Government of India at present has not changed its stand. The investment that comes from China is checked, wherever we do not feel it is appropriate, it is stopped. Our policy remains the same, the chief economic advisor gave an advice, he said. The pre-budget Economic Survey made a strong case for seeking FDI from Beijing to boost local manufacturing and tap the export market. As the United States and Europe are shifting their immediate sourcing away from China, it is more effective to have Chinese companies invest in India and then export the products to these markets rather than importing from the neighbouring country, the survey said. Advertisement India faces two choices to benefit from the China-plus-one strategy it can either integrate into Chinas supply chain or promote FDI from China. With inputs from agencies. Odisha government has suspended senior IPS officer Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao for abusing his power and grave misconduct read more Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao has been suspended on Tuesday by the Odisha government on disciplinary grounds. As per an official statement, Pandit Rajesh, from the 2007 batch who was serving as the DIG of Fire Services and Home Guards in Odisha, has been suspended for abusing his power and grave misconduct. Why Odisha IPS officer has been suspended Pandit Rajesh has been suspended after it was reported that he forcibly entered the home of a married woman inspector of Odisha Police serving in the Bhubaneswar Economic Offences Wing of the Odisha Crime Branch and misbehaved with her. The alleged incident took place on July 27. Advertisement The state home department issued an order stating that the DGP of Odisha had submitted a confidential report about Pandit regarding the incident. A report by The Indian Express quoted sources in police as saying that the woman inspectors husband was also allegedly attacked, following which the IPS officer was taken away by police officials. No formal police complaint has been lodged in connection with the alleged incident. A disciplinary proceeding against Shri Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, IPS is contemplated on the grounds of grave misconduct as a Member of the Indian Police Service. Now, therefore, the Government of Odisha, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, hereby places Shri Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, IPS under suspension with immediate effect, the Home Department notification stated. CM orders swift action Odisha Chief Ministers office issued a statement saying: A complaint has been received, alleging that Pandit has disgraced the dignity of his position by misusing his power last Saturday (July 27) night. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who returned from four-day New Delhi visit on Monday evening, was apprised about the incident after which he acted swiftly. CM Majhi instructed the relevant department to suspend the errant senior police officer immediately and take appropriate action against him, the statement by CMO stated. During the period of suspension, Pandit Rajesh will be posted at the state police headquarters in Cuttack, Odisha. Advertisement Also, he cannot leave the headquarters without getting permission from the DGP. As per rules, during his suspension, Pandit Rajesh will receive a subsistence allowance for which he will be required to furnish a certificate mentioning that he is not involved in any other work or business. With inputs from agencies The Ratna Bhandar was reopened on July 14 after committee members broke the three locks of the door as the duplicate keys kept by the temple administration malfunctioned read more The Ratna Bhandar of Odishas iconic Jagannath Temple of Puri was opened a couple of days ago after some 46 years and reports of theft have already started surfacing. A member of the government-formed committee tasked with maintaining the inventory of the treasury has reasons to believe that duplicate keys of the Ratna Bhandar might have been used in the past to steal its contents. What set off the suspicion? The Ratna Bhandar was reopened on July 14 after committee members broke the three locks of the door as the duplicate keys kept by the temple administration malfunctioned. Advertisement But, why did authorities need duplicate keys in the first place? The original keys to the treasury went missing in 2018, prompting the former BJD government to order a probe. According to a report by Times of India, Jagdish Mohanty, the committee member who suspects duplicate keys might have been produced with malevolent intent, said, After the locks were broken following malfunctioning of the duplicate keys, it has been established that there was a criminal motive and intention to siphon off the valuables. The duplicate key issue was a hoax as theft attempt cannot be ruled out. There are three wooden almirahs, one steel almirah, two wooden chests and one iron chest in the treasury. Temple administration sources have revealed that while one of the wooden almirahs was locked, the other twos locks were not properly positioned, raising eyebrows. Meanwhile, one of the two locks of the iron chest was broken and the two wooden chests did not have locks at all. The committee suspects theft as the use of duplicate keys might have helped steal the valuables of the Ratna Bhandar. Whats inside the treasury? The Ratna Bhandar has two enclosures the inner treasury or Bhitar Bhandar and the outer treasury or Bahar Bhandar. Advertisement The treasury holds precious gold and diamond jewelry offered to Lord Jagannath over the years. According to the Odisha Magazine, the outer bhandar has suna mukuta of Lord Jagannath and three gold necklaces. The inner treasury houses 74 gold ornaments, each weighing more than 100 tolas. LG orders forcible removal Atishis belongings from Delhi CM residence: CMO 09 Oct 2024 | 11:39 PM New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister's Office on Wednesday claimed that Delhi's Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has ordered the forcible removal of Chief Minister Atishis belongings from her official residence. see more.. Cong delegation meet ECI with complaints of irregularities in Haryana polls 09 Oct 2024 | 9:48 PM New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) A Congress delegation on Wednesday met the Election Commission of India at the Nirvachan Sadan here with complaints regarding irregularities in the Haryana assembly election. see more.. BJP trying to illegally occupy CM residence, alleges Sanjay Singh 09 Oct 2024 | 7:43 PM New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of spreading lies and using various tactics to undermine AAP, claiming that their ultimate goal is to capture the Chief Minister's residence, as the BJP has not won elections in Delhi for the past 27 years. see more.. Haryana polls: ECI writes to Kharge, refutes EVM tampering charge 09 Oct 2024 | 7:37 PM New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (EC) on Wednesday wrote a strongly-worded letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge refuting the partys allegations on suspected EVM tampering in Haryana Assembly elections in which the party lost to the BJP. see more.. In August 2022, controversial IAS probationary officer, Puja Khedkar, obtained a 7 per cent locomotor disability certificate from Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital near Pune read more In order to avail of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) non-creamy layer quota in the UPSC, Puja Khedkar had reportedly claimed that her parents were separated and she was living with her mother. Image courtesy: dr_pujamdk_ias/Instagram The list of controversies of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar continues to increase. In the latest revelation, she has been issued 7 per cent locomotor disability certificate by a civic hospital near Pune, despite the physiotherapy department at the hospital reporting no disability. Puja Khedkar, who has been facing scrutiny over allegations of manipulating disability and OBC certificates to get an entry into the civil services, was issued a 7 per cent locomotor disability certificate by Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital in August 2022, a report by India Today said. Advertisement The report said that the certificate was issued to her noting a 7 per cent locomotor disability in her left knee. Why Pune hospital issued disability certificate to Puja Khedkar As per the report, Puja Khedkar applied for her disability certificate at the YCM hospital claiming that she had a minor accident in 2018 that led to an injury to her left knee. The documents, however, showed no medical records from that year were checked and also no MRI scan was performed during her medical examination, the report said. Puja Khedkar used fake ID to secure disability certificate The India Today report further said that Puja Khedkar visited YCM Hospital on August 23, 2022, to secure a disability certificate and she used what was later found to be false address proof from a fake ration card. She was issued a locomotor disability certificate the following day which stated that she had 7 per cent instability in her left knee due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear from a minor accident in 2018. When Puja Khedkar visited the physiotherapy department, the findings did not match the initial diagnosis. The physiotherapists found no systemic disability in her knee and did not confirm the 7 per cent instability noted by the resident doctor, the report said. Advertisement Probe launched The Pune Collectors Office has begun a probe into the matter following directives from the DIVYANG Welfare Commissionerate. Trouble mounts for Puja Khedkar Meanwhile, a report by The Times of India quoted sources as saying that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued a show-cause notice to Puja Khedkar asking her to explain by August 2 her position on the various allegations against her. The show-cause was sent on July 26 by email as well as to her postal address, following inquiries by various agencies. Khedkar has been given seven days to respond to the notice, the ToI report quoted DoPT officials privy to the developments as saying. Advertisement Puja Khedkar anticipatory bail plea hearing A court in Delhi will hear the anticipatory bail plea of Puja Khedkar on Wednesday, 31 July. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, who was scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday (July 30) adjourned the hearing after the public prosecutor (PP) sought time. The PP told the court that a new public prosecutor has been appointed in the matter who will put forward arguments. Puja Khedkar has moved the court, claiming that she is innocent and has committed no offence at all. In her bail plea, Puja Khedkar claims that she had not forged any documents, all of which were duly authenticated and certified by the relevant authorities, ensuring that there was no possibility of fraud. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Mental health conditions are complex, and rarely travel alone. Among the diversity of mental health conditions, one of the most diagnosed across age and gender is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder read more Public perception of mental health has experienced a shift in recent years, thanks in part to public figures, like Olympian gymnast Simone Biles, who stepped away from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for her mental health. Biles public display of self-care certainly prompted acknowledgment and conversations of the importance of mental health. Mental health conditions are complex, and rarely travel alone. Among the diversity of mental health conditions, one of the most diagnosed across age and gender is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). About half to a staggering 90 per cent of all children diagnosed with ADHD have a secondary condition, and 85 per cent of adults, have a pre-existing mental health condition at diagnosis. Sometimes, ADHD can present alongside more serious issues that can disrupt daily life and affect long-term wellbeing. Advertisement The list of mental health conditions and disorders that co-exist with ADHD is very long, and includes anxiety, depressive and oppositional defiance, eating and bipolar disorders, the autism spectrum, obsessive-compulsiveness, and conduct disorders, borderline personality disorders, and a variety of nervous system conditions. Having combined mental health conditions might lead to substance abuse and/or self-neglect, leading to underemployment and poor lifestyle choices. Co-existing conditions are common with ADHD, and research is ongoing to learn why such a strong link between comorbid conditions exist. Researchers believe conditions might exacerbate each other, or, that a co-existing condition may overshadow an underlying issue. For example, the challenges of living with ADHD might lead to a depressive state if there is difficulty in maintaining relationships or employment. Feeling demoralised, someone may seek treatment for depression, but fail to get treatment for ADHD. Research shows that 23 per cent of individuals with persistent depressive disorder (a low-grade depression that cant be adequately treated) have undiagnosed ADHD. The symptoms for anxiety and ADHD are also similar, relating to concentration, restlessness, and time management. Anxiety usually receives treatment, although it may be a side effect of undiagnosed ADHD. Our genes impact how mental health difficulties play out in someones life, and this is especially significant for individuals with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Large-scale research studies have shown evidence for a genetic overlap between ADHD and ASD, with prominent similarities relating to socialisation issues. Both ASD and ADHD are expressed as deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, with problems initiating an appropriate response to social interactions. With both, there may be inadequate eye contact and body language, and deficits in developing and maintaining relationships. What separates ASD from ADHD is the expression of behavior and interest in activities. Individuals with ADHD often lose focus and shift away from eye contact, but those with ASD tend to avoid eye contact completely. Additionally, individuals with ADHD prefer action over discussion (such as playing video games), while those with ASD often prefer to talk about things. Because of these subtle differences, comorbid ADHD is often untreated in people with ASD. An individual, parent, or caretaker needs to ask for careful consideration from their physician to avoid diagnostic overshadowing. A person can have multiple diagnosable conditions, and receive a diverse set of treatment options, from medication, cognitive behavioural therapy, and even physical activity. Further, mental, and physical health changes over time, and re-evaluation might be periodically required. There is no shame in requiring help for multiple conditions. Having a clearer idea of the internal makeup of yourself, your child, a friend, or a family member, can help life become more fulfilling and less stressful. This is particularly important not only when the diagnosis is for multiple mental health conditions, but for mental and physical conditions that can have an immediate impact on day-to-day wellbeing. Advertisement The physical conditions that pair alongside ADHD vary in severity, but they can include epilepsy, thyroid disorders, and sensory sensitivities. Sleep disorders are also common and consist of multifaceted conditions that approximately 78 per cent of people ADHD experience. Sleep is essential for human health, but ADHD-related sleep conditions can exacerbate symptoms. Some of these sleep disorders include insomnia, delayed circadian rhythm, daytime exhaustion and sleepiness, irregular sleep patterns, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep-related breathing disorders. ADHD medications sometimes induce insomnia, posing additional challenges to individuals. Not getting enough sleep can pose serious disruptions in daily life that can impact work and relationships, further impacting mental health. Advertisement Having an adjoining diagnosis alongside ADHD is the reality for many individuals. Acknowledging and embracing the complexity of ADHD can be empowering and can lead to a whole-person treatment plan that can lead to better sleep, managed anxiety, treated depression, depression that isnt unchecked, and ADHD that is understood rather than making each day a hurdle that cant be tackled. Living with and understanding the complexities of ADHD might feel exactly like living through a daily Olympic gymnast routine. If we pause to consider how ADHD doesnt travel alone, just as Simone Biles took a hiatus to prioritise her mental health during the Tokyo Olympics, we might consider how championing our wellbeing is the ultimate prize. Advertisement The authors thank Dr Doron Almagor for providing comments about this article Dr. Doron Almagor is Founder and Director of Possibilities Clinic, Toronto, Canada. Mel Lefebvre is Communications Director and Sarojini Sengupta, PhD, is CEO of AIMH. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Russia may not be averse to PM Modi carrying a peace message to Zelenskyy to bring him down to earth. The US would welcome the visit for different reasons, as some kind of a diplomatic win in seeing India making a nod to Zelenskyy read more Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Ukraine on August 23, though not officially announced, seems to be in the offing. It is not clear why information about this planned visit has been prematurely leaked to the media. One can also speculate about why this visit is taking place and what it seeks to achieve. It is known that the Ukrainians have been very keen on a visit from India which could be projected by them as signifying more understanding for the Ukrainian cause and a more even-handed Indian approach. Many world leaders, especially from the West, have visited Ukraine as a show of support to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian President has travelled extensively, primarily to Western countries, and has been invited to attend multilateral forums such as the G7 meetings. There was pressure on India to invite him to the G20 summit presided by India, but India did not oblige. Advertisement For Ukraine, a visit from India, as a major non-Western country and a leader of the global south, would imply broadened international sympathy and understanding of its position as a victim of Russian aggression. It would also help to dilute the view that the Ukrainian conflict was essentially a mismanaged European conflict, which the Europeans had to resolve, and the rest of the world had to be spared from its unwanted consequences. PM Modi has, of course, spoken on the telephone to Zelenskyy; they have also met at the G7 summit in Italy when Modi also embraced him. India has also sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine. All this, of course, does not have the same impact as a physical visit by Modi to war-torn Ukraine. There has been much commentary in foreign policy circles in the West and even at home that India, given its close ties with Russia and advocacy of dialogue and diplomacy to end the ongoing conflict, could play a mediatory role of some sorts. Indias credentials for playing such a role got bolstered by its success in forging a consensus at the G20 meeting on the Ukraine issue. Much has also been made of Modis message to Putin at the SCO summit in Samarkand in 2022 that today is not an era of war, which was interpreted in the West as a rebuke. Ukraine was very keen on Indias participation at Modis level at the peace summit on Ukraine organised by Switzerland, and failing that at Foreign Ministers level, but India chose to be represented by a senior official. India also did not subscribe to the final communique issued by the summit. What could then be the considerations that would underlie the projected visit of Modi to Ukraine? These could be multifold. Advertisement Modis visit to Moscow for the resumed India-Russia summits coinciding with the NATO summit in Washington D.C. has irked the Americans and they have made no bones about it. It appears that they advised India to consider a change of dates for the visit. The US National Security Adviser has publicly stated that the US has been in touch with India on its concerns about Modis visit, with the State Department telling the US Congress that they had had a tough conversation with India on the subject. That the visit also coincided with the bombing of a childrens hospital in Kiev and Modi greeted Putin with an embrace provoked a fiery response from Zelenskyy himself. He accused India of administering a devastating blow to peace in Ukraine and he deplored Modis embrace of a war criminal. This outburst prompted the Ministry of External Affairs to summon the Ukrainian ambassador in Delhi to register Indias protest. Advertisement It could well be that to manage the negative fall-out of Modis Russia visit and prevent it from festering and being exploited by anti-Indian elements in the US establishment in months to come, it may have been decided to scotch this by making a gesture to Ukraine. It could have been reasoned that India had amply demonstrated that its Russia policy would be dictated by its national interest and not US preferences. A strong signal to this effect had again been sent to the US and the West by Modi making his first bilateral visit abroad after re-election to Russia. In view of this, India had to prove nothing to the US about the core of its position and therefore could afford to make a gesture to Ukraine. Advertisement The justification would be that Modis advocacy of diplomacy and dialogue to end the conflict would appear more convincing if a message of peace and dialogue was also conveyed directly to Zelenskyy on Ukrainian soil. Such a message would have resonance as it would be entirely different from the message of increasing armed support and continued proxy war that the West is still conveying to Ukraine. Even if the facts are unclear and there has been no impartial international investigation to ascertain the truth, the fact is that the bombing of the childrens hospital in Kiev while Modi was in Moscow prompted him to reinforce his peace message earlier relayed at Samarkand by expressing his strong anguish publicly during his meeting with Putin about the killing of civilians, and especially children, in war. Modi laboured the point, with an eye on its international resonance. Advertisement Modi had hours long one-on-one conversations with Putin in Moscow. He undoubtedly got a clear idea of how Putin assesses the Ukraine conflict. Putin has repeatedly made clear that he is ready for a negotiated solution, but on the basis of accepting the changed territorial realities on the ground. His vision of how the conflict can end and that of Zelenskyy and his government are wide apart. Whether Ukraine can cling to its present position in the face of lack of military success on the ground, heavy losses in men and material, resistance to mobilisation, population exodus, dependence on external support, etc., is considered doubtful, whatever the rhetoric of the government and its Western supporters. The greatest uncertainty for Ukraine is the likely change of government in the US in November with the ascendance of Donald Trump and JD Vance to power, as both want to end the conflict. Europe cannot supplant American support. In this background, Russia may not be averse to Modi carrying a peace message to Zelenskyy to bring him down to earth. The US would welcome Modis visit for different reasons, as some kind of a diplomatic win in seeing India making a nod to Zelenskyy. India may also have reasoned that China has been promoting peace moves in Ukraine without causing any misapprehensions in Moscow. China had, in fact, appointed a special envoy for peace in Ukraine and made some specific proposals for peace which have been broadly approved by Putin. China and Brazil have announced plans to make a joint peace proposal. India, it can be reasoned, should not allow the peace platform to be monopolised by a country like China that is actually disrupting peace on the India border and the western Pacific. India too could activate its diplomacy without cost, knowing well that the answer to peace in Ukraine essentially lies in Washington DC. Interestingly, para 74 of the Joint Statement issued on the occasion of the Modi-Putin summit says that both sides highlighted the imperative of peaceful resolution of the conflict around Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy including engagement between both parties. They noted with appreciation relevant proposals of mediation and good offices aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law and on the basis of the UN Charter. India is endorsing mediatory and good offices initiatives by others, including that of China implicitly, aimed at a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Maybe this curious formulation also explains the room created for PM Modis peace-oriented visit to Ukraine. Kanwal Sibal is a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He was Indias Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. As India persists in its engagement with Myanmar, it must brace for the inevitable discomforts and remain vigilant to the regions evolving dynamics read more Indias relationship with Myanmar is akin to donning a crown of thornsan endeavour that yields scant solace yet necessitates unwavering resilience. Indias sustained endorsement of Myanmars military junta is a strategic imperative, laden with intricacies and ethical conundrums. Despite the juntas waning hold on power and escalating military setbacks, it remains a pivotal ally in the volatile proximate vicinity. The treacherous jungle and mountainous topography along the 1,600-kilometre border demands a nearly $1 billion wall to establish a barrier, which even upon completion, will likely remain perilously permeable. Advertisement Since the 2021 coup, the juntas tenure has been beleaguered by relentless insurgencies and a progressive erosion of authority. Of particular concern for India is the ascendancy of Chinese-backed militias employing Maoist guerrilla tactics. This instability has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, propelling waves of refugees into neighbouring territories, including India. Nevertheless, Indias support for the junta is not devoid of rationale. Indias backing of Myanmars military regime is predominantly driven by strategic imperatives. The recent BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) assembly underscored that stability in Myanmar is indispensable for the fruition of BIMSTECs initiatives, particularly in the spheres of connectivity, commerce, and counter-terrorism. Additionally, Indias strategic calculus involves counterbalancing Chinas burgeoning influence in Myanmar, which has intensified as Beijing continues to paradoxically arm and finance both the junta and the militias. The burgeoning narcotics menace along the India-Myanmar frontier presents another thorn in Indias side. The region has witnessed a surge in the production and trafficking of narcotics, notably methamphetamine, with dire socio-economic repercussions for Indias Northeast. Collaborating with the junta on counter-narcotics operations, despite inherent challenges, remains a pragmatic course for New Delhi. Intelligence sharing and joint operations have yielded some success, yet the entrenched nature of the drug trade necessitates sustained efforts. India may need to bolster the juntas military capabilities much more robustly. Indias policy options are starkly circumscribed. Engaging with the junta, despite its repressive actions, ensures a semblance of stability and preserves communication channels. However, there lies a diplomatic avenue for India to explore. By significantly augmenting its support, India could advocate for a transitional democratic framework in the long term. The crown of thorns, that is Myanmars junta, necessitates a delicate equilibrium of pragmatism and principle. As India persists in its engagement with Myanmar, it must brace for the inevitable discomforts and remain vigilant to the regions evolving dynamics. This is a crown that cannot be discarded, only worn with cautious resolve and strategic foresight. India must await the reassertion of the Myanmar state, mindful of Clausewitzs dictum: everything in war is simple, but the simplest thing is difficult. Advertisement The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. During her visit to China, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasised the need to strengthen trade ties and improve market access for Italian products aiming for a more balanced economic partnership read more Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently visited China to strengthen economic ties and enhance cooperation between Italy and the worlds second-largest economy. This significant trip, marked by Italys departure from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), reflects Italys desire to create a more balanced trade relationship with China. Here are 10 key points from her visit: 1. Aiming for balanced trade relations Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasised the need to rebalance trade relations between Italy and China. Currently, Italian investment in China is significantly higher than Chinese investment in Italy with a ratio of about 3:1. Melonis visit is aimed at reducing trade barriers and ensuring a fairer exchange. Advertisement 2. Italys departure from Belt and Road Initiative Italy was the only G7 country to join Chinas Belt and Road Initiative in 2019 aiming to enhance infrastructure and trade links reminiscent of the ancient Silk Road. However, Italy exited the initiative last year under pressure from the United States but still aims to maintain strong trade relations with China. 3. Strategic importance of Italy to China Despite leaving the BRI, Italy remains a key partner for China within Europe. Meloni highlighted Italys unique position as a potential moderating voice in the European Union, particularly concerning EU tariffs on Chinese goods, such as electric vehicles. 4. Focus on enhancing Italian exports During her visit, Meloni expressed Italys intent to improve the access of Italian products to the Chinese market. By addressing existing trade barriers Italy hopes to increase the volume of its exports to China enhancing economic cooperation. 5. Italys role in EU-China relations Meloni highlighted Italys important role in shaping EU-China relations. She expressed hopes for a more balanced trade relationship between the EU and China and acknowledged Italys strategic position in facilitating dialogue. 6. European Unions tariff decision on Chinese EVs The European Union is set to vote in October on imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Italy has indicated support for these tariffs reflecting its concerns over the influx of competitively priced Chinese EVs affecting the European market. 7. Italys position on trade with China Advertisement Meloni clarified that while Italy was part of the BRI it did not experience the highest volume of trade or investment from China compared to other European nations. This highlights the need for Italy to redefine and enhance its economic strategy with China. 8. Diplomatic engagements with Xi Jinping During her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, Meloni reiterated Italys willingness to cooperate closely with China. She stressed the importance of Italys role in the broader EU-China dialogue and trade relations. 9. Italys economic strategy post-BRI Following its exit from the BRI, Italy seeks to develop a more independent and balanced trade strategy with China, focussing on mutual benefits and increased investment opportunities for both nations. Advertisement 10. Melonis broader vision for Italy-China relations Prime Minister Meloni envisions a future where Italy can leverage its unique position in Europe to foster stronger economic ties with China contributing to a more equitable and prosperous global trade environment. Italys initiative to realign its trade relationship with China underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and economic partnerships. As Italy navigates these challenges, its approach to balancing national interests with global economic dynamics will be crucial in shaping its future role on the world stage. It is not clear how the skulls ended up at the site, located on a steep hill that has prevented the use of heavy machinery, slowing the search. Our worry (is) if police have recovered the skulls, where could the rest of the body parts be, like the legs, the hands? father-of-four Mubumbi told AFP read more Four human skulls wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil are seen during an inspection by the National Guard inside a package bound for the United States at a courier company located at the Queretaro Intercontinental airport, in Queretaro, Mexico in this photo distributed on December 30, 2022. File Photo Seventeen human skulls buried in metal boxes have been unearthed in an underground chamber at a suspected shrine in the centre of Uganda, police told AFP on Tuesday. Children foraging for firewood outside Kabanga village near Mpigi town, about 40 kilometres (24 miles) west of the capital Kampala, made the grisly discovery on Sunday, according to local residents. Shocked and worried villagers told police there were metallic boxes containing what appeared to be skulls in an underground chamber beneath one of three ruined shrines on a sleepy hillside. Advertisement We swiftly moved in and dug up the place, and so far we have recovered 17 human skulls, regional police spokesman Majid Karim told AFP. We are conducting more excavations to ensure there are no more skulls other than what we have so far recovered, he said. He added that the remains, discovered in four boxes, were being examined to determine their age and sex, as well as when they may have been buried. He urged the public to remain calm, with officers working to investigate the incident. It is not clear how the skulls ended up at the site, located on a steep hill that has prevented the use of heavy machinery, slowing the search. Our worry (is) if police have recovered the skulls, where could the rest of the body parts be, like the legs, the hands? father-of-four Mubumbi told AFP. We are shocked. We never expected this to happen in our neighbourhood, he said. Local media reported residents as saying that people had previously gathered at the location to worship. Police said the suspected owner of the site is on the run, having been linked to a separate case involving the murder of a prominent traditional Baganda leader, entrepreneur Daniel Bbosa. Advertisement The killing in Kampala was reportedly carried out by hired gunmen as Bbosa returned home from work in February this year. Mpigi district, although densely populated, remains semi-rural, with agriculture dominating local trade. Coffee and bananas are the major cash crops and staple foods, and there is a major road linking the villages to the neighbouring countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Shalini Singh narrates the story of how her grandfather and one of Indias top science writers Dr Jagjit Singh became the biographer for Pakistans first Nobel Prize winner Abdus Salam. This is the third part of the Salam Series read more Dr Jagjit Singh with his granddaughter Shalini Singh (left), the book cover of the biography he wrote on Pakistan's first Nobel Prize winner Abdus Salam (right). Image Courtesy: Shalini Singh In parts one and two of the Salam Series, we took a deep dive into the life of Pakistans first Nobel laureate Prof. Abdus Salam. While Salams son, Mr Ahmad Salam narrated the brilliance of his father and how Pakistan relegated him to the side because he was an Ahmadiyya, Pakistani scientist and author Prof. Hoodbhoy unravelled the deeper issue in the country, i.e. how Islamabad prioritised religion over building a strong educational and scientific foundation. Advertisement Part three of the series was not on the cards until Ms Shalini Singh gave insights into the fascinating life of her grandfather. Shalini, a journalist and co-founder of the Peoples Archive of Rural India, reached out to Firstpost after reading our series and revealed that her paternal grandfather, Dr Jagjit Singh, had not only been Indias top science writer but was also trusted by Salam to write his biography. The biography in question came out in the year 1992 and was published by Penguin Books. But there is more to Singhs story. As Shalini describes him perfectly, Dr Singh was a mathematician by education, public administrator / railway-man by profession and a science populariser by passion. His love for science, logic and reasoning made him the first Asian to win UNESCOs Kalinga Award for science popularisation in 1963. Its the oldest prize instituted in 1951 and won by people such as Bertrand Russell, Julian Huxley etc. For the purpose of the story, Shalini took some help from Singhs autobiography Reminiscences of a Mathematician Manque, to substantiate her assertions. Reminiscences of a Mathematician Manque, Dr. Jagjit Singhs autobiography Lets take a look at the life of Dr Jagjit Singh and see why Pakistans first Nobel laureate chose a science writer or rather a science populariser to write his story. Who was Dr Jagjit Singh?: Mathematician, railwayman and a science populariser Dr Singh was born in 1912 in Amritsar. He completed his MA in Mathematics from Government College in Lahore back in 1933 and eventually came to contribute significantly to putting a young, post-independence India on the global scientific map. While professionally he was a man of Indian railways, he wrote multiple books on mathematics, cosmology (a branch of astronomy that deals with the evolution of the universe), and operations research (using mathematical analysis for problem-solving), most of which were translated into several foreign languages. Advertisement During the interview, Shalini mentioned that many of his books were bestsellers and his work was celebrated all around the world. Till date, we receive a royalty for his book, Genetics Today, available in Hindi and English, from the National Book Trust of India, she remarked. As a science populariser, success for Singh first came when his first book titled Mathematical Ideas garnered laurels worldwide. Dr Jagjit Singh (extreme right) with former President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan The first draft of the book which was released in the 1950s was called Mathematics and You. The book was rejected by Penguin due to a perceived ideological difference and was published by Hutchinson Group, London and Dover Publications, New York, with the changed name. Right off the bat, the book received rave reviews. Advertisement There ought to be a law that every teacher of mathematics in our secondary schools, technical colleges and universities should read this book and not be allowed to teach his subject until he passes an examination in its contents, wrote Belgian physicist L. Rosenhead. Not only this, the book which also aimed at providing people with high school knowledge of mathematics, an understanding of mathematical ideas used in sciences of modern civilisation, became a bedside read for Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Shalini noted that throughout his career, Singh applied a scientific approach to his public sector work in India, setting a pragmatic example of a philosophical ideal. But before we dive into Singhs life, lets look at his association with the legendary theoretical physicist Abdus Salam. Advertisement Singh and Salam: An association that went beyond borders In the prologue of Salams biography titled Abdus Salam, A Biography, Singh elucidated the chain of events that led Salam to choose him to be his biographer. My sole qualification is that I had written, over a decade ago, a short piece popularizing his new theory unifying two of the four fundamental forces of nature, a feat as seminal now as James Maxwells unification of electric and magnetic forces over a century ago. Since then I have had the honour and happiness of receiving from him, material for writing his biography, Singh wrote while introducing the book. Advertisement As I have had a long-simmering admiration for the meteoric rise of a fellow countryman of the Indian sub-continent to the zenith of the firmament of world science, I have undertaken a task he has chosen to forswear, he added. The biography of Abdus Salam written by Dr Singh Both Salam and Singh belonged to the orbit of scientists who believed that scientific collaboration between India and Pakistan was only possible if both countries improved their turbulent relations. In 1978, the late economist Tarlok Singh, who was a member of the Planning Commission of India since its inception invited my grandad to join him to carry out a series of studies for cooperation in development in South Asia - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Shalini explained. Before the 1978 meeting, Singh recalled that such efforts were spearheaded by Abdus Salam and the Father of the Indian Nuclear Program, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, in the 1960s. Prominent scientists and scholars in both countries, as, Dr HJ Bhabha, chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission, and Abdus Salam, chief scientific advisor to Pakistan, had realised that neither country could afford the massive investments required to implement its plans of economic development and rejuvenation of science without halting their ongoing conflict, Singh wrote in his autobiography. Bhabha and Salam tried in the early 1960s to implement the Pugwash appeal for world disarmament in so far as their own countries were concerned. But they failed to arrange a meeting between Nehru and General Ayub Khan to find ways of resolving the long-simmering conflict between the two countries by peaceful means, he furthered. Mathematician: How Singh didnt get to be a professor at his college in Lahore As mentioned before, Singh wore many hats over the years. He was a mathematician, public administrator and a science populariser. However, there were several turns of events that contributed to the making of the renowned science writer. Shalini recalled that her grandfather wanted to be a mathematician. He won all the academic distinctions, scholarships, and medals that are the normal rewards of doing well in university examinations, Shalini told Firstpost, quoting from his autobiography This led him to believe that as soon as he got off the college hook by passing the last examination, the principal of his college, the famous historian, HLO Garrett, would employ him as a member of his mathematics faculty in the prestigious Government College, Lahore. When after a long enough wait no such offer came, Singh took the Public Service Commission, she added. Interestingly, Salam graduated from the Government College of Lahore and joined the mathematical department as a professor after he returned from Cambridge. Singh: The science populariser While the prestigious Kalinga Prize solidified his legacy as one of the worlds renowned science writers, Singhs passion brought him in contact with great minds who provided a structural foundation for the development of science in India. Between 1960-1965, Singh did a series (later compiled into a book) called Eminent Indian Scientists for The Illustrated Weekly. Dr. Singh eventually compiled the profiles he wrote for IW into a book These works led him to be touted as a science populariser in India and his reputation reached the world. While writing about Indian scientists, some of his interactions were not as awe-inspiring as one might imagine. Shalini mentioned that Singhs series, Eminent Indian Scientists, kicked off with a profile of CV Raman, Indias only science Nobel laureate. However, in his book, Singh recalled his irreverent exchange of words with Raman, who did not like the fact that he was being put in the same league as other Indian scientists. What motivated you to write that piece? If it was to make me and my work better known, there was no point in writing it as I am already so famous, Singh quoted Raman in his book, saying this to him when they met in Bangalore four years later. Singh offered to write another piece reviewing his new work, however, the opportunity didnt fructify. Singh narrated the interaction between him and Nobel Prize Winner CV Raman in his autobiography Reminiscences of a Mathematician Manque In his autobiography, Singh said that Raman wrote to then-I&B Minister Indira Gandhi to get his profile removed from the compiled book with the same title as his IW column. Despite all odds, Ramans profile is still featured in the book. However, not all interactions between Singh and Indian luminaries went downhill. The list of profiles covered by Singh in his book In the Firstpost interview, Shalini also recalled her grandfathers brief but poignant interaction with Homi Bhabha. In his autobiography, Singh mentioned that when Bhabhas profile was published in this series, through a cable exchange, the Indian physicist requested Singh to tone down his praise whilst comparing him with his friend, Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist who was the subject of a Christopher Nolan film last year. Singh looked forward to meeting Bhabha after this exchange but the legendary mind died in a plane crash a few months later. For some mysterious reason, not finding anyone else, All India Radio managed to track down Singh to record a funeral panegyric on Bhabha, Shalini shared from the chapter in his autobiography titled, Bombay, Bhabha and Nehru. The Railwayman Singhs journey with the Indian railways can be mapped out by looking at his work in the pre-partition and post-partition era: Pre-partition era Referring to what Singh wrote in his autobiography, Shalini mentioned that Singh felt pre-partition India was too big to be evacuated by the British in one stroke. He pointed out that one of the consequences of the partition was the sudden disruption of rail communications with our North-East region which includes border areas such as Assam, Tripura, Nagaland and North Bengal. After the partition, most of the railway networks that connected the North-East region to the whole of India fell within the boundaries of Pakistan. To restore the disrupted rail communications with the northeast region, bridge engineer Karnail Singh built the famous Assam rail link in the early 1950s. However, the capacity of this rail link remained an issue. A problem, which was eventually solved by Singh using algebra amid the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Post-Partition era: Singh found solution amid war Singh was with the Indian Railways from 1936 to 1969. To elucidate his contribution to the railways during the Indo-Pak war, Shalini quoted the then-Vice Chancellor of Roorkee University who awarded him an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. The vice chancellors citation at the award ceremony was: In the wake of the Indo-Pak hostilities in September 1965 and closure of the supply to West Bengal, Assam, NEFA, Tripura and Nagaland via the river route through Pakistan, he increased the capacity of the N.E.F Railway all the way from Katihar / Siliguri to Dibrugarh / Badarpur by about 40% almost overnight a unique performance indeed. From 1960-1965 Singh served as the Director of the Indian Railway Board and came to be known as the founding father of operations research in India. Dr Jagjit Singhs work on rail transport has been utilised in several South East Asian nations A visionary mind As a public administrator While recalling his takeaway from a 1968 meeting convened by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Singh gave some thought-provoking insights. The meeting was about amendments to the science policy resolution. Singh realised that he neither fit in as a scientist nor a generalist in that group. However, he noted that proficiency in science did not guarantee success in public administration. The second was the fact that no skills can be codified in textbooks. Singh believed that a good public administrator has to become a machine that transforms decisions using two-way messaging between science and society. Because of his contributions, Singh was asked to review the Union Public Service Commission syllabus in 1984. Dr Jagjit Singh speaking on Chicago Radio. Image Courtesy: Shalini Singh As a science enthusiast, Singh had an extraordinary vision. In 1977, he was called by the University of Texas, Austin, to advise on how to popularise science among graduate students of the Humanities. During his visit, Singh met several celebrated international scientists including a young Indian, Swadesh M Mahajan, who wanted to teach and research at home (India) but had to migrate abroad in the absence of an exciting scientific environment where high-quality teaching and research can flourish. Recalling the meeting, Singh emphasised that any country will grow scientifically if it comes out of the shackles of yes-men. These people must compete as well as cooperate, create, and criticise, learn from one another, and establish a community of equals where the authority is a novel idea, not an Aristotle or Caesar. For science to flourish in India, nothing short of a fundamental restructuring of our institutions is needed, Singh said in his autobiography. It would have been interesting to know how Singh would have perceived Indias recent growth as a scientific powerhouse in the Space and IT sectors. As a grandfather Recalling Singhs journey, Shalini gave an insight into his life as a family man. A man born in small-town India, when the countrys literacy rate was less than 10 per cent, came to evolve gender dynamics in his family. I look up to him as someone who was a feminist and a chivalrous man a rare combination in men not just back then but even today, Shalini exclaimed. Shalini Singh celebrating her fourth birthday with her grandfather Dr Jagjit Singh. Image Courtesy: Shalini Singh At a serendipitous meeting with celebrated economist and Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen at Harvard University during my Nieman fellowship year in 2017, he recalled Singh as an agreeable man, of considerable intellect, and way ahead of his time and that hed read and kept several of his books, she said. Salam-Singh Grandkids: How a story rekindles old ties Shalini mentioned that she was in touch with Salams grandson, Saif, and said they had a WhatsApp group named Salam-Singh Grandkids. When asked how she got connected, Shalini narrated a fascinating story. The way the Google algorithm led me to your first story on Abdus Salam two weeks ago, it was a social media hashtag that led me to Abdus Salams grandson five years ago! In October 2019, Netflix released a documentary on him. I was excited because my grandad had written his biography and this rekindled personal memories of him travelling to Italy in the late 80s early 90s, she said. So, I put out a post on my Instagram about this using one of the hashtags as #abdussalam Incidentally, his grandson, Saif, who lives in California came upon it and wrote to me! We were so excited to learn of each others existence, given our grandfathers history that we quickly formed a WhatsApp group including his mother Aziza (Salams daughter), she added. Shalini mentioned that both of their lives got busy and over time they lost touch. However, it was this series that compelled Shalini to reach out to Saif once again. She shared the link to the series and told him about it. When Shalini shared the news that she spoke to Salams grandson after ages and that the series has a big role to play in it, I must admit that it was the most heartwarming thing that could have ever happened to me as a journalist. This is the third story in the three-part series. Click the following links to read the first two parts. The Malian army and Wagner forces were ambushed after they withdrew from Tinzaouaten, which they had tried to seize from Tuareg-led separatists read more An al Qaeda affiliate said it killed 50 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers in an ambush in Malis northern Kidal region near the border with Algeria on Saturday, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. The ambush occurred on the same day a Tuareg rebel movement known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD) said it had killed and injured dozens of Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries during days of fighting at the border town of Tinzaouaten. Advertisement The death toll is a significant blow, amounting to what appears to be Wagners heaviest defeat since it stepped in two years ago to help Malis junta fight Islamist groups that have been waging insurgencies across the Sahel region since 2012. Mali, where the army seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has said Russian forces there are not Wagner mercenaries but trainers helping local troops with equipment bought from Russia. However, Wagner said in a rare statement on Monday that its fighters battled alongside Malian soldiers from July 22-27 near Tinzaouaten and suffered heavy losses, including the death of their commander Sergei Shevchenko. Several Russian military bloggers reported at least 20 Wagner deaths. SITE on Sunday quoted a statement by al Qaeda branch Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) saying its militants had managed to ensnare a convoy of the Malian army and Wagner mercenaries in a complex ambush south of Tinzaouaten. The Malian army and Wagner forces were ambushed after they withdrew from Tinzaouaten, which they had tried to seize from Tuareg-led separatists. Two security sources said the convoy came under attack from both the separatists and JNIM in remote terrain, but that the extent of coordination between the two groups was unclear. Malian authorities have accused Tuareg and jihadist groups of collaborating. Malis army said in a statement on Monday that it had started a stabilisation operation in the rebel-plagued area on July 19 and launched an attack on July 25. Sandstorms then played in their opponents favour, allowing them to regroup around the convoy. Violent clashes broke out and there were heavy human and material losses, the statement said, without providing further detail. Advertisement 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. Tuareg-led separatists launched a rebellion in 2012 that was pushed back into Malis arid north and later hijacked by Islamist militant groups. Venezuelas recent presidential election has led to widespread protests after President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez claims to have found proof of his sides victory despite Maduros tight control over voting mechanisms read more Opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, right, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado join hands during a press conference the day after the election in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024. AP Venezuelan presidential elections, which took place on Sunday (July 28), were one of the most peaceful in recent memory. However, the aftermath is quite different. Thousands of people have taken to the streets after electoral authorities declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner, handing him a third six-year term. While most demonstrations were peaceful, tensions escalated when riot police used tear gas to disperse protesters who clashed with officers. The opposition has claimed that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, has won the election. They have also said they have the proof to back this claim. Advertisement Oppositions proof of victory Maduros ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela wields tight control over the voting system through a loyal five-member electoral council and a network of longtime local party coordinators. These coordinators have near unrestricted access to voting centers. They have reportedly blocked representatives of opposition parties from entering voting centers to witness the voting process, vote counting, and obtaining copies of the machines final tally sheets. Despite these challenges, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado announced on Monday that they have obtained proof of their victory. They claim to have secured more than 70 per cent of the tally sheets from Sundays election, showing Gonzalez with more than double the votes of Maduro. I speak to you with the calmness of the truth, Gonzalez said as supporters cheered outside campaign headquarters in Caracas. We have in our hands the tally sheets that demonstrate our categorical and mathematically irreversible victory. Gonzalez and Machado have called for calm, inviting supporters to gather peacefully to celebrate their claimed victory. Dear friends, I understand your indignation, but our response from the democratic sectors is of calmness and firmness, Gonzalez said. What next? Countries such as the United States and Chile have expressed serious concerns over the electoral process. Gabriel Boric, the leftist leader of Chile, called the results difficult to believe. Advertisement The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington had serious concerns that the announced tally did not reflect the actual votes or the will of the people. The National Electoral Council has not yet released the official tally sheets from the 30,000 voting machines, leaving the final outcome in a state of uncertainty. Independent electoral observers and the European Union have urged the electoral body to release the results promptly. With inputs from AP The Sheikh Hasina government is set to ban its rival Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, already deregistered as a political party, for its alleged involvement in violence during anti-quota protests that left over 200 dead read more In a development linked to the political rivalry between the ruling and Opposition parties of Bangladesh, a right-wing hardliner Islamist party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is facing a complete ban on its activities. This came as the Bangladesh government decided to restore mobile internet connectivity after an 11-day blackout due to anti-quota protests. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League-led 14-party coalition (Ganabandhan) has decided to ban the right-wing political party that lost its registration from the Election Commission in October 2018 following a high court ruling. This decision was reached during a meeting held at Ganabhaban on Monday night, presided over by Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Advertisement Decision-making at Ganabhaban The Hasina-chaired meeting saw the attendance of several key figures from the ruling alliance. Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Huq Inu, Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon, Toriqat Federation chairman Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, and Bangladesh Sammabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua were among those who gave their stamp of approval for banning the Jamaat. Following the deliberations, these leaders publicly announced the decision in front of the Ganabhaban gates, Bangladesh media report. The leaders held the Jamaat and its alliance partner the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, convicted in multiple corruption cases and currently out of prison following repeated suspensions of her jail term by the Hasina government on medical grounds. Obaidul Quader was quoted as saying, The BNP and Jamaat are plotting to disrupt the countrys stability. The 14-party alliance has unanimously agreed to ban Jamaat-Shibir to eradicate these anti-national elements for the benefit of the nation. How Jamaat has reacted In response, Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman issued a strong condemnation to protest the illegal decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the meeting of the 14-party alliance. Rahman, officially the amir of the party, called the decision to ban the party illegal, extrajudicial and unconstitutional. He said, Awami League-led 14-party alliance is a political platform. A political party or alliance cannot make any decisions about another political party. The law and constitution of Bangladesh has not given this jurisdiction to anyone. If a party or coalition bans another party, one party will continue to ban the other party. Then there will be no such thing as state discipline. Advertisement What the ban means Hasinas ally Maizbhandari said the ban would prevent Jamaat-Shibir, the students wing of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, from holding press conferences or engaging in any political activities within Bangladesh. Awami League leader Biplab Barua hailed this step as a historic victory, asserting that it would help eliminate acts of arson and terrorism in the country. During the meeting, some of the ruling alliance leaders said the home ministry and the law ministry would take the necessary steps to enforce the ban on Jamaat. Why ban a political party Prime Minister Hasina has repeatedly blamed the Jamaat for violent activities and collusion with other militant groups during the recent anti-quota agitation that left several dead and the government paralysed for days. More than 200 protesters died during the protests. Advertisement The Hasina government and the ruling alliance leaders have accused the Jamaat of hijacking the anti-quota agitation across Bangladesh. The government suspects that the Jamaat works for furthering the agenda of Pakistan Armys spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The ruling alliance leaders argued that the government should have banned Jamaat much earlier. Despite losing its registration, Jamaat continued to operate politically as an ally of the BNP-led 20-party alliance and other opposition factions over the past few years. Previously, the Awami League and its allies had called for Jamaats ban several times, but the government had not taken such a step. However, following recent acts of vandalism across the country, the Sheikh Hasina-led government has now decided to act, according to sources within the ruling party alliance. Advertisement Jamaat has a chequered history The Jamaat was originally founded in undivided India in 1941 by controversial Islamist thinker Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. It has a controversial history in Bangladesh, particularly in relation to the 1971 Liberation War. Its role was questioned by international crimes tribunals, which, in their judgments, documented Jamaats involvement in forming auxiliary forces for the Pakistan Army. The Jamaat was found to have propped militant groups such as Al-Badr, Razakar, Al Shams, and the Peace Committee that were implicated in various atrocities against Bengalis during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Following Bangladeshs Independence, the government banned Jamaat and other communal outfits for their opposition to the nations Liberation War and their collaboration with Pakistani forces. However, these parties were permitted to resume political activities during the rule of late President Ziaur Rahman, the founder of the BNP and the father of Khaleda Zia, after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. Advertisement Following a long run of militant hardliner approach to politics, the Jamaat was deregistered in August 2013 as a political party, following a high court verdict. Its registration with the Election Commission was cancelled for being illegal. The Jamaat appealed this decision, but ultimately lost its registration in 2018. PM Hasina-led alliances decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami, however, marks a curious development in Bangladesh as it is a rare move when a political formation has taken a call on proscribing its political rival. It remains to be seen how this impacts the political dynamics and stability in Bangladesh. Government strongly condemns latest incursion at Eastern Beach The Government strongly condemns the incursion into Eastern Beach of a Spanish civil guard patrol boat this afternoon. The presence of a foreign law enforcement vessel so close to the shoreline of Gibraltar represented a danger to swimmers and to other beach users. 'The incursion is also an affront and a challenge to the sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. It can only serve to undermine confidence in Spain and in its law enforcement bodies further still, following a series of such incidents at sea over a number of months.' The Government has said it takes a very serious view of this latest incident and has already raised the matter directly with the United Kingdom. The action of the Spanish patrol boat is totally unacceptable and the officers on board should know better than to indulge in such provocative and dangerous behaviour. The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC said "The actions of the GC are illegal under international law and are a waste of fuel if they are designed to challenge unquestionable British sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The sooner all parts of the spanish political spectrum, from left to right, realise that, the better." He was convicted under six articles of Belaruss criminal code in a secretive trial held at the end of June, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported. Lukashenko held a meeting earlier Tuesday with the investigator in the case and Kriegers defence lawyer to discuss whether to apply the death penalty, his press service said read more Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has decided to pardon a German man facing the death penalty, his office said Tuesday. Lukashenko took the decision to pardon the German citizen Rico Krieger taking into account all the circumstances, the presidents press service said. Krieger, 30, had been shown on Belarusian public television last week, saying I really hope that President (Alexander) Lukashenko will forgive me and pardon me, according to a statement quoted by the Russian news agency TASS. Advertisement He was convicted under six articles of Belaruss criminal code in a secretive trial held at the end of June, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported. Lukashenko held a meeting Tuesday with the investigator in the case and Kriegers defence lawyer to discuss whether to apply the death penalty, his press service said. Ive already said before that the hardest thing in the life of a president is such cases related to the death penalty, Lukashenko was quoted as saying at the meeting. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who lives in exile, said she was relieved that Krieger had been pardoned. Every life is invaluable and we must use every tool to fight for it. But we must also fight for every hostage of the regime. More than 1,300 political prisoners are still held in Belarus, she said in a post on X. - Stop this practice - Krieger said on Belarusian television that he had been asked by Ukraine to photograph military sites in Belarus in October 2023 and that he had placed an explosive device on a railway line near Minsk under their orders. I deeply regret what I did and I am relieved that there were no victims, he said, adding that he had been abandoned by the German government. Advertisement According to a LinkedIn profile that Viasna said belonged to Krieger, he worked as a medic for the German Red Cross and had previously been employed as an armed security officer for the US embassy in Berlin. German foreign ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said Friday that it is unfortunately common practice in Belarus to present people in videos or on television like this and we are of course very concerned that being paraded in this way massively violates that persons dignity. We can only appeal to the Belarusian leadership to stop this practice, Deschauer said. We have been providing the detainee in question with consular services and are very concerned about his case, Deschauer said, adding that we as a government fundamentally reject the death penalty under all circumstances. Advertisement Belarus is reported to have executed as many as 400 people since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, according to Amnesty International, but executions of foreign citizens are rare. The country is run as an authoritarian regime by longtime leader Lukashenko, who has detained thousands of dissidents and civic activists who oppose him. The Conservative Party in the UK has announced six candidates for the leadership contest to succeed Rishi Sunak. Following a crushing election defeat, the party is split between moderates and hard-liners. Candidates include former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, former Home Secretary Priti Patel, and others, each representing different factions. The three-month-long contest will determine the partys future direction and leadership read more The Conservative Party in the UK has announced that six candidates are in the fray for the position of the leader of the Tories . These members of Parliament will be running in the three-month-long contest to succeed Rishi Sunak. The leadership contest follows the Conservative Partys devastating election defeat on July 4, which saw it lose power after 14 years, reduced to 121 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons. The party is now split between moderates, who want to win back centrist voters, and hard-liners, who advocate for tougher migration and law and order policies to regain ground lost to the right-wing Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage. Advertisement Heres a look at the six candidates and the factions they belong to. Priti Patel Position: Former Home Secretary Faction: Right-wing Background: Patel has a reputation for her hardline stance on immigration and law and order, gaining strong support from the partys right-wing faction. As Home Secretary, she was known for her tough policies on national security and public safety. Patel promotes strict measures to control immigration and enhance law enforcement. Kemi Badenoch Position: Former Business Secretary Faction: Right-wing Background: Badenoch, who came third in the partys last leadership election in 2022, is an early favourite with bookmakers. Raised in Nigeria, Badenoch uses language reminiscent of Conservative icon Margaret Thatcher, advocating for a smaller state and the renewal of capitalism. She emphasises the importance of free market principles and seeks to persuade voters of the value of conservatism. Robert Jenrick Position: Former Immigration Minister Faction: Centrist/Right-wing Background: Jenrick has experience in handling immigration issues and has worked in various governmental roles, including as a former immigration minister. He has secured the required support of 10 Conservative lawmakers and is seen as a candidate who can bridge the gap between centrists and right-wing factions within the party. James Cleverly Position: Former Foreign Secretary Faction: Centrist Background: Cleverly is a prominent figure in the partys centrist grouping. He has significant experience in diplomacy and has held various ministerial roles, including in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Known for his pragmatic approach, Cleverly aims to steer the party towards moderate policies and away from the extremes. Advertisement Tom Tugendhat Position: Lawmaker Faction: Centrist Background: Tugendhat is a well-respected member of the Conservative Partys centrist faction. With a strong background in foreign affairs and defence, he is known for his measured and thoughtful approach to policy. Tugendhat advocates for a balanced party direction, focusing on pragmatic and centrist solutions to the countrys challenges. Mel Stride Position: Veteran Lawmaker Faction: Centrist Background: Stride is a seasoned politician with a long history of service within the Conservative Party. He is known for his experience and steady hand, often focusing on fiscal responsibility and moderate reforms. Stride aims to appeal to the centrist voters within the party, promoting pragmatic and balanced policies. Advertisement Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, a key figure on the partys right, has opted not to run but has called for the party to reach out to Reform and integrate Farage into the Conservative ranks. With inputs from AP Chinas ongoing participation in global archaeology is challenging traditional views and may transform the field of archaeology. Experts believe this could lead to a reevaluation of Chinas role in history and a new understanding of its cultural significance on the world stage. read more In recent years, Chinese researchers have been expanding their archaeological efforts globally, traveling to places like Kenya and Saudi Arabia in search of evidence of Chinese seafarers from the 15th century. Image credit- Pixabay President Xi Jinping is working to ensure Chinas civilisation has a lasting global impact by exploring Chinas ancient connections to global events. For years, Chinese archaeologists focused on domestic excavations, but now they are exploring international sites to uncover links between Chinese civilisation and significant historical moments. In southern Uzbekistan, Chinese researchers are excavating burial sites found in 2019, which may hold clues about a mysterious nomadic tribe originating from China, The WSJ reported, adding that these findings could reshape our understanding of the Silk Road, a vast network of trade routes that linked East and West for thousands of years. Advertisement According to Chinas state news agency Xinhua, Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists completed the first phase of a joint project to excavate the remains of an ancient empire on the Silk Road. The dig in Surxondaryo, a region in southern Uzbekistan, uncovered a significant number of artefacts and dozens of burials from the Kushan Empire, a vital hub on the Silk Road, it said. The Kushan Empire, which emerged in the 1st century AD, encompassed regions of present-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, along with parts of India and Iran. This made it a vital hub along the Silk Road. In recent years, Chinese researchers have been expanding their archaeological efforts globally, traveling to places like Kenya and Saudi Arabia in search of evidence of Chinese seafarers from the 15th century. The researchers are also investigating centuries-old Chinese shipwrecks in the South China Sea to support Beijings disputed maritime claims. Chinas continuous involvement in international archaeology is reshaping long-held perceptions. Scholars suggest this could revolutionise the field of archaeology and alter the global understanding of Chinas historical significance. Xi Jinping has urged Chinese scholars, artists, and journalists to enhance the global narrative about Chinas history. In a 2022 speech, he emphasised the lack of Western comprehension of Chinas ancient civilisation, which he believes hampers a full understanding of the countrys past, present, and future. Advertisement According to Chinas National Cultural Heritage Administration, China is now involved in over three dozen overseas archaeological digs, a significant increase from virtually none before 2010. This period has also seen a substantial rise in the number of articles by China-based archaeologists published in international journals on non-Chinese topics. A key area of focus is the history of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a major infrastructure project initiated by Xi in 2013 to revive the historical influence of Chinese empires via the Silk Road. The BRI is part of Chinas strategy to enhance its geocultural power and extend the reach of Chinese civilisation beyond its modern borders, the WSJ quoted Tim Winter, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore who has studied Chinas heritage promotion through the BRI as saying. Advertisement Given the fragmentary nature of archaeological evidence, there is significant scope for interpretation. This ambiguity allows Chinese researchers to push the boundaries of the field in new directions, potentially reshaping global archaeological narratives. In totalitarian China where the ruling Communist Party bars free speech and criticism, protests are almost non-existent and are almost always brutally crushed read more In a rare defiance of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a protest banner has come in Chinas Hunan province, according to a report. A user on X (formerly Twitter), who appears to be a critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping, posted videos of a protest banner in Xinhua County in Chinas Hunan province. The banner on the overbridge calls Xi, the most powerful ruler since Communist Chinas founder Mao Zedong, as a dictator or authoritarian depending on the interpretation. Advertisement British-Chinese journalist Cindi Yu shared the post and translated the banner as: Freedom, democracy, elections! Protest school, protest work, protest authoritarian traitor Xi Jinping! Wow, another bridge protest in China. Freedom, democracy, elections! Protest school, protest work, protest authoritarian traitor Xi Jinping https://t.co/oLtIU3NCys Cindy Yu (@CindyXiaodanYu) July 30, 2024 In totalitarian China where the ruling Communist Party bars free speech and criticism, protests are almost non-existent and are almost always brutally crushed. But since the Covid-19 pandemic, people have indeed protested against Xi and CPCs rule. Sometimes, these translated into clashes with regime forces in opposition to Xis Zero Covid policies and sometimes these were in the form of similar banners. Protests against traitor Xi during Zero Covid regime In October 2022, when the Zero Covid policy was being firmly implemented, banners appeared in capital Beijing that called Xi a dictator and traitor. rare protest against xis zero covid policies captured in beijing before swift removal one banner read: dont be a slave, be a citizen another: remove dictator and national traitor xi jinping pic.twitter.com/ogLwzNkoNe ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) October 13, 2022 In a separate post on X, journalist Selina Wang translated the banners as saying: Go on strike. Remove dictator and national traitor Xi Jinping and Say no to covid test, yes to food. No to lockdown, yes to freedomDont be a slave, be a citizen Rare demonstration in Beijing. 2 banners hung over a busy overpass. One reads: "Go on strike. Remove dictator and national traitor Xi Jinping." The other says "say no to covid test, yes to food. No to lockdown, yes to freedom...Dont be a slave, be a citizen." pic.twitter.com/t1Y1GeGP5m Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) October 13, 2022 Advertisement In November 2022, multiple riots were reported in Zhengzhou and Guangzhou. In Zhengzhou, hundreds of workers at Foxconns iPhone plant protested against the company and Xis regime. In Guangzhou, locals who were angry with the Zero Covid policy clashed with the police and uprooted barriers in an extremely rare case of publicly-recorded clashes with regimes forces. Protests almost non-existent in China Unlike democracies like India and the United States, the Communist Partys totalitarian China does not allow any protests or dissent. China has almost always crushed overt protests with brute force. In the recent decades, the only two instances of mass-protests have been the Tibetan uprising in 2008 against Chinese occupation of Tibet and repression and erasure of the native heritage and culture and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Advertisement While China brutally crushed the Tibetan uprising to the extent that protests there are unimaginable even today, the crackdown was even harsher in 1989 when the regime forces massacred thousands of protesters in Beijing. In April-May 1989, millions of people participated in protests in Beijings Tiananmen Square to demand greater freedoms and less censorship. In May, the CPC regime imposed martial law and deployed military on June 3-4 to crush the democratic movement. Some estimates say up to 2,00,000 soldiers along with armoured vehicles and tanks were deployed. While the Chinese regime said around 200 civilians died, protest leaders said regime forces killed around 3,400 people. Sir Alan Donald, the British Ambassador to China at the time, said in a diplomatic cable that up to 10,000 people were killed. Advertisement Donalds cable, declassified in 2017, said the source for the 10,000-estimate was a person who was passing on information given him by a close friend who is currently a member of the [Chinese] State Council. The State Council is the equivalent of a cabinet in the Indian or British system. He said in the cable that protesters were literally crushed by armoured vehicles. He said they crushed even the dead. Students linked arms but were mown down including soldiers. APCs [armoured personnel carriers] then ran over bodies time and time again to make pie and remains collected by bulldozer. Remains incinerated and then hosed down drains. Four wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted, said Donald in the cable. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te emphasised the importance of democratic unity at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China conference, countering Beijings longstanding strategy to isolate Taiwan through diplomatic, military, and economic pressures read more In Taiwan, a conference on China has attracted a record number of delegates despite pressure from Chian. Reuters Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te welcomed what he described as the largest-ever delegation of foreign lawmakers to Taiwan. The attendance was even more significant in light of the fact that China had tried to pressurise lawmakers to skip the gathering. Chinese pressure tactics Legislators from at least six countries reported intense pressure from Chinese diplomats urging them to skip a China-focused conference in Taipei. Politicians from Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia, and one unnamed Asian country received numerous texts, calls, and urgent meeting requests intended to conflict with their travel plans. Advertisement China views Taiwan as a renegade province and has threatened to annex the self-governed island by force if necessary. President Lai, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), maintains that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation and does not seek formal independence. High attendance at the conference Despite Chinas efforts, the robust turnout of foreign lawmakers in Taipei signals a significant pushback against Beijings attempts to isolate Taiwan. Referring to the high attendance, Lai said, This demonstrates the support and the value various other countries place on Taiwan." He added that this also sends an important message to democratic countries around the world. Maintaining democracy requires unity, and we must protect democracy together. Lais comments came during a conference organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an international group of several hundred lawmakers critical of Beijings policies. Threat to one is threat to all Since Lai took office in May, Beijing has ramped up its pressure on Taiwan, including conducting extensive military drills involving ships and planes to signal its displeasure at his inauguration. This marks a continuation of Chinas long-term strategy of diplomatic, military, and economic pressure on Taiwan, which has been under DPP rule for three terms. Advertisement Id like to stress that Chinas threat to any individual country is a threat to the world, Lai stated. He underscored Taiwans commitment to working with other democracies to counter the threat of authoritarian expansionism. With inputs from agencies The National Hospital Survey, a network that monitors crises in the countrys hospitals, reported two dead in the state of Aragua and one in the capital Caracas. It said 44 people had been injured read more A demonstrator reacts when Molotov cocktails hit the ground in front of security forces during protests against election results after Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez claimed victory in Sunday's presidential election, in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. REUTERS Amid widespread protests in Venezuela over President Nicolas Maduros contested reelection, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino assured on Tuesday that Maduro retains the absolute loyalty and unconditional support of the armed forces. The unrest, which erupted following Maduros victory in the disputed election, has resulted arrests of over 749 people and at least four deaths and numerous injuries. The violence during the protests has also led to the arrest of Freddy Superlano, a prominent opposition leader, as tensions escalate across the country. Advertisement Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday at angry protesters challenging the official results, which were questioned by the opposition and neighboring countries. Thousands of people flooded the streets of several neighborhoods in the capital Caracas, chanting Freedom, freedom! and This government is going to fall! Some ripped down and burned Maduro campaign posters while at least two statues of Hugo Chavez the late authoritarian socialist who led Venezuela for more than a decade and handpicked Maduro as his successor were knocked down by protesters. In addition to the deaths, 44 were reported injured, according to the National Hospital Survey, a network that monitors crises in the countrys hospitals Two of the dead were in the state of Aragua and one in Caracas, the network said. The NGO Foro Penal meanwhile reported one more dead in the northwestern state of Yaracuy. Amid growing fears of violence, a leading figure in the opposition coalition, Freddy Superlano, was kidnapped by black-clad officials, his Voluntad Popular said on X. - Fears of fraud - The elections were held amid widespread fears of fraud by the government and a campaign tainted by accusations of political intimidation. The National Electoral Council (CNE) certified the reelection of Maduro, 61, to another six-year term until 2031, with the president winning 51.2 percent of votes cast compared to 44.2 percent for Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Advertisement But opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told reporters that a review of available voting records clearly showed that the next president will be Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who replaced her on the ballot after she was barred from running by Maduro-aligned courts. The records showed a mathematically irreversible lead for Gonzalez Urrutia, she said, with 6.27 million votes to Maduros 2.75 million. The Organization of American States, a regional body, charged Tuesday there was exceptional manipulation of the election results that handed Maduro his win. Machado called for families to turn out Tuesday for popular assemblies nationwide to show support for a peaceful transition of power. Advertisement Maduros campaign manager Jorge Rodriguez, also called on X for large marches starting this Tuesday to celebrate the victory. In Caracas on Monday, AFP observed members of the national guard firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, some wearing motorbike helmets and bandanas tied over their faces. Some responded by throwing rocks. Protests were reported even in poor areas of Caracas that had been bastions of support for Maduro. Shots were heard in some areas. The United Nations, United States, European Union and several Latin American countries called for a transparent process, while allies including China, Russia and Cuba congratulated Maduro. Nine Latin American countries called in a joint statement for a complete review of the results with the presence of independent electoral observers. Chiles president said the outcome was hard to believe. Advertisement Amid the tensions, Peru recalled its ambassador and Panama said it was suspending relations with Venezuela. Caracas meanwhile said it was withdrawing diplomatic staff from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. - Bloodbath warning - Independent polls had predicted Maduro would lose Sundays vote. He has been at the helm of the once-wealthy oil-rich country since 2013. Amid US sanctions and economic mismanagement, the past decade has seen GDP drop by 80 percent, pushing more than seven million of Venezuelas 30 million citizens to emigrate. Maduro is accused of locking up critics and harassing the opposition in a climate of rising authoritarianism. Advertisement In the run-up to the election, he warned of a bloodbath if he lost. Sundays election was the product of a deal reached last year between the government and opposition. That agreement led the United States to temporarily ease sanctions imposed after Maduros 2018 reelection, rejected as a sham by dozens of Latin American and other countries. Sanctions were snapped back after Maduro reneged on agreed conditions. Venezuela boasts the worlds largest oil reserves but production capacity has been severely diminished in recent years. The Israeli army said it has also struck a Hezbollah weapons storage facility, terror infrastructure sites, military structures and a launcher in southern Lebanon read more Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese border village of Khiam on July 30, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. Source: AFP. The Israeli army said Tuesday it had struck around 10 Hezbollah targets overnight in seven different areas of south Lebanon, killing one fighter from the Iran-backed militant group. The army also struck a Hezbollah weapons storage facility, terror infrastructure sites, military structures and a launcher in southern Lebanon, the army said. The strikes came after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit a Druze Arab town in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Saturday and killed 12 children aged between 10 and 16. Advertisement The Druze, who follow an offshoot of Shiite Islam, are an Arabic-speaking community present in Israel, Lebanon and Syria, including the Golan. On a visit to Majdal Shams on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would deliver a severe response to the strike. Israel says the rocket that killed the children was an Iranian-made Falaq and was fired by its ally Hezbollah. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for firing the rocket though it clamed multiple launches towards Israel on Saturday. Israeli forces and Hezbollah have been engaged in near-daily clashes along the border since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. The violence has so far killed 22 soldiers and 24 civilians on the Israeli side, including in the Golan, according to army figures. At least 527 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, according to an AFP tally. Most have been fighters, but the toll includes at least 104 civilians. The Gaza war broke out when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still captive in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead. Advertisement Israels retaliatory military campaign has killed 39,400 people, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which does not provide details of civilian and militant deaths. In recent years, the US Supreme Court has given highly unpopular rulings such as revoking the federal protection to abortion and granting immunity to president for all official actions read more Amid historic low confidence in the Supreme Court, US President Joe Biden has proposed a bold reform of the institution. In a speech to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, Biden on Monday highlighted that the Supreme Court has been weaponised by an extreme and unchecked conservative agenda of a court. He went on to outline the three steps that would be part of the reform: the imposition of term limit on Supreme Court judges, the repeal of presidential immunity, and the institution of a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics. Advertisement Biden further said, On top of its extreme decisions, the court is mired in a crisis of ethics. These scandals involving the justices have caused public opinion to question the courts fairness and independence that are essential to carrying out its mission of equal justice under the law. Currently, the Supreme Court has a 6:9 conservative majority with three of the judges appointed by former US President Donald Trump. The judges have issued several controversial rulings in recent years that have boosted Trumps far-right Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and have loosened the long-held social liberties in the United States. In recent years, the Supreme Court has revoked the federal constitutional protection to abortion, loosened gun safety measures, and granted immunity to presidents. All of these rulings have been seen as partisan and have been severely contested. Bidens 3-point reform agenda for Supreme Court Each of the item on Bidens agenda for the Supreme Court seeks to undo specific rulings that the conservative bench has issued in recent years. Some of these rulings, such as the recent grant of immunity to presidents for actions in their official capacity, have generated widespread angst across the nation and has fuelled the fears that the court is no longer an impartial institution. Advertisement Firstly, Biden proposed term limits on Supreme Court judges. Under the current system, judges have a lifetime term. This gives them and the president who appoints them decades of influence over the nations judiciary. Biden has proposed an 18-year term limit on a Supreme Courts judges tenure. A fact sheet released by the White House said this would allow a president to appoint a new judge every two years. Just like a president has term limits, Supreme Court judges should also have a limit, said Biden. Secondly, Biden proposed a constitutional amendment that would undo the grant of immunity to presidents for official actions. He said that the ruling went against the founding principles of the United States and removed all checks and balances. Advertisement This comes in the wake of this months ruling in a case that Trump had filed. In the ruling, the court ruled that Trump and all presidents had immunity for all official actions. Trump had filed the case as he faces a slew of cases and remains the only president to be convicted. Thirdly, Biden proposed the institution of a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics. The current code is voluntary. The proposal is rooted in the series of scandals involving conservative judges Clarence Thomas and Samuel A Alito. While Thomas hid gifts and luxurious trips sponsored by a billionaire benefactor for years, Alito flew flags of January 6 insurrectionists at his residence. Advertisement We are not a nation of kings & dictators Forcefully rejecting the immunity granted by the Supreme Court to presidents, Biden said the decision went against the founding principles of the nation that every person is answerable to law irrespective of whoever they are. He United States and the Supreme Courts presidential immunity does away with the principle. Biden said, I share the founders belief that the president must answer to the law. The president is accountable in the exercise of the great powers of the presidency. We are a nation of laws, not kings and dictators. Referring to the civil rights laws enacted decades ago, Biden said that what a president could do to such laws with the immunity. Advertisement For all practical purposes, the courts decision almost certainly means that the president can violate the oath, flout our laws and face no consequences. Folks, just imagine what a president could do trampling civil rights and liberties, given such immunity, said Biden. Even though Biden has proposed an ambitious reform, it is very hard to be implemented. It would need two-third of votes in the Congress and as the House of Representatives remains occupied by the Republicans, that is unlikely to happen. The alternative mechanism is equally unlikely. As an alternative, The New York Times noted that such constitutional amendments would need to pass at a convention called for by two-thirds of the states, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Masoud Pezeshkian has taken oath as the President of Iran. Reformist leader Pezeshkian had defeated hardliner leader Saeed Jalili in the Iranian presidential election earlier this month. Pezeshkian was sworn in Tuesday as the President of Iran in the parliament at a ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries. I as the president, in front of the Holy Koran and the people of Iran, swear to almighty God to be the guardian of the official religion and the Islamic Republic system and the constitution of the country, said Pezeshkian in the ceremony, as per AFP. Advertisement Of the six candidates approved by the Guardian Council to contest the elections, Pezeshkian was the only reformist and the rest were all hardliners. Three of the hardliners were from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the highly influential armed force of Iran thats separate from the regular military and reports directly to the Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The IRGC is the Supreme Leaders sword-arm. In Iran, all key decisions are taken by the Supreme Leader and policies are set by him, but implementation of these decisions and policies is the domain of the government headed by the president. This means that while there will not be a major change with reformist Pezeshkians swearing-in, the style of governance and international engagement of Iran may see a evolve to some extent. In an earlier interview, Iran scholar Deepika Saraswat further said that Pezeshkians campaign focused on rights of women, Irans ethnic minorities, border areas, and fostering greater unity in the country. This means while there may not be a substantial shift on mandatory hijab rule, there may be renewal of a reformist agenda of incremental reforms in social and cultural issues. The Iranian president can channel the aspirations and demands of the people. Pezeshkian, like any president, can be a vehicle for advancing those aspirations. In the past, reformist and moderate presidents have acted as pressure groups to negotiate with the more conservative establishment, says Saraswat, a scholar of Iran at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). Advertisement Since the Guardian Council which approves presidential candidates is appointed by the Supreme Leader, the fact that a reformist like Pezeshkian was allowed to run is telltale of the direction that Khamenei wants for Iran. Pezeshkians approval as a candidate and subsequent election comes at a time when the Iranian regime remains insecure about internal stability which was shaken by nationwide monthslong protests in 2022-23 in the wake of the custodial killing of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman accused of violating the hijab rules. Therefore, allowing Pezeshkian a reformist to be the president means the regime may be looking to placate the domestic audience. Diversifying the pool of candidates with a bunch of hardliners, IRGC veterans, and a reformist also gives the elections a dash of legitimacy. Advertisement A relatively diverse pool of candidates brings some democratic competition, possibly generating participation from the reformist constituency and undecided voters. A higher turnout boosts the legitimacy of the system, said Saraswat to Firstpsot in the earlier interview. Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist politician and heart surgeon, is set to take office as Irans president today. He begins his tenure when Iran hopes for greater freedom of choices for women domestically and while Israel-Hamas war threatens regional peace read more Iran is poised for a significant shift as Masoud Pezeshkian takes the oath of office as the countrys new president today. Endorsed by Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday, Pezeshkian faces the monumental task of steering a nation grappling with economic sanctions, domestic unrest, and complex foreign relations. Known for his reformist stance and a distinguished career in both politics and medicine, Pezeshkians presidency marks a critical juncture for Irans future. Advertisement 10 things to know about Masoud Pezeshkian A heart surgeon: Masoud Pezeshkian is a renowned heart surgeon, having trained and practised extensively before entering politics. His medical career has endowed him with a reputation for precision and dedication, qualities that he brings to his political life. A successful health minister: Pezeshkians political journey began with his tenure as the Minister of Health from 2001 to 2005, where he was known for his efforts to improve Irans healthcare system. He later served as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, showcasing his leadership skills and political acumen. A reformist, pro-women rights leader: A notable reformist, Pezeshkian advocates for greater freedoms and rights within Iran, including womens rights and internet freedom. His stance often puts him at odds with the more conservative factions within the Iranian government. A robust election victory: Pezeshkians victory in the snap presidential election on July 5 was decisive, securing almost three million more votes than his hardliner rival, Saeed Jalili. This win reflects a public desire for change amid widespread discontent and political apathy. But challenges galore: As president, Pezeshkian inherits a nation in economic turmoil, exacerbated by international sanctions over its nuclear programme. His administration will need to address these sanctions and work towards economic stabilisation and growth. A less confrontationist Iran?: Pezeshkian advocates for a less confrontational foreign policy, emphasising engagement and economic cooperation over conflict. He supports reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and improving ties with the West, which he sees as essential for Irans economic recovery. Good news for Irans minorities: Domestically, Pezeshkian has called for greater inclusion of ethnic and religious minorities in the government. He has also been vocal about the need for cultural reforms, particularly concerning mandatory hijab laws and internet censorship. Hijab wont be mandatory for women?: Known for his criticism of the governments human rights record, Pezeshkian has been a prominent voice against the enforcement of mandatory hijab and the actions of the morality police. His presidency could herald significant changes in Irans human rights landscape. Low voter turnout and legitimacy: Despite his election victory, Pezeshkian faces a legitimacy challenge, as the election saw a historically low turnout. He will need to work hard to garner broad public support and address the widespread discontent within the country. Timing of presidency: West Asia war: Pezeshkians presidency comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. His approach to foreign policy will be crucial in navigating these complexities and seeking to stabilise Irans position in the region. Masoud Pezeshkians presidency marks a potential turning point for Iran, as the nation awaits to see how his reformist agenda and pragmatic approach will shape its future. Minister Santos presents certificates at The Mindspace Project Camp Awards Ceremony Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture, Tourism and Youth, The Hon. Minister Christian Santos GMD MP was delighted to present certificates at The Mindspace Project Summer Camp awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the John Mackintosh Hall with approximately forty youngsters from the age of four in attendance, along with The Mindspace Project representatives Galadriel McGrail, Kationa Matto, Abigail Manasco and volunteer Leaders and Buddies. With the theme Knowing Our Gibraltar, the two week long summer camp has been run in collaboration with Gibraltar Cultural Services. The children have learnt about the Rocks unique offerings, both touristic and cultural, including exploring the Northern Defences and going to see the dolphins. Minister Santos said: I am delighted to present these certificates. The Mindspace Project does great work with young people aged four to sixteen all year round, focusing on wellbeing and Fitness with a Difference. Thanks to the organisers and volunteers for preparing such a fun and educational programme for the summer camp for our youth to enjoy. Prison transfers are notoriously murky in Russia, with family and lawyers provided no details and prisoners often losing contact with the outside world for weeks. But they usually occur after a conviction or lost appeal, and the disappearance of several high-profile political prisoners at once is extremely rare. Apparently, we are on the cusp of a very large-scale exchange, Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said Tuesday on Telegram read more At least five Russian political prisoners have been moved from jails and prison colonies in recent days, in an apparently coordinated move that has raised speculation of a possible prisoner exchange. Russia has sentenced dozens to lengthy terms of incarceration for opposing the Kremlin and Moscows military offensive against Ukraine. Prison transfers are notoriously murky in Russia, with family and lawyers provided no details and prisoners often losing contact with the outside world for weeks. Advertisement But they usually occur after a conviction or lost appeal, and the disappearance of several high-profile political prisoners at once is extremely rare. Apparently, we are on the cusp of a very large-scale exchange, Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said Tuesday on Telegram. Lawyers for jailed opposition politician Ilya Yashin said on Tuesday he had been moved from his penal colony in the western region of Smolensk, where he was serving eight and a half years for breaching Russias military censorship laws. Ilya Yashin was sent from the colony to an unknown destination, said his Telegram channel, which is run by his lawyers and supporters. Two aides of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny Lilia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeyeva also disappeared from their prison colonies in recent days. They ran regional headquarters for Navalny and were sentenced on extremism charges. Chanyshevas husband said on X that she had been moved from her prison in Siberia on July 26. In the case of Fadeyeva, prison officials in Novosibirsk refused to answer her lawyers questions about where she was taken to, when, and what it was in connection with, her allies wrote on Monday on Telegram. Advertisement Supporters for artist Alexandra Skochilenko, jailed for seven years for replacing supermarket price tags with messages opposing the Ukraine offensive, also said she had been moved from a jail in Saint Petersburg. And rights campaigner Oleg Orlov, a key figure in the Nobel-winning Memorial group, was similarly moved from his detention centre, his lawyers said on Monday. He was still contesting his conviction of two and a half years for discrediting the Russian army, Memorial said in a social media post. The United States and Moscow have both said they are actively discussing an exchange for US journalist Evan Gershkovich convicted in a fast-track trial earlier this month to 16 years for spying in a case rejected as a sham by his employer and the White House. Advertisement After Navalnys death in an Arctic prison colony in February, President Vladimir Putin said he had given approval for talks on releasing him as part of a deal with the West. The United States is leading a high-speed diplomatic effort to prevent Israel from launching strikes on Beirut following a deadly Hezbollah-linked rocket attack on the Golan Heights. Amid escalating tensions, Washington is urging restraint to avoid a full-blown conflict. France and other allies are also mediating, stressing the importance of sparing civilian areas and key infrastructure in the Lebanese capital read more Mourners carry coffins, during the funeral of children who were killed at a soccer pitch by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, on Sunday. Reuters The United States is leading a diplomatic effort to deter Israel from striking Beirut or major civilian infrastructure in response to a deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights. Washington is racing to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah after the attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan killed 12 youths over the weekend, five individuals familiar with the initiative, which include Lebanese and Iranian officials, along with Middle Eastern and European diplomats, told Reuters. Advertisement Israel and the US have blamed Hezbollah for the rocket strike, although the group has denied responsibility. Hezbollah, the most powerful faction within Irans Axis of Resistance network of regional proxy groups, is allied with the Palestinian group Hamas. It has been exchanging fire with the Israeli military across Lebanons southern border since the Gaza war erupted last October. Avoiding a broader war The primary focus of the intense diplomatic efforts has been to urge Israel against targeting densely populated Beirut, the southern suburbs that form Hezbollahs heartland, or critical infrastructure such as airports and bridges, sources were cited as saying. White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Israel had every right to respond to the Golan strike, but stressed that nobody wanted a broader war. As for conversations over the weekend, you bet weve had them and we had them at multiple levels, he said. But Im not going to detail the specifics of those conversations. A French diplomat told Reuters that since the Golan attack, Paris had also been involved in passing messages between Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate the situation. France, which has historical ties with Lebanon dating back to its mandate from 1920 until independence in 1943, has about 20,000 citizens in the country, many of whom are dual nationals. Lebanons Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab, who said he had been in contact with US mediator Amos Hochstein since Saturdays Golan attack, told Reuters that Israel could avoid major escalation by sparing the capital and its environs. If they avoid civilians and they avoid Beirut and its suburbs, then their attack could be well calculated, he said. Advertisement Israels intentions Israeli officials have indicated a desire to weaken Hezbollah without dragging the region into a full-blown war. However, the two Middle Eastern and European diplomats noted that Israel had made no commitment to avoiding strikes on Beirut, its suburbs, or civilian infrastructure. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet, which comprises 10 ministers and has dictated policy on the Gaza war and Hezbollah, authorised the premier and the defence minister to decide on the manner and timing of the response against Hezbollah. This decision, coupled with the abstention of Netanyahus far-right coalition partners Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir suggests that Israel has opted for a response short of the all-out war that some politicians have advocated for. Advertisement With inputs from Reuters In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, deepening worries about the expanding ties between the countries read more Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul prior to their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. AP Australias foreign minister said Tuesday the recent defense deal between North Korea and Russia was destabilizing and risky for the world, after she visited the tense border village shared by North and South Korea on Tuesday. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, deepening worries about the expanding ties between the countries. The U.S. and its partners have steadfastly accused North Korea of supplying much-needed conventional arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. Advertisement I also want to say something about the security pact between North Korea and Russia. And say again, this is destabilizing. This is risky for the world and again we say Russia is behaving in ways which are not conducive to peace but are escalatory, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters following a visit to the southern side of the Korean border village of Panmunjom. Wang condemned North Koreas extended run of missile tests that she said threaten regional security. We share great concerns about DPRKs escalatory reactions, destabilizing actions, she said, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Also Tuesday, Wang met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul and agreed to work together with the international community to cope with the North Korean-Russian military partnerships. The two also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic security, climate change and other areas, according to South Koreas Foreign Ministry. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been running high in recent months, with North Korea flying trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea and continuing weapons tests. South Korea has responded by resuming anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts and live-fire drills at border areas. Under Spanish law, one can refuse to ansewer questions in a case affecting close family members including spouses. A Spanish judge arrived at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs official residence on Tuesday to question him in a graft probe into his wifes business dealings, a case that has piled pressure on his fragile minority government read more panish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Maria Begona Gomez Fernandez leave after meeting with Pope Francis, at the Vatican, October 24, 2020. REUTERS Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez refused on Tuesday to answer question from a judge investigating alleged influence-peddling by his wife, a case that has put pressure on his fragile minority government. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado, who is heading the preliminary inquiry, went to Sanchezs official residence to question the Socialist prime minister as a witness but he invoked his right not to testify, lawyers who were present at the hearing told reporters. Advertisement Under Spanish law, one can refuse to answer questions in a case affecting close family members, including spouses. The hearing lasted exactly two minutes, Antonio Camacho, the lawyer for Sanchezs wife Begona Gomez, told reporters outside the residence, adding that Sanchez was absolutely calm. Gomez also invoked her right to remain silent under questioning by the judge earlier this month. She has not spoken publicly about the case but Sanchez has denied any wrongdoing by his wife and dismissed the allegations as part of a right-wing smear campaign against his left-wing government. The case has stoked acrimony and the main opposition conservative opposition Popular Party (PP) has urged Sanchez to resign. Sanchez has not wanted to testify before the courts but he will answer to the Spanish people, PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo wrote on social network X shortly after the hearing ended. - Look bad - Gomez is being investigated for alleged influence-peddling and corruption following a complaint filed by an anti-graft NGO Manos Limpias Spanish for Clean Hands which has links to the far right. The only time a sitting Spanish prime minister has testified in a judicial case was in 2017, when Mariano Rajoy was summoned in a graft case that led to the conviction of several members of his party, the PP. Advertisement Sanchez asked to testify in writing, as allowed under Spanish law for top government officials, but Peinado rejected the request, arguing he would quiz him in his role as Gomezs spouse. The premier has the right to remain silent but politically this could look bad, University of Alicante criminal law professor Bernardo del Rosal told AFP. It could create the image that he is arrogant, he added. Sanchez presided over a regular cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning and is set to travel to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca for a summer holiday audience with King Felipe VI. Gomez, who has worked in fundraising for years, is alleged to have used her husbands position as leverage within her professional circles, notably with businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes, who was seeking public funding. Advertisement In his testimony, Barrabes who teaches part of a masters course at Madrids Complutense University that is run by Gomez acknowledged meeting her several times at the premiers official residence. Sanchez was present at two of those meetings, he said. Barrabes who obtained two letters of recommendation from Gomez before pitching for a public tender worth several million euros (dollars) said they only talked about matters of innovation, judicial sources said. - Controversial decisions - Spanish prosecutors have failed to have the case dismissed. Sanchezs supporters have accused Peinado, whose daughter is a PP city councillor, of political bias. The judge has taken controversial decisions seen as favouring the right. Advertisement In 2015 he accepted another Manos Limpias complaint over tweets made by two left-wing Madrid city councillors deemed offensive. Peinado allowed a lawyer from the far-right party Vox to accompany him to question Sanchez as part of the probe. Vox is taking part in the investigation as a so-called popular prosecutor a set-up under Spanish law that allows citizens or organisations to be an accuser in court. When the probe was opened in April, Sanchez took five days off to consider his future but ultimately stayed on. Sanchez, who has been in office since 2018, has struggled to pass legislation since he returned to power last year after an inconclusive general election. British Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary and his terrorist group, Al-Muhajiroun, were linked to 21 acts of terrorism in the United Kingdom and abroad read more A British court has sentenced radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary for life. Last week, the court had convicted Choudary, 57, for directing a terrorist group. He had long been on the security services watch for fuelling terrorism and recruiting a new generation of terrorists in the West. The Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday sentenced Choudary for life. He will have to serve at least 28 years behind bars and may never leave jail alive as he would be eligible for parole only after he turns 85. Advertisement Previously, Choudary was jailed in 2016 on a five-and-a-half-year term for terrorism but was released in 2018 after serving around half of the term. Choudarys co-accused Khaled Hussein, 29, was also held guilty for being a member of banned organisation. The court sentenced him to five years in jail. Who is Anjem Choudary, UKs notorious preacher? Choudary is the most notorious radical Islamist preacher in the United States. Even though he has been active in Islamist activities since 1990s, Choudary first made the waves in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks when he praised the terrorists. He had also announced the intention to convert the Buckingham Palace, the seat of the British monarch, into a mosque. Choudary was the leader of Al-Muhajiroun, a proscribed terrorist organisation he founded Al-Muhajiroun in 1996. He was central to its operations for nearly 30 years. He ran it under names like Islam4UK and Muslims Against Crusades, according to Sky News. Choudary became Al-Muhajirouns leader in 2014 after the previous leader and fellow radical Islamist preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed was jailed in Lebanon in 2014. Bakri Muhammad had hailed the 7/7 bombers as fantastic four. The 7/7 bombings refer to four suicide bombings in London on July 7, 2005, that killed at least 52 people and injured more than 770, according to the British police. The bombers had struck the London underground trains and bus. Advertisement Mark Wall, the judge who convicted and sentenced Choudary, said that Chaudarys group Al-Muhajiroun intended to spread Sharia law, the Islamic law, by violent means to as much of the world as possible, according to BBC News. Anjem Choudary linked to 21 acts of terror Choudary and his associates at Al-Muhajiroun have been linked to at least 21 different terrorist plots, according to Sky News. Choudary and the Al-Muhajiroun have also been held guilty for inspiring people to join other terrorist groups like the ISIS in the Middle East. In 2023, one of the two brothers from Englands Birmingham, who were jailed for planning to join ISIS in Afghanistan, said Choudary was his inspiration. One of his lieutenants was Abu Rumaysah al-Britani, a converted Muslim who was previously named Siddhartha Dhar. Abu Rumaysah was a member of ISIS and was infamous for his cruelty and was called Jihadi Sid. Advertisement Choudary himself was an associate of Woolwich killer Michael Adebolajo, London Bridge terrorist Khuram Butt, and Fishmongers Hall attacker Usman Khan, according to Sky News. In 2022, Choudary said in an online lecture that jihad was the obligation of Muslims. Choudary also encouraged followers to fight the crusaders and told them last year that theres no doubt, jihad is obliged upon us, according to Sky News. Is terrorism part of the deen [faith]? Yes, even more - horrifying is part of the deen, even to horrify the people, said Choudary in another lecture. How was Choudary convicted & sentenced After being released in 2018, Choudary began giving online lectures to spread terrorist ideologies and recruit terrorists. His online operations were infiltrated by an undercover operation of the British, American, and Canadian security services. Advertisement Choudary gave approximately 30 lectures and encouraged members of the Islamic Thinkers Society, a codename for his terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun, into confrontational street preaching and acts of violence, according to the judgement cited by BBC. In his ruling, Judge Wall said that organisations like Al-Muhajiroun normalise violence in support of an ideological cause. Their existence gives individuals who are members of them the courage to commit acts which otherwise they might not do. They drive wedges between people who otherwise could and would live together in peaceful coexistence, said Wall. Sentencing him to life, Wall said that Choudary is a kind of person who could not be reformed. Advertisement I am sure you will continue to preach your message of hate and division in the future, you are not someone who can be diverted from that course. The dangers you pose are in your organisational skills and skills as an orator, I cannot at present foresee a time when you will cease to be dangerous, said Wall. Ukrainian intelligence (and potentially weapons) played a critical role in aiding Malian rebels to ambush and decimate Russias Wagner group in Mali. The rebels received necessary information, and not just information, said Andrii Yusov, hinting at a coordinated effort involving more than mere intelligence read more Fighters from the Tuareg separatist rebel group MNLA drive in the desert near Tabankort, February 15, 2015. Last week, Tuareg separatist groups fought the Wagner group and Malian armed forces. Reuters Ukrainian intelligence, and perhaps weapons, played a role in aiding Malian rebels in their ambush against Russias Wagner group. Last week, a Telegram channel linked to Wagner leadership admitted that the group had suffered severe casualties during fierce battles in Mali. Over a five-day period, Wagner fighters, alongside the Malian armed forces, engaged in intense combat against a coalition of Tuareg separatist forces and jihadi groups. These adversaries, armed with heavy weapons, drones, and suicide bombers, inflicted substantial losses, including the death of Wagner commander Sergei Shevchenko, The Guardian reported. Advertisement How Ukraine helped According to Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraines GUR military intelligence agency, The rebels received necessary information, and not just information, which enabled a successful military operation against Russian war criminals. Yusov stressing that rebels received not just information, hinted at a coordinated effort that could have involved training or weapons assistance or both. Yusov did not confirm whether Ukrainian military personnel were present in Mali but emphasised the significance of the intelligence provided. The Kyiv Post recently published a photograph purportedly showing Malian rebels holding a Ukrainian flag, which it said was authenticated by a defense source in Kyiv. Why Ukraine helped The involvement of Ukrainian drones and intelligence in Mali is part of a broader strategy by Kyiv to weaken Russian forces wherever they operate. By targeting Wagner in Africa, Ukraine aims to diminish the groups capabilities and exact revenge for the atrocities committed by Wagner fighters in Ukraine. This approach also serves to disrupt Russian economic interests in Africa, where Wagner is known to be involved in exploiting resources such as gold, diamonds, gas, and oil, The Guardian reported. For Moscow, the African countries where Wagner is present are just zones of interest that allow it to get hold of resources gold, diamonds, gas, and oil and the money goes to finance Russian aggression, explained Serhii Kuzan, director of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center in Kyiv. By targeting Wagner in Africa, Ukraine not only disrupts these economic interests but also seeks to liquidate some of the most experienced Wagner fighters and lower the groups overall military potential. Advertisement The Mali government, which has been battling various insurgencies in the north of the country for over a decade, sought Wagners assistance after a military junta took power in 2020. In May last year, the US imposed sanctions on the head of Wagner in Mali, accusing the group of using its operations there as a conduit for military equipment for the war in Ukraine. A significant part of the destroyed fighters got military experience in Ukraine, where they carried out hundreds or thousands of war crimes, Kuzan added. These crimes should be punished, and Russian war criminals should know that they will never be safe. The latest high-level US visit follows a series of escalating confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed waterway that have raised concern that Washington could be dragged into a conflict due to its mutual defence treaty with Manila read more US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, gestures as he meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday. July 30, 2024. Reuters The United States will provide $500 million in military funding to the Philippines, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, as Washington boosts ties with Manila in the face of Chinas growing assertiveness. Blinken was in Manila with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as part of an Asia-Pacific tour to strengthen Washingtons latticework of alliances aimed at countering Beijing. Were now allocating an additional $500 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines to boost security collaboration with our oldest treaty ally in this region, Blinken told a joint news conference. Blinken described it as a once in a generation investment to help modernise the Philippine armed forces and coast guard. Advertisement They met with President Ferdinand Marcos, who has taken a strong stand against Chinese actions in the South China Sea, before holding 2+2 talks with their Philippine counterparts Enrique Manalo and Gilberto Teodoro. The latest high-level US visit follows a series of escalating confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed waterway that have raised concern that Washington could be dragged into a conflict due to its mutual defence treaty with Manila. The funding is part of the $2 billion in foreign military financing approved by the United States in April. It comes as the Philippines modernises its armed forces, one of the weakest in Asia, and bolsters its coast guard. The Philippines proximity to the hotly contested South China Sea, as well as self-ruled Taiwan, would make it a key partner for the United States if a conflict were to break out in the region. It decided to withdraw its diplomatic staff from seven Latin American countries that questioned the election victory of President Maduro. These countries are Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Dominican Republic and Uruguay read more Venezuela has snapped ties with seven Latin American countries that doubted the fairness of the presidential election that President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have won. The rival candidate Edmundo Gonzalez made a counter-claim of having won the polls, with the Opposition faction saying that they have the proof to show that Maduro lost the election and rigged to declare himself the winner. The election results followed sharp reactions from several countries, with many doubting the outcome declared by Venezuelas election office. Latin American countries, however, faced an angry response from the Maduro government. Advertisement It decided to withdraw its diplomatic staff from seven Latin American countries that questioned the election victory of President Maduro. These countries are Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Dominican Republic and Uruguay. The Maduro governments foreign ministry issued a statement, saying it rejected the interventionist actions and statements of these Latin American governments, which signed a joint statement asking for a complete review of the election results. The Nicolas Maduro regime also expelled the diplomatic missions of seven Latin American nations that expressed concerns over the results announced on Sunday of the countrys presidential election. Yvan Gil, Venezuelas foreign minister, emphasised that Venezuela reserved all legal and political rights to enforce and defend its inalienable right to self-determination. The government also stated it would confront any actions that threaten the nations peace and coexistence. The trigger The entire controversy was prompted by an announcement from the National Electoral Council, which is controlled by the Maduro regime. On Sunday, the council declared that President Maduro had won the election against Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, despite independent exit polls indicating a significant loss for Maduro. According to the council, Maduro secured 51.1 per cent of the vote compared to Gonzalezs 44 per cent. However, Opposition leaders and credible independent firms reported that Gonzalez had won more than 65 per cent of the vote. Advertisement Maduros re-election campaign for a third six-year term was marked by allegations of Opposition intimidation and fears of fraud. Opposition parties accused the regime of committing large-scale electoral fraud. Similar sentiments were echoed by officials from the expelled countries, some of whom have called for a meeting at the Organisation of American States to analyse the situation in Venezuela. The recent Venezuelan presidential election, which saw President Nicolas Maduro declared the winner amidst claims of electoral manipulation, has sparked a wave of international reactions. Panama has put its diplomatic relations with Venezuela on hold, while the US and the EU have expressed severe doubts about the elections legitimacy. In contrast, Russia, Cuba, and Honduras have congratulated Maduro read more President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner in the disputed verdict og the Venezuelan elections. Reuters The recent Venezuelan presidential election has sparked a wave of international reactions, highlighting the contentious nature of the results. On Sunday, President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner by Venezuelas national electoral authority, securing a third term with 51 per cent of the vote. However, the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, claimed victory, supported by independent exit polls indicating a landslide in his favour. The disputed outcome has been met with concern by some world leaders, and felicitations by others. Advertisement Criticism from Latin American countries In response to the election, Panama announced it was putting its diplomatic relations with Venezuela on hold and would withdraw its diplomatic personnel until a full review of the election results is conducted. President Jose Raul Mulino emphasised the need for a thorough examination of the voting records and the voting computer system. Panama joined eight other Latin American countries in calling for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) to address their concerns about the electoral process. The US reaction The United States also expressed severe doubts about the elections legitimacy. The Biden administration criticised the electoral manipulation, stating that it stripped Maduros re-election victory of any credibility. Senior US officials demanded that Maduro publish a detailed vote tabulation, warning that failure to do so would lead to a lack of international acceptance of the announced outcome. The possibility of fresh sanctions against Venezuela was left open, contingent on Maduros actions moving forward. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored serious concerns that the election results did not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. European Unions stance The European Union echoed similar sentiments, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stating that the EU could not recognise the election results until all polling station records were published and verified. Borrell highlighted numerous flaws and irregularities reported during the election and called for a full and timely investigation of post-electoral complaints. The EUs demand for transparency underscores the broader international scepticism regarding the elections fairness. Advertisement Support from Maduros allies Not everyone reacted negatively to the contested results. Some world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, offered their congratulations to Maduro. Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership. I am confident that your activities at the head of state will continue to contribute to their progressive development in all directions. I would like to confirm our readiness to continue our constructive joint work on topical issues on the bilateral and international agenda. Remember that you are always a welcome guest on Russian soil, he said. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel praised Maduros victory as a defeat of the pro-Imperialist opposition and a win for the Bolivarian Revolution. Advertisement Honduran President Xiomara Castro also extended her congratulations, celebrating the re-election as a reaffirmation of Venezuelas sovereignty and the legacy of Hugo Chavez. With inputs from Reuters Activists have expressed concern over the decision to kill the bear, saying that it leaves her three cubs in serious difficulty to survive. The International Organization for Animal Protection noted that the order for the bears killing was issued overnight, making it impossible to seek a legal stay. read more The bear (KJ1) was a dangerous specimen, the local authority said, adding that the bear had come into contact with people seven times. Image- Pixabay In the northern Italian Alps, a mother bear considered a threat to human safety was fatally shot by local authorities on Tuesday. The bear, known as KJ1, had previously attacked a French tourist in July, prompting outrage from animal rights activists and disapproval from a government minister. The forestry corps located and killed the bear using its radio collar for tracking purposes following the orders of Maurizio Fugatti, the provincial authority head in Trento. Advertisement Italys environment minister Gilberto Picchetto Fratin said the killing of individual bears is not the solution to the problem. It would be better to tackle the issue by sterilising female bears which were considered a potential threat to humans, he said. Earlier this month, a 43-year-old French tourist was attacked by a female bear with her three cubs while on an early morning run near the village of Dro in the Trentino region. The bear injured him on his arms and legs, but he managed to raise the alarm and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Activists have expressed concern over the decision to kill the bear, saying that it leaves her three cubs in serious difficulty to survive. The International Organization for Animal Protection noted that the order for the bears killing was issued overnight, making it impossible to seek a legal stay. The area around the city of Trento, which was re-populated with bears from 1999 under an EU-funded programme, has seen several bear attacks in recent years, raising questions about how to achieve successful cohabitation with the animals. The minister said Italy was paying the price for having used the image of the bear to market the region to tourists, and that sterilisation was one way to deal with the issue. Advertisement The International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) said the bear was around 22 years old and had three cubs who would struggle to survive on their own. Animals are sentient beings to be respected and looked after and not objects to be removed, OIPA said in a statement, accusing Fugatti of pursuing an anti-bear strategy. Earlier this year, Trento authorities said another mother bear, who killed a jogger in 2023, was going to be relocated to a sanctuary in Germany after culling orders for her were blocked by legal challenges from environmentalists. With inputs from agencies. 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. Someday the Stones will be done; but that day is not today South Carolina Army National Guard Apaches make first appearance at Camp Ripley for Iowa XCTC rotation By Spc. Armani Wilson July 27, 2024 CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. -- Six AH-64 Apache helicopter crews from the 1st Attack Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment, 59th Troop Command, South Carolina Army National Guard, traveled cross-country to Camp Ripley, Minnesota, to participate in the Iowa Army National Guard's eXportable Combat Training Capabilities (XCTC) rotation from the beginning of July to August 2024. The journey from South Carolina to Minnesota took two days, marking the first time Apaches have trained at Camp Ripley. The pilots and aircrew operated around the clock, supporting the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division ground forces. "Working with the Apaches is a new experience for a lot of the [junior] enlisted Soldiers," said Lt. Col. Kyle Obrecht, battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 2/34th IBCT. "It's just an amazing experience for them to understand how complicated it is, but also how rewarding it is to have all those assets working together." This joint training effort enabled aircrews to communicate and coordinate with real-world ground troops, offering Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers dynamic, practical aerial support training. "We've been doing a lot of attack, reconnaissance and armed security. We can go into those areas and use the advanced optics that we have to confirm or deny the presence of the enemy," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dale Addy, an AH-64E Apache pilot assigned to Company B, 1st Attack Battalion. "We don't differentiate between training and real life. We train to do exactly what we would do in a real-life situation. Much preparation goes into having these aircraft ready to launch as soon as possible." Training missions at Camp Ripley included three to five flights a day, both during the day and at night. The exercises prepared aircrews for the unpredictability of actual combat and underscored the rewarding nature of their vital support roles. "Showing these ground guys what they have available to them and seeing their excitement during live-fire exercises is very rewarding," said Addy. "As an infantry guy on the ground, if you call for Apaches, you can expect a team to get there quickly with a lot of ordnance and highly motivated individuals." The South Carolina Army National Guard's participation in the Iowa Army National Guard's XCTC rotation at Camp Ripley showcases the importance of training partnerships and dedication to readiness vital to the National Guard's mission. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Army National Guard Soldiers train alongside NATO Allies in Germany By Sgt. Kelly Boyer July 29, 2024 SENNELAGER, Germany -- As day turned to dusk, raindrops hammered cobblestone roads while several members of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), New Hampshire Army National Guard, marched toward their notional target. With camouflage painted across their faces, they moved for miles alongside their counterparts, the 4th Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, also known as "4 R YORKS," of the British Army. Together, they were headed toward their final mission of Exercise RHINO HEART. From June 8-23, 2024, the 10 NHARNG Soldiers integrated with U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers from Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Montana, along with more than 500 personnel from U.K. and Germany Reserve units at the Normandy Barracks in Sennelager. "The first day was a steep learning curve, but we quickly figured out how to operate as one force," said Staff Sgt. Nathan Dullea, training NCO and squad leader for Charlie Company. "We learned a lot of small things from each other that we can integrate into our own standard operating procedures." Dullea described the infantry exercise as a test of adaptability. "Working closely with the British soldiers was incredibly beneficial," he said. This collaborative event, led by the leadership of the 19th Light Brigade, British Army, represented the largest deployment of British Army Reserves since the Cold War. The event emphasized NATO's commitment to collective defense and interoperability, aiming to strengthen alliances and reinforce NATO's deterrence with its reserve units. For Spc. Noah Phillips, a rifleman with Charlie Company, the first day was a steep learning curve. "We had to learn each other's tactics, command structure, and even lingo," said Phillips, discussing the challenges of integrating with another unit. By the end, it felt like we had gotten all the growing pains out of the way." Phillips' sentiments were echoed by Sgt. Jacob Desrosiers, a fire team leader with the unit. "We were thrown together and had to achieve our objectives," said Desrosiers, who emphasized the importance of training with international allies. "It was worthwhile training." "Getting to know the British soldiers and understanding their approach to military operations was eye-opening," Desrosiers added. "It was incredibly beneficial. We learned new tactics and built lasting relationships that proves that combining our strengths makes us all better." The exercise was meticulously designed to enhance readiness among the NATO Allies by emphasizing war-fighting capabilities. Participants engaged in comprehensive training scenarios encompassing defense strategies, attack maneuvers, urban operations, detailed planning, and execution at the various unit levels. This multi-level approach tested tactical proficiency while strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding among the multi-national forces. "It was an amazing opportunity," said 2nd Lt. Martin Brown, a British liaison with the 4 R YORKS, attached to Charlie Company. "I've enjoyed working with the Americans because, as much as I could teach them from our doctrine, I also learned a lot from how they did it. "From a leadership perspective, it gave me great insight into how the Americans do their skills and drills," he added. Brown added while there were moments of stress due to differing doctrines, the overall experience was positive and valuable for both sides. He observed the integration and teamwork between the U.S. and British forces as both successful and beneficial. "Overall, it's been amazing," Brown added. "The lads I was with seemed to have enjoyed themselves as much as we did." The integration was at the tactical and personal level, building camaraderie through shared challenges and successes. Lance Cpl. Stephen Parker, acting as the section second-in-command, 4th Battalion, 4 R YORKS, British Army, reflected on the historical ties between the U.S. and the U.K. "It's been a great insight to see how the Americans work," said Parker. "Historically, America and Britain have worked closely together, and this exercise embodies that relationship. "It also proves our readiness and the need for the U.K. Reserves and the National Guard to continue training together," Parker added. The U.S. Army makes a difference in global security by initiating and maintaining strong alliances and partnerships. This exercise became a pivotal moment for the members of Charlie Company. When returning to their units, they brought back enhanced capabilities and a new found confidence in their abilities. "Training with them was a huge help," said Phillips. "If we have to fight together in a real-life situation, we've already gotten the growing pains out of the way. It's very beneficial." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuela: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the presidential election European External Action Service (EEAS) 29.07.2024 EEAS Press Team The European Union has been following closely the electoral process in Venezuela. The EU commends the determination of the people of Venezuela to exercise their voting rights peacefully and in large numbers. The EU acknowledges the opposition's commitment to the electoral process despite an uneven playing field. The will of the people of Venezuela must be respected. The results of the elections have not been verified and cannot be considered as representative of the will of the people of Venezuela until all the official records from polling stations are published and verified. The EU calls on the Venezuelan Electoral Council (CNE) to exercise maximum transparency in the process of results tabulation, including the granting of immediate access to the voting records of each polling station and the publication of disaggregated election results. The EU also calls on the authorities to ensure the full and timely investigation of any post-electoral complaints and grievances. Credible reports from domestic and international observers indicate that the elections were marred by numerous flaws and irregularities. The European Union regrets that none of the key recommendations from the 2021 EU Electoral Observation Mission have been implemented. Obstacles to the participation of opposition candidates, deficiencies in the voter registry, and imbalanced media access contributed to unequal electoral conditions. The EU is concerned about arbitrary detentions and intimidation of members of the opposition and civil society throughout the electoral process and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners. The EU appeals for calm and urges the security forces to ensure full respect for human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly. The EU will continue to pursue all political and diplomatic efforts in support of dialogue and a peaceful and negotiated way out of the political crisis. The EU reiterates its support to regional and international efforts to facilitate dialogue and restore the democratic legitimacy of Venezuelan institutions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colombia: NATO's valued non-member partner in the Western Hemisphere and beyond This feature story was written in collaboration with U.S. European Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Space Command, NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and NATO Allied Special Operations Forces Command. By 1st Lt. Gabriele Gocso , U.S. European Command Stuttgart, Germany Jul 29, 2024 While not a NATO member, Colombia is increasingly viewed as a key global partner for the 32-nation Alliance and U.S. combatant commands like U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM). Exercises and Partnerships As a major non-NATO U.S. Ally, Colombia has actively participated in various NATO exercises and operations, strengthening interoperability and cooperation with Allied forces. Recently, Colombia demonstrated its commitment to collaborating with like-minded nations worldwide by participating in the U.S. Department of Defense-led and U.S. European Command-coordinated Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE), demonstrating its commitment to the shared values of freedom and security. "Through our active involvement with NATO Allies and partners around the world, Colombia demonstrates its strong desire to foster relationships beyond the Western Hemisphere and its commitment to stability and security efforts," said Colombian Army Brig. Gen. Carlos Enrique Carrasquilla Gomez, Senior Coalition Activities Advisor, Exercises and Coalition Affairs, U.S. Southern Command. "Colombia and its military forces are committed to supporting global peace efforts under the principles of Western democracy, with our government prioritizing the protection of life as its highest objective." LSGE 24 incorporated nearly 30 wide-ranging exercises and military activities to highlight America's robust presence and capabilities alongside Allies, partners and fellow U.S. combatant commands. Within the framework of LSGE, exercises like USSOUTHCOM's Tradewinds and Resolute Sentinel play a crucial role. These exercises focus on countering transnational threats and enhancing regional security cooperation with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean, an effort of critical importance in today's interconnected world as events in one region can quickly impact nations across the globe. Notably, key NATO Allies such as Canada, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom also participate in these exercises alongside Colombia. This collaboration allows for the sharing of best practices, fine-tuning militaries' ability to operate as one, and the strengthening of operational capabilities to effectively address common security challenges. This year, NATO's Allied Special Operations Forces Command certified Colombian Special Forces during USSOUTHCOM's Fused Response in which they used the NATO special operations planning process and tactics, techniques and procedures. This certification highlights the interoperability and readiness of Colombian Special Forces to operate alongside NATO Allies, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards set by the Alliance for conducting complex and dynamic security missions. Colombia's efforts to enhance security within its borders contribute to regional stability, which in turn benefits European security by disrupting transnational criminal networks and curbing the flow of illegal drugs and other illicit goods to Europe. Support to Ukraine Much like Japan in the Far East, Colombia in the Western Hemisphere has demonstrated its commitment to global security by providing non-lethal military aid to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. This assistance includes items such as helmets, bulletproof vests and night vision goggles, underscoring Colombia's solidarity with Ukraine and its support for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Colombia's contributions to Ukraine, combined with international efforts to blunt an autocratic leader's attempts to erase a sovereign country, demonstrates the strength of partnership and cohesive resolve toward global peace, stability and freedom Space Military Integration Colombia is an emerging space partner to the U.S. and recognizes the importance of space capabilities to its military operations. In 2021, USPACECOM and the Colombian Air Force signed a space situational awareness information-sharing agreement to promote greater safety and stability in the space domain, a prime example of the nation's effort to expand space cooperation. In 2024, Colombia participated in USSPACECOM's Global Sentinel capstone event alongside participants from 25 nations to strengthen and grow international partnerships, deepen integration, and strengthen interoperability through exercises focused on space situational awareness and command and control. Expanding space cooperation and deepening integration among nations with a shared commitment to the responsible uses of space increases collective security in all domains. Colombia has been a steadfast military partner with the U.S. for many decades and recently completed a bilateral Space Capabilities Alignment Conference with the U.S., where both nations engaged in high-level discussions on space domain awareness and explored avenues for future collaboration in space-related initiatives. Additionally, USEUCOM, USSOUTHCOM and USSPACECOM are working closely with Colombia and other Allied and partner nations in building an operational space coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere that are closely aligned with NATO through space domain operations. Colombia's contributions to global security, its participation in multinational exercises, and its commitment to space collaboration underscore its importance as a key partner for USEUCOM, USSOUTHCOM, USSPACECOM and NATO. The strong partnership among Colombia and these organizations plays a vital role in maintaining regional and global stability, countering transnational threats and promoting international cooperation. -30- About USEUCOM U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Quad FM meeting 'creates tensions' by hyping up 'China threat' in South China Sea Global Times Inciting confrontation serves needs of US, not most of the nations: expert By Wang Qi Published: Jul 29, 2024 09:29 PM Top diplomats from Quad countries held talks on Monday in Tokyo, expressing so-called concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas and vowing to uphold so-called maritime order in the "Indo-Pacific region," which analysts viewed as another attempt targeting China's growth, with a bloc-confrontation mentality. The analysts noted that hyping up the "China-threat" rhetoric is a typical US way of inciting security anxiety, so as to make some regional countries rely more on the US-led bloc. However, most countries know that making China a target of confrontation may largely suit the needs of Washington's elites, but not their own. According to the Japanese foreign ministry, the Quad (the US, Japan, Australia and India) foreign ministers have reaffirmed commitment toward the realization of a "free and open Indo-Pacific." In a joint statement released after the meeting, ministers emphasized the importance of adherence to international law for the rules-based maritime order, including in the East and South China Seas. They also reaffirmed "strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion." "We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea," read the joint statement, "We also express our serious concern about the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, the increasing use of various kinds of dangerous maneuvers, and efforts to disrupt other countries' offshore resource exploitation activities." Although China has not been directly singled out in the statement, analysts believe their implication for China is quite obvious. In terms of the South China Sea disputes, the statement said that foreign ministers emphasized the importance of "maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016 "is the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties." China has previously declared that the award is "null and void and has no binding force," due to its fallacies and unfairness. Besides, foreign ministers also discussed the promotion of cooperation on maritime security, critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism. They also discussed the Korean Peninsula situation, the Ukraine crisis and the Middle East situation, according to the joint statement. In response to the Quad meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a Monday press briefing that the Quad keeps chanting the slogan of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and all the while, it has been scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation, and holding back other countries' development. He said the Quad "runs counter to the overwhelming trend of pursuing peace, development, cooperation, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and will by no means gain any support." He described some external forces as "the biggest threat and challenge to regional peace and stability." Quad is a US-led mechanism, and its joint statement shows that the US is attempting to bolster the bloc's build-up by hyping "China threat" rhetoric and inciting security anxiety in the region, so as to make some regional countries rely more on the US-led bloc in terms of security, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. Quad is a currently more about a partnership, but not yet an alliance. The latest statement suggests that the US is likely to further manipulate other parties with more coordinated actions, to enable Quad to evolve in the direction of a true alliance, Li said. This means that the quad is likely to become a major source of creating antagonism and confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region, Li said. Quad foreign ministers' meeting came after a US-Japan 2+2 security talks on Sunday, when they portrayed China as "the greatest strategic challenge" facing in the region. They agreed on upgrading the command and control of US forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production there, according to AP. Earlier on Sunday, defense chiefs from the US, Japan and South Korea held a trilateral meeting in Tokyo, they vowed to strengthen cooperation to deter "nuclear and missile threats" from North Korea and formalized a trilateral agreement that would "institutionalize" security cooperation among their defense authorities, including senior-level policy consultations, information sharing, trilateral exercises, and defense exchange cooperation, according to CNN. Strange bedfellows Before the Quad meeting, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday on bilateral ties and regional and global issues. In terms of the Quad meeting, Western media commented that any criticism of Moscow by the bloc could be "awkward for India," whose Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just met with Vladimir Putin this month and displayed close ties. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Australia in June and attended the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said that Australia is pleased to see that current Australia-China relations are stabilizing and improving. About a week ahead of the Quad meeting, from July 21 to 25, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu held the 16th round of China-Japan strategic dialogue with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano in Tokyo, and held the 10th round of the high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of China and South Korea with South Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun in Seoul, according to Xinhua News Agency. "Those interactions are examples that can explain why the Quad joint statement did not name China directly, but dealt with the related issues in an obscure way," a Beijing-based expert told the Global Times on Monday, requesting anonymity. "The Quad is divided over its handling of relations with China and many other issues ... It is a relatively loose mechanism for strange bedfellows," he added. The US can't get India to break off ties with Russia and fully embrace the US, while Japan and Australia have close ties in trade and people-to-people exchanges with China, and they can't afford to become vassals of the US at the expense of their own strategic interests, the expert noted. Making China a target of confrontation may largely suit the needs of Washington's elites, but it isn't in line with the interest of the vast majority, he said. Following the Quad foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to travel to Manila, where they will meet with their Philippine counterparts for a US-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The Japan and Philippine trip are part of Blinken's 18th trip to "Indo-Pacific" region since becoming Secretary, according to the US Department of State. And the trip, covering Laos, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia, lasts from July 25 to August 3. Blinken's Asia trip is shadowed by the domestic political chaos in the US, including US President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential election. Different candidates in the US have conflicting ideas on how to treat allies, which brings great uncertainty to the future foreign policy of the US, and that inevitably make many countries, including Asia-Pacific nations, doubt and even be wary of the credibility and consistency of the US policy, Li said. "Blinken's trip served a strong purpose of reassurance, mainly to convince allies that US policy in the Asia-Pacific region and its security policy toward allied partners would not change because of domestic chaos," Li said. "At the same time, the US is conveying to allies that they need to continue to follow its lead in strategic competition with China and Russia." "In fact, the US move is an attempt to consolidate its own hegemony at the expense of regional security, stability and prosperity, and even the interests of its allies themselves," said Li. "This means that in the long run, the US may not achieve its goals." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al-Baghdadi base of Zionist regime comes under Hezbollah fire IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah movement targeted the Zionist military sites in Al-Baghdadi with dozens of Katyusha missiles. Hezbollah announced in a statement that in line with supporting the steadfast Palestinian nation in Gaza and helping its brave and honorable resistance and in response to the attack and terror carried out by the Israeli enemy in the town of Shaqra, Islamic Resistance fired dozens of Katyusha missiles at Al-Baghdadi occupation site, according to the Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news network. Zionist media reported that four rockets from southern Lebanon hit the Upper Galilee region. Firefighting teams are trying to contain the fire in 4 areas near the Goma intersection in Upper Galilee. Some sources reported a drone attack on the town of Kiryat Shmona in the north of occupied Palestine. Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged fire almost every day since October 8, a day after the Israeli regime launched an ongoing genocidal war against Gaza. Regional resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and Yemen's Ansarullah, have declared that they will continue their attacks on the Israeli military bases in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza since the start of the Israeli regime's genocidal war in the enclave last October. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maduro declared winner of Venezuela presidential vote IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Nicolas Maduro has won Venezuela's presidential election and become the country's president for the third term. After winning 51.2% of the votes, Maduro defeated his rival Edmundo Gonzalez, media reported on Monday. According to correspondents, a number of people were on their way to the presidential palace to show their happiness for Maduro's winning. Some observers from South Africa who were in Venezuela during the election procedure have described it as a transparent and just election. The presidential election was held in Venezuela on Sunday (July 28) on the 70th birthday anniversary of the late president of the Latin American country Hugo Chavez. Maduro competed with eight other hopefuls in Venezuela's presidential election while analysts had introduced Gonzalez as his main rival. 1483**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish pres. threatens Israel with military action IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a rare explicit military threat to the Zionist regime while addressing the ongoing Israeli genocidal war in the Gaza Strip. According to IRNA's Sunday night report citing the Palestinian Samaa news agency, Erdogan while speaking at his party rally said: We must be strong so that the Israeli (regime) cannot do to us what it did to the Palestinians. The Turkish president added: "Just like we entered Karabakh and the way we entered Libya, maybe we'll do the same thing. There's nothing we can't do. We have to be strong." Erdogan referred to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which resulted recently in Azerbaijan taking control of the breakaway region and in Libya, where, Turkey played a major role in the civil war. The Foreign Minister of the Zionist regime on Sunday night in response to Erdogan's threat said that he follows in the footsteps of Saddam Hussein. Let him (Erdogan) remember what happened there (Iraq) and how it ended, Israel Katz reacted. Yair Lapid, Zionist regime's opposition leader also said in a statement that Erdogan is making noise again and this is considered a danger for the Middle East. Lapid called on the the world, especially NATO, to condemn Erdogan's threats against Israel and force him to end his support for Hamas. On Friday, Erdogan once again compared Zionist Prime Minister to Hitler and denounced the US Congress for "shamelessly" celebrating Benjamin Netanyahu, whose hands are stained with the blood of Palestinians. The President of Turkey added: "The American Congress praises those who killed 40,000 children, women and the elderly." In a speech at the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Istanbul, Erdogan criticized: "The whole world watched and saw how a genocidal murderer was applauded in the American Congress. Think about those who killed nearly 40,000 children, women and the elderly; the House of Representatives applauds them." "So, to say, those who teach the entire world about democracy and human rights have no qualms about holding the Hitler of our time in high esteem," stated Erdogan, referring to Netanyahu. Erdogan also warned that Netanyahu is behaving like a madman and not a responsible person, adding that the increase in Israel's attacks and the language of threats against Lebanon make us very worried about the future of the region. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pres. reassures resistance leaders of Iran's consistent support Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 8:51 PM Iran's president has reassured senior resistance leaders of the country's policy of providing the regional resistance axis with consistent support. Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks in Tehran on Monday, meeting separately with Ziad Nakhala, secretary-general of the Gaza Strip-based resistance movement of the Islamic Jihad, and Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy secretary-general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah. "The Islamic Republic's position of supporting the cause of liberation of [the holy occupied city of] al-Quds, would not change with the transition of governments [in the country]," Pezeshkian told Nakhala. Pezeshkian, who won Iran's run-off presidential vote earlier this month, was endorsed as the country's new chief executive by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday. His swearing-in ceremony is due to be held on Tuesday, with numerous foreign dignitaries in attendance. After being sworn in, he is expected to provide the make-up of his proposed government to Majlis, the Iranian parliament, which would decide on its approval in due course. Still addressing Nakhala, Pezeshkian asserted, "We would not abandon our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the face of Zionists' inhumane crimes." The remarks came amid the Israeli regime's October 7-present war of genocide against Gaza that has so far claimed the lives of at least 39,324 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The Palestinian official, for his part, expressed gratitude towards the Islamic Republic, noting that "Iran's resonating supportive voice has an important impact towards preserving resistance fighters' morale and steadfastness." The Palestinian people would never forget Iran's supportive attitude, he concluded. Meeting with Qassem, Pezeshkian likewise asserted that backing the resistance front constituted one of the Islamic Republic's "religious duties and principled policies." He also considered enhancement of relations with Muslim countries to be among the foreign policy priorities of his pending government. The Lebanese official, in turn, said that the defeats that the Israeli regime had been dealt at the hands of the regional resistance movements were owed to the Islamic Republic's acts of support in favor of those groups. Qassem, meanwhile, expressed certainty that the ardent people of Gaza's resistance in the face of the invading Israeli military would impose another defeat on the occupying regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: Netanyahu keeps stalling Gaza truce deal with new terms Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 5:45 PM The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for preventing a ceasefire in Gaza by adding new conditions and demands to a US truce proposal, following the latest round of talks in Rome conducted through mediators. "We in the Hamas movement have listened to the mediators regarding what transpired recently in the Rome meeting, concerning the ceasefire negotiations and prisoner exchange," the group said in a statement on Monday. "It is clear from what the mediators conveyed that Netanyahu has returned to his strategy of procrastination, stalling, and evading reaching an agreement by setting new conditions and demands," it added. The new terms, Hamas said, represent "a retreat" from an earlier draft communicated by mediators. The statement came after Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators met with Israeli negotiators in Rome on Sunday in the latest push for a truce. Israel and Hamas have been engaged in indirect talks since January to reach a deal that ends the war on Gaza and swaps Israeli captives with Palestinian prisoners. The two sides have been back and forth over a three-phased proposed outline for the agreement presented by mediators. The process involves a six-week pause in fighting, in which Hamas will release some Israeli captives it has held since October 7. In exchange, Israel is expected to release several Palestinian prisoners, withdraw its troops from certain regions of the Gaza Strip and allow Palestinians to travel from the south of the territory to the north. During the second phase, there would be a direct announcement of a permanent cessation of Israeli military operations before the remaining Israeli captives are exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has accepted a UN Security Council resolution passed last month which said: "If the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue." Israel's war on Gaza, now nearing its tenth month, has destroyed large swaths of the besieged territory. Israel has killed more than 39,300 people, the great majority of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan says Turkey could intervene militarily to stop Israel's war on Gaza Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 3:41 PM President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey says his country could intervene militarily in Israel's war on the besiged Gaza Strip. Erdogan in a speech on Sunday suggested Turkey could intervene on behalf of Palestinians in ways similar to what it has done in other conflicts. Erdogan was addressing the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Sunday. "We need to be very strong so that Israel cannot do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we can do something similar to them." Turkey intervened in the Libyan civil war to support the United Nations-recognized government and supported Azerbaijan against Armenia by supplying arms and conducting joint military drills during the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Turkish officials and Israeli authorities unleashed barbs at one another on Sunday and Monday over Erdogan's warning. In retaliation, the Turkish Foreign Ministry compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler. "Just as genocidal Hitler ended, so will genocidal Netanyahu," said the ministry. "Just as the genocidal Nazis were held accountable, so will those who try to destroy the Palestinians," the post continued. "Humanity will stand by the Palestinians. You will not be able to destroy the Palestinians." Erdogan has consistently issued strong statement during Israel's savage military campaign in Gaza. The Turkish has already recalled Turkey's ambassador and suspended trade with Israel, and also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing genocide. Erdogan recently said Israel must face punishment for its actions to deter anyone "from considering such cruelty again." "Israel must face the consequences of its actions, ensuring that the punishment serves as a stark deterrent against anyone considering such cruelty again," Erdogan was quoted as saying on Sunday. The Turkish president urged the United States to exert pressure on Israel to end the "oppression" in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Heavy' consequences await Israel if it attacks Lebanon, Iranian president warns Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 3:25 PM Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warns the Israeli regime will suffer "heavy" consequences if it makes the big mistake of attacking Lebanon. The new Iranian president issued the warning in a Monday phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Pezeshkian expressed his grave concern over the escalation of tensions in Lebanon's southern border with the occupied Israeli territories. Tensions have been running high between Israel and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah following an alleged rocket attack that killed 12 people and injured 40 others in the town of the Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday. While Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, the Islamic Resistance categorically denied all false allegations in this regard. Since the incident, there have been continued exchanges of fire across the border, but they have seemed to fall within the bounds of the routine tit-for-tat of the past ten months. Earlier on Monday, the Israeli regime carried out a fresh bout of strikes against Lebanon under the pretext of hitting back against Hezbollah. Fears linger in the region that Israel might use the Saturday strike as a pretext to launch a full-scale offensive on Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel's so-called security cabinet granted prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his minister of military affairs, Yoav Gallant, the authority to determine the nature and timing of a military response following the rocket attack on Golan Heights. The authorization was confirmed in a statement from the prime minister's office after a meeting held on Sunday night, where cabinet members discussed the escalating tensions along the border. Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian expressed Iran's readiness to improve relations with France based on the principles of honesty and confidence-building. Macron, for his part, expressed hope that Iran will promote its relations with France and other European countries during Pezeshkian's tenure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli war on Gaza: 10,000 students, 400 teachers killed since October Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 10:59 AM Latest figures show about 10,000 Palestinian students along with 400 teachers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of Israel's genocidal war on October 7. The Palestinian Ministry of Education said on Monday that it presented a report last month about the way that Israel's targeting of schools in Gaza has "eroded the foundation for sustained societal growth." The United Nations also reported that more than 76 percent of schools in the war-stricken Strip require "full reconstruction or major rehabilitation" to be functional. Back in April, UN experts expressed deep concern over the pattern of Israel's attacks on schools, universities, teachers, and students in the Gaza Strip, raising serious alarm over the "systemic" destruction of the Palestinian education system. "With more than 80% of schools in Gaza damaged or destroyed, it may be reasonable to ask if there is an intentional effort to comprehensively destroy the Palestinian education system, an action known as 'scholasticide'," the experts said. Meanwhile, Amjad Barham, Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education, said on Monday that 39,000 high school students from the Gaza Strip did not take the exam this year. Barham added that, "There is no overall pass rate because the number of students is incomplete," due to the killing of 10,000 students in Gaza and the inability of the remaining students to take the exams amid the months-long war. The Israeli regime has completely destroyed 117 schools and universities, while partially destroyed 332 schools and universities in Gaza. More than 107 scientists, university professors, and researchers were also killed. Since the start of Israel's war, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,363 Palestinians and injured over 90,923. The Government Media Office in Gaza said on Tuesday that Israel has killed at least 16,000 children in the besieged territory since October. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Another Israeli trooper dies, several injured in Gaza; death toll at 329 Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 10:46 AM Another Israeli trooper has died of the injuries he had sustained more than a week ago in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where the regime has been waging a genocidal war for the past 10 months. The Israeli military announced the development on Sunday, identifying the fatality as Sgt. Yonatan Aharon Greenblatt of the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion. The 21-year-old had been wounded in Gaza on July 20, it noted. His death took the overall number of the Israeli forces killed since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023 to 329, Israeli military data showed. The military said six others among its forces had also been wounded throughout the coastal sliver over the past 24 hours. The regime began the brutal military onslaught in response to al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged against the occupying entity by Gaza's resistance movements. The Israeli onslaught has so far claimed the lives of at least 39,324 Palestinians, mostly women and children. The figures exclude the tens of thousands of dead, who are believed to be buried in the bombed-out ruins of buildings. Another 90,830 others have also been injured as a result of the war. In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nation's top court, ordered the regime to take measures to prevent genocide in Gaza. And in June, the UN Security Council passed a resolution ordering implementation of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The regime, however, has not only been acting in complete disregard for the international calls, but also stands accused of sabotaging talks aimed at negotiating a truce. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Havoc, panic: UNRWA says only 14% of areas in Gaza not under evacuation orders Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 6:47 AM The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says only 14 percent of areas in the Gaza Strip are not currently under the Israeli "evacuation orders". In a post on his X account, Philippe Lazzarini said the Israeli regime issues evacuation orders forcing people to flee every other day. These orders have created "havoc" and "panic" among the people of Palestine in Gaza, he added. Quite often, Gazans are given a few hours to pack whatever they can and start all over again, "mostly on foot or on a crowded donkey cart for those who can afford it." "Almost everyone in Gaza has been impacted by these orders. Many were forced to flee on average once a month since the war began nine months ago," Lazzarini wrote. A man recently told the UNRWA teams that Israel had forced him to flee twice within 10 hours, he said. The UN official emphasized that the Palestinian people continue to search for safety as the most precious and the most nonexistent thing. He added: "This evacuation tactic only brings more misery, fear and suffering for people who have nothing to do with this war." "The people of Gaza are not pinballs or chess pieces, they are people," Lazzarini stated. Last Tuesday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories announced that the Israeli military had ordered the evacuation of, or designated as "no-go zones" more than 80% of the besieged Gaza Strip. The latest order, according to the report, was issued last Monday when the Israeli military ordered Palestinians residing in eastern and central Khan Yunis to immediately evacuate westwards. The order covers about 8.7 square kilometers in the so-called "humanitarian zone" in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis. 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. Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis. Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,324 Palestinians and injured over 90,830. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel strikes several towns in southern Lebanon as tensions escalate Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 6:13 AM The Israeli regime stages a fresh bout of strikes against Lebanon under the pretext of hitting back against the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, which it stubbornly blames for a recent attack on the Israeli-occupied Syrian territory of Golan Heights. The strikes took place against the southern Lebanese towns of Houla, Markaba, Aita al-Shaab, Khiam, Shaheen, Yaroun, Mays al-Jabal, Kfarkela, and Bourj al-Shamali on Monday, Lebanese media outlets reported. This is the second time the regime carries out sweeping raids against the country since Saturday, when a rocket attack killed at least 12 people in Syria's Golan Heights. Israeli officials, including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, foreign minister Israel Katz, hard-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, and military spokesman Daniel Hagari, have insisted that Hezbollah was behind the attack, and pledged to take it out on the movement. The resistance group has, however, strongly denied any role in the incident. In a statement that followed the attack, Hezbollah stressed that "the Islamic Resistance has absolutely nothing to do with the incident, and categorically denies all false allegations in this regard." Some reports have suggested that the explosion that had hit the Syrian village was likely caused by a stray projectile fired by the Israeli regime's so-called Iron Dome missile system. The Israeli regime, which waged two wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, has been threatening over the past 10 months to bring Lebanon under another wholesale military onslaught. It has been carrying out numerous attacks against the country throughout the period. Israeli officials have also repeatedly threatened to "to burn Lebanon, destroy it, and return it to the Stone Age." 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. On Sunday, AFP cited a "source close to the group" as saying that it had evacuated positions in southern and eastern Lebanon in case the regime chose to heighten the escalation. "Hezbollah has evacuated some positions in the south and in the Bekaa Valley that it thinks could be a target for Israel," the source said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Soldiers engage in multi-subject training China Military Online) 17:02, July 30, 2024 A sniper in ghillie suit assigned to a troop under the PLA Rocket Force aims through scope during a multi-subject training exercise on June 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Feng) A soldier in ghillie suit assigned to a troop under the PLA Rocket Force climbs up a cat ladder during a multi-subject training exercise on June 23, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Feng) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Quad foreign ministers meet in Tokyo to discuss regional security It comes after US announced plans for a major revamp of its military command to improve coordination with allies. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.07.29 -- Foreign ministers from the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, met in Tokyo on Monday to discuss deepening collaboration in various areas, including on security and humanitarian issues in the Indo-Pacific. Japan's Yoko Kamikawa hosted Australia's Penny Wong, India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Antony Blinken from the United States, for the meeting, their first gathering since September 2023. "We all know our region and our world are being reshaped. We all understand we face the most confronting circumstances in our region in decades," Wong said in opening remarks. "We all cherish the region's peace, stability and prosperity and we all know it is not a given, we all know we can't take it for granted." The meeting came after the U.S. announced on Sunday plans for a major revamp of its military command in Japan to deepen cooperation following security talks between Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and their respective Japanese counterparts, 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. "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 United States has about 50,000 troops in Japan. The new command structure would be implemented in parallel with Japan's plans to establish a joint command for its forces by March 2025, the allies added in a joint statement. The ministers also criticized what they called China's "provocative" behavior in the South and East China Seas, its joint military exercises with Russia and the rapid expansion of its arsenal of nuclear weapons. "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," the ministers said, adding that China "seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others." US cooperation with Japan, South Korea Separately, the defense chiefs of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan agreed to increase their cooperation on North Korea under their Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework, or TSCF, South Korea's defence minister said. Under the pact, the three countries are expected to deepen 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 multi-year plan. The three defense chiefs also voiced concerns over growing military and economic cooperation between North Korea and Russia, denouncing the North's diversification of nuclear delivery systems and test launches of multiple ballistic missiles, as well as other actions that increase tension on the Korean Peninsula. Blinken met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at a regional conference in Laos on Saturday and said that the United States and its partners wanted to maintain a "free and open Indo-Pacific," urging Southeast Asian countries to help address challenges including China's "escalating and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea. Both Blinken and Wang were attending the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum, which included discussions on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and tension in the South China Sea. Edited by RFA Staff. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines conducts resupply mission to disputed shoal Philippine vessel brought supplies to troops at Second Thomas Shoal amid confusion over deal with China. By RFA and BenarNews Staff 2024.07.29 -- The Philippines said it had successfully resupplied troops stationed at a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, a week after reaching a deal with China over the shoal at the center of sharply rising tensions between the neighbors. Yet the Philippines and China have provided contradictory accounts of what happened on the weekend at the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, as well as on what they agreed on in their deal. The Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement that on Saturday it conducted a rotation and reprovisioning mission to the BRP Sierra Madre - an old Philippine warship deliberately grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal to serve as an outpost - without any "untoward incidents." It was the first mission conducted under an understanding the two countries reached a week earlier, it said. The Philippine ministry announced on July 21 that the two sides had come to a provisional arrangement on the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to troops on the BRP Sierra Madre, but the details of the agreement have not been made public. U.S. ally the Philippines has accused China, which claims the shoal it calls Ren'ai Jiao, of blocking missions to supply the Filipino troops there, leading to unruly confrontations between Chinese coast guard ships and Philippine vessels. On June 17, a Filipino sailor was wounded in a violent encounter with Chinese coast guard personnel during a resupply mission. 'Uneasy truce' Responding to the statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, or DFA, a Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson said that China only allowed the Philippine mission on the weekend after having 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," the spokesperson said, adding that the entire process was monitored by the Chinese coast guard. But the Philippines disputed China's account. The Philippine National Security Council, or NSC, said in a statement on Sunday that "the Philippines did not and will never seek permission" from China to conduct resupply missions to the shoal. "There was also no boarding and inspection by the Chinese coast guard as claimed by the Chinese foreign ministry in its statement," it added. During the resupply mission "various Chinese maritime forces were observed in the vicinity" but the Chinese vessels maintained their distance and did not undertake any action to disrupt it, the NSC said. The Philippine DFA, in a second statement, criticized the Chinese ministry for misrepresenting what has been agreed between the Philippines and China and it reiterated that the agreement they reached should not prejudice national positions on the situation. The Second Thomas Shoal is entirely within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but also inside the so-called nine-dash line that China draws on its maps to claim historic rights over most of the South China Sea. China previously said it maintained a "three-point principled position" on managing the situation at the Second Thomas Shoal. The three principles are: China has sovereignty over the shoal and continues to demand that the Philippines tow away the BRP Sierra Madre; China is willing to allow resupply missions in a humanitarian spirit if the Philippines informs China in advance and after on-site verification is conducted; and the Philippines is not allowed to send large amount of construction material to strengthen the outpost or make it permanent. Ray Powell, a maritime expert at Stanford University, said that as details of their recent agreement had not been made public, both sides were able to interpret it as they wanted to. "Each side is able to claim the other accepted its preferred language and maintain the current uneasy truce, for now," said Powell. During a meeting between the U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken and the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Laos on Saturday, Blinken raised concern about China's "destabilizing actions in the South China Sea, including at Second Thomas Shoal," the U.S. State Department said. Blinken also affirmed U.S. support for freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes, consistent with international law. For his part, Wang "urged the United States not to stir up trouble and undermine maritime stability" at the shoal, reported the Xinhua news agency. Edited by RFA Staff. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey, Armenia To Hold Normalization Talks At Border By RFE/RL's Armenian Service July 29, 2024 Turkish and Armenian diplomats will meet on July 30 on the Armenia-Turkey border, the Foreign Ministries of the two countries said on July 29 amid efforts to normalize relations. It will be the fifth meeting of special representatives of Yerevan and Baku since they were appointed in December 2021 to advance the normalization process. The meeting will see the envoys discuss "confidence-building measures that could be developed between the two countries," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said, according to AFP. At their last meeting in Vienna, the parties agreed to open the land border for citizens of third countries, but there has been no progress on implementation. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on July 26 visited the Margara (Alican in Turkish) border crossing, which Yerevan recently renovated in hopes of a breakthrough. Armenia has said Yerevan seeks full normalization of relations with Ankara, including the opening of their border and the establishment of diplomatic ties. The border has been shut since diplomatic relations between the two neighbors were severed in 1993 over Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in Azerbaijan that until September 2023 was populated predominantly by ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought wars in the 1990s and in 2023 over control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightning offensive in September 2023 that led to the exodus of all Armenians from the territory. Beyond Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Turkey disagree on whether the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire more than 100 years ago was a genocide. Turkey has vehemently rejected that the killings and deaths that began on April 24, 1915, with mass arrests of Armenian intellectuals and activists in Constantinople, now Istanbul, constituted a genocide. In recent years about three dozen countries, including Russia, France, Germany, and the United States, have recognized it as genocide. Pashinian has urged Armenians to "overcome the trauma" of the massacre and stop yearning for their "lost homeland." Speaking on April 24 at an event to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1915 events, Pashinian said the enduring trauma prevents many Armenians from objectively assessing international affairs and the challenges facing Armenia. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-armenia-normalization- talks/33055240.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 Press release on presidential elections in Venezuela 29 July 2024 14:14 1445-29-07-2024 On July 28, presidential elections were held in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. According to data published by the National Electoral Council, after processing 80 percent of the votes, incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, a candidate from the United Socialist Party, received 51.2 percent. His main rival, Edmundo Gonzalez representing the Unitary Democratic Platform of Venezuela, received 44.2 percent. Voter turnout was 59 percent. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a message to President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, congratulating him on his victory. The well-organised elections took place in a peaceful and calm setting, without any serious violations, despite ongoing public security challenges. Statements by international observers confirm this. According to the Russian delegation, which included members of the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Central Election Commission and NGOs, the voting process was transparent and unbiased. Russia is pleased to note the success of the election in Venezuela and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations in the spirit of strategic partnership, as well as continuing close coordination at international and regional platforms. At the same time, Moscow has taken note of statements by a number of countries passing judgement on the recognition or non-recognition of the voting results. Russia believes that genuine democracy means the sovereignty of the people. Only the people have a right to decide, without external interference, who will govern the state. In this connection, Russia urges all political forces inside and outside Venezuela to refrain from provocative actions that could destabilise the situation in the country and undermine regional stability. We hope that the well-known political wisdom of the great Latin American leader Benito Juarez will prevail: "Respect for the rights of others means peace." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Risks Losing in Event of Multiple Conflicts With Adversaries, Defense Commission Finds Sputnik News 20240729 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States risks losing in the event of multiple conflicts with adversaries due to a lack of capabilities and capacity, the congressionally established Commission on the National Defense Strategy said in a report released Monday. The commission, which received administrative and analytic support from the RAND Corporation think tank, was tasked with examining and making recommendations based on the US National Defense Strategy. "The United States confronts the most serious and the most challenging threats since the end of World War II," the think tank said in a statement on the commission's report. "The United States could in short order be drawn into a war across multiple theaters with peer and near-peer adversaries, and it could lose." The US military lacks both the capabilities and capacity required to be confident in its ability to deter and prevail in combat, the report said. China and Russia are fusing military, diplomatic and industrial strength to expand global power, the report said, touching on past assertions that both nations are doing so as to further and 'coerce' neighbors in the region. The findings pointed out the US needs to undertake a similar integrated approach to meet China and Russia. The report further outlined that Russia intends to outlast the willingness of Western countries to support Ukraine and seek a favorable outcome to the conflict, noting that if Russia were to gain control over Ukraine, its borders with NATO would expand from the Arctic to the Black Sea. As such, it would only present significantly more demands for deployed NATO forces. However, China remains the "preeminent challenge" to US interests and its most formidable military threat, the report claimed. The commission recommends more effectively and efficiently building its future force instead of perpetuating its existing one. The US Congress should pass a supplemental appropriation bill to begin a multiyear investment in the industrial base and national security innovation, the report said. Included among the recommended options to improve US military readiness are an increase in space satellites, underwater vessels and a significant "boost" in "its forward presence in Eastern Europe." "The goal is for Europe to take on a larger role in providing for its defense, with assured and critical support of the United States," the report states. "In light of the potential for simultaneous conflicts, capability targets apportioned to European allies through the NATO Defense Planning Process should be intentionally selected to reduce overreliance on the United States for key capabilities enablers." Also highlighted in the report was' concern that the US deficit poses national security risks, a figure that hit $35 trillion on Monday. Known for its military-centered budget, the report emphasized that the United States should increase security spending, accompanied by additional taxes and reforms to entitlement spending. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Official: US Military Recently Initiated Hypersonic Test, Unclear If Successful Sputnik News 20240729 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - A US defense official told Sputnik on Monday that the Army and Navy recently initiated a test of a conventional hypersonic system but avoided commenting on whether the test was successful. "The US Army and Navy recently initiated a test of a conventional hypersonic system at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida," the official said. "This test was an essential benchmark in the development of operational hypersonic technology." Vital data on the performance of the hardware and software was collected that will inform the continued progress toward fielding hypersonic weapons, the official added. The US military was scheduled to test the US Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), developed by Lockheed Martin, over the Caribbean last week, media reported. Earlier this month, the White House announced the United States would begin episodic deployments of non-nuclear "long-range fires capabilities" to Germany in 2026, which will include developmental hypersonic weapons that will have a significantly longer range than current land-based US missile systems deployed in Europe. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will no longer be bound by a moratorium on deploying medium- and short-range strike weapons if the United States deploys these types of missile systems to Germany. The LRHW, also known as Dark Eagle, is one of a few US hypersonic weapons systems under development that has the best chance to be fielded soon. It missed its target date to be fielded by 2023 but the new goal is to have it ready for deployment by next year. According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Army cannot field an operational system until it conducts a successful end-to-end missile flight test, as the two most recent tests in 2023 were incomplete due to launcher and launch sequence issues. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Congratulates Maduro on Reelection as President of Venezuela - Kremlin Sputnik News 20240729 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated on Monday Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on his reelection, the Kremlin said. Earlier in the day, Venezuela's National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner after the 61-year-old secured 51.2% of the vote, with 80% of the ballots counted. His man rival, Edmundo Gonzalez, reportedlu gained 44.2%. Maduro will begin his third term in office on January 10, 2025. "Vladimir Putin congratulated Nicolas Maduro on his reelection as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," the statement read. Relations between Russia and Venezuela are of a strategic partnership nature, the president said. "I would like to confirm our readiness to continue our constructive joint work on topical issues on the bilateral and international agenda. Remember that you are always a welcome guest in Russia," the statement said. Later in the day, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, on behalf of Maduro, thanked Putin for his congratulations on the reelection. "On behalf of President Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan people, we express our sincere gratitude to President Vladimir Putin for his good wishes for the development and well-being of our nation. We value greatly your firm commitment to continuing to strengthen the strategic alliance between Russia and Venezuela," Gil said on X. On Monday, Colombia and Spain called for an independent recount and verification of votes after the election. Argentine President Javier Milei said even before the official results came out that he would not recognize them. Chile also said that it would not recognize Maduro's victory. Peruvian and Costa Rican authorities too refrained from recognizing the results. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maduro Wins Venezuelan Presidential Election - Electoral Council Sputnik News 20240729 CARACAS (Sputnik) - With 80% of protocols processed, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has received 51.2% of the votes and won the presidential election, Elvis Amoroso, the chairman of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela, said on Monday. For Maduro, the upcoming presidential term will be the third in a row; he has headed the Bolivarian Republic since 2013. The inauguration of the head of the executive power of Venezuela will take place on January 10, 2025, and his term of office will be six years. "With 80% of the data received, we issued the first ballot, which shows a strong and irreversible trend. With a participation rate of 59%, the results are as follows. First, Nicolas Maduro Moros from the Great Patriotic Pole received 5,150,092 votes with 51.20%. Candidate Edmundo Gonzalez from the Unity Council received 4,445,978 votes with 44.2%," Amoroso told journalists and observers. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Maduro's Team Declares Victory in Venezuelan Presidential Election, Awaiting Official Data Sputnik News 20240729 CARACAS (Sputnik) - The campaign headquarters of presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro announced his victory, calling for the official figures of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to be released, and thanked citizens for voting. "We thank you. We cannot announce the result, but we can show you our faces. It was a victory for everyone. It was a victory that will help us build the future. Of course, we will have to wait for the results of the National Electoral Council, since we respect the laws of our country and the constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," the head of the incumbent president's campaign headquarters, the speaker of parliament Jorge Rodriguez, said at a press conference. The headquarters thanked the National Electoral Council for the "perfect work" of the electoral system, which allowed the elections to be held "in absolute calm and absolute peace." Since 6 a.m. (10:00 GMT) on Sunday, Venezuelans have been participating in the presidential election, where nine opposition candidates and the incumbent President Nicolas Maduro were vying for the post of the country's leader. Polling stations began to close at 18 p.m. local time (22:00 GMT). The CNE told Sputnik that polling stations with queues of voters at the time of the official closing would continue to operate until the last visitor. The first ballot with preliminary voting results will be published by the CNE on Monday night after the counted results "become irreversible." According to pre-election polls, of the ten candidates for the post of head of state, the ones with a real chance of being elected are Maduro, who is seeking a second re-election, and the representative of the United Democratic Platform (PUD) coalition, former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Urrutia called for calm at the polling stations and urged citizens to remain inside them until the votes are officially confirmed. "We reiterate to all citizens that they have the right to participate in citizen verification," he wrote on X. The winner of the presidential elections in Venezuela will take office on January 10, 2025, and his term of office will be six years. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior Administration Officials On the Venezuela Election US Department of State Special Briefing Office of the Spokesperson Via Teleconference July 29, 2024 MODERATOR: Good afternoon. Thank you so much for joining this background call on the elections in Venezuela. Just to go over the ground rules, this briefing will be embargoed until the conclusion of the call. It is on background with senior administration officials, so any reference must be to senior administration officials. After we have opening remarks, we will turn to questions. If you have a question, please use the "raise your hand" function and we will be able to call on as many reporters as possible. I'd like to introduce [Senior Administration Official One] and [Senior Administration Official Two]. However, again, this briefing is on background and you will refer to them as senior administration officials. [Senior Administration Official One], I'll turn it over to you for opening remarks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Thank you and good morning. Yesterday, Venezuelans went to the polls to vote in an historic presidential election. The election presented an opportunity for Venezuelan voters to express their aspirations for a more democratic, prosperous, and stable country. We commend their courage and commitment to democratic principles in the face of intense repression and adversity. Last night, the Maduro-controlled National Electoral Council declared Nicolas Maduro the winner, and just this morning it convoked the diplomatic community in Caracas to formally anoint him. We have serious concerns that this result does not reflect the will and the votes of the Venezuelan people. By engaging in repression and electoral manipulation, and by declaring a winner without the detailed precinct-by-precinct polling results, or actas in Spanish, to support a claim, Maduro representatives have stripped the supposed election results they announced of any credibility. We urge Maduro and his representatives to respect the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people and to take immediate steps to restore democratic processes in Venezuela. We call for the immediate publication of detailed precinct-level polling to ensure accountability. With the support of the international community, the Venezuelan people can move toward a better future, a more democratic path, one with economic recovery, political stability, and prosperity for all Venezuelans. As Secretary Blinken said, the international community is watching and will respond accordingly. Thank you. MODERATOR: [Senior Administration Official Two], I will now turn it over to you for your remarks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Great, thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. I appreciate your joining this call. I'll be very brief because I'm sure that we'll have questions. I just want to underscore that Venezuelan voters did show up in historic numbers yesterday to express their will at the ballot box. We stand firmly with the Venezuelan people and support those seeking to restore democracy in Venezuela, and we are very engaged using diplomacy and coordination with regional allies and partners to ensure that the wishes of the Venezuelan people are respected as those wishes have been expressed at the ballot box. In particular, it's critically important that every vote is counted transparently and that election representatives in Venezuela immediately share information with independent observers as well as with the other political actors and the broader international community. That includes publishing the detailed precinct-by-precinct tabulation of votes, which is known as the actas. The United States joins with other democracies in the region and across the world in supporting having democratic norms respected in Venezuela. We are concerned at this juncture with regard to yesterday's election that respect for democratic norms has not been followed. Finally, we must all work together to support aspirations of Venezuelans who showed up in such large numbers to participate in the democratic process and to choose their elected leaders. And with that, I will turn it back to the moderator. MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Our first question is going to be from Frances Robles with The New York Times. QUESTION: Hi, good morning or good afternoon. Thanks for this call. I guess I wanted to know, what now? I mean, is there any offer being made? Is there any threat being made? Kind of what happens next? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Well, let me just start and then I'll throw it over to [Senior Administration Official Two]. The international community has expressed serious concerns about the lack of substantive data to back up the assertion that Nicolas Maduro won this election. The statements from the European Union, the high representative, from foreign ministers and leaders around the world, make it clear that the international community is unwilling to accept this outcome without much greater transparency from Venezuelan electoral authorities, which they have not provided. And we expect that the international community will begin to discuss this issue in regional venues like the Organization of American States, as well as other groupings around the world. We hope that there can be a more - a better outcome for the Venezuelan people, but that depends on Venezuelan authorities respecting international norms and providing access to the polling-place-by-polling-place-level data that their law requires them to share not only with opposition political parties, but also with civil society and even ordinary citizens. [Senior Administration Official Two]? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: I think what we would like to see happen next is have the National Electoral Council publish the detailed precinct-level results to see if they do in fact have the receipts that can both verify and justify the electoral results that they announced last night, and we believe that they'll be making an additional declaration today. Where we are concerned is that the analysis that we have received from several sources indicates that the final, official announced results are at odds with how people actually voted, potentially substantially at odds with that. And so this is really something that needs to be further examined and explored. And really, at this juncture, the pressure is on the National Electoral Council to share those more detailed results. If in fact the election result was as the electoral authorities announced that it is, then this should be a very simple ask and one that they would be able to show quite easily. If there is resistance to providing that additional information, then I think that becomes highly problematic when it comes to the ability of the United States or other members of the international community to judge whether these elections were in fact inclusive and credible. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question is from Michael Stott with Financial Times. QUESTION: Good afternoon and thank you for doing this. If the CNE doesn't publish detailed precinct-level results, as seems overwhelmingly likely, will the U.S. cancel the individual sanctions licenses that it has given to Chevron and other oil and gas companies in the past year? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Thank you very much for the question. So we are obviously in the process of evaluating these election results, and we have to see where this comes out. I can't get into hypotheticals with respect to what our overall licensing policy will be. However, that being said, it is not currently under consideration that we would retroactively alter licenses that have been - previously been given. QUESTION: Yeah, so this is Matt Spetalnick with Reuters. Can you hear me okay? MODERATOR: We can. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Go ahead. QUESTION: Okay, thank you. So let's - staying on the sanctions issue, is the administration teeing up any new sanctions on Maduro's government, or individuals, that could be issued if it is ultimately determined that the Venezuelan election result was truly a sham? And secondly, what other kind of concern does the administration have about the potential threat to the safety or security of Machado, Gonzalez, or both after the election? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Sure. I'll take the first part of the question and then I'll let my colleague take the second part. With regard to sanctions policy, we will continue to assess our sanctions policy towards Venezuela in light of overall U.S. national foreign policy interests, the actions, the non-actions that are taken by Maduro and his representatives, and the overall direction of travel as it relates to our broader U.S. bilateral engagement with Venezuela. I would like to underscore that the - despite all the problems which we're discussing now, the fact that Venezuela did in fact hold an election yesterday, which allowed an opposition candidate to be on the ballot and for a voting process to unfold, only came about as a result of the calibrations that we have done with our sanctions policy over the last year. Now that we are faced with potentially a new scenario, we are going to take that into account as we map forward where we may head with respect to sanctions towards Venezuela. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Well, the international community remains concerned about the harassment, arrests, and detentions that numerous members of civil society in Venezuela as well as members of the opposition have suffered over the course of the last six months. The United States and the international community have on numerous occasions expressed our concerns that the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of Venezuela and other international documents should be respected by Maduro and those around him. It would be a further insult to the rights of the Venezuelan people and the international community were Maduro and those around him to take steps to repress further leaders of the democratic opposition in Venezuela or prominent members of civil society. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question comes from Jennifer Hansler with CNN. Jennifer, please go ahead. QUESTION: Hi, can you hear me? MODERATOR: Yes. QUESTION: Okay, great. Thanks for doing the call. I'm wondering on the call for the individual precinct results, was there any ultimatum about when those results need to be conveyed to the U.S. and the international community, and how is that demand being conveyed to officials in Venezuela? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Well, I'll note that the information that the public in Venezuela, civil society, opposition political parties, and numerous actors in the international community is calling for is required under Venezuelan law and should be immediately available. This is not something that requires deep work or research. The certificates, or actas, are generated at the precinct level immediately upon the closing of the vote, and there are multiple ways to transmit that and to make that information public. There is already an ample amount of information available through political party poll watchers as well as civil society observers that demonstrates the tendency of the vote in Venezuela and provides opportunities for the Venezuelan people to determine what the true outcome of the election was. In that regard, as Secretary Blinken said last night, the CNE should release this information immediately. MODERATOR: Our next question comes from Michael Wilner with McClatchy. Michael. QUESTION: Thanks, [Moderator]. Can you hear me? MODERATOR: Yes. QUESTION: Great. Thanks, all. And [Senior Administration Official One], you said earlier you're unwilling to accept - the international community is unwilling to accept this outcome without much greater transparency. I think the question your critics are asking is: What did you think was going to happen, right? NSC, State, Intelligence folks have all been quite clear for months in their assessment that Maduro was not going to give up power, but you seem to be saying that the mere fact that they held an election, even if it was rigged, is a sign of progress. So was it worth it to you to incentivize an election with sanctions relief, et cetera, that almost everyone in your own administration knew was going to be a sham? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: So let's think about where we were at the beginning of the Biden administration - the international consensus, that the Venezuelan Maduro regime was a blight on the region and their lack of respect for democratic norms, was receding rapidly. Countries were sending accredited ambassadors to Caracas. We were receiving regular requests for a change in our sanctions policy. The flow of Venezuelan migrants out of the country was at historic highs. We were able to incentivize the Maduro side to allow an opposition primary in which Maria Corina Machado won over 2.3 million votes, demonstrating strong support for an opposition unity candidate; were able to see the opposition coalesce around a successor candidate in Edmundo Gonzalez. The Maduro side agreed to the presence of international observers, including the Carter Center. It allowed the presence and the actions of civil society electoral observers, the taking of exit polls, and the quick count following the closing of the polls. All of that gives us a tremendous amount of data about the will of Venezuelan voters. In the face of a lack of transparency by the Venezuelan CNE, you've seen leaders and foreign ministers from around the world make statements of concern that this process needs to be more transparent and an unwillingness to accept that Maduro would simply be ratified in his position without, at a minimum, much greater transparency. That means that there is an international consensus moving forward that would have collapsed if it were not for the actions that we have taken. And it is clear, at a minimum, to the Maduro side, I would argue, that a large portion of the population there is seeking change, and the numbers that they have released, at a minimum, don't reflect the intensity of that desire for change. So I would argue that we are in a much better position now than we were three years ago. MODERATOR: Our next question comes from Raquel Krahenbuhl with Globo. QUESTION: All right. Can you guys hear me? MODERATOR: Yes, we can. QUESTION: Thank you very much, [Moderator]. Thank you, [Senior Administration Official One]. And a couple of questions just to start with, and then I have a few others. MODERATOR: Yeah, we're going to - just because of the number of questions, we are going to limit everyone to just one, so please go ahead. QUESTION: Okay. Sounds good. So to make clear from what you are saying and seeing - receiving from your sources as [Senior Administration Official Two] put, do you believe that Edmundo Gonzalez has won this election? And are you in contact working together with the Brazilians, with Brazil's Celso Amorim who is in Venezuela right now? And what do you believe Amorim, others should be doing on the ground right now? And when you talk about the U.S. and the international community watching, and will you respond accordingly? Would it be a coordinated response with other countries? Thank you very much. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Thank you for the question. So we have been in contact with a wide range of international partners, including those both in the Western Hemisphere and beyond, throughout the election process. Of course, that includes representatives from Brazil who have played a very important role throughout and will continue to do so. We very much value the discussions and the opinions of our Brazilian interlocuters. With respect to the results of the election, our concern here is that last night the National Electoral Council of Venezuela announced a result but that does not track with data that we have received through quick count mechanisms and other sources, which suggests that the result that was announced may be at odds with how people voted. And so that is the principal source of our concern. That is why we are asking the Venezuelan electoral authorities to release the underlying data that supports the numbers that they have publicly announced. Because without the capacity to see and assess the underlying data, it's very hard for us to judge the announced result as being credible given that we are not seeing any data or analysis outside of that announced result that points in the same direction. MODERATOR: Great. Our next question is from Eric Martin with Bloomberg. QUESTION: Yes, thank you very much for doing this call. I wanted to ask about - if I can follow up on the questions of my colleagues, about consequences. And I know that you don't want to get too far ahead of things, but you guys have been clear-eyed, I think, about this process and what the possible outcomes could be in recent months. And so what can you tell us about what you have gamed out or planned out in terms of various scenarios with Treasury with sanctions, with State with diplomatic pressure? What kind of map is there for the U.S. to follow based on what many analysts believe will be the case, which is that these receipts and these actas will not be produced, there will be a lack of transparency? And can you talk about the planning for a concrete strategy to implement given that expectation? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: We're - I don't think we're going to get into the details of how we would respond, but I will note that numerous nations and institutions in the international community have already expressed concerns about the current situation. And we will work with partners around the world - whether it's the OAS or the G7 or many other partners - to discuss a collective way forward that continues to both encourage the kinds of changes and reforms that the Venezuelan people have called for but also exacts consequences on Maduro and those around him if they fail to move in that direction. MODERATOR: Our next question is with - from Juan Merlano from Caracol. QUESTION: Thank you very much. I would like to follow up on the question of the failure of the strategy, because in light of the results that were known last night, everyone is saying that one of the biggest losers of the election in Venezuela is also the United States. Do you regret your previous strategy? For instance, having released Alex Saab so far from the date from the election, do you think that you lost an important piece of leverage over the Maduro regime? And the other one is regarding the engagement with Colombia, because we've already seen a statement from Minister Murillo, but the one who called the shots is President Gustavo Petro, and he has kept silent. Are you hoping to convince President Gustavo Petro that if the actas are not released, he join the bloc of international community that rejects the results in Venezuela? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Great - well, thank you very much for the question. First of all, the strategy we have for Venezuela is based on long-term strategic objectives, including moving the country towards greater democracy and prosperity. And we understand that as we move through this strategy, we're going to be going through a set of important milestones. Having this election was one of them. As has been previously alluded to on this call, we always knew there were a variety of scenarios for this election as it unfolded, and the events as they took place and are unfolding this week was certainly among those scenarios considered and for which we have been planning. I would note that the election only took place yesterday, that the - several of the important international observation missions won't even make their declarations and assessments until tomorrow. And I think that you're seeing a greater alignment between a number of key actors in the international community that is pushing the Venezuela National Electoral Council towards greater transparency. I also think - and I believe the data will support this - that you have a - essentially a tremendous call for change that took place yesterday in Venezuela through the ballot box, and that will better position a number of political actors to engage in future negotiations with the Maduro authorities if those negotiations are required. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: I would just add that our engagement with the Maduro side produced the freedom of all wrongfully detained American citizens in Venezuela, as well as other persons incarcerated in Venezuela, and the repatriation of a notorious fugitive, Fat Leonard, who defrauded the United States military out of millions of dollars. So those were substantial achievements in our negotiations with the other side. MODERATOR: Our next question comes from Nora Torres with the Miami Herald. QUESTION: Thank you so much for doing this. And just to follow up on what my colleagues were asking, it seems to me like the position where we were at the beginning of the Biden administration and the position we're in now seems to be the same place, with Maduro in power. And I don't know if you have seen the recent - just - reports a few minutes ago that Venezuelan general attorney just accused Maria Corina Machado of sabotaging the electoral system last night. So beyond hoping or building international consensus with international partners, is there anything else the administration is doing to ensure Maduro respects the votes? Or are there any negotiations going on right now with Maduro? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: [Senior Administration Official Two], do you want to take the beginning of that? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Sure, that's great, thank you. And thank you very much for the question. Look, following this election, there were a number of different scenarios that could pan out. And we're still very much in the middle of this process. I think that the Maduro authorities understand that if it is proven that they committed fraud in the holding of this election, then that is not good for their longer-term objectives of normalizing Venezuela's broader diplomatic and political relations in the region. And frankly, it's not good for their own political position within Venezuela. And so that all is part of, I think, the broader decision calculus here. Moving forward, we do have a number of options and considerations that we can bring to bear on this situation as we see what the decisions are that are made by the National Electoral Council in the coming days with regard to the release of the data that has been mentioned already. So that is really going to be, I think, a critical juncture. I would also note that a large and growing number of countries both in this region and more broadly share the same concerns as the United States in terms of ensuring that there is sufficient evidence that this was a credible election. And that is something that we will be very much working towards as well. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Let me just add that what we've seen already in just the last few hours are statements of concern from the European Union, from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Colombia, the United Kingdom, and many others - that's not an exhaustive list. That means that the Maduro side has a stark decision to make: whether or not they want to continue isolation or to move toward a path to reintegrate the country into the international system and the community of nations. This is a crucial moment. The first step that they could take is to immediately release the information and the data that they have on the polling-place-level certificates, the actas. They have that information right now. They can release it right now and demonstrate whether or not the assertions that they've made that Nicolas Maduro was elected president have any substantive backing or whether as - the other information contained in exit polls, quick counts, pre-election polling that point to a different outcome is correct. This is a crucial moment, and we urge the Maduro side to immediately release all the information available, as required under the law in Venezuela. And to try to shunt the blame to other actors, alleging a hack without any evidence and naming a prominent member of the opposition as responsible for that, strains credibility. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question comes from Tracy Wilkinson with the LA Times. QUESTION: Hi. Thank you. Hi, [Senior Administration Official One]; hi, [Senior Administration Official Two]. I'm just - I understand the need to let the process play out, but I wonder if it's not already too late in the sense that Maduro, as you said - I think you said, [Senior Administration Official One] - convened the diplomatic corps today. So he has already been anointed in a certain respect. So how does he come back from that? I mean, even - whatever data the CNE comes up with, how does he say, "Oh, never mind, I didn't win" to the world that he's already kind of asserted his victory? So I would just wonder if maybe you guys think you need to be moving more quickly, or if you think there's sort of a point of no return. Thanks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TWO: Sure, I'll jump in to give an initial reply. I think that the - you're correct in that the Maduro authorities are trying to make the case that the election is over, now everyone can move along, there's nothing to see here. However, the fact remains that there are serious, serious questions in the broader international community as it relates to the credibility of these elections. And we are going to continue to press to see these concerns be addressed. We also note that the call for change that everyone witnessed in Venezuela yesterday was significant, and that suggests that there will have to be, I think, a broader reconsideration of the - of how Maduro can behave moving forward. Lastly, I think that our deepest concern at this juncture is that the analysis and data that we have about this election, which is independent from the National Electoral Council results, is at odds with the - with the results as they were announced by the Venezuelan authorities. And so that discrepancy, in our view, needs to be investigated and addressed before we can close the books on this election. MODERATOR: Thank you very much for joining us today. That is all the time we have for questions. As a reminder, this is a background briefing with senior administration officials, and the embargo breaks at the conclusion of the call. Thank you very much for your time. Have a nice day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Verma's Meeting with Mauritian Foreign Minister Gobin US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson July 29, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma met Foreign Minister Maneesh Gobin in Washington, D.C. to discuss the expanding cooperation between Mauritius and the United States on shared priorities. The Deputy Secretary commended Mauritius for its efforts to combat trafficking in persons and increase protections for migrant workers. They also reviewed ongoing maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean and opportunities to increase bilateral trade and investment, including in counternarcotics and people-to-people ties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko Remarks to the Press US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Iikura Guest House Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2024 MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) We are now going to start the joint press announcement of Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. First, Minister Kamikawa will speak, followed by Minister Wong from Australia, Minister Jaishankar from India, and Secretary Blinken from the United States. Now, Minister Kamikawa, over to you. FOREIGN MINISTER KAMIKAWA: (Via interpreter) It was a great pleasure to have invited Foreign Minister Wong of Australia, Foreign Minister Jaishankar of India, and Secretary of State Blinken of the United States to Tokyo, and to hold the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting. So the four ministers engaged in in-depth discussions of regional strategic issues and the cooperation among the Quad countries. This was the second foreign ministers' meeting hosted in Japan, and after nearly four years, but throughout this period the solidarity and the commitment of the Quad to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law have been strengthening day by day. At the same time, Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues as we speak, and unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas or the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea are continuing. The international order is becoming increasingly uncertain and global affairs even more unforeseeable. Under this backdrop, the foreign ministers of like-minded countries got together and engaged in strategic dialogue and managed to confirm that we, the Quad, will listen to the needs of the region, that we will commit to resolve the issues, and that we will continue to steadfastly deliver on our commitments. Please allow me to introduce the cooperation that we agreed upon. Firstly, first of all, what could be said as the starting point, the origin of the Quad - a group of maritime states that is a cooperation on the reinforcement of maritime order, from maritime domain awareness to the law enforcement on the ground - we will execute a comprehensive cooperation. In order to do so, the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness shall be expanded into the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, we will collaborate on capacity building assistance on maritime law enforcement and engage in maritime legal dialogue. Number two, we will continue to respond to new needs in the region, such as the those arising from scientific and technological advances. Specifically, we will steadily implement the Open RAN in Palau and support capacity building in the field of cyber security in the Philippines. Number three, we stand ready to respond quickly to emergencies in the region. The four countries have begun coordinating assistance for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and in May, Japan, Australia, India, and the U.S. worked together to provide assistance for the landslide damages in PNG. This is an important initiative from a perspective of human dignity, which Japan attaches great importance to. Lastly, the importance of the Women, Peace, and Security - WPS - agenda is also clearly stated for the first time in the Quad joint statement. Also, this time we have confirmed our response against information manipulation and interference by foreign countries, including the proliferation of disinformation. This cooperation are also central pieces to maintain the strengthen the regional order. Thus, once again, the Quad were able to commit to a variety of cooperation. This is a testament to the determination of the Quad to continue to cooperate for the coexistence and co-prosperity of the international community. We will continue to promote cooperation that will truly benefit the region, in cooperation with businesses and international organizations among these four countries that share common values and have a real capacity to resolve regional issues. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. Minister Wong of Australia, please. FOREIGN MINISTER WONG: Can I first thank Foreign Minister Kamikawa and the Government of Japan for the wonderful hosting of this Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting? We really appreciate it. And it's always wonderful to meet not only with the foreign minister but with Secretary Blinken and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. We've all arrived here from Vientiane after attending ASEAN and - ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings, and it's a reminder that all four of us are Comprehensive Strategic Partners of ASEAN, and respect its leadership and its role and centrality in the regional architecture. I'm here in Tokyo for the second time in two weeks, having attended the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting hosted by Prime Minister Kishida. And we also thank the Government of Japan for that work. We live in a time where our world and our region is being reshaped. Conflict is risking lives and is costing lives. Extreme weather threatens food and water security. And longstanding rules are being bent and twisted or broken. Countries face coercive trade measures, unsustainable lending, political interference, and disinformation. All of these encroach on the ability of every country to exercise its own agency, to contribute to regional balance, and most importantly, to determine its own destiny. For Australia, this Quad partnership is central to how we respond to the circumstances we face, and it is critical to how we influence the shaping of the region and the world in which we live. We want a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region - a region where sovereignty is respected and in which competition is managed responsibly. We've often spoken about the Quad enabling choices. We mean that in two ways. First, we are enabling choices in terms of the character of the region we want - a region in which sovereignty and the capacity to both agree and disagree is safeguarded. But second, we seek to enable choices in a practical sense by bringing together the advantages - the comparative advantages that these nations before you offer and offering that practical assistance to meet the region's needs. I've had the opportunity in recent weeks to discuss with Pacific and ASEAN colleagues the priority they place on enhancing connectivity in the region and in the world. And today, Australia has launched our new Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, our contribution to the Quad leaders' Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience. This is about supporting the resilience of undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific, providing technical assistance and training, and bringing together governments and industry. We have also announced our 70 - first 70 Quad infrastructure scholarships for participants in both the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. So from building cyber security capacity to combating illegal fishing, Quad partners are expanding cooperation and using our comparative advantages for good. We all know we cannot achieve the region we seek alone. And just as we benefit from the complementarity of our partners, so does our region, because of our geography and our shared approach to building prosperity and reinforcing stability. All of us want a world in which disputes are managed by rules, by talking, by cooperation, not by force or raw power. But most importantly, we understand that this does not happen on its own; we have to make this happen. We do this by being active; we do this by exercising our agency. We do this by contributing to a strategic balance in our region so that no one country dominates and no country is dominated. And we do this by a combination of reassurance and deterrence, and by working transparently and openly with partners. And we do this by responding when we or our neighbors are in need. So my very sincere thanks to Foreign Minister Kamikawa and the Government of Japan, and to my ministerial colleagues and friends, Tony and Jai, for this meeting. It has been constructive and positive. It has been very open, and I welcome this conversation very sincerely. We look forward to what comes next. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. Next, I would like to invite Minister Jaishankar from India. MINISTER JAISHANKAR: Let me join my Quad colleagues to thank Minister Kamikawa Yoko for hosting us today, and also in sharing our readout on the meeting and the progress of the Quad. Allow me to make five points. First, as the person - not just the foreign minister - longest associated with the Quad, the real satisfaction I have is to see how deeply and systemically it has now got embedded in our foreign policies. Certainly, meetings such as the one we have just concluded are hugely helpful in giving direction. But the fact is that different agencies of our government and stakeholders beyond them - and this keeps expanding - now regularly interact with each other to take it forward. And our leaders have personally led the Quad's growth. Second, do appreciate what an expansive agenda we have built up in the last few years. Think about it: We are working from trusted telecom technology and undersea cable connectivity - we just heard Minister Wong talk about it - to humanitarian and disaster relief - Minister Kamikawa spoke about that - critical emerging technologies, cyber and health security, climate action, infrastructure, capacity building and training, STEM education, maritime domain awareness, and counterterrorism. And this, by the way, is the abbreviated list. There are 16 working groups, and we have just today agreed on more things to do. All of us are looking at how to advance Quad, how to resource it better, how to coordinate more closely, and I think we made some important steps today in that direction. Third, this is not a talk shop, but a platform that generates practical outcomes. For example, our HADR conversations are reflected in understandings and SOPs between our navies. The Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness initiative that came out of Quad today links our information fusion centers. The Open RAN network that we have spoken about so much is being deployed in Palau. A space-based climate warning system will be launched soon in Mauritius. Off-grid solar projects are actually happening in Indo-Pacific islands. During COVID, we cooperated to deliver vaccines to countries in this region. And the first cohort of Quad STEM fellowships is passing out, and the second one will also cover the ASEAN. Fourth, while I have given specific examples, it is important that we all connect the dots. The overall messaging is that our four countries - all democratic polities, pluralistic societies, and market economies - are working together for a free and open Indo-Pacific, for a rules-based order, and for global good. That by itself is a powerful stabilizing factor in an uncertain and volatile world. And fifth, there is a strong interactive dynamic between the Quad and our respective bilateral and even trilateral relationships. Progress on one front strengthens the other and thereby enhances the value of the Quad. We have been able to engage together with some other countries in this region in furtherance of a shared agenda. So ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, these are challenging times. Whether it is stability and security, or progress and prosperity, good things don't happen by themselves. They need trusted partners; they need international cooperation. The Quad is a great contemporary example of both. As in the past, I'm very pleased with what we have discussed and what we have achieved. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you. And next, Secretary Blinken. Over to you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: It is a particular pleasure for me to be with these colleagues and these friends. Yoko, to you, to the Government of Japan, thank you not only for the hospitality and for organizing us but for your leadership. And to my good friends the foreign minister from Australia, Foreign Minister Wong, and the external affairs minister from India, Jaishankar, thank you for the quality of the conversation and the work that we're doing together not only today but virtually every day. If my colleagues will indulge me for just one minute, I want to speak quickly to the elections that just took place in Venezuela. We applaud the Venezuelan people for their participation in the July 28th presidential election. We commend their courage and commitment to democracy in the face of repression and in the face of adversity. We've seen the announcement just a short while ago by the Venezuelan electoral commission. We have serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people. It's critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that election officials immediately share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay, and that the electoral authorities publish the detailed tabulation of votes. The international community is watching this very closely and will respond accordingly. Now, to the business of today. This is in the category of everything's been said but not everyone has said it, so I suspect this will sound familiar because of the very eloquent presentations that my colleagues have made. But let me just reinforce some of the things that they've said. This is a moment of unprecedented strategic alignment among our four countries. We have four countries that are united by a shared vision for a free and open, connected, a secure, a prosperous, resilient Indo-Pacific region. That means, simply put, that problems are dealt with openly; rules are reached transparently, applied fairly; that goods, that ideas, that people will flow freely and lawfully across land, across cyberspace, the open seas. And we're also united by a shared belief that, together, we can help shape this future in ways that bring tangible benefit to the people we represent and many other people throughout the region. Now, our four countries are home to nearly 2 billion people. We have a combined GDP of nearly $35 trillion. We're responsible for about 30 percent of the global foreign direct investment stock. We are committed to putting our collective resources, our collective strengths to work to benefit people across the region that we share. Just over the past several years, the Quad has launched and delivered on ambitious but also very practical things in our agenda, one that respects the centrality of ASEAN, the leadership of ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and other regional bodies. And it complements the growing network of interconnected alliances and partners within the Indo-Pacific that are increasingly as well linked to other regions. Today we discussed concrete steps to advance this corporate agenda. First, we are charting a course for a more secure and open Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region by bolstering maritime security and domain awareness. In practical terms, what does this mean? It means strengthening capacity of partners across the region to know what's happening in their own waters. Two years ago, we launched the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, bringing cutting-edge technology - like signal location data and satellite technology - to countries all across the region. These capabilities, for example, help countries crack down on illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing. They help them predict natural disasters. They help them mitigate the effects of climate change. They help them enforce borders. And we agreed to extend this partnership to the Indian Ocean via India's Information Fusion Centre. We continue to work with partners to ensure that freedom of navigation, overflight, the unimpeded flow of lawful maritime commerce, that these continue to go forward. They are critical to the region's security; they're critical to its ongoing prosperity. Second, we are helping to accelerate the Indo-Pacific's path to even greater prosperity by harnessing the power of digital and emerging technologies, and again, doing it together. Today we took the first step to launching the AI-ENGAGE program, funding opportunities for collaborative research to leverage these technologies - like artificial intelligence, like robotics - to help improve things like agricultural productivity, food security, things that matter profoundly to so many of our people. We're growing the region's tech ecosystem through the Quad Investors Network. It's bringing together investors, corporations, public institutions for joint ventures in things like clean energy, chips, critical minerals, quantum technology. We're also bolstering security and resilience, as you've heard, of the undersea cables that connect all of us. Upward of 95 percents of digital traffic is carried by these cables every single millisecond of the day. So far, we've trained over 1,000 telecom professionals across Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Pacific Islands on manufacturing, on delivery, on the maintenance of cable infrastructure. This week we announced a new cohort of Quad fellows. We're sponsoring top STEM students, those who have masters or PhDs, to come study in the United States. We just expanded from Quad countries to include students from all across Southeast Asia. Third, we're deepening our collaboration on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. This cooperation laid the groundwork to send some $5 billion to the - to Papua New Guinea after the landslides this spring. We're working to finalize a response mechanism to make coordination even more effective and immediate to deal with future disasters. Of course, in the context of our discussions today, we also talked about regional and global security priorities where Quad engagement and leadership makes a big difference: our collective resources, our strategic thinking, our relationships, our consultations. All of these are important to address the challenges: the DPRK's destabilizing and unlawful missile launches, Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, and of course, the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Gaza. We're grateful - I must say on the part of the United States - grateful to our partners for the strong support for the ceasefire proposal that President Biden put forward, and we're working every single day to bring that across the finish line. When our leaders were gathered at the G7 in Hiroshima in May of 2023, President Biden predicted that a generation from now, people will look at the Quad as a force that, as he put it, "changed the dynamic not only of the region, but [of] the world." Today's meeting - all of the energy, all of the commitment, all the collaboration that we're able to bring together - gives me great confidence in the Quad's future and the shared future that we work to represent. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. This concludes the joint press conference. Minister Kamikawa, Minister Wong, Minister Jaishankar, Secretary Blinken, all of you that are present here, thank you very much. I'd like to ask the press to remain here until the foreign ministers leave. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko Before a Quad Ministerial Meeting US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Iikura Guest House Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2024 FOREIGN MINISTER KAMIKAWA: (Via interpreter) Good morning. It is scorching hot in Tokyo following yesterday, but thank you for coming all the way to Japan. May I express my heartfelt welcome to Minister Wong, Minister Jaishankar, and Secretary Blinken to Japan. It is so gratifying to host the Japan, Australia, and U.S. foreign ministers meeting here in Tokyo after almost four years. As the existing international order is facing challenges, the cooperation of the four countries of Japan, Australia, India, and the U.S. - who share their values such as freedom and democracy, to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law - is becoming increasingly important. The prosperity of the region can only be ensured if the foundation of such regional prosperity, so to say, is stable, including the stability of maritime, cyber, and space. However, in these days, the deterioration of the situation in one region could lead to the destabilization of global maritime traffic, or a disruption of a critical infrastructure in one country due to a cyber attack may cause adverse impacts on other countries. And it is an era in which risks in certain regions could easily spill over into other regions. Under this backdrop, by the provision of systems and trainings for maritime security or by the assistance for capacity building to ensure cyber security, the aim is to defend the foundation of the regional prosperity and advance the region, and to realize an international community of coexistence and coprosperity. That is what we, the Quad, is about. Together with the foreign ministers and Secretary of like-minded countries today, my friend, the three countries, I wish to engage in strategic discussions and consider cooperation that will genuinely benefit the region. May I invite Minister Wong, Minister Jaishankar, and Secretary Blinken in that order, please? FOREIGN MINISTER WONG: Minister Kamikawa, thank you for hosting us today, and greetings to our friends from India and the United States. It's a great pleasure to be back here in Japan, Minister, for the second time in a fortnight. It's just over two years since I accompanied Prime Minister Albanese to Tokyo for the 2022 Quad Leaders' Summit. It was on the same day I was sworn in as Australia's foreign minister I came to Tokyo for the Quad, which demonstrates the importance we place on this forum. And since then, Australia's belief in the strategic necessity of the Quad has only strengthened. Colleagues, we all know our region and our world are being reshaped. We all understand we face the most confronting circumstances in our region in decades. And the work through this group, through the Quad, reflects our collective determination to work more closely than ever with each other and with key partners to shape this period of change together, to shape the sort of region we want to live in. And we have listened and we've heard what our region wants: a region that is peaceful, that is predictable, that is governed by accepted rules and norms where all of us can go cooperate, can trade, and thrive; a region where sovereignty is respected and competition is managed responsibly, where size and power do not determine a country's fate, and where no country dominates and no country is dominated, where we can all pursue our own aspirations and have choices available to realize those. Over the last two years, we have seen the Quad's commitment to this vision of the Indo-Pacific, and I've seen us deliver for our region. I was in Papua New Guinea last month, where our coordinated efforts are helping the people of Enga in the - as they recover from a catastrophic landslide. We work together in the maritime domain, sharing crucial maritime data with regional partners to help combat illegal fishing and respond to climate-related and humanitarian events. We welcome those efforts being extended to the Indian Ocean region soon. Colleagues, when these four countries work together - Australia, India, Japan, and the United States - we are a more effective partner for the region. And as I said at the East Asia Summit just a few days ago, we all cherish the region's peace, stability, and prosperity. And we all know it is not a given. We all know cannot take it for granted and that we have a responsibility to work together to preserve it and strengthen it. And I very much look forward to our discussions today. MINISTER JAISHANKAR: Dear colleagues, it's very good to meet again here in Tokyo. Our last Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting was 10 months ago in New York. In that period, we have met each other bilaterally or on the sidelines of other events. Our systems, however, led by our sherpas, have been continuously interacting. So there is much today to talk about, to agree on, and to plan ahead. These are not easy times. A major challenge is to ensure global economic growth while also de-risking it. Supply chains are a particular focus for resilience, just as we push for trusted and transparent digital partnerships. The march of technology has also acquired extraordinary proportions, holding possibilities of the very manner in which we live, think, and act. In essence, we are in the midst of a re-globalization. At the same time, it is only our collective endeavors that can proof the international system against disruptions manmade or natural. But we have significant additional responsibilities as well. As political democracies, pluralistic societies, and market economies, there is the key question of upholding a rules-based order. It is only our collaboration that can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, remains open, stable, secure, and prosperous. The commitment to doing global good that we have all undertaken has a resonance far beyond this region. It is therefore essential that our political understanding strengthens, our economic partnerships grow, our technology collaborations expand, and our people-to-people comfort intensifies. Our meeting should send a clear message that the Quad is here to stay, here to do, and here to grow. Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Colleagues, friends, it's wonderful as always to be with you and particularly to be with you in this grouping, in this format. For the United States, it's simple. The Indo-Pacific remains the most dynamic and also rapidly evolving region in the world, but one of tremendous immediate but also future opportunity. And we know that we can maximize that opportunity, we can maximize the good that we're able to deliver - for our people in our countries but also throughout the region - by working together, by pooling our resources, our ideas, and actually demonstrating results, and that's really what the Quad is all about. Now, we have conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, South Sudan - they get a lot of attention understandably. They get attention from us, they get attention in the media, but even as we're doing what we need to do, what we must, to try to bring these conflicts to an end and to try to protect people, we have not lost sight - indeed, we're resolutely focused - on this region that we share. This is my 18th trip to the Indo-Pacific in three and a half years as Secretary of State, 6th to Japan. That's simply one marker of the importance that my government and my country attaches to the work that we're doing. And it's vital that we keep that focus, and we will. But even more than keeping the focus, we have to demonstrate that, together, we can deliver practical real results, and that's really what the Quad stands for. It's an affirmative vision of this free, open, prosperous Indo-Pacific, a vision that is informed by listening first and foremost - listening to regional priorities, listening to what all of our partners are looking for and need in their lives to make those lives better and to really seize opportunities. Many of us were participating in the EAS, the ARF, and this helps inform where we should focus our efforts to deliver on objectives that actually complement and advance the priorities that the region has. I'm really grateful to ASEAN for its leadership in the region, and we will continue to support its efforts. Across these regional forums, the aspirations of Indo-Pacific communities are pretty clear, and I think all of my colleagues described them beautifully and eloquently. But we want a region that is free, open, prosperous, connected, resilient, in which people can go about their lives freely, in which countries can choose with whom to associate, and in which security is preserved not, in a sense, as an end in itself but in order to enable everyone to go about their lives and to try to better their lives in peace. So we will have discussions this morning pursuing the work that our leaders have done, and this has been a hallmark of the last three and a half years. These conversations that are happening at our level - and more important, at the leaders level - they're hugely important. But what's even more important is the work that's getting done every single day in between these conversations. As I like to say, one day's important - the 364 days that follow are where we really determine whether we're making good on these commitments. So I look forward to hearing about, again, the work that our teams have been doing, but also going forward, the focus that we're going to bring over the coming months to the work of the Quad to demonstrate that it is value added for people in our countries and throughout this region. Thank you. FOREIGN MINISTER KAMIKAWA: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN official describes Gaza situation as 'absolutely catastrophic' amid severe shortages 29 July 2024 - The top UN humanitarian official for Gaza said on Monday that the situation in the war-ravaged enclave remains "absolutely catastrophic", with Palestinian civilians enduring a "horrendous maelstrom of human misery." Recently returned from the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York via video link from Jordan. She said that UN teams and partners are working to address the severe shortages of waste management and sanitation facilities, amid the risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases. While in Gaza, she also visited a mobile maternity ward, run by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the non-profit International Medical Corps. "There are truly brave women doctors, nurses, working to ensure safe deliveries as well as a high number of C-sections, but under horrendous circumstances," she said. "And normally babies, of course, bring only joy and a momentary sense of relief to the families. But we also know that many of the mothers are deeply worried about the future and the world they are bringing their children into," she added. Ms. Kaag also noted that doctors have reported a rise in the rate of miscarriages in the first and second trimesters, though the reasons are not clear, and that this will be studied further by the experts. Urgent needs The senior UN humanitarian also stated that the hospitals she visited also had children suffering severe, often chronic, medical conditions that required medical evacuation (medevac) for treatment. "A number of these children have been displaced four or five times within Gaza, each time in pursuit of safety and medical shelter. I think it is quite difficult for us to even imagine," she said. Ms. Kaag also outlined key necessities for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the ground, especially safety and security for humanitarians as well as for the civilians they are seeking to assist. She also urged greater support for Palestinian NGOs, who despite heavy losses, continue their efforts to help those in need. Humanitarian mechanism Ms. Kaag also referred to the mechanism for accelerating humanitarian consignments to Gaza, which she is tasked with under Security Council resolution 2720. "It is working, it is capturing aid supplies from Jordan, Cyprus, West Bank into Gaza," she said, noting that negotiations are being finalized with Egypt and that the monitors are ready to be deployed inside Gaza. "But what we need is an immediate and full ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and, of course, continued access to start to meet the needs," she stressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commander, Task Force 68 trains with Allies in Romania, Bulgaria US Navy 29 July 2024 From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs NAPLE, Italy -- U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) Eight, Platoon 801 participated in two exercises alongside multiple Allies in Romania and Bulgaria, June 10-14 and June 17-21, 2024, respectively. Romania hosted exercise Eurasian Partnership Mine Countermeasure (EPMCM) in and around Constanta, while the latter exercise was the Bulgarian-hosted TRITON, which took place at Varna Naval Station. The exercises, designed to increase interoperability with NATO Allies in the Black Sea region, focused on mine countermeasures (MCM), demolition operations, and helicopter cast and recovery. "Maritime exercises like EPMCM and TRITON strengthen our collective security alongside our Black Sea Allies on NATO's Eastern Flank and strengthen our collective capabilities to be ready to demine the Black Sea when conditions permit," said Capt. Geoffrey Townsend, Commodore, CTF 68. "We are grateful for these opportunities to train alongside our Allies in Romania and Bulgaria, and grateful for their wealth of knowledge and experience in this area." EPMCM is an annual exercise hosted by the Romanian Navy near the important Romanian port city of Constanta. This year's iteration involved personnel from Bulgaria, France, Romania, Turkiye, the United States, and observers from Japan. Participants conducted multi-national floating mine response training to increase capability and interoperability for future mine countermeasures operations in the Black Sea. TRITON 2024 was the fourth annual diving exercise hosted by the Bulgarian Navy in Varna. Five Allied nations, including Bulgaria, France, Romania, Turkiye, and the United States, participated in the latest iteration of the exercise. These nations came together to train in executing NATO procedures and standards for underwater diving and demolition operations, bolstering interoperability among participants in neutralizing the mine threat at sea. "The camaraderie built at these important exercises builds a foundation for future multi-national engagements like this," said EODMU 8's officer-in-charge for the exercises. "Our team performed admirably in these exercises and came away with a greater understanding of MCM operations in this region by working alongside our close Allies." Both exercises came shortly before another MCM-focused exercise involving Black Sea nations, Sea Breeze 2024-1, kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland, and concurrently with other MCM training in the Baltic Sea. Taken together, CTF 68's routine participation in these exercises demonstrates the U.S. Navy's commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters. The exercises, designed to identify and neutralize the threat of mine warfare in European waters, particularly in the Black Sea, ensure maritime safety and security throughout the continent. CTF 68, headquartered in Rota, Spain, commands all Navy Expeditionary Forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility and is responsible for providing EOD operations, naval construction, expeditionary security, and theater security efforts in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and U.S. Sixth Fleet. For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USNS Burlington arrives in Puerto Cortes, Honduras for Continuing Promise 2024 US Navy 29 July 2024 From Petty Officer 2nd Class Adriones Johnson PUERTO CORTES, Honduras -- Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) arrived in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, July 27, 2024 as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet's Continuing Promise 2024. Medical professionals from Burlington will be visiting four different sites during this visit including a joint medical brigade with the Honduran military at Franklin Delano Roosevelt School and subject matter expert exchanges at Puerto Cortes Hospital. Along with those events, U.S. Navy biomedical technicians will work with Honduran practitioners to assess and repair medical equipment. "We're excited to work with the military of Honduras, their medical professionals, their veterinary professionals, and see in what ways we can help the Honduran people," said Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Smith, mission commander for Continuing Promise 2024. Continuing Promise 2024 comes equipped to provide treatment not only to human patients, but to their animal companions as well. A U.S. Army veterinary team will be working with Honduran veterinary professionals to share knowledge and experience on providing treatment and vaccinations. "The things that we've been learning thus far on the Continuing Promise mission are two-fold," said Maj. Crystal Lindaberry, a U.S. Army veterinary clinical specialist and Continuing Promise 2024 veterinary officer-in-charge from the 248th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support. "It's given us a chance to hone the skills that we need on our military medical side. It's also been learning about the tropical diseases they have here and how the doctors here approach and cure them, because we don't see a lot of these diseases at home." Being able to provide medical care in emergency situations is an important part of the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) initiative of Continuing Promise 2024, as U.S. Department of Defense personnel will train and exchange knowledge alongside personnel from the Permanent Contingency Commission of Honduras (COPECO) and non-government organization partners such as Pacific Disaster Group and Pacific Response Group. Women, Peace, and Security is a major UN initiative aimed at promoting and understanding the disproportionate amount of violence women face globally. Continuing Promise is committed to supporting the initiative with two multi-day seminars at Ciudad Mujer, bringing together decision-makers and representatives of organizations to provide the community with the information and tools to combat gender-based violence and inequality. U.S. Navy construction personnel, known as "Seabees," will provide construction and engineering support at Ciudad Mujer, where they will be extending a concrete pad for ambulance offload and repairing an awning to provide shade for children at the site's playground. "My expectation is that my team should be able to get everything done in the time allotted," said Builder 1st Class Gabriel Murga Altan, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One, "I'm expecting that it's going to be an improvement to the center and allow it to keep providing the services that it provides the patients." The U.S. Fleet Forces Band, called "Uncharted Waters," will have multiple performances at schools around the Cortes Department. Continuing Promise 2024 will be in Puerto Cortes and San Pedro Sula from July 27 until August 4. USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Japan, Australia and India announce efforts to boost maritime security By VOA News July 29, 2024 The United States, Australia, India and Japan announced a series of measures Monday to boost maritime security and voiced concern about intimidation and dangerous actions in the South China Sea. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told reporters that the international order is becoming increasingly uncertain amid Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine, North Korea ballistic missile launches and attempts to use force to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas. Kamikawa spoke alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar after hosting the group for talks in Tokyo. Blinken said that in addition to bolstering maritime security and freedom of navigation, the group would also work to bolster security for key undersea cables and collaborate on disaster relief efforts. "We all know we cannot achieve the region we seek alone," Wong said. "And just as we benefit from the complementarity of our partners, so does our region, because of our geography and our shared approach to building prosperity and reinforcing stability. All of us want a world in which disputes are managed by rules, by talking, by cooperation, not by force or raw power." The group did not mention China by name in its comments about maritime security, but China's actions in the region have repeatedly drawn rebukes. The United States and Japan issued their own statement Sunday accusing China of "destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded Monday, warning the U.S. and Japan to "stop creating imaginary enemies." Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Lebanon July 29, 2024 On August 1, 2007, by Executive Order 13441, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Lebanon pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions of certain persons to undermine Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic institutions; to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and intimidation; to reassert Syrian control or contribute to Syrian interference in Lebanon; or to infringe upon or undermine Lebanese sovereignty. Such actions contribute to political and economic instability in that country and the region. Certain ongoing activities, such as Iran's continuing arms transfers to Hizballah which include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on August 1, 2007, must continue in effect beyond August 1, 2024. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Lebanon declared in Executive Order 13441. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. THE WHITE HOUSE, July 29, 2024. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 29 July 2024 - Day 887 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 at this time, 117 combat clashes took place. The hottest today remained the situation in the Pokrovsky direction, also the enemy was active in the Kurakhiv and Toretsky directions. During the day, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the territory of Ukraine with the use of one missile, 82 aviation strikes (actions, including 91 KAB), used 459 kamikadze drones to impress. Made 3467 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops . In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces four times unsuccessfully attacked the vicinity of hlybokogo and vovcans ka. In the kupans komu direction, Russian forces during the day also four times tried to advance near the stelmahivka and pi any. Never been successful. In the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked twelve times in the areas of Makiivka, Nevsky, Terniv and in the Serebryans komu Forest. Through out Ukrainian warriors the Russian enemy stopped by giving a complex fiery impression. In the Sivers komu direction, Russian forces six times throughout the day unsuccessfully tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of Pereiznogo, Spirnogo and Ivanodarivka. I have suffered a loss. There were five combat clashes in the Kramators komu direction. The fights lasted in the areas of Grigorivka, Chasovogo Yaru and Kli iivka. In the Torec komu direction, Ukrainian troops repelled 16 Russian attacks. Continuing three confrontations near Toretsk and Zaliznogo. Others, mostly their in the area of the north, Ukrainian soldiers stopped. The greatest activity of the Russian enemy showed today in the pokrovsky direction. A total of 39 times, Russian forces tried to invade Ukrainian defense in the areas of the settlements of Vozdvizhenko, Novoselivka the First, Novooleksandrivka, Progres, Timofiyivka, Zhelanne and Yasnobrodivka. As of now, 30 Russian attacks have been repelled, nine battles continue. Russia suffers significant losses, especially in live force - according to preliminary information, Ukrainian soldiers have damaged 165 Russian invaders in this direction. The tank, the cars have been destroyed. Five more cannons, three tanks, two tractors and the occupiers' car are significantly damaged. In the kurakhivs komu direction, Russian forces 18 times attacked Ukrainian positions. The largest activity was shown in the area of konstantinivki and paraskoviivki. For attacks a significant number of armor technology and suffered corresponding losses. Ukrainian soldiers destroyed and damaged eight tanks, 21 armored cars, five motorcycles, one buggy and 2A65 Msta-B cannon. In addition, hundreds of Russian servicemen have been defamed, most of them are irreversible. Seven times the Russian invaders stormed Ukrainian positions in the Vremivs komu direction. All attacks in the direction of Konstantinivka and Velika Novosilka have been stopped. In the orihivs komu direction, near small tokmacka, three failed for the Russian battle took place. In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian opponent, too three times, unsuccessfully attacked the positions of Ukrainian soldiers. Today, the defenders of the 79th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Tavrian Army should be noted for their effective and professional combat work, who keep defense in one of the hottest front lines. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Sever Group of Forces hit manpower and hardware of AFU 115th mechanised, 92nd assault, 71st infantry brigades close to Volchansk, Tikhoe, and Velikiye Prokhody (Kharkov region). Two counter-attacks were repelled close to Volchansk and Glubokoye (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 205 troops. One ammunition depot was wiped out. The Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line, defeated units of AFU 116th mechanised, 117th territorial defence, and 1st national guard brigades near Tabayevka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoyi (Kharkov region) and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic). One attack launched by an enemy assault group was repelled close to Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 540 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers, and 16 motor vehicles. In the course of counterbattery warfare, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, and two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations were eliminated. Eight AFU ammunition depots were destroyed. The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 24th, 54th mechanised, 79th air assault, 46th airmobile brigades, as well as the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigades near Kurakhovo, Katerinovka, Konstantinovka, Serebryanka, and Verkhnekamenskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 560 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and two motor vehicles. In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station were eliminated. Two AFU ammunition depots were destroyed. The Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Progress and Yevgenovka (Donetsk People's Republic) during active operations. Units of AFU 28th, 31st, 32nd mechanised, and 142nd infantry brigades were hit near Dimitrov, Novogrodovka, Dzerzhinsk, Belaya Gora, and Zhelannoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Three counter-attacks launched by enemy assault groups were repelled. The AFU lost up to 385 Ukrainian troops and five motor vehicles. In addition, two U.S.-made 227-mm M270 multiple launch rocket systems, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, two 100-mm Rapira guns, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar were hit. The Vostok Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line, defeated manpower and hardware of AFU 72nd mechanised, 102nd and 104th territorial defence brigades near Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic), Gulyaipole, and Novodarovka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five motor vehicles, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, and one 152-mm D-20 gun. Three AFU ammunition depots were destroyed. The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of AFU 128th mountain assault, 141st infantry, and 35th marine brigades near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Tyaginka, and Ponyatovka (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, and one D-30 howitzer. One ammunition depot was wiped out. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile station as well as clusters of manpower and military hardware in 138 areas. Air defence systems shot down five U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, two French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs, and 34 unmanned aerial vehicles, to include 12 outside the special military operation zone. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 630 aircraft and 278 helicopters, 28,579 unmanned aerial vehicles, 556 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,702 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,392 MLRS combat vehicles, 12,469 field artillery guns and mortars, and 24,143 units of special military vehicles have been neutralised. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exercise Austral Shield 2024 concludes Issued by Defence Media 29 July 2024 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has concluded Exercise Austral Shield 2024, practising its ability to rapidly deploy to Australia's north and respond to domestic security threats. Supported by local communities, state emergency services and law enforcement, the exercise was conducted from 12-26 July around Derby in Western Australia, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Cairns in Queensland, and Christmas Island. This security and response force drew participants from around Australia, but was focused around reserve contributions from the Army's 2nd Division, including Western Australia's 13th Brigade and Queensland's 11th Brigade. The Regional Force Surveillance Group, maritime and air task units also deployed as part of the integrated joint task force. Exercise Director Brigadier Damian Hill said Austral Shield 2024 was a valuable opportunity to rehearse the rapid response of full-time and ADF reserve personnel to form Joint Task Force 629. "The personnel deployed on Austral Shield enjoyed working closely with local, state and territory agencies and communities to make a meaningful contribution to our collective security," Brigadier Hill said. "The ability for the ADF to rapidly deploy and employ forces is critical to our role supporting civil authorities in domestic security activities and maintaining an agile and ready force." As Exercise Austral Shield concludes, military convoys will be returning from Derby to Perth and from Cairns to Brisbane. Defence requests the public remains aware and exercises caution around these convoys, but encourages the public to engage with military personnel they may encounter at rest stops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Last tank out of brigade By Captain Cody Tsaousis 29 July 2024 The last M1A1 Abrams main battle tank rolled out of Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, as Army continues its implementation of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and National Defence Strategy (NDS). It marks the end of an era for 7th Brigade unit 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) (2/14 (QMI)), which has operated with the vehicles since 2017, when C Squadron became a tank unit under Plan Beersheba. Under the DSR and NDS, tank capability will be consolidated in Townsville. The new Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tanks will be introduced into the School of Armour and 2nd Cavalry Regiment later this year. 2/14 LHR (QMI) Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Hurley said the move would ultimately be a positive for the unit and Army as a whole. "While as a unit commander I would love to have a tank squadron at my fingertips, it makes absolute sense to consolidate Army's tank capability," he said. "It allows Army to become a focused force, and it significantly reduces the sustainment overheads for the main battle tank capability. "Becoming Army's only pure cavalry regiment will give our unit great role clarity, in addition to some depth in both people and equipment." Lieutenant Colonel Hurley acknowledged the impact of the DSR and NDS implementation on soldiers who would have to transition skillsets or move. He said having an honest conversation with them was key to them being prepared for the next challenge. "I believe clear and rational communication removes at least some of the friction inherent in organisational change," he said. "I think the vast majority of our tank crews are keen to get their hands on the best tank on the planet - the M1A2 SEPv3 - and as such will happily move to Townsville or Puckapunyal to keep doing what they love. "Centralising in Townsville will also give the tank fraternity some critical mass, which will afford them more depth in terms of experience, instructors, maintainers and commanders." Tank commander Corporal Isaiah Emnace, who has been working with M1A1s since C Squadron was raised, said it was a sentimental moment watching the last one leave the unit, but viewed it positively. "It was a bit of a bittersweet moment because obviously in order to get new equipment, the older stuff has to go first," he said. "I've been operating these vehicles for a while now and you experience a lot with them out field; but watching them go, it's all of the good times that I've had with them that come to mind. "Being in the back of them, shooting with them, commanding in them and being part of a really close team - those are all great memories." Corporal Emnace said he was ready for the next challenge though, and was looking forward to training with the new main battle tanks. "First and foremost we're soldiers, so we're working on those skills at the moment because it's important to be capable as a soldier on the ground," he said. "Then we'll start looking at the theory side of understanding the new tank and adapting to the differences, so when we get them we can hit the ground running." Commander of 7th Brigade Brigadier Giles Cornelia said it was a significant moment for the brigade and 2/14 LHR (QMI). "I am very proud of the sterling service of C Squadron as a tank squadron, and am looking forward to the new chapter for this historic and exceptional unit," he said. "We are working quickly and effectively to change our force structure and play our part in the focused force as the ready brigade, and 2/14 LHR (QMI) are central to this." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA's electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier completes third sea trial: media Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Jul 29, 2024 08:45 PM The Fujian, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's third aircraft carrier, has returned to its shipyard after completing its third sea trial, media reported, with experts on Monday highlighting the increasing length of test voyages and the short intervals between them, which indicate positive results. After 25 days at sea, the Fujian returned to the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai on Sunday, US media Atlas News reported on Sunday. According to a traffic restriction notice released by Shanghai's maritime safety administration on Saturday, a large ship was scheduled to enter the Yangtze River on Sunday. While the notice did not specify the large ship as being the Fujian, this phrasing was used each time the carrier set out for and returned from previous sea trials. A previous traffic restriction notice released by Shanghai's maritime safety administration indicates that the Fujian set out for the third sea trial on July 3. Commercial satellite images and photos circulating on social media also appear to confirm the return of the carrier. At a regular press conference on Thursday, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the Fujian conducted its third sea trial this month. Zhang said that the Fujian's test voyage is a normal part of its construction process, and more tests will follow based on the construction progress. The Fujian conducted its eight-day first sea trial from May 1 to May 8, followed by a 20-day second sea trial from May 23 to June 11, according to previous reports. Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the aircraft carrier Fujian has conducted three sea trials with short intervals between them, and each trial was longer than the previous one, indicating that the entire sea trial phase is going very smoothly. With each sea trial, new and more tests were conducted. When basic systems such as the propulsion system and the electric system are validated, more complicated shipborne equipment as well as aircraft are expected to conduct tests, Fu said. Fu said he looks forward to the tests on the carrier's electromagnetic catapults and arresting gears, as well as takeoff and landing tests of aircraft in future sea trials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Italy should view bilateral ties from a strategic height: Xi Global Times Meloni's visit signals shift to more pragmatic China policy: expert By Zhao Yusha Published: Jul 29, 2024 11:40 PM Amid accelerating global changes unseen in a century, countries will either progress together through connectivity and unity, or retreat separately through closure and division. China and Italy should uphold and promote the Silk Road spirit, view and develop bilateral relations from a historical dimension, strategic height and long-term perspective, and push their relations to go steady and far, Chinese President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Beijing on Monday. Xi said the healthy and stable development of China-Italy relations is in line with the common interests of both countries and their peoples. Meloni's first visit to China since assuming office is poised to restart the relationship between the two nations, with experts anticipating a return to regular dialogues at various levels. This visit signifies a shift in Italy's approach to China, moving away from ideology-driven policies toward a more pragmatic and economically focused strategy after Italy's withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said experts. The strengthened ties between China and Italy, the third-largest economy in the European Union, are expected to serve as a model for other European and Western countries, highlighting the advantages of mutually beneficial cooperation with China in a time of global uncertainty and waning US leadership. Noting that China and Italy are at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road, Xi said the time-honored friendly exchanges between the two countries have made significant contributions to the overall exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, and to the progress of humanity. The Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is a shared treasure of China and Italy, Xi said. The Chinese President said China is willing to work with Italy to promote the optimization and upgrading of traditional cooperation in economic and trade investment, industrial manufacturing, technological innovation, and third-party markets, and explore cooperation in emerging areas such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. China welcomes Italian companies to invest in China, and is willing to import more high-quality Italian products. China hopes that Italy will also provide a fair, transparent, safe, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the country, said Xi. Xi emphasized that in an era of economic globalization, only by adhering to open cooperation in the global industrial chain and supply chain can win-win development be achieved. China adheres to the path of peaceful development and never pursues hegemony, and is willing to share development opportunities with all countries. Meloni said that the current international situation is undergoing profound changes, and China, as an important major country, plays an irreplaceable role in addressing global challenges. Italy adheres to the one-China policy, and hopes to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China, tap more potential, deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and enhance people-to-people exchanges to promote more Italian products entering the Chinese market. Italy opposes "decoupling" and protectionism, and is willing to play an active role in deepening EU-China relations, said the Italian leader. Restart ties Italy and China signed a three-year action plan on Sunday to implement past agreements and experiment with new forms of cooperation, Meloni said on an official visit to China, according to Associated Press. Meloni told business leaders that the two sides had signed an industrial collaboration memorandum that includes electric vehicles and renewable energy, which she described 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." Chinese experts said that the action plan is more like a "compensatory" deal for Italy following Rome's withdrawal from BRI last year. "The action plan serves to minimize the negative impact on Italy after it pulled out of BRI; signing the plan also signals Italy has vast demand for cooperation with China, as it used a alternative plan to focus on areas where there is demand from both countries," Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times. The action plan, however, doubled down on both countries' collaboration on electric vehicles (EV) despite Italy supporting the European Commission (EC)'s decision to impose provisional tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China. Stellantis, a major automaker that includes Italy's Fiat, announced in May that it had formed a joint venture with Leapmotor, a Chinese electric car startup, to begin selling EVs in Europe, media reported. Zhao Yongsheng, a research fellow at the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, pointed out that the action plan provides an opportunity for both countries to enhance cooperation in the EV industry, as Italy requires China's technology and China has a need for its capital and technology to be exported. Southern Europe has proven to be a good location for such investments. Chinese experts believe that both Italy's withdrawal from BRI and supporting EC's tariffs on Chinese EVs are partly due to pressure from the US and other Western countries. After experiencing the detrimental impact of strained China-Italy relations following Rome's withdrawal from BRI, and the failure of the US to deliver significant benefits, Italy has pivoted from an ideology-driven policy approach to a more pragmatic stance. This shift is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Italy's economic development, according to Zhao. 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, per Reuters. After Meloni's visit, dialogue and cooperation between different levels from China and Italy will return to normalcy, and this will also be part of the "relaunch" of ties, said Cui, noting that the frequent exchanges will help enhance understanding and disperse disputes, leading bilateral relations, and China-EU relations to a healthier direction. Demonstration effect When meeting with Meloni, Xi said China hopes that Italy will understand and support China's development philosophy, and play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between China and Europe and promoting the positive and stable development of China-Europe relations. "Italy can have an important role in EU relations and creating balanced relations," Meloni said Monday. "We need a rules-based order" as a way "to guarantee stability, peace, trade that remains free," she said, Bloomberg reported. Meloni's visit will have a demonstration effect among European countries, as the trend of "decoupling with China" becomes more prevalent on the continent. Substantial cooperation between China and Italy will demonstrate the benefits of collaborating with Beijing, leading Europe to realize the advantages of such partnerships. This collaboration will help to bring stability amid rising uncertainty surrounding the upcoming US presidential election, according to Zhao. As Europe is grappling with a myriad of external and internal challenges, certain countries are turning to practical cooperation with China in order to safeguard their own interests. This shift has prompted nations like Italy to consider more pragmatic adjustments in response to the mounting pressure they face, Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. China attaches great importance to its relationship with Europe. Italy is a major country in the EU, and Meloni's party achieved a major victory in the European elections, thus strengthening the relationship between China and Italy is of great significance for enhancing economic cooperation between two countries and promoting China-Europe relations, said Sun. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Timor-Leste to boost ties, expand cooperation Global Times By Zhang Wanshi Published: Jul 29, 2024 09:17 PM Updated: Jul 29, 2024 10:42 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta on Monday, saying that China's comprehensive deepening of reforms will provide new impetus and opportunities for global economic development and bilateral cooperation. Noting that the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee was held successfully two weeks ago, Xi said China will further comprehensively deepen reform and promote high-quality development and high-level opening up, which will provide new impetus and new opportunities for global economic development and cooperation between China and Timor-Leste. China is ready to work with Timor-Leste to take the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said. Ramos-Horta arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a state visit to China that will last till Wednesday, which is his first visit since he took office in 2022 and the first state visit to China by a Timor-Leste president since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2002. Xi emphasized that China is ready to work with Timor-Leste toward long-term and stable development of bilateral relations by firmly supporting each other to build a higher level of bilateral relations, adhering to mutual benefit and win-win situations to carry out higher-quality practical cooperation, and promoting a higher level of multilateral collaboration. Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia Pacific Studies Center at East China Normal University, said on the basis of such cooperation, the two parties can make use of their respective strengths. Ramos-Horta thanked China for its long-term and valuable support for Timor-Leste's economic and social development and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Timor-Leste hopes to further consolidate and develop its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, strengthen cooperation in areas such as food security and infrastructure development, so that to help Timor-Leste achieve development. Timor-Leste also firmly adheres to the one-China principle, believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, opposes "Taiwan independence" and interference by external forces, and supports China's efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ramos-Horta also said that the South China Sea issue should be resolved by the countries concerned through negotiations, and Timor-Leste is willing to work with China and other countries in the region to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. The two countries signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, green development, digital economy and air transportation. Chen told the Global Times on Monday that China, in particular, has extensive experience in these areas, which fully demonstrates what is meant by higher-quality practical cooperation, as Ramos-Horta also acknowledged during the talks that he had visited China several times since 1976 and had witnessed the radical changes that had taken place in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Third plenary session boosts confidence of HK's financial industry: official Global Times By Zhang Weilan Published: Jul 29, 2024 09:58 PM The financial regulatory authorities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are set to embrace new development opportunities, supported by the strategic vision and policies laid out by the central government, and ensuring the city's position as a leading international financial center, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Darryl Chan told the Global Times in an interview via email on Friday. Chan said that the just-concluded third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasized the importance of strengthening Hong Kong's position as a global hub for finance, transportation and trade. This fully demonstrates that the central government attaches great importance to the development of the financial industry in Hong Kong, which has boosted the city's confidence. Referring to a resolution adopted at the reform-themed meeting on July 18, Chan said that Hong Kong's monetary authorities are fully determined and confident that the city will continue to be a major international financial center, which will benefit the long-term development of its financial sector and promote China's high-level opening-up. To solidify Hong Kong's status as a global financial hub and drive innovation, the HKMA will prioritize maintaining financial system stability, developing a robust financial ecosystem and capitalizing on long-term growth opportunities, according to Chan. He said that the HKMA is poised to capitalize on the opportunities outlined in the resolution. These include expanding the financial market interconnectivity of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, promoting the internationalization of the yuan, developing offshore markets for the yuan, advancing the digital yuan's application cautiously and deepening cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The latest response from the financial regulatory body of Hong Kong also sent strong signals to some Western media and politicians who paint a grim picture of Hong Kong's future as a global financial hub. Hong Kong's unique advantage under the One Country, Two Systems policy has been identified as a key driver for the continued growth and resilience of its financial sector, Chan said. As one of the leading international financial centers, Hong Kong is a prime location for financial services and home to many financial institutions, including banks, securities firms, investment banks and insurance companies. With its strengths in banking, capital markets and asset management, Hong Kong provides an all-encompassing and high-quality financial platform for investors, financiers, asset managers, funds and financial institutions alike from all over the world, Chan said. The city thrives on close financial integration with the Chinese mainland and extensive networks with the rest of the world, Chan said, adding that with more than 40 years of reform and opening-up of the mainland, Hong Kong has successfully navigated a path to effectively leverage its unique advantages as an international and market-oriented city to proactively connect domestic and overseas markets. "There are clear signs and breakthroughs, driven by a slew of policies and measures in recent years, demonstrating our commitment to aligning with international high standards and promoting connectivity in the financial sector," he added. The financial regulatory authorities of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland recently announced policy measures to promote and deepen cross-boundary financial connectivity and cooperation. One of the key focuses is the "Three Connections, Three Facilitations" initiative, jointly announced by the HKMA and the People's Bank of China earlier this year, comprising six policy measures to support the yuan's internationalization and facilitate business activity. Chan reiterated Hong Kong's commitment to promoting the high-quality development of the financial sector and building China's financial strength. Meanwhile, the "going out" of Chinese firms and Chinese investors' demand for overseas investment in turn can create lots of opportunities for Hong Kong as well, Chan said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US urged to return to rational China policy People's Daily Online By Cao Desheng (China Daily) 10:40, July 29, 2024 Amid accumulating risks and challenges in relations between China and the United States, Beijing has again urged Washington to return to a rational and pragmatic policy toward China and to properly manage their differences, in order to promote a stable, healthy, and sustainable bilateral relationship. During a meeting in Laos on Saturday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that the bilateral relationship is at a critical juncture and needs to be stabilized, requiring managing risks, properly handling differences, eliminating disturbances, and promoting cooperation. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also reiterated China's position on the Taiwan question, which is at the very center of China's core interests. Beijing has said on many occasions that the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. Wang emphasized that "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Strait. "We will counter every provocation by the 'Taiwan independence' forces, keep narrowing the space for 'Taiwan independence', and work toward the goal of a complete national reunification," he said. The meeting took place at the request of the US side on the sidelines of a series of meetings of the foreign ministers of Southeast and East Asian countries in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It also came as China-US relations continue to be mired in a situation in which the US does not refrain from moving to contain and suppress China, although the diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, and climate teams of the two sides, as well as the two militaries, have maintained communication in the past three months. Blinken's stop in Laos was part of his visit to multiple Asian nations, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia. In June, the US State Department approved arms sales to Taiwan, including drones and missiles, for an estimated $360 million, a move that Beijing criticized, saying that Washington was sending a serious, erroneous signal to separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence". Furthermore, on July 12, US President Joe Biden signed into law the so-called Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, which China considers to be another manifestation of the US practicing hegemonism, manipulating the rhetoric of democracy and freedom, and interfering in China's internal affairs. During a news conference at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting held in Brazil on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she would press China to address the country's macroeconomic model that has led to what she called "overcapacity". Beijing criticized Yellen for engaging in a political show to shift the blame for the US' domestic problems to China, saying that the real purpose behind the US' hyping of China's so-called new energy "overcapacity "is to contain China's advantage in the new energy industry. Wang told Blinken that China's policy toward the US has always been consistent and follows the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. He criticized Washington for adhering to the wrong perception of China, and said China is not the US and does not want to be. He also said that China does not seek hegemony or power politics and, as a major country, has the best record on peace and security. During the meeting, Wang also urged the US not to stir up trouble and undermine maritime stability regarding China's Ren'ai Reef in the South China Sea. He said that China has reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines to manage the situation, and the Philippines should honor its commitments to refraining from sending construction materials to its illegally grounded vessel at China's Ren'ai Reef. Both sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis, the situation in Gaza, and the Korean Peninsula, among other matters. On the Ukraine crisis, Wang said that China's position is fair and transparent, and it will continue to promote peace talks. He urged the US to stop abusing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. China rejects false accusations and will not succumb to pressure or blackmail, and it will take resolute measures to protect its major interests and legitimate rights, Wang said. Blinken said Washington is committed to stabilizing US-China relations and adheres to the one-China policy. The US looks forward to maintaining regular communication with China for cooperation on anti-drug efforts and artificial intelligence and in other fields, he said, adding that the US is willing to manage differences with China to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations. Both sides agreed to maintain communication at all levels and further implement the important consensus reached at the San Francisco meeting in November between the two heads of state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on July 29, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2024-07-29 21:54 China News Service: It's reported that Silvia GarcAa, President of the Central American Parliament, just concluded her visit to China. Could you share more details about the visit with us? Lin Jian: At the invitation of Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, President of the Central American Parliament Silvia GarcAa led the leadership of the Parliament on a visit to Chinaathe first of its kindafrom July 21 to 27. Chairman Zhao Leji and Chairman Wang Huning of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference met with the delegation respectively. The two sides had a cordial and in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual interest and reached common understandings on further deepening friendly cooperation. Both sides were of the view that the decision made by the Central American Parliament last August to revoke the "permanent observer" status of Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" and accept the National People's Congress of China as a permanent observer is of historic importance. They agreed that the decision shows again that the one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community. The one-China principle is where the global opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and what serves the interest of the Central American Parliament and the people of Central American countries. In addition to Beijing, the delegation visited Shanghai and Shenzhen, and learned more about China's development. President GarcAa and members of the delegation reaffirmed the commitment of the Central American Parliament to the one-China principle and support for China's reunification. Strengthening solidarity and cooperation with China helps Central American countries seize opportunities for development and prosperity. The Central American Parliament stands ready to deepen exchanges with the National People's Congress at various levels to learn from China's development experience, contribute to greater mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between Central American countries and China, and jointly promote South-South cooperation, multipolarity in the world and democracy in international relations. The Chinese side expressed readiness to work with the Central American Parliament and relevant countries to advance China's relations with countries in Central America to deliver more benefits for Chinese and Central American peoples.a China-Arab TV: China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with foreign ministers of the US, Ukraine, and Russia respectively. Will China mediate in the Ukraine crisis? Lin Jian: On the Ukraine crisis, China always believes that to end the hostilities as soon as possible and seek a political settlement is in the interest of all parties. China is of the view that dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the Ukraine crisis. We uphold an objective and just position and we are committed to promoting peace talks. China will continue to stand on the side of peace and dialogue, support the international community in building up more consensus, and jointly look for viable means towards a political way out of the crisis. Shenzhen TV: Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the ASEAN Plus Foreign Ministers' Meetings and paid an official visit to Laos over the past couple of days. Can you share more information with us? Lin Jian: From July 25 to 27, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos and paid an official visit to Laos. On the margins of the meetings, Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the first informal trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Russia and Laos, and met with his counterparts from over ten countries and international organizations, including India, Russia, Japan, the UK, the ROK, the EU, the Philippines and the US. China has released readouts which you may refer to. At the ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that China and ASEAN are friendly neighbors and close partners who have always supported each other, and more importantly, one community with a shared future sticking together through thick and thin. Recent years have seen fruitful results in building the China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Economic and trade ties have continued to thrive, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have quickly bounced back, more solid progress has been made in enhancing connectivity, and the two sides keep finding new areas where we can work together. The dialogue and cooperation between China and ASEAN is the best example of the fruitful and vigorous cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. Four things have made it possible: good neighborliness, sincerity, common development, and openness and inclusiveness. The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC made an overall plan for further deepening reform comprehensively with a view to advancing Chinese modernization. China will continue to firmly support the strategic independence of ASEAN, support strengthening the regional cooperation mechanisms with ASEAN at the center, and build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home for China and ASEAN. We stand ready to share China's opportunities with ASEAN countries, and join hands with them to advance the modernization process of Asia. At the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that over the past two decades and more, as one of the most well-established mechanisms for regional cooperation in East Asia, the ASEAN Plus Three mechanism has brought regional countries together to deepen practical cooperation in various areas and meet challenges such as the financial crisis and COVID-19. China stands ready to fully leverage the mechanism to deepen economic integration and enhance connectivity, to enhance crisis response and maintain stability, to expand cooperation in emerging areas and galvanize development, and to promote people-to-people exchanges and build up consensus among ASEAN Plus Three countries, so as to provide new impetus for the development of the wider region. At the 14th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that the East Asia Summit needs to keep to the right direction, enhance solidarity and coordination, contribute to long-term peace and prosperity in the region, and safeguard international fairness and justice. First, jointly upholding the open and inclusive regional framework, and guarding against forming exclusive groupings by certain countries from outside the region. Second, jointly adhering to rules in the region recognized by all, rather than letting certain countries put their own "rules" above international laws and regional rules recognized by all. Third, jointly providing new quality driving force for connectivity, since decoupling, severing supply chains and "small yard with high fences" will only fragment the regional economy. Fourth, jointly invigorating the East Asia Summit to promote balanced progress of both of its wheelsapolitical security and economic development. At the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a four-point proposal on responding to the challenges we face today. First, upholding the vision for peace and keep to the path of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Second, remaining committed to the ASEAN way, enhancing mutual trust through dialogue and safeguarding security through cooperation. Third, consolidating the foundation for cooperation to provide greater impetus for confidence building measures and preventive diplomacy. Fourth, stepping up dialogue and consultation. No matter how complex the issue is, we need to stay committed to dialogue and consultation. No matter how intense the conflict is, we should never give up effort to seek political settlement. During his visit to Laos, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone respectively, and held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China and Laos have formed an unbreakable community with a shared future. China will continue to be the most reliable friend and most trustworthy partner of Laos. We are ready to share reform and development experience with Laos in a timely way, jointly enhance governance capacity and advance the socialist cause. We would like to deepen cooperation with Laos on all fronts and provide driving forces for Laos' economic growth. We also support Laos for assuming the rotating presidency of ASEAN and for playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also elaborated on China's position on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue on separate occasions in Laos. He stressed that the Taiwan question is one hundred percent China's internal affair, which no foreign forces have the right to interfere in. To truly uphold cross-Strait peace, one must firmly reject all "Taiwan independence" moves. Recently China reached provisional arrangement with the Philippines on humanitarian resupply of living necessities to Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippines needs to honor its commitment, stop flip-flopping and going back on its word, and not backpedal or create problems again. Otherwise, China will make a resolute response. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also reiterated China's principled position on the Palestinian question and the Ukraine crisis, and stressed that China will continue to play a constructive role for ceasefire and political settlement. AFP: Today, Venezuela's President NicolAs Maduro won the presidential election. What's China's comments? Lin Jian: China congratulates Venezuela on the smooth presidential election and congratulates President NicolAs Maduro on his successful reelection. China and Venezuela are good friends and partners that support each other. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Venezuela diplomatic ties. China attaches great importance to its relations with Venezuela and stands ready to work with the Venezuelan side to enrich the all-weather strategic partnership between the two countries and deliver more benefits for the two peoples. Beijing Daily: Over the weekend, the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee adopted resolutions to include three nominations submitted by China in the World Heritage List, including the Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital. What's your comment? Lin Jian: Warm congratulations on the success of the Beijing Central Axis, the Badain Jaran DesertaTowers of Sand and Lakes and the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) for making UNESCO's World Heritage List. China now has a total of 59 world heritage sites, ranking second in the world, including 15 world natural heritage sites and four cultural and natural sites. China continues to top the world in the number of world natural heritage sites. Behind the success of the bid is the enormous conservation effort made by the Chinese government and people in preserving cultural heritage, protecting the ecological environment and building a beautiful China. The Chinese government carried out over 100 projects of cultural relic preservation to revive the Beijing Central Axis, the longest urban central axis in the world, and blend modern living with the rich history of the city center. With a firm belief in "green is gold," China has redoubled efforts to protect biodiversity and the environment. As a result, the geological landscape of the Badain Jaran Desert has been well preserved, and the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf have now become indispensable breeding, stopover and winter sites for tens of millions of migratory waterbirds. Worldaheritage is the common wealth of all humanityaand needs to beaprotected and preservedaby all. China will continue to uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and work with the international community to actively implement the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, share with the world China's successful experience, strengthen cooperation on protecting world heritage and contribute more Chinese wisdom and effort to global ecological conservation and exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Reuters: The EU recently moved to impose tariffs on electric vehicles made in China. Yet individual European Union states like Italy are seeking stronger economic ties with China. Is this a case of EU states trying to have the best of both worlds? Lin Jian: On EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs, we have stated our opposition multiple times. Let me stress that China-EU trade and economic cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. Imposing tariffs is a typical protectionist move and is not conducive to EU's green transition or global response to climate change. It is in the interest of both China and the EU to properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual respect. You mentioned the economic ties between China and Italy. Let me stress that between China and Italy, practical cooperation has delivered fruitful outcomes, trade and investment has kept expanding and delivered tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries. Amid sluggish world economic recovery, there is all the more reason for China and Italy to build stronger economic ties to provide more driving force for the development of both countries. AFP: The foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India said on Monday that they were seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. How does China comment on this? Lin Jian: China believes that cooperation between countries as well as regional initiatives should be conducive to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, rather than focused on forming exclusive clubs that undermine trust and cooperation among regional countries. Quad keeps chanting the slogan of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and all the while, it has been scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation, and holding back other countries' development. This runs counter to the overwhelming trend of pursuing peace, development, cooperation, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and will by no means gain any support. China firmly upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and is committed to properly settling bilateral maritime issues with countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation. Some countries outside the region have frequently sent advanced military aircraft and vessels to the South China Sea to flex their muscles and create tension, and have formed various groupings and incited division and confrontation in the region, all of which make them the biggest threat and challenge to regional peace and stability. China firmly opposes the bloc confrontation they incite in the name of "anti-coercion", and the imposition of their house rules in the name of maintaining order. We call on countries outside the region to earnestly respect the effort of regional countries for peace and stability, and stop fanning flames and fueling tensions in the region. Reuters: Malaysia on Sunday applied to join BRICS. If successful, Malaysia would be the first BRICS member from Southeast Asia. Would that increase BRICS's political clout and influence in Southeast Asia? Lin Jian: The development and expansion of the BRICS mechanism reflects the trend of the times, serves the interests of relevant countries, and provides a strong driving force for multipolarity in the world and greater democracy in international relations. That is exactly why more and more emerging markets and developing countries, such as Malaysia, show a keen interest in BRICS and have expressed recognition for and hope to join the group. BRICS members have responded to the hope of various parties with all sincerity and advanced relevant process with pragmatic action. We welcome more like-minded partners to join BRICS cooperation and work together to make the international order more just and equitable. AFP: After the US-Japan 2+2 meeting in Tokyo, the US and Japan issued the joint statement and said that China's foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others. What's China's comment? Lin Jian: The joint statement issued by Japan and the US lacks factual basis. The statement frames and attacks China's domestic and foreign policies and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. The statement falsely accuses China on maritime issues and points fingers at China's normal military development and defense policy. The statement propagates "China threat," and creates scare through the talk of regional tensions. China deplores and opposes it. China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. China is committed to the path of peaceful development and a defense policy that is defensive in nature. China's defense development and military activities are justified and reasonable. China always keeps its nuclear strength at the minimum level as required by national security. China does not pose a threat to any country. It is Japan and the US that are pursuing their agenda at the expense of other countries' security interests and the welfare of people in the Asia-Pacific. The US and Japan keep emphasizing regional peace and security and a rule-based order, all the while ganging up to form exclusive clubs, engage in group politics, incite bloc confrontation, and disrupt regional peace, security and stability. On top of that, Japan and the US have been seeking to strengthen the Cold War relic of "extended deterrence," and developing the so-called "nuclear deterrence." This will drive up regional tensions and trigger nuclear proliferation and conflict risks.a Issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Xizang are purely China's internal affairs and brook no external interference. The biggest threat to cross-Strait peace at present is the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" forces and the external connivance and support they receive. If Japan and the US truly care about cross-Strait peace and stability, what they should do is uphold the one-China principle, oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism, and support China's reunification. China will always defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We are committed to properly settling bilateral maritime issues with countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation. The real provocative actions are the constant meddling by the US and other countries outside the region, including their muscle flexing in waters off China's coast, including the East and South China Seas. We call on the US and Japan to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs, stop creating confrontation, stop triggering a new Cold War, do what is conducive to regional strategic stability, and not become a source of danger and disruption for peace and tranquility in the Asia-Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC seizes oil tanker with smuggled fuel in Persian Gulf IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has seized a Togo-flagged oil tanker carrying smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf. The oil tanker named Pearl G, flying the flag of the African country of Togo, was seized by IRGC naval forces on Friday morning near the Arash oilfield in the north of the Persian Gulf, the IRGC said in a statement. The vessel is owned by an Iraqi national residing in Dubai and it was carrying some 700,000 liters of smuggled oil. The tanker, along with its nine crew members, all of whom Indian nationals, has been transferred to Imam Khomeini Port for further investigation. Last Monday, the IRGC Navy reported seizing another Togo-flagged oil tanker carrying over 1.5 million liters of smuggled fuel off the coast of Bushehr. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Enhanced ties among independent nations key to fight unilateralism: Pezeshkian Iran Press TV Monday, 29 July 2024 5:52 PM Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the expansion of relations among independent and freedom-seeking countries such as Iran and Cuba can play an effective role in the fight against unilateralism. In a meeting with Cuba's Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz in Tehran on Monday, Pezeshkian hailed the Cuban nation's battle against imperialism. Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran's resolve to consolidate relations with Havana. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported and will certainly continue to support the independence and libertarian ideals of Cuba." The new Iranian president said no obstacle can disrupt the will of the two countries to further develop ties. Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian denounced Israel's crimes against the defenseless people of Palestine in Gaza and inaction of the self-proclaimed human rights defenders on the regime's criminal acts. Despite their constant claims about defending human rights and democracy, the United States and some Western countries refrain from taking an action vis-A -vis Israel's crimes, he said. The US and its Western allies are even providing the Tel Aviv regime with financial and arms support and are complicit in Israel's genocidal war against the oppressed Palestinian people, Pezeshkian emphasized. He urged world bodies to take a practical measure to put an end to Israel's crimes in the Gaza Strip. The Cuban prime minister, for his part, pointed to fraternal and strategic relations between Tehran and Havana and said both sides have common positions on international issues. Marrero Cruz said strengthening bilateral cooperation will play a very effective role in countering the US cruel sanctions. The US has maintained a harsh economic, financial, and commercial embargo against Cuba for more than 60 years. Numerous resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly have indicated that the blockade is against international law. However, Washington has consistently voted against UN resolutions demanding an end to the sanctions against Cuba. Iran has also been targeted by unilateral sanctions from the US in contravention of international law. New Iranian administration will speed up implementation of agreements with Syria: Pezeshkian In a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous in Tehran, Pezeshkian said his administration will take necessary strategy to speed up the implementation of the agreements with the Arab country. The Iranian president underscored the importance of enhancing mutual ties in the economic, trade and social sectors as well as cultural exchanges in line with the political relations. For his turn, Arnous commended Iran's support for the improvement of security in Syria and said the two countries should use their diverse capacities to deepen relations. Iran, South Africa should strengthen bilateral, international cooperation: Pezeshkian Iran's new president called for strengthening cooperation with South Africa in bilateral and international circles, including the BRICS group of emerging economies. In a meeting with South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Ozzy Lamola in Tehran on Monday, Pezeshkian expressed hope that the two countries will witness further promotion of economic and commercial cooperation given various existing capacities. He hailed South Africa's constructive stance on support for the oppressed Palestinian people and said the apartheid Israeli regime has committed the most heinous crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The Iranian president said silence of the self-proclaimed human rights defenders and their arms support for Israel have intensified the regime's crimes against the Palestinians. South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip. According to South Africa's application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group." The South African minister, for his part, expressed his country's keenness to develop relations with Iran given a 30-year record of diplomatic ties. He said South Africa will insist on its principled stance in supporting the Palestinian people despite pressures and threats. Lamola said his country will continue to cooperate with Iran with the purpose of restoring the Palestinian people's rights, establishing lasting ceasefire and delivering humanitarian aid to the war-stricken civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli President Herzog US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson July 29, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog today. Secretary Blinken expressed condolences for those killed in the village of Majdal Shams in the attack by Lebanese Hezbollah and wished a speedy recovery for those injured. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iranian-backed terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah. He emphasized the importance of preventing escalation of the conflict and discussed efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to allow citizens on both sides of the border between Israel and Lebanon to return home. Secretary Blinken and President Herzog also discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. The Secretary underscored the U.S. commitment to securing lasting peace and stability in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 29, 2024 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Ms. Sabrina Singh provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met today with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Tokyo. Secretary Austin reaffirmed the unwavering and ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan, which is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The three officials welcomed the outcomes of the July 28 meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee and highlighted the two countries' unprecedented momentum following Prime Minister Kishida's State Visit to the United States in April. The officials also discussed opportunities to continue expanding trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Korea. Secretary Austin, Secretary Blinken, and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed the historic progress that the leaders from both countries have made in strengthening the Alliance and enhancing peace, prosperity, and stability in a free and open Indo-Pacific region. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3852274/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 29, 2024 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Ms. Sabrina Singh provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met today with Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru in Tokyo. Secretary Austin reaffirmed the unwavering and ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan, which is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The two officials underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen the U.S.-Japan Alliance toward a free and open Indo-Pacific. Secretary Austin and Minister Kihara welcomed the historic announcements from the 2024 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee on defense industrial base cooperation and continued collaboration on alliance command and control. The officials also welcomed the historic Trilateral Ministerial Meeting with Minister Kihara and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik on July 28 - the first to ever take place in either Japan or the ROK. Both officials reaffirmed the strategic alignment between the United States and Japan, as well as shared Alliance goals to optimize force posture, bolster integrated deterrence, modernize roles and missions, and cooperate with like-minded partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3852269/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson July 29, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, III met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio today in Tokyo. They celebrated the success of the Security 2+2 and affirmed their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance. The Secretaries and Prime Minister discussed significant progress on defense commitments made during the Prime Minister's official visit to Washington, D.C. in April and committed to continue advancing the U.S.-Japan Alliance as the cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Blinken expressed deep concern about the DPRK's growing military cooperation with Russia and its unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio Before Their Meeting US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Kantei Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2024 PRIME MINISTER KISHIDA: (Via interpreter) Let me first extend my wholehearted welcome to Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin's visit to Japan. I have been informed that there was a fruitful discussion at the 2+2 meeting. We hope to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of our alliance through various frameworks at various levels, and also through concrete cooperation, including the leaders and the ministers level. I would like to see your continued cooperation. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Prime Minister Kishida, thank you so much for receiving us today, and thank you and your entire team for the exceptional 2+2 that we held yesterday. I think it is very safe to report that our alliance is stronger than it's ever been. And the initiatives, including on command and control, on joint production, as well as on extended deterrence, these are very much a result of your vision, of your leadership, and I believe, your legacy. I'm grateful for it. Thank you. SECRETARY AUSTIN: Mr. Prime Minister, again, thank you for meeting with us. I really appreciate you carving out some time for us today, especially it's - I'm told that it's your birthday today. (Laughter.) Happy Birthday, Mr. Prime Minister. (Applause.) We did have a very productive 2+2 meeting yesterday, and I think in some ways you could describe it as historic. Our alliance is strong as it's ever been, and we've been able to achieve some very, very impressive things here over the last several years. Many thanks to you for allowing us to hold the very first trilateral minister of defense meeting here in Tokyo with Korea - Republic of Korea. And I think this sets an example - tremendous example - for the entire region. We remain absolutely committed to the defense of Japan. So I look forward to continuing to work with my counterpart in strengthening our ties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State NEC Future Creation Hub Tokyo, Japan July 29, 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. It's been a great pleasure to be here at NEC to see the extraordinary work that NEC does, but also the extraordinary collaboration that we've had between the United States and NEC and between the United States and Japan. NEC is - I think some of you heard - is a major investor in the United States, supporting thousands of jobs in the United States. Japan of course is our leading foreign direct investment investor, supporting some million jobs in the United States with hundreds of billions of dollars in investment. And by the way, the United States is the leading destination for foreign direct investment now, which is, I think, a gauge of tremendous credibility, success of our economies and the way the world sees them. But our leading partner is Japan, we're grateful for that, but it's not just the investment. It's what we're doing together with that investment, as well as the work that the United States is doing here in Japan. NEC's an incredible example of that. You've seen the leading-edge work that they're doing on undersea cables, the leading-edge work that they're doing on the communications systems, Open RAN networks, that we believe are the future for digital communications. And we know every single day that what's connecting us around the world, physically and visually, are these cables and the systems that run on them. And we want to make sure that these systems are trusted, that they're secure, and that people can be connected all around the world. And that's the essence of the partnership that we have. Our diplomacy works every day to try to make sure that our companies - companies from countries, partners like Japan - have a level playing field to compete effectively whenever there's something to compete for, and that we have a world that's connected, that's resilient, and that's working with trusted vendors like NEC. So this is a critical part of American diplomacy, it's a critical part of the work that we do with Japan, and of course you see it playing out in other places - Japan and the United States working together with the Philippines, for example, on testing out and actually commercializing the Open RAN system. So I'm grateful for this. For us, this partnership is absolutely essential. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar insurgents free political prisoners in northern Shan state city Fighting in Lashio between the military junta and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army began in June. By RFA Burmese 2024.07.29 -- A Myanmar insurgent army and its allies have freed political prisoners and taken control of a hospital and several police stations in the strategic northern Shan state city of Lashio, where fighting with junta forces has been ongoing for more than a month. Last week, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, announced it had captured the junta's northeastern regional military headquarters in Lashio, although the junta has denied the claim. Fighting in neighborhoods near the regional headquarters continued over the weekend, several residents who requested anonymity for safety reasons told Radio Free Asia. The MNDAA announced on Sunday that it had also seized a market, a sub-broadcast station and three junta battalion camps in Lashio, which is located about halfway along the main road linking the city of Mandalay and the Chinese border. One of the junta camps was located near Lashio prison, where insurgent fighters have opened the gates, several sources said. Some 200 political prisoners walked free over the weekend, including Tun Tun Hein, a member of the Central Executive Committee for the National League for Democracy party, which was overthrown by the military in a 2021 coup d'etat. "Local resistance forces are working together to help with the prisoners," said Maung Maung Swe, the deputy secretary for the shadow National Unity Government's Ministry of Defense. "Some have been injured by shrapnel from landmines during the prison break, and we are also providing health care for them," he said. A family member of Tun Tun Hein told RFA that there were few details about the prisoners due to telecommunications blackouts. RFA's attempts to contact the MNDAA's spokesperson to ask about the prison were unsuccessful on Monday. Junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun was also unavailable. Wa troops in Lashio On Saturday, the United Wa State Army, or UWSA, entered Lashio and took positions near its liaison office and some of its property. The UWSA - Myanmar's largest ethnic army - waited until MNDAA forces controlled most of the city before going into Lashio, according to UWSA liaison officer Nyi Rang. "We officially informed both sides in advance about our entry," he said. "Our Wa army will not intervene or side with any armed groups. We also hope for nationwide peace, including in Lashio, as soon as possible." The UWSA vowed in November to remain neutral as the Three Brotherhood Alliance began a large-scale operation against junta forces. The alliance - made up of the MNDAA, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army - has made significant gains against junta forces in Shan state and elsewhere in Myanmar since last October, when it launched Operation 1027. It resumed offensive operations in June following a ceasefire. Zaw Min Tun told local news media that the junta was aware of the UWSA's presence in Lashio. Fighting since late June has forced more than 200,000 Lashio residents to flee their homes, according to aid workers. More than 10,000 people remain in the city. A junta airstrike on Sunday morning killed five people who had taken refuge near a monastery in Lashio, an aid worker told RFA. Elsewhere in the city, a 25-year-old woman was killed by shrapnel from a landmine that struck the back of her head, the aid worker said Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Natural gas supplies plummet in Myanmar amid import limits The price of gas used by many for cooking has more than tripled. By RFA Burmese 2024.07.29 -- The price of gas commonly used in Myanmar for cooking has more than tripled amid massive supply shortages since the February 2021 coup d'etat, with some families being forced to switch to charcoal. A lack of regular electricity in Myanmar means many homes and restaurants relied on liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, which is imported under a strict licensing regime controlled by the government. Myanmar's military junta only issues import permits to select individuals who are close to the military, resulting in a near monopoly in the sector and shortages, gas sellers told Radio Free Asia. "Gas prices are rising every year due to two main issues: monopolization at the ports, and the increase in dollar prices, along with the restricted allocation of import licenses," the manager of a gas wholesaler in Yangon told RFA on condition of anonymity. "If there were no monopolies and import licenses were not limited, prices could drop by up to 40 percent from their current levels." RFA inquiries to sellers across Myanmar indicate that while there is no uniform price in the country, the cost of one "viss" container of gas, which is equal to about 1.68 kilograms or 3.5 pounds of natural gas, ranges from 12,000 to 20,000 kyat, or about US$2.6 to $4.4. That is up significantly in a matter of only months. "Last year, the price was only 3,700 to 4,000 kyat per viss," said Ko Daung, a resident of Yangon who told RFA that the price of gas had steadily increased and made his everyday living costs skyrocket. "In a short period, it jumped to about 8,000 kyat per viss. Now, it is over 10,000 kyat," he said, adding that shortages had complicated things. "Even if you spend more than 10,000 kyat, you can't fill up at gas shops anymore. Since I can't get gas, I'll just have to use charcoal." All legal LPG in Myanmar is imported by sea and distributed from the port in Yangon. Some gas is also smuggled across the border from Thailand, but recent floods in Myanmar's border states of Mon and Kayin had cut off many of the roads used by smugglers. RFA sought comment about the price rises from Min Min Oo, the deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy, but did not receive a response. Major General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for the military junta, also could not be reached for comment. Ko Daung, the Yangon resident, said he hoped authorities would prioritize the issue before prices went up any further. "It's becoming unaffordable for us. If we could get gas at a lower price, we could save money for other essential needs in our lives," he said. Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Alex Willemyns. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Floods force 20,000 people from homes in Myanmar's Bago At least four people killed in central and eastern Myanmar. By RFA Burmese 2024.07.29 -- Flooding triggered by torrential downpours has forced about 20,000 people from their homes in the Myanmar city of Bago and they now face a dire shortage of water and food with more rain expected, aid workers and residents said on Monday. A child was swept away and drowned near Bago, which is famous for its Buddhist temples, about 80 km (50 miles) north of the former capital of Yangon, after days of relentless rain, residents said. The flooding has compounded misery for many people struggling to get by in an economic crisis in the wake of a 2021 military coup that plunged the country into bloody turmoil. "The flood hasn't subsided. I don't know how to express the hardships, the flooding amidst the political crisis. We're facing shortages of food and medicine," a Bago resident, who declined to be identified for fear of reprisals for talking to the media, told Radio Free Asia. Aid groups said 20,000 people have been forced from their homes since Friday, with residents of the Ah Htet Zaing Ga Naing Gyi, Kyun Tharyar, Kyauk Gyi Su and Pon Nar Su neighborhoods particularly hard hit. "Those neighborhoods are flooded up to the height of bamboo," said an official with a Bago-based social aid group, who also declined to be identified. "There's an urgent need for clean drinking water and food for the evacuees," said the official, adding that some people who had sought shelter in a relief camp were forced to move again when the waters kept rising. The junta that seized power in 2021 said in a notice in the state-owned Myanmar Alin newspaper that 27 flood relief camps had been opened and military authorities in Bago had helped 18,210 people evacuate and were providing assistance to them. A child from a family already displaced by fighting was killed in the town of Mone, to the north of Bago, when fast-flowing flood waters washed away a river bank, residents said. "They were fleeing the war and were sheltering in the forest when the child was washed away. The body was found near Kyaung Su village," said the first Bago resident. Meteorological officials said early on Monday that the flood waters in Bago could rise by another six inches over the next day and would remain above the danger level for some time. To the east of Bago, the Sittaung River, one of the main rivers flowing south through central Myanmar to the ocean, had overflowed and flooded communities along its banks, residents of the area said. Even further to the east, flooding in Myawaddy township on the border with Thailand killed three people - a child and two men - on Saturday when a border river burst its banks, residents said. Flooding in northern Myanmar's Kachin state displaced thousands of people early this month. The military council's Meteorological Department and the Hydrological Directorate announced on Sunday that 12 cities across Myanmar faced flooding. Editing by RFA staff. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Protests In Western Pakistan Turn Violent, Leaving 1 Soldier Dead, Many Injured By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal July 29, 2024 Thousands of Pakistanis have been protesting for nearly a week in the port city of Gwadar against a growing Chinese presence in Balochistan and what members of the Baluch community say is a pattern of "forced disappearances" that they blame on Pakistani authorities. Pakistan's army said on July 29 that the protests recently turned violent, leaving one soldier dead and at least 16 injured. According to Baloch United Committee head Mahrang Baloch, the protest, which began on July 24, revolves around the exploitation of resources and the oppression of the Baluch ethnic minority. "Gwadar is a very sensitive city," Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Lango told RFE/RL, pointing out that there are a number of Chinese nationals living in there. Gwadar is a port city in western Pakistan on the Iranian border. It is a key nexus for China's Belt and Road Initiative, an economic-development program criticized by the West for exploitive tendencies throughout the Global South. Beijing has invested about $65 billion in Belt and Road Initiative projects in Pakistan. Gwadar has been the scene of protests and security concerns in the past. In 2021, Islamabad and Beijing announced plans to install barbed wire around Gwadar, but the move was postponed after mass protests. Baloch said the gas, coal, and resources of Balochistan belong to the people living in the region, rather than international powers. "Balochistan and Gwadar are ours," Baloch said. "We cannot live under oppression. We will not allow anyone to exploit us." Lango said 25 protesters had been arrested for "interfering with the work of the government," but Nadia Baloch, a leader of the Baloch United Committee and Mahrang Baloch's sister, told RFE/RL more than 300 protesters had been arrested following raids throughout Balochistan. Videos showing protesters being dragged into police cars have circulated online, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the arrest of the protesters and called for the release of all those arrested. Lango told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that the published videos and images were edited. The Pakistani Army said the casualties among the soldiers who guarded the protest resulted from "unprovoked assaults by the violent protesters." Baluch leaders claim that several protesters were injured by the army but gave no details about the number injured or their condition. Nadia Baloch also cited "forced disappearances" as a motivation for the protests. The Pakistani Army claims that the number of missing people is fewer than 1,000. Army spokesman Major General Ahmed Sharif said at a May 7 press conference that Baluch people had joined armed groups and were not actually missing. A Pakistani government commission that investigates forced disappearances said it had registered 197 cases in the first six months of 2024. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-balochistan- china-protest-gwadar/33055338.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 Pakistan arrests radical Islamist leader for placing bounty on chief justice By Ayaz Gul July 29, 2024 Police in central Pakistan on Monday arrested a leader of a far-right Islamist party on charges of ordering the assassination of the country's top judge over his alleged support for minority Ahmadis. Zaheerul Hassan Shah, deputy chief of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, or TLP, was taken into custody under the anti-terrorism law in Punjab, the country's most populous province, according to an official police complaint. The arrest came a day after Shah was seen in a viral video on social media announcing to a crowd of TLP supporters that he would personally give 10 million rupees ($36,000) to anyone who beheads Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Esa. The radical leader delivered the speech in the provincial capital of Lahore, accusing the 65-year-old top judge of "desecrating the law of the country." The rally was one of a series of public gatherings organized by TLP in recent days in parts of Pakistan to condemn Esa for granting bail to a member of the minority Ahmadi community, who was accused of posting material against Islam on social media. Hours before Shah's arrest, the federal defense minister told reporters in the national capital, Islamabad, that the government would sternly deal with those making false allegations against the chief justice and issuing death threats in the name of the Islamic religion. "No group can incite violence in the name of faith or politics. We will use the full force of the law to bring them to justice," Khawaja Asif said. "The state will not allow you to issue a fatwa [decree] to kill someone," he added. TLP leaders routinely use offensive anti-Ahmadi language in public rallies and gatherings, inciting followers to attack members of the minority community and their places of worship in the country. Ahmadis are followers of the Ahmadiyya community, a contemporary messianic movement founded in 1889 who profess to be Muslims. Pakistan's constitution declared Ahmadis non-Muslim in 1974 and subsequently prohibited them from acting or representing themselves as Muslims. They are also barred under the law from publicly propagating their faith and building places of worship. The constitutional restrictions are primarily blamed for the spike in deadly attacks and hatred against Ahmadis in the years that followed. Last week, a United Nations panel of independent experts said in a joint statement they "are alarmed by ongoing reports of violence and discrimination against Ahmadis" and urged Pakistani authorities to take immediate action to address the situation. "Urgent measures are necessary to respond to these violent attacks and the broader atmosphere of hatred and discrimination which feeds it," the panel, reporting to the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council, stated Thursday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military to Analyze Creation of New US Military Command in Japan Sputnik News 20240729 The Russian military will conduct the necessary analysis of the decision of Washington and Tokyo to create a new structure of the joint military command of the US and Japan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday According to a joint statement of Washington-Tokyo Security Consultative Committee released by the US Department of Defense on Sunday, the US and Japan will establish a Joint Operations Command (JJOC) to enhance military cooperation. This initiative was agreed upon by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, along with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara. "This is not exactly a Kremlin topic, it is more a topic for analysis by our military. I have no doubt that the necessary analysis will be carried out," Peskov told reporters. No Meeting Planned Moscow is not planning to hold a meeting with Japanese upper house member Muneo Suzuki, who is visiting Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. Earlier in the day, the Hokkaido newspaper reported Suzuki arrived in Moscow on Saturday and will stay in Russia until July 31. According to the newspaper, the lawmaker is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Federal Agency for Fishery during the visit. "No, the Kremlin has no contacts planned," Peskov said in response to a question from journalists. Japan's leadership is in solidarity with West's unfriendly actions towards Russia, the spokesman said. "Unfortunately, the country's leadership is not limited to this by its attitude towards our country, but is also trying to put pressure on those who share a different point of view and are inclined to find ways to establish contacts," Peskov said. On Russia's - Belarus Partnership Russia and Belarus have multidisciplinary relations, therefore various work moments are inevitable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. Earlier in the day, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to settle all outstanding issues by the autumn, including on the security and government agenda. "We have such multifaceted bilateral relations. After all, we are in a union state, and we really have very multidisciplinary relations, and they are very intensive, broad in scope, in terms of the range of topics. Therefore, of course, some working moments are inevitable, which are constantly being resolved by our governments," Peskov told reporters. During talks, the presidents have discussed the entire spectrum of cooperation, including security issues, trade and economic cooperation, the official added. On Russia-Venezuela Partnership Russia intends to comprehensively develop relations with Venezuela, including in sensitive areas, this is in the interests of the two countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. "We are developing our relations with Venezuela in all areas, including sensitive ones. And, of course, we pay great attention ... we know about mutual plans from the Venezuelan leadership. Such cooperation is in the interests of both the Venezuelan people and the Russians. Therefore, we will comprehensively develop our relations with Venezuela," Peskov told reporters. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IPAC condemns Chinese pressure over upcoming Taipei summit ROC Central News Agency 07/28/2024 06:59 PM Taipei, July 28 (CNA) An international alliance of parliamentarians on Sunday condemned the People's Republic of China (PRC) for allegedly pressuring its members not to fly to Taiwan to attend the alliance's annual summit set to kick off in Taipei on Tuesday. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of hundreds of lawmakers from 35 countries concerned about Beijing's threat to global democracy, said some IPAC members were contacted by PRC embassies in their respective countries as part of a "clear attempt to intimidate and dissuade" them from traveling to Taiwan for the annual meet. According to IPAC, eight lawmakers in at least five countries reportedly received emails and/or phone calls from PRC diplomatic officials before they departed for Taipei. "Some discovered their party leadership had been contacted to exert additional pressure. One lawmaker was specifically invited to travel to the PRC rather than to Taipei," it added. IPAC "deplores and condemns" the PRC's attempt to interfere in its summit. "The PRC's actions around the IPAC Summit are yet another example of brazen efforts to curtail other nations' democratic privileges and negate Taiwan's rights to engage in legitimate diplomatic exchanges." IPAC members reserve the right to lodge formal representations and complaints with their respective foreign ministries, it added. The IPAC statement confirmed an Associated Press (AP) report earlier in the day, which said lawmakers from Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and "one other Asian country that declined to be named," had received emails and/or phone calls from PRC diplomatic officials before their departure to Taipei for the IPAC summit. According to emails received by lawmakers made public by AP, in some cases, lawmakers received inquiries about their plans to travel to Taiwan. One lawmaker told AP that Chinese diplomats messaged the head of her party demanding they stop her from going. IPAC will hold its fourth annual summit in Taipei on July 30 and 31, with 48 cross-party lawmakers from 24 countries across five continents set to participate. According to IPAC, cross-strait stability will be at the top of the summit's agenda. The event will also be attended by Taiwan's government and world-leading experts, it said, without elaborating. "It will be the largest parliamentary delegation ever to visit Taiwan in an institutional capacity," IPAC said. Formed in 2020, IPAC has over 250 members from 35 legislatures and the European Parliament. It is an international, cross-party alliance of parliamentarians from democratic countries focused on relations with the PRC. Its purpose is to create a coordinated response to China on global trade, security and human rights issues. Also Sunday, IPAC welcomed six more countries -- Colombia, Iraq, Malawi, Solomon Islands, The Gambia, and Uruguay -- to the alliance. Meanwhile, in a separate press statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it welcomed the upcoming summit and confirmed that President Lai Ching-te () will deliver an address during the event. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim () will also attend the summit's press event, the ministry said. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War in Ukraine - The arms and military equipment Germany is sending to Ukraine Germany - Federal Government Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview. Monday, 29 July 2024 This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. This military assistance is delivered in two different ways: on the one hand there are the Federal Government funds for security capacity building, which are used to finance deliveries of military equipment and other material from industry. On the other hand, there are deliveries from Federal Armed Forces stocks. In total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro. Funds for the security capacity building initiative in 2024 alone for military assistance to Ukraine amount to approximately 7.1 billion euro. From these also Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility of the European Union (EPF) are financed. From the EPF expenditures for military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states1. In addition to that there are authorisations to enter commitments in the following years currently amounting to approximately 6 billion euro. So far already approximately 5 billion euro (2023) and approximately 1.6 billion euro (2022) were spent on military assistance to Ukraine. Additional approximately 2.9 billion euro have been committed in the first two years of the war for deliveries, which will arrive only in the years 2025 to 2028. Since the beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 Germany has delivered material from Federal Armed Forces stocks amounting to approximately 5.2 billion euro reflecting estimated replacement values. Also, more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany. Expenses for this training so far amount to approximately 282 million euro. Additional expenses, not calculated here, result from medial treatment of injured soldiers. Delivered military support to Ukraine: (Changes compared to the previous update in bold) Armoured fighting vehicles 58 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* with spare parts (joint project with Denmark) (before: 50) ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 1* 120 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* 158 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS ammunition for LEOPARD 2 (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (command vehicle)* (before: 9) 5 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (repair and recovery vehicle)* 66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)* 73 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* 18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators) 50 MRAP vehicles DINGO 54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG and spare parts* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany) Air defence 176,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stock s*) (before: 155,000) 3 air defence systems PATRIOT with spare parts PATRIOT missiles 11 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* 4 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM* 2 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS* 2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition* IRIS-T SLM missiles* IRIS-T SLS missiles 52 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD with spare parts 2 PATRIOT launchers 4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER 2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA Artillery 166,000 rounds 155mm ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 21,000 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II 3 multiple rocket launchers HIMARS 2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) 155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO) 5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain) 14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (German share in joint project with the Netherlands) 20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets* counter battery radar system COBRA* 10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition* Drones and anti-drone systems 40 unmanned surface vessels* (before: 30) 262 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts* 200 mobile drone jammers* 88 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 249 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* 70 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 180 RF 360 fieldkits - drone detection systems* 19 drone detection systems* 93 drone sensors* 18 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE* 7 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD* 1 LUNA NG reconnaissance system* 10 anti-drone guns* 12 electronic anti-drone devices* Military Engineering Capabilities 21 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts * (before: 19) 46 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts* 21 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER with spare parts* 11 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS with spare parts* material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 57 mine ploughs* 20 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 500 tool kits with blasting material* 19 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers 5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER 2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3 12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* Protective and Special Equipment 66 ground surveillance radars * (before: 56) * 58,000 combat helmets (before: 33,190) 331SatCom terminals* 750 night vision goggles* 8 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* IT equipment* 2,000 LED lamps* 84 outboard motors 400 IR cameras* 3 Satcom surveillance systems* 263 border protection vehicles* 1 naval mine clearance system* 50 mobile antenna mast systems* 63 laser range finders* 2,667 Crypto Phones* 90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 1 PCB printer* 1 antenna hub station 1,288 binoculars 5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 10 radio jammers* 40 laser target designators* 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps 165 field glasses* 1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* 6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material 10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)* 1 high frequency unit with equipment* Logistics 181 Pick-ups* 40 protected vehicles* 62 tankers Zetros* 18 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 361 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 250 trucks Zetros* 90 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 90 semi-trailers* 25 trucks MAN TGS* 40 load-handling trucks 8x8 34 load-handling trucks 15t* 6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers* 14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS* Combat Readiness and Survivability 2 field hospitals* (before: 1) 340,000 rounds ammunition 40mm* 93,000 smoke grenades* 100,000 m detonating cord and 115.000 detonators 2,425 assault rifles MK 556* 240 precision rifles HLR 338 with 240,000 rounds ammunition* 481 rifles CR 308* 350 machine guns MG5* 54.6 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) rescue boats* 13,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90* 120mm mortar ammunition* 6.132 camouflage nets (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 6,000 ponchos* 600,000 first aid kits* 100 grenade launchers GMG* 2 emergency power generators 450 snow chains 205,000 single module group rations medical material 10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (ambulance) 49 ambulances* 30,000 winter clothing sets 27,477 backpacks 1,202 Infusion kits Spare parts WISENT 8 dental sterilizers 103,000 tourniquets 500 pistols SFP9* 2 hangar tents* 8 lift trucks* 295 generators 168 mobile heating systems* 36,400 wool blankets 14,000 sleeping bags Mi-24 spare parts* spare parts for heavy machine gun M2 200 tents 116,000 winter jackets 80,000 winter trousers 240,000 winter hats 320,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready 67 fridges for medical material* 3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices 14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks) 50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices 100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 350,000 detonators 100 auto-injector devices 15 palettes military clothing 1,200 hospital beds 18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights protective clothing, surgical masks 1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)* Diesel and gasoline* 10 tons AdBlue* 500 medical gauzes* MiG-29 spare parts* PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers during a training and instruction exercise. Photo: Bundeswehr/Mario BAhr Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution (due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover) Armoured fighting vehicles 20 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* 77 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (joint project with Denmark and the Netherlands) ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 2 and LEOPARD 1* ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* Air defence 2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition* IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles* 15 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD* 8 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM* 10 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS* 3 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* GEPARD ammunition* Artillery 36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155* 18 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 more than 120,000 projectiles 122mm* more than 200,000 projectiles 155mm* 14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) Drones and counter-UAV systems 213 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 11 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 30 unmanned surface vessels* Helicopter 6 Sea King Mk41 multi-role helicopters with spare parts Military Engineering Capabilities 4 mine clearing tanks WISENT* 10 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 4 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* material for explosive ordnance disposal* 1 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 5 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* Protective and Special Equipment 1,660 combat helmets* 725 laser range finders* 8 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* 10,000 safety glasses* 10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 237 border protection vehicles* 11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* Logistics 8 tankers Zetros* 20 Zetros refrigerator trucks* 5 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers* 2 tractors and 4 trailers* Combat Readiness and Survivability 2,575 assault rifles MK 556* 369 CR 308 5.5 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms* 8.000 anti-tank mines PARM* 260 precision rifles HLR 338 with 9.8 million rounds ammunition* 15,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons* 2 dental sterilizers 88,000 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers* continuing deliveries of medical material* * Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 29, 2024 Release Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package valued at up to $200 million to provide Ukraine with key capabilities, including: air defense interceptors; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons. In addition, DoD is announcing a significant package of support using approximately $1.5 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds. This package includes capabilities to augment Ukraine's air defenses, fires, and anti-tank weapons, as well as funding to sustain equipment previously committed by the United States. The capabilities in this announcement include: Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Short- and medium-range air defense munitions; RIM-7 missiles for air defense; Electronic Warfare equipment; Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; 120mm mortar rounds; Precision aerial munitions; Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Small arms; Explosives material and demolitions equipment and munitions; Secure communications systems; Commercial satellite imagery services; and Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment. This is the Biden Administration's twentieth USAI package and sixty-second tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine and since August 2021. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine's brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3852671/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 29, 2024 By Joseph Clark, DOD News DOD Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine The Defense Department today announced a security assistance package for Ukraine as it continues its fight to counter Russia's invasion. The package includes up to $200 million of equipment drawn from DOD inventories under the presidential drawdown authority and approximately $1.5 billion in assistance authorized under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The package marks the 62nd drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine from DOD inventories and 20th tranche authorized under USAI. It includes air defense interceptors, munitions for rocket and artillery systems and antitank weapons. The USAI package also includes funding to sustain equipment previously provided by the U.S. The U.S. has provided more than $55.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion in February 2022. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has continued to reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine and has led an international coalition of dozens of allies committed to Ukraine's immediate and long-term security. "Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone," Austin said during a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon earlier this month. "The United States will never waver, and our support alongside some 50 allies and partners will continue to provide the critical capabilities that Ukraine needs to push back Russian aggression today and to deter Russian aggression tomorrow," he said. That same commitment to Ukraine's success was echoed among NATO allies as the alliance marked its 75th anniversary at the NATO Summit in Washington earlier this month. During the summit, member states advanced a range of initiatives to further strengthen the alliance and take steps to advance the support of Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression, as well as Ukraine's long-term bridge to membership in the alliance. Those initiatives include the standup of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine initiative which will coordinate equipment, training and force development for Ukraine as it advances on its path to full interoperability with NATO. The effort will be based in Germany and carried out in countries throughout the alliance. President Joe Biden also announced during the summit that more than 20 countries, together with the European Council and European Union further affirmed their commitment to Ukraine's long-term defense and security by endorsing the Ukraine Compact. "What happens to Ukraine matters," Biden said in announcing the compact. "It matters to all of Europe. It matters to NATO. Quite frankly, [it] matters to the whole world. We're united against Putin's senseless brutal war. We are united behind Ukraine as it fights to defend its freedom and its future." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Announces Up To $1.7 Billion In Security Assistance For Ukraine By RFE/RL July 29, 2024 The United States on July 29 announced two assistance packages for Ukraine valued at $1.7 billion. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the presidential package, valued at up to $200 million, will include air-defense interceptors, munitions for HIMARS, artillery and mortar rounds, and Javelin and other anti-tank missiles. The U.S. Defense Department also announced $1.5 billion through the security-assistance-initiative funds. The resources will "augment Ukraine's air defense" through long-range firing capability and anti-tank weapons, as well as equipment to sustain previous donations by the United States, Kirby said. According to a July 29 report by the Pew Research Center, over half of Americans are worried about the growing length of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the costs associated with providing aid. Despite bipartisan support for Ukraine aid in Congress, the U.S. public is divided on the degree of support that Washington should provide, a survey by Pew Research Center found. Pew Research Center said that while 48 percent of Americans believe the United States has a responsibility to help Ukraine, 49 percent disagree. Despite recent campaigns to increase support for Ukraine among Republicans in Congress, Pew Research Center reported that nearly half of Republicans say Washington is providing too much aid to Ukraine, compared to 29 percent of Americans overall. Only 19 percent of Americans say the United States is not providing enough support. While Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump has claimed that he would end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 24 hours if he was elected, only 34 percent of Americans say the war poses a "major threat" to U.S. interests, the report said. Likewise, Pew Research Center found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say that they are worried that Russia will take over Ukraine and invade other countries in Europe. Despite opposition to aid, there is "broad public support for keeping strict economic sanctions" on Russia, according to the Pew Research Center survey of nearly 9,500 people at the beginning of July. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-us- defense-package/33055264.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 Ukraine Strikes Russian Energy Facilities For Second Day In A Row By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service July 29, 2024 Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes deep inside Russian territory early on July 29, damaging energy facilities in two regions, Russia's Defense Ministry and regional officials said a day after a reported Ukrainian attack set a Russian oil refinery on fire. In the western Russian region of Oryol, a power plant was damaged by falling debris from two downed Ukrainian drones over the Glazunovsky district, regional Governor Andrei Klychkov said on Telegram. "Emergency services are dealing with the consequences of the air attack, and law enforcement agencies are working at the scene," Klychkov wrote, without specifying the type of damage the power plant sustained. In Voronezh, a utility infrastructure was damaged in the village of Gazoprovod, in the region's southern Ostrogozhsky district, also by falling drone debris. regional Governor Aleksandr Gusev said on Telegram. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defenses destroyed 39 Ukrainian drones: 19 drones were intercepted over the Kursk region, nine were downed over Belgorod, three over Voronezh, five over Bryansk, and three over the Leningrad region. The Russian claims could not be independently verified. It was the second day in a row that reported Ukrainian attacks caused damage to Russian energy facilities. On July 28, suspected Ukrainian military drones struck an oil storage depot in the Kursk region, with video posted online showing a huge blaze lighting up the sky. Regional Governor Aleksei Smirnov said three storage tanks caught fire as a result of the drone strike. Since the early days of Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow's forces have systematically targeted Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure facilities, causing casualties and huge damage. In turn Ukraine has started targeting oil-refining facilities and other energy infrastructure inside Russia that mainly work for the military. On July 27, Ukrayinska Pravda reported on July 27 that Ukrainian drones had hit an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region. Meanwhile, Russian shelling of Ukraine's southern cities of Kherson and Nikopol early on July 29 wounded 20 people, including five children, regional and local officials reported. In Nikopol, 13 apartment buildings as well as gas pipelines, power lines, and an administrative building were also damaged, according to Dnipropetrovsk regional Governor Oleksandr Sayuka. Ukrainian air-defense systems shot down a Russian guided missile and all nine drones launched by Russia at its regions on July 29, the commander of Ukraine's air force, General Mykola Oleshchuk said. On the battlefield, Russian forces over the past 24 hours have been pressing with an offensive in the eastern Donetsk region in the direction of the mining city of Pokrovsk and the town of Toretsk, Ukraine's military reported. Constant shelling has prompted the evacuation of hundreds of civilians from the area, local officials told RFE/RL. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on July 28 that the front line in Pokrovsk was subject to the "most severe enemy attacks." RFE/RL reported that Russia captured two villages near Pokrovsk -- Prohres and Vovche -- which was confirmed by the Ukrainian military. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/oryol- voronezh-drones/33054529.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 Ukraine Loses Up to 570 Soldiers in Clashes With Russia's South Forces Sputnik News 20240729 MOSCOW (Sputnik) -Russia's Ministry of Defense reported on the progress of the special military operation and the key achievements of the Russian Armed Forces. Ukraine has lost up to 570 personnel in the area of operations of Russia's Yug (South) group of forces in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. "The enemy's losses amounted to up to 570 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, three 152-mm D-20 howitzers, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one UK-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the group has repelled two counterattacks by Ukrainian troops. Russian troops of the Zapad (West) group also repelled three counterattacks, resulting in losses of up to 480 Ukrainian soldiers, according to the bulletin. Russia's Tsentr (Central) group repelled eight counterattacks, during which Kiev has lost up to 400 servicepeople, according to the ministry. Russia's Sever (North) group of forces repelled five counterattacks in the past 24 hours, with Kiev losing up to 220, while as a result of operations by Russia's Vostok (East) group of forces, Kiev lost up to 130 soldiers in the past 24 hours. The Russian armed forces have also liberated the Volchye settlement in Donetsk People's Republic. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Visited Enterprises in the Poltava Region President of Ukraine 29 July 2024 - 22:32 During a working visit to the Poltava region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a relocated company specializing in the production of motor vehicles and defense industry enterprises. In the presence of the Head of State, the Ministry of Defense signed two defense contracts with manufacturers worth almost UAH 5 billion. "Thank you for working. It is very important for Ukraine to have a functioning economy. This helps our warriors and so on," the President said, addressing the employees of the relocated company. The CEO of the enterprise told the Head of State that before the full-scale Russian invasion, the company was located in the Kharkiv region. Due to constant shelling and direct hits, the company was relocated to the Poltava region in July 2022. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was shown samples of the products manufactured by the company, including trailer equipment and special vehicles. The President also spoke with people working at the production site, including both local residents and IDPs. Special attention was given to strengthening air defense and ensuring electricity supply. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In the Framework of the Made in Ukraine Platform, Poltava Region Will Receive at Least UAH 1.8 Billion This Year President of Ukraine 29 July 2024 - 20:26 During a working visit to the Poltava region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with business representatives as part of the Made in Ukraine economic platform. The Head of State thanked entrepreneurs and workers for staying in Ukraine and contributing to the national economy. "It is important for us to preserve everything that is being made and was made in Ukraine. Thank you for your work, for your ideas, and most importantly, for preserving enterprises, which means preserving jobs and wages for people. This is a contribution to the preservation of Ukraine," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The President emphasized that the state will do everything to strengthen the region's air defense. During the meeting, the parties also discussed the restoration of the energy sector and opportunities for businesses. In particular, the "Affordable Loans 5-7-9%" program for purchasing energy equipment, the abolition of customs duties and import VAT for such equipment, and the simplification of procedures for installing self-generation. First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko noted that this year, under the Made in Ukraine program, the Poltava region will receive at least UAH 1.8 billion. "Agricultural producers are already receiving compensation for purchasing domestic agricultural machinery, industrial parks can now submit documents to banks for state reimbursement for the construction of engineering and transport infrastructure and connection to power grids, and investors ready to invest over EUR 12 million can now apply for compensation as well," noted Yuliia Svyrydenko. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Understand How the Electricity Deficit Will Be Gradually Eliminated, Government Officials Were Given Clear Tasks - Address by the President President of Ukraine 29 July 2024 - 19:41 Dear Ukrainians! Today, we are working in two regions, in communities. Our Kharkiv region at first, and now we are in the Poltava region. I started this day with our warriors of the Special Operations Forces, today is their professional holiday. And this is one of the strongest elements of our Defense Forces, very effective. It is too early to say much about it now - only after the war will it be possible to tell about everything that the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces have managed to do. They operate both at the front and in the occupied territory. They have been actively engaged since 2014 and after February 24th in many areas. From the battle for Donetsk airport to the battles for Hostomel, as well as Kherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. We are proud of the Special Operations Forces! Today we were with the team in the town of Derhachi in the Kharkiv region - and what is important is that this is one of the good examples of how we have started to restore normal life. I am grateful to all those involved in rebuilding homes, supporting people, saving jobs and our Ukrainian enterprises in the Kharkiv region and in all our regions. I held a meeting in Kharkiv to discuss security and energy issues first of all. Energy is always one of the top priorities. We understand how the electricity deficit will be gradually eliminated step by step. Government officials were given clear tasks, and their responsibility is personal. The preparation for the winter is what we are working on now, in the summer. We are also working on the configuration of our air defense so that Kharkiv and our other regions have more protection from Russian strikes. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, who also participated in the meetings today, and the relevant commanders are to present an updated structure of our air defense systems and new requests for partners - what exactly we have to provide by the end of this year. There was a report by General Hnatov on the defense of the east of our country, our actions, our combat capabilities. And then there was the Poltava region. Meetings with entrepreneurs and workers in the framework of the Made in Ukraine platform. Including defense industries. There are many business initiatives, companies' willingness to work for the state and offer new products. We will support all this and increase government orders. We have signed contracts today. All our Ukrainian products, both military and civilian, every job - all this helps Ukraine to withstand. I am grateful to everyone who strengthens Ukraine! I am grateful to everyone who defends Ukrainian interests - the interests of the state and people! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Preparations for the Heating Season: the President Held a Security Meeting in Kharkiv President of Ukraine 29 July 2024 - 15:22 In Kharkiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the security and energy situation in the city and the region. During the event, the participants discussed preparations for the heating season in the region. The President emphasized that he expects a clear plan for protecting the Kharkiv region's skies and restoring energy infrastructure. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Andrii Hnatov, Commander of the OSGT Khortytsia, briefed the Head of State on the operational situation in the Kharkiv region and within the area of responsibility of the Group. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of the Management Board of the PrJSC Ukrenergo, spoke about the course of work on engineering protection of energy sector facilities and announced the timeframe for overcoming the energy deficit in the region. Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, and Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, informed the audience about the preparations for the autumn and winter period in the region. According to Ihor Terekhov, 22 cogeneration units and 31 modular boiler stations have already been installed. In total, the city needs more than 140 energy generation facilities, which will provide 340 MW of power. In addition, Oleksiy Chernyshov, Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine, reported on energy decentralization and the connection of cogeneration units. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Greece Finalize the Text of the Bilateral Security Agreement President of Ukraine 29 July 2024 - 14:30 On the instructions of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Presidential Office, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva held another round of negotiations with Greece on the signing of a bilateral security agreement. The parties continued their work on the draft document and scheduled further negotiations to finalize the agreement so that the leaders could sign it in the near future. Our country has already concluded 25 bilateral security agreements in pursuance of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted last year in Vilnius. Ukraine is currently negotiating the signing of security documents with four other states. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President Inspected the Reconstruction of Damaged Housing in the Kharkiv Region President of Ukraine 29 July 2024 - 14:02 During his working visit to the Kharkiv region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the town of Derhachi, inspected the reconstructed apartment buildings and talked with the residents. Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, reported to the Head of State that 18 houses with 250 apartments were rebuilt last year, and people were provided with shelters that had not been available before. In particular, communications were installed, a facade was restored, and public areas were arranged. Also, the restoration of the local outpatient clinic is underway and is expected to be completed this October. In addition, Oleh Syniehubov presented a project on the construction of underground blocks in the regional hospital, where it is planned to set up operating rooms. According to him, a total of 70 projects on housing and hospital reconstruction are currently being implemented in the Kharkiv region. They are part of the Regional Program for Restoration, Development and Maintenance of Life Support Systems in the Kharkiv Region for the Period of Martial Law in Ukraine. These projects are financed by the Fund for Elimination of the Consequences of Armed Aggression. During the conversation with the President, people thanked him for the assistance in the restoration of their homes and expressed hope for the implementation of projects that would help Ukrainians return home. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia reports downing 19 Ukrainian drones over Kursk as part of latest aerial attacks By VOA News July 29, 2024 Russia's military said Monday it shot down 19 Ukrainian drones over the Kursk region, along the border between the two countries, marking the second consecutive day that Ukraine focused a large attack on the area. The governor of Kursk reported on Telegram that drones were shot down in the region, but did not mention any damage or casualties. In Russia's Voronezh region, Governor Aleksandr Gusev said debris from a downed Ukrainian drone damaged a utility infrastructure facility, but caused no casualties. The Russian defense ministry said it shot down a total of three drones over Voronezh, as well as nine over the Belgorod region, five over Bryansk and three over Leningrad. Ukraine has used aerial drones to attack areas in Russia, particularly along the Ukraine-Russia border, as it tries to fight off an invasion Russia launched in early 2022. Ukraine's military said Monday that Russia attacked overnight with a guided missile and 10 aerial drones. Ukrainian air defense shot down the missile and nine of the drones, the military said, with intercepts taking place over the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Kirovohrad regions. Some information for this story was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dublin, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Robotic Floor Scrubber Market - Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global robotic floor scrubber market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2023 to 2029. The competition within the global robotic floor scrubber market is high, with numerous vendors. Rapid technological advancements pose challenges for these vendors as consumers increasingly demand continuous innovations and upgrades in products. In response to this dynamic landscape, vendors are compelled to reassess and refine their unique value propositions to establish a stronger foothold in the market. Key players in the global robotic floor scrubber market holding prominent positions include Nilfisk, Tennant, Alfred Karcher, and Hako Group. While Nilfisk and Tennant specialize in manufacturing premium professional cleaning equipment, Alfred Karcher offers a range of high-end and mid-market products. The market is characterized by the presence of global giants and regional players, each striving to differentiate themselves. Vendors are investing in enhancing various features of their products, such as reducing machine weight, lowering noise levels, improving tank capacities, and extending battery life. These strategic initiatives aim to gain a competitive advantage in the market and evolve customer expectations. MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES Growing Popularity of EC-H2O Technology Few companies like Tennant offer EC-H2O technology, which assists in conventional floor cleaning. Regarding cleanliness and hygiene, water is as crucial as disinfectants. Though abundant, water is limited in quantity due to the limited availability of potable water. This technology requires less water and thus helps reduce usage. It is an ideal choice, leading to the demand for machines involving EC-H2O technology. The robotic floor scrubbers equipped with EC-H2O technology use less water, leading to three times longer scrubbing. Growing Adoption of Robotics in the Commercial Sector The growing adoption of robotics in the commercial sector is a prominent driver within the global robotic floor scrubber market. In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the use of robotics beyond traditional industrial settings, driven by technological advancements and evolving needs in response to factors such as labor shortages. Autonomous technology to optimize floor cleaning in commercial facilities is essential, particularly where visible and consistent cleaning is crucial for customer satisfaction. With significant advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and mobile data transmission, driverless robotic floor cleaners offer a reliable and logical upgrade from traditional human-operated cleaning equipment. INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS Limited Source of Procuring Raw Materials The global robotic floor scrubber market faces significant challenges due to limitations in the procurement of raw materials. These challenges can impact manufacturers, supply chains, and the entire industry. The major challenges arise from disruptions in the global supply chain, which can occur due to various factors such as natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, or economic fluctuations. When the supply chain is disrupted, manufacturers may experience delays in obtaining critical raw materials and components needed for production, leading to shortages of finished products and increased costs. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS INSIGHT BY VARIANT The global robotic floor scrubber market by variant is segmented into only scrubber and scrubber & dryer. In 2023, the only scrubber variant dominated the global market share. The only scrubber segment encompasses a range of robotic floor scrubbers designed specifically for scrubbing and cleaning floor surfaces autonomously. These systems leverage advanced robotics, AI, and sensor technology to deliver efficient and consistent cleaning performance across various industries and applications. The robotic scrubber & dryer segment represents a further advancement in robotic floor cleaning technology, integrating scrubbing and drying capabilities into a single automated system. These systems combine the cleaning power of floor scrubbing with the drying efficiency, offering a comprehensive and time-saving solution for maintaining clean and dry floors. INSIGHT BY RUNTIME The robotic floor scrubbers with a runtime of less than 4 hours held the higher share in the global market in 2023. For the less than 4 hours runtime segment, the primary market dynamics revolve around the need for efficiency in smaller-scale applications. End-users in small retail, offices, and residential complexes prioritize compact designs, fast charging capabilities, and ease of use. In contrast, the more than 4-hour runtime segment is driven by the demand for robust, high-performance solutions capable of sustaining prolonged cleaning operations in larger facilities. INSIGHT BY SCRUBBER HEAD TYPE The global robotic floor scrubber market by scrubber head type is segmented into disc and cylindrical. Among these, the disc scrubber head dominated the market. The rising demand for sustainability and minimizing water usage to protect the environment will likely support the growth of disc head floor scrubbers. The rapid expansion of the hospitality, healthcare, and retail sectors is expected to support market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, the growing investments in warehouses across countries owing to the rising e-commerce are expected to push the demand for cylindrical head robotic floor scrubbers in the market. INSIGHT BY END-USER The global robotic floor scrubber market by end-user is segmented into retail & shopping centers, manufacturing, airports, healthcare, warehouse & logistics, education industry, and others. The retail & shopping end-user sector is expected to showcase the highest growth in the market. The continuous expansion of giant retailers across several countries will likely boost the demand for robotic floor scrubbers in this segment. The retail & shopping centers segment represents a significant market for robotic floor scrubbers, driven by the need to maintain clean and hygienic environments in high-traffic areas. Furthermore, the education sector segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 13% in the global robotic floor scrubber market during the forecast period. The growth is due to rising adoption in educational institutions, hotels, and public facilities. Also, using robotic floor scrubbers enables educational institutions to allocate cleaning staff to other important high-touch areas requiring regular manual cleanings, such as countertops, door handles, bathrooms, classroom desks, etc. INSIGHT BY SALES CHANNEL The direct sales channel dominated the global robotic floor scrubber market in 2023. The direct sales channel segment is expected to witness incremental growth of more than USD 700 million. It helps sell products at a relatively lower price than the indirect sales channel by eliminating intermediaries and helping manufacturers gain a competitive edge. Moreover, the indirect channel enables manufacturers to leverage the distributors' relationship with their customers. GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS North America dominated the global robotic floor scrubber market, accounting for a share of over 34% in 2023. The high awareness about cleanliness, technology, high labor cost, better infrastructure, and continuously growing footfall across various end users such as airports, retailers, and others are leading to the growth of robotic floor scrubber demand in the market. Also, labor costs across North America are rising continuously, leading to several end users moving towards technology, which could help minimize the expenditure on labor and increase productivity. It will also help the organizations utilize the labor for other value-added tasks and focus on activities likely to enhance their revenue. Hence, the high labor cost is expected to boost the demand for robotic floor scrubbers across the region. The high arrival of tourists and the rapidly growing hospitality sector across Europe drive the robotic floor scrubber market's growth. Countries such as the UK, Germany, and France are the leading markets in the region where the demand for robotic floor scrubbers is driven by manufacturing, big retailers, healthcare, and various hotels. Furthermore, there is a growing trend towards using environmentally sustainable cleaning solutions in Europe, driving the demand for robotic floor scrubbers that use eco-friendly cleaning agents and materials. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE Key Company Profiles Amano Hako Karcher Nilfisk Tennant Other Prominent Vendors Adlatus Avidbots Aziobot Bharati Robotic Systems Cleanfix Robotics DDROBO Diversey Gaussian Robotics Murata Machinery Peppermint Robotics LionsBot International ICE Cobotics i-team Global Fimap KEMARO Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 339 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $972.75 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $2069.03 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.4% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: Market Opportunities & Trends Growing Inclination Toward Automation Adoption of Technologies (AI, Sensors, GPS) Rise in Mass Airport Projects Market Growth Enablers High Labor Costs in Developed Countries High Demand for Effectiveness & Efficiency Stringent Regulations to Maintain Cleanliness & Employee Safety Growing Adoption of Robotics in Commercial Sector Market Restraints Low-Cost Labor in Developing Countries Lower Penetration in Underdeveloped and Emerging Nations Rising Demand for Carpet Flooring Limited Source of Procuring Raw Materials Skilled Labor Shortage Market Segmentation Segmentation by Variant Only Scrubber Scrubber & Dryer Segmentation by Runtime Less than 4 Hours More than 4 hours Segmentation by Scrubber Head Type Disc Cylindrical Segmentation by End-User Retail & Shopping Center Manufacturing Airports Healthcare Warehouse & Logistics Education Industry Segmentation by Sales Channel Direct Indirect For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gbv89e About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Online Food Delivery Market Forecast Report By Business Model (Platform to customer delivery, Restaurant to customer delivery), Platform Type (Websites, Applications), Payment Method (Cash on delivery, Online), Cities and Company analysis 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. United States Online Food Delivery Market will reach US$ 66.54 Billion by 2032, up from US$ 28.37 Billion in 2023, with a CAGR of 9.93% between 2024 and 2032. The market is experiencing a robust rise owing to the increased penetration of the internet and smartphone usage, along with the growing preference for quick and fast services among customers. By employing effective ordering software, restaurants can choose to sell directly to customers, without the need for third-party gateways. This method allows customers to place orders straight through the restaurant's website. In order to satisfy a range of customer preferences, these apps and websites also include a number of filtering and payment choices, including cash on delivery, net banking, prepaid cards, and more. The outlook for the US online food delivery market is impacted by the collaboration of many delivery services, such as Grubhub, Uber Eats, and others, with restaurants to serve meals to clients. The National Restaurant Association claims that the Far West, which includes California (with 83,501 restaurants) and Washington (16,379 restaurants), has a large concentration of restaurants, which is what drives online meal delivery. In 2022, Uber Eats worked with 825,000 eateries, according to corporate documents, enhancing online delivery services in the US. Driving Forces for Online Food Delivery in the United States Technological Advancements Technology is driving the CAGR of the US online food delivery business. The atmosphere surrounding food delivery has undergone significant change due to the widespread use of cellphones and high-speed internet connection. Aside from that, the ease of using a smartphone app to order food has significantly increased the market's popularity. Additionally, the overall customer experience has been enhanced by user-friendly interfaces, tailored recommendations, and efficient tracking systems, suggesting a bright future for industry growth. Aside from that, the industry is growing because of the employment of global positioning system (GPS) technology, which enables real-time delivery progress tracking and fosters a sense of openness and dependability in the process. The ability of today's tech-savvy consumers to effortlessly incorporate online food delivery services into their daily schedules has fueled market expansion. Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships The rise of the online meal delivery sector in the United States is majorly driven by the growing emphasis on strategic alliances and acquisitions. Leading businesses are partnering with grocery shops, restaurant chains, and other food service providers in an effort to expand their market share and enhance their service offerings. Through these partnerships, meal delivery services can provide a wider selection of foods to a more diverse user base. Grubhub and Homewood Suites by Hilton joined together in June 2023 to provide food options to visitors at about 500 locations across the US. Tourists could quickly order from nearby restaurants using the Grubhub app's geolocation and rapid response (QR) codes, enriching their eating experience with a range of options. Furthermore, market leaders can fortify their position, boost productivity, and seamlessly integrate new technologies by acquiring smaller delivery services and technology firms. In addition, partnerships with large supermarket chains bring in grocery delivery services, which benefit consumers and create new revenue streams. These tactical choices support innovation and productivity, which expand the market as a whole and strengthen the competitive advantage of significant players. Marketing and Promotional Campaigns Aggressive marketing and promotional strategies are critical drivers of the online food delivery industry. As outlined in the United States online food delivery market forecast, companies are investing significantly in advertising on various platforms, including social media, television, and online channels, to enhance brand recognition and attract new customers. Promotional deals, such as discounts, free deliveries, and loyalty programs, are vital in retaining current customers and promoting frequent service use. For instance, in June 2023, Grubhub and Amazon extended their complimentary Grubhub+ promotion for another year for American Prime members, offering no delivery charges and exclusive discounts on restaurant orders. This collaboration added value to Prime by granting members significant discounts and unique dining experiences through Grubhub's platform. Additionally, working with well-known events or influencers at particular times of the year boosts brand awareness and human interaction. These marketing strategies work particularly well when converting traditional diners to online delivery customers. By using creative marketing techniques, delivery platforms can continually establish a connection with their audience, which gives them a competitive edge, boosts user acquisition, and continuously grows the market. Florida Online Food Delivery Market As a result of broader trends in convenience and digital commerce, Florida's eating landscape now prominently features the online food delivery industry. Large cities like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are home to various eateries involved with delivery services like Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. Both locals and guests can use these services to peruse menus, place orders, and quickly deliver meals to their residences, workplaces, or hotels. Factors like Florida's bustling metropolitan lifestyles, varied culinary scene, and high tourism all contribute to the market's growth. Local eateries gain more exposure and access to larger customers, and diners have access to various dining alternatives, from gourmet cuisine to comfort food, frequently with special offers and discounts. Florida's online meal delivery business is constantly innovating to meet changing customer preferences and boost the state's hospitality sector, thanks to developments like contactless delivery and real-time tracking that are becoming standard. United States Online Food Delivery Company News May 2024 - Uber Eats and Instacart have partnered to provide food delivery services in the US. Through the Instacart app, customers can place orders from hundreds of thousands of restaurants. November 2023 - DoorDash took advantage of the rising demand for easy alcohol delivery and extended its alcohol delivery service to New Jersey. This move reflects the changing e-commerce landscape in the alcoholic beverage market. It aligns with the trend of top aggregators to provide customers with a more significant assortment of beer, wine, and spirits. October 2023 - Pizza Hut, LLC extended its hours of operation in thousands of locations, remaining open until midnight or later to satisfy consumers' late-night desires. Pizza Hut ensured that even during late-night delivery, accessibility, and quality were maintained by utilizing partnerships and technology. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 180 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $28.37 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $66.54 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.9% Regions Covered United States Key Players Analysis: Business Overview, Recent Developments, Sales Analysis Grubhub Doordash Uber Eats Postmates Dominos Pizza Inc. Kroger Co. Blue Apron Holdings HelloFresh Business Model - Market breakup in 2 viewpoints: Platform to customer delivery Restaurant to customer delivery Platform Type - Market breakup in 2 viewpoints: Websites Applications Payment Method - Market breakup in 2 viewpoints: Cash on delivery Online Pain Type - Market breakup in 2 viewpoints: Chronic Pain Acute Pain Cities - Market breakup in 26 viewpoints: Seattle Pittsburgh San Francisco Austin San Jose San Antonio Virginia Beach Miami San Diego Los Angeles Portland Atlanta Orlando Washington, DC Jacksonville Riverside Houston Sacramento Denver New York Tampa Tucson Dallas Salt Lake City Phoenix Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l3wdxz About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment RALEIGH, N.C., July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE:TPH), one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., together with its Raleigh division, today announced the development of Altis, its first 55+ lifestyle brand community on the East Coast. Located within Greenfield Communities 550-acre Serenity development in rapidly growing Northwest Harnett County just outside Fuquay-Varina, Altis at Serenity is expected to add an additional 425 homes to the anticipated total buildout of 1,210 residences for the tranquil, planned community. Altis is projected to open in the spring of 2025 and marks the fourth community by Tri Pointes Altis brand. Serenity offers the perfect location for Tri Pointe Homes to expand its Altis brand to the East Coast, said Tri Pointe Homes Vice President of Community Experience James Flanagan. Greenfield Communities has done a stellar job creating an idyllic backdrop for this new premium lifestyle community, all within a short drive to the shopping, dining, and culture of nearby Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, Angier, and the rest of the greater Triangle. We believe in building community in every sense of the word, from the connected locations we select to our commitment to social responsibility through our LivingSmart packages, and we are excited to bring this ethos to life in a new way with Altis at Serenity. Altis at Serenity is anticipated to offer three distinct series of homes tailored to the diverse lifestyles of 55+ active adult residents, all with the signature personalization of Tri Pointes innovative Design Studio: The first series features homes ranging from 1,200 to 1,676 square feet, with two bedrooms, two baths, and a two-bay garage. The second series includes homes from 1,767 to 2,075 square feet, offering two to three bedrooms, two to three baths, a two-bay garage, and an optional second-floor bonus room, bedroom, and bath. The third series offers homes from 2,113 to 2,527 square feet, with two to three bedrooms, 2.5 to 3.5 baths, a two-bay garage, and an optional second-floor bonus room, bedroom, and bath. At the core of Tri Pointe Homes Altis brand is providing a place where 55+ active adults can thrive in a vibrant, engaging community. Altis communities offer residents unparalleled access to premium lifestyle amenities, including state-of-the-art fitness centers, resort-style pools, and beautifully designed clubhouses. These communities are intentionally crafted to foster social connections and active lifestyles, featuring a variety of events, classes, and activities that cater to diverse interests. Altis is dedicated to delivering an exceptional living experience where residents can enjoy their new next in a welcoming, well-appointed environment. We are excited for Tri Pointe Homes Altis at Serenity to join the community, said Greenfield Communities President Matt Brubaker. It has always been the plan to offer active adults a dedicated space in Serenity to start their next chapter while keeping them connected to a larger, diverse community. Tri Pointe is the ideal builder to realize this vision, and we are thrilled to partner with them at Serenity to introduce their Altis brand to the East Coast. Active adults can take advantage of the nearly 220 acres of open spaces, creeks, wetlands, trails, and other natural areas that we have preserved at Serenity. We have even included a dedicated resort-style swimming pool exclusively for Altis homeowners and their guests. Additionally, quick and easy access to top healthcare institutions like Duke Health, UNC Medical Center, UNC Rex Healthcare, and WakeMed offers peace of mind for our 55+ residents. To learn more and stay informed about Altis at Serenity, visit https://www.tripointehomes.com/nc/raleigh/Altis-at-Serenity. About Tri Pointe Homes One of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH) is a publicly traded company operating in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and is a recognized leader in customer experience, innovative design, and environmentally responsible business practices. The company builds premium homes and communities with deep ties to the communities it servessome for as long as a century. Tri Pointe Homes combines the financial resources, technology platforms and proven leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, longstanding community connections and agility of empowered local teams. Tri Pointe has won multiple Builder of the Year awards, was named to the 2024 Fortune Worlds Most Admired Companies list, is one of the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For and was designated as one of the 2023 PEOPLE Companies That Care. The company was also named as a Great Place To Work-Certified company for four years in a row (2021 through 2024), and was named on several Great Place To Work Best Workplaces lists in 2022 and 2023. Tri Pointe Homes is a recognized leader in the Raleigh real estate sector. For more information, please visit TriPointeHomes.com. About Greenfield Communities Greenfield Communities is a privately held real estate development company based in Raleigh, N.C., with a focus on single-family residential, townhomes, and mixed-use communities in select North Carolina markets. As a trusted partner for local, regional, and national homebuilders, Greenfield seeks to acquire and develop land through creative and sound development practices from small neighborhoods to large, mixed-use master-planned communities with full amenity packages. For more information, please visit www.greenfieldcommunities.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89d87388-7a9b-4fbd-8b94-78f64b59faf1 Dublin, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector - Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis, 2024-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Chinese construction industry is expected to expand by 4% in real terms in 2024, supported by investment in infrastructure and energy projects. The government announced its 2024 Budget in March 2024. The budget includes an expenditure of CNY28.6 trillion ($4 trillion) in 2024 - which is an increase of 3.8% compared with the 2023 Budget. In March 2024, the government announced it plans to invest CNY1.2 trillion ($173 billion) in transport infrastructure projects by the end of this year. Furthermore, in March 2024, the Yangtze River Delta region government announced an investment of CNY140 billion ($19.6 billion) to develop 32 railway infrastructure projects in the region in 2024. In February 2024, the Shanghai government announced it plans to start work on 24 projects with a combined investment of CNY42.1 billion ($5.8 billion) in 2024. The construction industry is expected to record an average annual growth rate of 3.9% between 2025 and 2028, supported by investment in the infrastructure and energy sectors, coupled with the government's plan to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2060. Among the recent developments, in March 2024, the Chinese state-owned utility company the State Grid Corporation of China commenced the construction of a CNY27.9 billion ($3.9 billion) power transmission and storage project. The project includes the construction of 1069km of ultra-high voltage power line from Shanxi to Hefei. Growth over the forecast period will also be supported by infrastructure projects as part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) (2021-2025). The plan has 20 quantitative targets under five categories: economic development; innovation; people's well-being; green development; and food and energy security. In September 2023, the government announced it plans to develop 2,500km of high-speed railway lines and expand its total rail network by 50,000km by 2025. Furthermore, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Transport's plan to construct 461,000km of highways by 2035 will also support the growth of the industry. Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in China. Historical (2019-2023) and forecast (2024-2028) valuations of the construction industry in China, featuring details of key growth drivers. Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline. Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants Reasons to Buy Identify and evaluate market opportunities using standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. Understand the latest industry and market trends. Formulate and validate strategy using the critical and actionable insight. Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. Evaluate competitive risk and success factors. Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Construction Industry: At-a-Glance 3 Context 3.1 Economic Performance 3.2 Political Environment and Policy 3.3 Demographics 3.4 Risk Profile 4 Construction Outlook 4.1 All Construction Outlook Latest news and developments Construction Projects Momentum Index 4.2 Commercial Construction Outlook Project analytics Latest news and developments 4.3 Industrial Construction Outlook Project analytics Latest news and developments 4.4 Infrastructure Construction Outlook Project analytics Latest news and developments 4.5 Energy and Utilities Construction Outlook Project analytics Latest news and developments 4.6 Institutional Construction Outlook Project analytics Latest news and developments 4.7 Residential Construction Outlook Project analytics Latest news and developments 5 Key Industry Participants 5.1 Contractors 5.2 Consultants 6 Construction Market Data 7 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3ob132 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Data shows L1-79 offers a statistically significant improvement compared to placebo in socialization, as well as the investigator- and parent-rated global impression scales The change over placebo may be one of the largest statistically significant effects observed with the Vineland-3 Socialization standard score for a medication in autism NEW YORK, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yamo Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company, announced today positive topline results of its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the effects of L1-79 in adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The data demonstrated a statistically significant improvement with L1-79 compared to placebo on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (Vineland-3) Socialization standard score (difference compared to placebo: 7.09, p-value = 0.02) during the first 12-weeks of the study. The Vineland-3 Socialization Domain is a well-established standardized assessment tool that looks at a persons coping skills, ability to engage in play, and leisure and interact with others. In addition, other endpoints, such as the Clinical Global Impression of Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and the Caregiver Global Impression of Change of 3 Most Bothersome Symptoms of ASD (CGI-3P), demonstrated statistically significant improvements with L1-79 compared to placebo, corroborating the Vineland-3 findings. L1-79 was generally safe and well tolerated. There were no serious adverse events or adverse events leading to withdrawal from the trial with L1-79. It is very encouraging to see a more than seven-point improvement in the Socialization Domain of the Vineland-3, said J. Thomas Megerian, MD, PhD, Yamos Chief Medical Officer. We believe that this is one of the largest statistically significant effects observed to-date with a medication in ASD on the Vineland-3 Socialization standard score, representing a clinically meaningful improvement in one of the core domains of function affected by ASD. The Company is eager to meet with the FDA to discuss Phase 3 plans, as well as to file for Breakthrough Therapy designation. We are excited to receive these results in the hope to offer patients and their families a treatment option that can impact the core symptoms of ASD, said Chuck Bramlage, Yamos Chief Executive Officer. About L1-79 Evidence suggests that dysfunction in the catecholaminergic system may play a role in the core symptoms of ASD. L1-79 is a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor expected to modulate the catecholaminergic pathways, and thereby improve the core ASD symptoms. L1-79 was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA in May of 2018. About the Study This Phase 2, multi-center, randomized, chronic-dosing (12-week) clinical trial was a two-period placebo-controlled crossover trial that enrolled 58 adolescent and young adults with ASD. Patients were randomized 1:1 to one of two active treatment groups: L1-79 200 mg or 300 mg. On day one of Period 1, participants in each dosing group were randomized to receive either L1-79 or placebo BID for 12-weeks. Following the conclusion of Period 1, participants underwent a six-week washout period and then crossed over into Period 2, in which each participant that received placebo in Period 1 received L1-79 and vice versa BID for another 12-weeks. Please refer to study identifier NCT05067582 at www.clinicaltrials.gov for additional clinical trial details. About Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism spectrum disorder or autism refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders that is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-5) by difficulties in social communication and social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behavior, interests or activities. In the U.S., it is estimated that 1 in 36 children have ASD, with boys being 3.8 times more likely to be diagnosed than girlsi. Symptoms of repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social-communication and interaction start early in childhood and continue throughout a persons life. While the causes of ASD are not known, research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles. Since the severity, specific types of symptoms, and causes of ASD vary between individuals, it is referred to as a spectrum disorder. Currently there are no approved pharmacological therapies which address the core symptoms of ASD. About Yamo Pharmaceuticals Yamo Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company founded in 2015 to develop L1-79, a novel therapy with the potential to improve the core symptoms of ASD. Yamo Pharmaceuticals is a privately held company. More information may be found at www.yamopharma.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the development and commercialization of Yamo Pharmaceuticals products, the potential benefits and attributes of such products, and Yamo Pharmaceuticals expectations regarding its prospects. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are made as of the date of this press release. Actual results may vary. Yamo Pharmaceuticals undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. Contact Data Investor and Media Contacts Chuck Bramlage, CEO cbramlage@yamopharma.com Eugene Prahin, CFO eprahin@yamopharma.com (212) 610-1570 i Maenner MJ, Warren Z, Williams AR, et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020. MMWR Surveill Summ 2023;72(No. SS-2):114. Rockville, MD, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new industry report released by Fact.MR, the global shingles vaccine market size is estimated at a value of US$ 2.71 billion in 2024 and is evaluated to reach US$ 5.97 billion, with a growing CAGR of 8.2% by the end of 2034. In January 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended Shingrix over Zostavax as a vaccine against Shingles because of its high efficacy. The National Center for Biotechnology Information predicts that if there is no shingles vaccine, there will be 278 million cases of herpes zoster worldwide over the next ten years. For More Insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=10175 Although acyclovir and valacyclovir are two antiviral treatments for shingles, immunization against the herpes zoster virus becomes essential for patients with weakened immune systems. The primary factors driving the growth of the shingles vaccine market are improvements in healthcare policies in developed nations and the increased risk of developing shingles, particularly in individuals 60 years of age and older. Limited awareness about shingles and vaccination benefits, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is giving rise to the need for educational campaigns to drive vaccination uptake. The effectiveness of antiviral treatments for postherpetic neuralgia has emphasized the importance of vaccine development. Key Takeaways from the Market Study The global singles vaccine market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2024 to 2034. The market in the United States is set to reach a value of US$ 1.78 billion in 2024. China is estimated to account for a 53.7% share of the East Asia market in 2024. Revenue in the market in Japan is set to reach US$ 74 million in 2024. The East Asia market is forecasted to expand at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2024 to 2034. Innovative recombinant vaccines are the current trend in the shingles vaccine market, and their high cost is anticipated to drive market expansion. Enhanced healthcare facilities in developed countries are contributing to higher vaccination rates, says a Fact.MR analyst. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=10175 Increased Susceptibility of Older Adults to Shingles The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one in three Americans will experience shingles at some point in their lives, which is anticipated to increase the market in the country. People who are older and have weakened immune systems are more prone to infections. Age-related immune system deterioration is one factor contributing to the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the cause of shingles. In the United States, symptoms associated with a history of varicella infection are present in over 99% of adults 40 years of age and older, placing them at risk for developing shingles. Key Market Players List of the prominent players in the global market are Cipla Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Merck & Co., Inc.; SK Chemicals; Vaccitech; CanSinoBIO; Green Cross Corp.; GlaxoSmithKline Plc.; GeneOne Life Science. Shingles Vaccines Industry News In January 2022, Pfizer and BioNTech launched their third partnership, investing $225 million to develop an mRNA-based shingles vaccine. They aim to create an effective and tolerable vaccine, sharing the development costs. Clinical trials are set to begin in the second quarter of 2022. In June 2021, GlaxoSmithKline announced the relaunch of its shingles vaccine, which had seen a sales drop due to COVID-19 vaccine rollout disruptions. The company aims to become the world's leading vaccine producer. More Valuable Insights on Offer Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the shingles vaccine market for 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics for 2024 to 2034. The study divulges the shingles vaccine market based on type (Shingrix, Zostavax, Sky Zoster), vaccine type (recombinant vaccines, live attenuated vaccines), and end-user (government healthcare settings, private healthcare settings), across seven major regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and MEA). Checkout More Related Studies Published by Fact.MR Research: Vaccine Adjuvants Market is expected to reach a valuation of US$ 6.8 Billion and projected to witness a CAGR of 12.3% from 2023 to 2033 Flu Vaccine Market size is estimated at $5,831.7 Mn in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.7%, reaching a value of $11,181.3 Mn by 2034 Meningococcal Vaccine Market to reach US$ 10,788.0 million, with a CAGR of 10.3% from 2024 to 2034 Respiratory Virus Vaccines Market size is predicted to reach US$ 18.6 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 7.9% by 2033-end RNA-Based Therapeutics And Vaccine Market is evaluated to increase from $180.5 Mn in 2024 to $1.24 Bn, with a CAGR of 21.3% by 2034 About Us: Fact.MR is a distinguished market research company renowned for its comprehensive market reports and invaluable business insights. As a prominent player in business intelligence, we deliver deep analysis, uncovering market trends, growth paths, and competitive landscapes. Renowned for its commitment to accuracy and reliability, we empower businesses with crucial data and strategic recommendations, facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing market positioning. With its unwavering dedication to providing reliable market intelligence, FACT.MR continues to assist companies in navigating dynamic market challenges with confidence and achieving long-term success. With a global presence and a team of experienced analysts, FACT.MR ensures its clients receive actionable insights to capitalize on emerging opportunities and stay ahead in the competitive landscape. CINCINNATI, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultimus Fund Solutions (Ultimus), a leading independent provider of full-service, technology-enhanced fund administration, accounting, and investor solutions, is pleased to announce the expansion of its longstanding partnership with Westwood Holdings Group (Westwood) through the successful launch of two new actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This launch marks a significant milestone in the continuing evolution of Westwood's investment offerings, reflecting a deepened collaboration that leverages Ultimus' extensive infrastructure and fund administration service offering. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Westwood manages multiple investment strategies tailored to institutional investors, private wealth clients, and financial intermediaries. Recently, Westwood expanded its offerings to include two new Active ETFs, reflecting Westwoods ongoing leadership in energy and infrastructure investing with a commitment to providing innovative investment tools, regardless of vehicle or wrapper to investors. As we continue to innovate and advance our solutions, our partnership with Ultimus has been truly invaluable, said Bill Hardcastle, Managing Director, Strategic Planning and Program Management. With their robust support and experience with multiple wrappers, we've successfully ventured into new markets and now launched our first active ETFs. Were excited about whats ahead and confident our ongoing collaboration with Ultimus will open even more growth opportunities. In partnership with Ultimus, Westwood has successfully expanded its investment offerings which include 14 mutual funds, two ETFs, two private funds, and one private equity fund, showcasing a solid commitment to providing diversified and innovative investment solutions while utilizing Ultimus comprehensive back office administration services and statutory distributor services. "Our relationship with Westwood continues to grow stronger as we provide integrated support across their product lineup," said Bill Tomko, EVP, Head of Fund Servicing at Ultimus. "From mutual funds to cutting-edge ETFs and private funds, our team has been committed to empowering Westwood with tailored solutions that cater to their particular strategic objectives. We look forward to deepening this partnership and exploring new avenues for innovation together." The new ETFs are part of Westwoods broader strategy to diversify investment wrappers and innovate within their investment expertise, showcasing their ability to seek to adapt and thrive in a competitive investment product landscape. Providing the necessary infrastructure and expertise, Ultimus helped Westwood bring these novel products to market and remains dedicated to fostering this partnership and supporting Westwoods forward-thinking approach to asset management. About Ultimus Ultimus Fund Solutions (Ultimus) is a leading provider of full-service tech-enhanced fund administration, accounting, middle office, and investor solutions to support the servicing of registered funds, alternative investment funds, such as interval and tender offer funds, private funds, and public plans. The company also offers customized structures designed for the unique needs of pensions, endowments, foundations, and other large institutions. Ultimus service offering comes with a deep commitment to excellence, achieved through continuous investments in both talent and technology, with focus on a consultative approach and boutique service culture. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with offices in other major cities such as Denver, New York, and Philadelphia, Ultimus employs more than 1000 seasoned accountants, attorneys, paralegals, application developers, fund administrators, compliance specialists, and many others with years of experience in the financial services industry. Servicing over 1,800 total traditional and alternative funds, Ultimus helps investment managers and fund families flourish in todays increasingly sophisticated and dynamic investment landscape. For more information, visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com. To determine if the Funds are an appropriate investment for you, carefully consider the Funds investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds prospectus, which may be obtained by calling 877.944.0755. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Westwood ETFs are distributed by Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (member FINRA), Northern Lights Distributors and Westwood ETFs (or Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.) are separate and unaffiliated. CONTACT: Marketing@UltimusFundSolutions.com COD00000404 7/26/24 MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As previously announced, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) will host an Investor Relations event on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, beginning at 9:30 a.m. eastern time. This event, which will consist of both a conference call and webcast, is scheduled to last 90 minutes and will begin with an approximate 45-minute presentation on acquiring policies in our Direct channel, followed by a question-and-answer session with Tricia Griffith, our CEO, and John Sauerland, our CFO. Call-in participants will be able to ask questions via phone, however, webcast participants will not be able to submit questions online. On August 5, 2024, Progressive expects to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission and post its Shareholders Report, including the Letter to Shareholders from Tricia Griffith, to its website at www.progressive.com/annualreport. To receive the details on how to access the call or to join the webcast, visit Progressives website at https://investors.progressive.com/events/default.aspx. Replays of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes. The archived webcast will be able to be accessed from Progressives website at https://investors.progressive.com/events/default.aspx and will remain available until August 7, 2025. About Progressive Progressive Insurance makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however its most convenient for them online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent. Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is the second largest personal auto insurer in the country, a leading seller of commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers. Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price, Snapshot, and HomeQuote Explorer. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR. Company Contact: Douglas S. Constantine (440) 395-3707 investor_relations@progressive.com The Progressive Corporation 6300 Wilson Mills Road Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143 http://www.progressive.com High River, Alberta, July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Communities Foundation released its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting the ways it supports causes that matter most to Western Financials customers, people and the diverse communities it serves. From educational bursaries and disaster relief to community infrastructure grants and food bank donations, Western is committed to building strong and vibrant communities in Canada. Despite the numerous challenges we faced with the onslaught of catastrophic events and natural disasters across the country, our community came together in remarkable displays of resilience and strength, giving back the most we have given to date, over $620,000 to the communities where we live and work, said Kenny Nicholls, Western Financial Group President and CEO, and Western Communities Foundation Chair. Through all levels and departments at Western, staff know that care is really at the core of all they do for customers, local communities and their people. Behind every policy is a human being. Our front-line teams help our customers through thick and thin wildfires, floods, thefts, auto accidents, you name it. We know how important it is to support our communities in ways that make sense to them, said Michelle Mak, Communities Foundation Director. Were there to help our customers when things go wrong, and were there to celebrate their successes. Giving back is not just the right thing to do; its our responsibility. Key highlights and achievements from Western Communities Foundation in 2023: $620,499 given in grants and donations across Canada. $200,000 given in infrastructure grants to support community enhancement projects that build strong, vibrant and inclusive communities. 135 high school students honored with the Inspirational Bursary Awards for their remarkable resilience, determination, and personal growth in the face of adversity. $25,000 donated for disasters and emergency relief to help communities most impacted by the Nova Scotia floods and British Columbia wildfires. $147,000 donated from funds raised by employees to 116 local causes. A special thank you to our sponsors whose contributions have been immeasurable to our Foundation: Wawanesa Insurance, Optiom Inc., SGI Canada, Intact Insurance, Peace Hills Insurance, and many more. See here for further details or visit westernfinancialgroup.ca/Foundation-Who-We-Are to learn more. Western Financial Group Communities Foundation Founded in 2001, the Western Financial Group Communities Foundation serves to give back to the communities where Western employees live and work and play, and foster employee pride and engagement. The Foundation's core donation programs include community Infrastructure Grants, the Western Inspirational Awards for graduating high school students, and the Matching Grants Program. Since its inception, the Western Communities Foundation has given back more than $9 million to support local communities. Attachments Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Transparency Market Research, Inc., July 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the sluggish advancement occurring at a CAGR of 2.8% through 2034, the worldwide slurry pump market () is likely to reach USD 1.4 billion at the end of the forecast period. The last recorded size of the industry was USD 1.0 billion in 2023. Owing to this progress, fewer growth prospects are created for leading players in the sector. With several efforts taken by governments of different countries, the oil and gas sector is expected to proliferate. Due to the growth of the ecosystem, the scope of slurry pumps increases, diversifying applications of pumps in such sectors. The production of oil, natural gas, and other related excavations has increased. Pertaining to the rising demand, oil and gas exploration activities are propelling. With the growing demand for such activities, the importance of slurry pumps is expected to increase. Pertaining to the rising demand for pumps for exploration activities, the scope of slurry pumps in the petrochemical industry is expected to increase, creating several growth prospects for leading players in the ecosystem. Request for Sample PDF Copy of Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=86324 The growing importance of effective transportation of slurries and sludge from one place to another is a driving force for the ecosystem. The demand for better transference of fluid from one place to another is also increasing, which adds to the driving force for the competitive landscape. Owing to the growing demand for better water treatment plants, the demand for efficient slurry pumps is expected to elevate. Wastewater treatment is a key factor of concern. To cater to the growing concern, several measures are being taken to treat water and elevate the usability of this water. Such growing demand is pushing the growth of the competitive landscape. This rising demand also enables key players in the ecosystem to innovate products. Key Findings from the Market Report With various differentiating factors, the global slurry pump market can be segmented into different categories. The product type segment of the sector is governed by the horizontal slurry pump category due to the high productivity of such pumps. Vertical slurry pumps generate demand in small-scale operations, owing to the lowered maintenance and operational costs. Reduced noise, better efficiency, and cost-effectiveness are key benefits of electrically power-sourced pumps, helping the category of the segment gain attention. With the growing mining activities across the world, the demand for such pumps is expected to increase in the said category of the end-use industry segment. Regional Profile With the rising emphasis on research and development in Europe, prospects for the competitive landscape are likely to increase. Key players in the sector can grow through innovative products in the region, contributing to market growth. The emergence of the oil and gas sector in Asia-Pacific is set to drive the growth of the competitive space in the region, thereby creating opportunities for key players. Technological infrastructure in North America is likely to augment the market size. Owing to better infrastructural availability, cutting-edge solutions can be designed and offered to consumers. Competitive Landscape With key expansion strategies like collaborations, acquisitions, partnerships, or mergers, leading players expand in the slurry pump market. New entrants might face a hindrance to entry due to large-scale organizations. EBARA Corporation is a key player in the competitive space. The firm offers a wide range of products, including surface pumps, submersible pumps, custom pumps, and many more. EDDY Pump Corporation is another key organization in the ecosystem, which is known for diversified products like excavator pump attachments, dredge sleds, autonomous dredges, self-prime pumps, buckets, and many more. Flowserve Corporation is another prominent player in the ecosystem, which is observed to operate in different verticals, including pumps, valves, seals, energy recovery devices, actuators, and instrumentation. Unlock Growth Potential in Your Industry! Download PDF Brochure: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=86324 Key Players EBARA Pumps Americas Corporation EDDY Pump Corporation Flowserve Corporation HEBEI TOBEE PUMP CO. LIMITED KSB SE & Co. KGaA Metso Sulzer Ltd The Weir Group PLC TSURUMI MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. Xylem Key Developments in the Slurry Pump Market In September 2022, EBARA Corporation acquired Hayward Gordon L.P. (HG). The strategic move helped the firm enhance the global presence of the organization. Strategic resource expansion was also possible with the help of such a move. acquired Hayward Gordon L.P. (HG). The strategic move helped the firm enhance the global presence of the organization. Strategic resource expansion was also possible with the help of such a move. In July 2023, EDDY Pump Corporation partnered with Hawk Excavator. The strategic partnership aimed to redefine the competitive landscape with the increased scope of innovation and reach of firms across the globe. Market Segmentation Type Horizontal Slurry Pump Vertical Slurry Pump Head Below 75 mtr 75 mtr - 100 mtr 100 mtr - 150 mtr 150 mtr - 200 mtr Above 200 mtr Power Source Electric Hydraulic Pneumatic Solar Diesel End Use Mining Chemical Wastewater Treatment Power Generation Construction Oil and Gas Metallurgy Agriculture Others (Pharmaceuticals, etc.) Distribution Channel Direct Sales Indirect Sales Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America Buy this Premium Research Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=86324